The workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars have been making good progress on the body shell of the 1978 MG B GT in with us for restoration at our Suffolk HQ.
Our restoration technician Rob has been working on cutting out any form of corroded metal from the car to make sure everything is structurally right and lining up properly. Firstly, he worked on getting the rear valance of the classic MG B sorted.
The old valance was heavily corroded and warped so our team sourced a replacement panel and began the process of carefully removing the old piece in such a way as to not damage any of the mounting surfaces behind it. All of the surfaces behind the valance were cleaned and prepared ahead of the new piece firmly welded into place.
Next, Rob finished the work needed to the bottoms of the A-pillars. This needed to be done before the team could begin fitting and placing the new sills. With the old sills cut out of the car and the new ones trimmed and clamped they could be welded into place taking into account the new A-Pillar and the mounted door to ensure there was no overlap or conflict between any of the pieces.
Finally, Rob could cut out the rear arch. This was heavily corroded and in need of replacement. So carefully the spot welds were cut out and the original piece taken out before offering up the replacement arch.
The restoration team at Bridge Classic Cars have made good progress on the body repairs to the 1978 MGB GT which is in for restoration.
The team have been systematically and methodically working through the classic sports car to get the shell into the best shape possible before it is taken into our body team to be refinished further.
Rob, one of our technicians, has been carefully removing any areas of the car which hold any current or questionable corrosion and replacing them with replacement panels or hand fabricated patch panels to ensure that the whole car is back to being in solid metal.
Included in that, is reskinning the doors. The outer skin on one particular door had become heavily corroded but the frame it was attached to was in solid condition. So, Rob carefully removed the old skin and fit up the new replacement stamping which will be welded in and finished.
The 1968 MGC Roadster is being worked on by the Bridge Classic Cars in-house restoration team to get the classic sports car running just right.
After road tests, the car was running slightly off so Jon set about adjusting the carburettors to get the 6-cylinder running perfect. Upon inspection, he found that 2 out of the 3 carburettors were flooding and allowing too much fuel into the chamber. After adjusting the rest floats, Jon could then work on adjusting and synchronising all 3 carburettors together and ran the car to check the issue had been rectified.
The 1957 MG A Roadster has been treated to a full silver valet by the amazing team at Viper Auto Valet here at our Suffolk HQ.
Colin, the owner of Viper, carefully washed down the car to remove any contaminants from the paint before meticulously machine polishing to enhance the beautiful gloss of the vibrant red paintwork.
Viper Auto Valet handles the cleaning of our classics and makes them look absolutely stunning. Check them out by clicking here!
The 1952 MG YB in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop has come into our restoration team for a brake service.
Rob carefully took apart the brakes on the classic MG saloon to inspect all the shoes, seals, cylinders and hardware. Upon inspection of the front brakes, he discovered the wheel cylinders to be leaking and had soaked into the shoe material. So a new set of shoes and cylinders were installed into the front and adjusted out.
At the rear, the cylinders, shoes and hardware were all in good order and just required a rebuild and adjustment. After this, the brake system was bled ahead of it beginning road tests and adjustments if needed.
The 1968 MGC Roadster in the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop has had its new stereo and speakers installed into the interior of the classic convertible.
Jon has been working on carefully running the wiring throughout the car from the rear pillars under the carpets and inside of the centre console to the new head unit for the stereo. With all of the wiring run, Jon could work on getting the head unit into place and wired up to the speakers to begin testing it.
The interior of the 1952 MG TD had had several more hand-made pieces crafted by the Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim shop.
Lydia and Brian have been working on completely replacing the carpet set in the classic MG with new material in the closest colour possible to the original. Each of the pieces for the car has been measured and made from the original pieces as a template in order to achieve the best fit. Countless times each individual part was test fit into the car before being hand edged and bound.
This stunning 1974 MGB GT V8 has just arrived into the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshops at our Suffolk HQ.
The car has come for various bits and pieces such as an oil change for both the engine and gearbox, a coolant flush and an MOT. But the team have also been asked to have a look into some electrical issues with the car which cause the car to suddenly lose power.
The team will look into the electrical issue to begin with on the car and assess the entire car to make sure everything is 100% on such an iconic classic sports car for its owner.
Keep an eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more on the 1974 MGB GT V8.
We’ve been sent in these amazing photos of our 1957 MGA Roadster as part of its previous life.
The car took part in the Monte Challenge, a classic rally much in the spirit of the original Monte Carlo rally organised by the CRA but now part of the HERO calendar of classic car events.
The results postings for the 2000 edition show that number 47, the number was worn by our 1957 MGA 1500 Roadster, was run by Philip Swain and Frank Lyons in the 2000 edition of the rally. From this results book, we can see that the car managed 45th place overall with a little over 2hrs in accumulated penalties.
It’s always amazing to see the lives of some of the cars in our care before they found their way to us here at Bridge Classic Cars and seeing an MGA used in the way they would have been in period.
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Remember, you can send in your classic car stories! Drop us an email with some photos and your story to marketing@bridgeclassiccars.co.uk
The stunning 1957 MGA 1500 Roadster in with Bridge Classic Cars has been photographed by the team here at Bridge ahead of being put up for sale on our new online classic car sales platform MyClassics.
With the weather near enough perfect, Nick set out to shoot the classic MG Roadster at our secure storage facility The Hangar. The vintage Roadster was brought out of The Hangar and moved into position on the pad for its photoshoot.
The car is even more beautiful in person. Finished in vibrant red with its contrasting white hardtop and sitting on wire wheels with disc brakes on the front and drums on the back it looked perfect in the late winter sunshine. The interior is one of the most characterful we’ve come across. The seats show age cracks and the red has darkened over time to give a beautiful contrast against its exterior. The beige harnesses that drape across the leather make the car feel as racy as it looks and being fitted with a later 5-speed gearbox helps this MGA become a car for all occasions.
The car has been entirely inspected by our restoration workshops, where only a minimal carburettor set-up was required to have it running perfectly. The car was restored in the late 1990s and bought by its previous owner after searching for what he deemed to be the most perfect MGA in the UK, and was found at a Lotus Main Dealer in Henley. The optional white hardtop is in good condition and allows that extra level of confidence should the weather turn on a Sunday blast or to cut down the wind noise on a cross-continent jaunt however the beige soft top on the car is in fine condition with minimal marking and little to no tears or fraying.
The car is now for sale on the all-new Bridge Classic Cars online sales platform MyClassics. An online sales platform where there are no fees for buying and no fees for selling your classic inside a community of like-minded enthusiasts.
To view the beautiful 1957 MGA 1500 Roadster for sale by Bridge Classic Cars on our MyClassics platform, simply click the link below.
Once the engine and parts had been thoroughly cleaned by our restoration workshop for the 1978 MGB GT in with Bridge Classic Cars for restoration, they could be transferred over to the paint shop to be refinished.
Chris and the paint team worked on getting each piece cleaned and prepared before being taken into the paint booth. Each piece was individually painted whether in the maroon heavy-duty paint or the deep, silky black for some of the accessories.
Once everything had correctly cured, they were taken back into the restoration workshop for the engine to be reassembled ready for when the time comes to be reinstalled into the restored body.
The restoration technicians in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop at our Suffolk HQ have been busy rebuilding and cleaning up the distributor and carburettors of the 1978 MGB GT.
Rob began by carefully disassembling the distributor on the classic MGB. The internals of the distributor was assessed and inspected, with the decision being to entirely rebuild the whole component and clean up the casing.
The next job was to work on stripping down the SU carburettors and manifolds to assess them. Once the assessment was complete, our technician Rob cleaned up each and every piece of the carburettors before beginning the process of rebuilding and recommissioning the vital intake components.
With these jobs complete, Rob could begin to prepare the engine block for refurbishment and paint.
The trim team at Bridge Classic Cars have turned their attention back to the interior of the 1968 MGC Roadster.
Brian has been renewing the wooden veneers which cover the face of the dashboard as well as the centre console. After these were all secured in place, it was the job of carefully refitting all of the trim pieces and brightwork back into place on this truly beautiful and rare MGC Roadster.
The Bridge Classic Cars workshop team have been working on inspecting pieces from the 1978 MGB GT which were removed before it entered the body shop.
Our restoration technician Rob has been going through each of the parts to decide if new parts will be required or if they can be refurbished for use in the restoration of the classic sports car.
The rear seat of the 1978 MGB GT in for restoration at Bridge Classic Cars has been refoamed and recovered by our in-house trim shop to match the rest of the car.
Whilst the body is in with our body shop, the interior is being revamped by the team in the trim shop. Lydia has completely remade the foam for the rear seat of the classic MGB. This was all for recovering the rear seat in black leather to match the front seats of the car.
Each piece has been finished by hand to make sure the best fit and finish for the piece is achieved.
Now with this piece finished, it will be wrapped and put into storage for when the car is ready for reassembly.
The 1968 MGC Roadster in the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop at our Pettistree HQ has had a series of key jobs finished on the classic roadster.
Jon has been working on getting the MGC Roadster sorted for its new life. Ranging from the engine bay, under the dash and the wheels.
The first job was to fit up the new hoses which lead to the breather tank in the engine bay of the car. This is vital that any excess oil or any fumes are routed into a separate tank. There are several vent tubes associated with the 6-cylinder engine that are required to be routed to the catch can.
Next, he began to look into getting the heater cable fixed in place and linked up to the controller/dial on the dashboard of the MGC. With everything linked up, Jon could test the heating system in the cabin of the classic MGC.
A crucial job that needed to be done on the car was replacing one of the wheel bearings. Jon noticed that the wheel was making some small noises and allowed for some small movement back and forth when rocked.
With all of this done, the car can be completely road tested and signed off.
The restoration technicians in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop have the fantastic 1968 MGC Roadster currently on the ramp to complete several jobs on the car. This time, it’s tidying up the wiring in the engine bay.
Jon has been methodically going through the wiring under the bonnet of the classic convertible sports car to make sure everything not only works correctly but is safely routed around the engine bay. System by system, he has grouped together separate parts of the harness and shielded them where necessary.
The workshop at the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ have been working on the 1968 MGC Roadster.
Our technician Jon has been getting a series of jobs completed on the rare roadster ahead of its departure from the workshop. Jon has been adjusting the door handles for the car and realigning the strikers so that when the handle is pulled or the door is pushed back into place there’s no binding up of any of the mechanisms.
He has also been making sure all of the rear lights are secured into the car and that each and every function of the clusters works just at it should do.
With the 1952 MG TD project finished, Bridge Classic Cars thought we would take this time to talk about this incredible classic sports car.
This MG TD only had to have a single repair done to its roof. Upon inspection by our restoration technicians, that was the only item that needed attention. Everything else on the 70-year-old sports car was in amazing condition thanks to its full restoration in 1978 and the regular maintenance given to it by its previous owners.
Soon, everyone will get to find out just what is happening with this 1952 MG TD next very soon…
The latest car up grabs from Bridge Classic Cars Competitions is this beautiful 1952 MG TD.
The Bridge Classic Cars Competitions team took this stunning little sports car out to the airfield to do its photoshoot. This car is a true reminder for any enthusiasts about the joy of driving, the elegant simplicity of these early sports cars.
As the chirpy 4 cylinder engine buzzed along the runway, the whole team couldn’t help but smile as the classic sports car drove through the forest near our storage facility, The Hangar.
Now, it’s your chance to get a hold of this beautiful little car. Simply click the link below and get your tickets for the 1952 MG TD.
The 1952 MG TD in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop has been having its convertible roof fixed by our in-house trim shop.
Brian, one of our trim experts, has been working on removing the original webbing straps before replacing them with all new pieces. For this, Brian has had to remove the convertible roof in order to properly remove the complete straps.
The straps themselves are attached to the body at the rear which Brian had to carefully undo so the new pieces could be put in. With the new pieces, Brian could put the whole roof back together and fitted up perfectly.
February 22, 2022 2:40 pmPublished by Craig Ranson
The freshly rebuilt V8 burbled in the winter air outside of The Hangar. The Bridge Classic Cars team had been waiting a long time to shoot this particular car, the 1973 MGB GT V8.
With all of the work complete on the car, including the engine rebuild, a new clutch, new wheels and tyres, it was time for the car to go through its photo and video shoot. As the Bridge Classic Cars team set off across the airfield, the GT V8 looked incredible in the bright, low sun.
This particular car has some upgrades which really go to help the useability of the car. The car had previously been fitted with a 5-speed gearbox so the Bridge Classic Cars replaced the ageing clutch to help its next owner use the car more easily. That and the completely rebuilt all-aluminium V8 which ran faultlessly lap after lap during the filming thanks to the newly fitted electric fans.
As Hayley drove the car that morning, we could all tell this was going to be something very special for its next owner.
February 22, 2022 12:52 pmPublished by Craig Ranson
In the latest Bridge Classic Cars film, join the team as they travel to the Port of Harwich to collect a very rare and sentimental 1968 MGC Roadster arriving from Germany and bring it all the way back to our Suffolk HQ.
If you haven’t already, remember to head over to our YouTube channel and like, comment and subscribe.
February 17, 2022 8:47 amPublished by Craig Ranson
Now that the aesthetic restoration of the 1977 MGB Roadster is complete, we thought we would pull the 1970s convertible out of the workshop and take some photos to show the work we’ve done on the car.
Every panel, piece and seam have been worked on by the teams here at Bridge and it really goes to show it on this car. Inside and out, we think this car looks absolutely fantastic.
February 16, 2022 11:50 amPublished by Craig Ranson
The metalwork on the 1978 Blaze Orange MGB GT has begun!
All of the new panels and pieces have arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop for the team to begin work on the classic 1970s sports car. Once all of the welding is complete on the car, it will then be turned over to our body shop to make sure every line and curve on the car is absolutely perfect.
There will be more updates on the 1978 Blaze Orange MGB GT very soon
February 15, 2022 1:38 pmPublished by Craig Ranson
The 1973 MGB GT V8 is back in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop to get a new fan switch fitted.
The technicians noted that the original fan switch wasn’t controlling the electric fans correctly so a new switch was put on order and recently arrived.
After the new switch arrived, it was installed into the car and the coolant topped back up before the car was run up and tested.
February 11, 2022 9:53 amPublished by Craig Ranson
The 1977 MGB Roadster which is in the in-house Bridge Classic Cars trim shop has been under the care of our master trimmer, Brian.
Brian has been finishing off the doors of the MGB Roadster as part of its interior refit. Brian carefully put the in-door webbing into the doors, which helps with sound deadening, and then began the process of fitting up the door cards into the 1970s roadster.
With the door cards firmly in place and looking phenomenal in the car, Brian could then attach the door caps to finish off the work on the doors that has been done by our incredible in-house trim team.
Every car has a story. Some have been places, some of them have done incredible things but some, have just been adored by their owners. That’s the case with this 1974 MGB GT.
This car had been owned by its previous owner for the better part of 30 years. Through meticulous record-keeping on the car, you can see its story with them. So, with that in mind, Freddie decided to give this car a special kind of photoshoot.
The early morning light at the airbase where we is something else. It comes up low behind the ridgeline and breaks across the frosty ground. Only the sound of deer in the trees keeps you company in the early hours of the dawn light. That is where we find out MGB, parked on a fighter jet turning pad.
Freddie had got the car out from our secure storage facility, the hangar, as the first rays of light came above the horizon. You have to move quickly around here to get the light. So, Freddie made sure everything was warmed up and happy before pulling away from the hangar doors. MGB’s are some of the most practical and user-friendly classics around, but this one is definitely one of the easiest ones we have driven.
Once he had moved the car into its position and the light had just broken onto the curves of the car, the shoot began.
Bridge Classic Cars sometimes have the unique opportunity to look deep inside the stories of the cars that come into our Suffolk workshop.
This extensive and fastidious history file belongs to the 1974 MGB GT currently in our workshop. The file tells the story of the last 33 years of this amazing sports cars life.
It details annual mileages, expenditure, engineers inspections, MOT certificates, parts invoices, bills of sale, you name it.
Such diligent record keeping is a beautiful thing to see on a classic car. Carefully documenting previous bodywork and paint done to the car in the mid-1990s, down to assessments by some of the most reputable MGB specialists in the country to make sure the car was properly cared for.
It also features a timeline of every piece of work carried out from 1989 to 2021 in chronological order. It is truly amazing!
Mauro, one of our restoration technicians here at Bridge Classic Cars, has been hard at work reassembling the 1977 MGB Roadster we have in for restoration in preparation for the next phase of the project.
Mauro has been fitting all of the trims and windows to the car since the paintwork is now fully cured and hardened. This really makes the little sportscar come alive!
As with this being new paint, our team take their time and carefully manoeuvre the trims into place as to not cause any damage to the beautiful dark blue roadster. Some of the pieces have been refurbished but those that couldn’t be have been replaced with the highest quality pieces we have sourced.
The windows were thoroughly cleaned and all mechanisms liberally greased to ensure they work flawlessly when needed and all the trim pieces have new clips and hardware to create a good, tight fit to the body of the car.
Mauro is systematically working through each part of the car to complete each section before moving on to the next.
Also, the team fitted the windscreen to the car as a finishing touch!
Expect to see more on the beautiful 1977 MGB Roadster soon, here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page.
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