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Refinish – 1981 MG B GT LE Repainted After Bodywork

September 9, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars paint and body team have finished with the complete repaint of the 1981 MG B GT LE.

Following its time with the fabrication team, the body was worked on and perfected by the body prep specialist before being taken into our in-house paint booth/oven. The team then laid down several coats of stunning brilliant silver to get the bodywork and paintwork looking absolutely perfect.

In Order – Fitting and Fixing Trim Pieces on the 1978 MG B GT

September 9, 2022

The workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars has been working their way through several pieces of trim on the 1978 MG B GT.

This is a full ground-up restoration on the classic MG B, so the team is going through every single piece on the car, starting with the quarter light window.

The team have been repairing the mountings for the quarter light window which Rob has carefully cleaned up and replaced the hardware and get fitted back into the car after cleaning up and polishing the brightwork.

With the window frame now complete in place, Rob could fit up the door cap onto the door.

Then, it was time to get the rear bumpers back together. Each of the pieces has been inspected and test fit before being finally built up and installed onto the car.

Delicate Work – Metal Repairs to the 1981 MG B GT LE

September 7, 2022

The fabrication shop at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on the 1981 MG B GT LE at our Suffolk HQ.

The team have been going through some of the corrosion that we have found on the bodywork of the car. Beginning with the rear decklid.

The team found an area of corrosion in the upper part of the decklid which seems to have been in the same area as a previous repair. Once the team cut the area out, they found it filled with an old newspaper which was duly removed and a new patch piece was welded in after the whole area was rust treated.

Whilst this was happening, Chris was working on the door of the car which had corroded along its bottom edge and a small part of the bottom fascia. Each of these sections were precisely cut out of the car and all of the areas cleaned down and treated before being patched and welded in clean, new steel.

Finally, Monty has worked on the headlight buckets of the MG B GT which had corroded on the bottom edge. For this, the area was cut out of the car in order for the team to repair the rust with handmade patch panel made specifically for the car.

Underneath – Fitting Up the Exhaust and Crossmember on the 1978 MG B GT

August 24, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars team have been making progress on the 1978 MG B GT.

Our restoration technician, Rob, has worked on getting the new exhaust fitted up on the underside of the classic sports car. With the whole system fitted front to back, the team could then move on to the next job.

The team could begin to prepare the front cross-member to be fit up into the car. The whole car is being fit out with new polybushes all round and the bushings in the front cross-member is no different. Rob has fit the bushes in before being able to bolt the whole assembly into the underside of the car. With it completely fit up into the car, the team then began to hang the front suspension and steering parts while also being able to slip the engine mounts in and bolt the engine firmly into place.

This Just In – 1981 MG B GT LE

August 23, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars workshop at our Suffolk HQ have just welcomed our latest guest. This 1981 MG B GT LE.

The classic 1970s sports car will be completely inspected and assessed by our restoration teams who will compile their condition report and carry out any necessary work.

Keep a look out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more updates very soon on the 1981 MG B GT LE.

Update – Working on the 1971 MG B Roadster

August 10, 2022

Our 1971 MG B Roadster, which was won last week through our Bridge Classic Cars Competitions, has been in the workshop to have a few of the final jobs done on the classic roadster before it heads off to its new home.

The team have swapped out the brake master cylinder for a brand-new replacement due to not being able to bleed the system. Once this was all fit up and plumbed in, our technicians could then work on replacing the wheel cylinders and resetting the pistons back into the front calipers correctly.

Finally, it was time to get the steering wheel realigned while also replacing the rubber boots on the track-rod ends.

Clean Look – Parts of the 1978 MG B GT Refinished

August 9, 2022

Some of the pieces of the 1978 MG B GT have been refurbished by the team before being handed over to our paint team at the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ.

The paint team have refinished the parts in hard-wearing and durable black as part of the restoration.

New Pieces – Electric Fan and New Brake Servo on the 1968 MG B GT

August 3, 2022

The 1968 MG B GT has been in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop to have several new pieces fitted under the bonnet of the classic sports car.

To start with, the team have fitted a new electric fan to the radiator to help keep the engine cool which being enjoyed by its owner.

Then, the technicians have fitted a new brake servo for the car and replumbed it into the system and tested.

Gleaming – New Chrome Trim on the 1968 MG B GT

July 28, 2022

The workshop at Bridge Classic Cars have been methodically fitting the new chrome trim around the roof and windows of the 1968 MG B GT.

Carefully, our technician Jon removed the old chrome trims from the car keeping them complete to use as reference. Systematically he worked his way around the sides of the car to remove them from the car and then once everything was off the car, cleaned up any debris which had gone into the cabin.

After that, he could begin to fit the new set of trims and making sure the all-important slip-clips lined up perfectly on the classic sports car.

Behind the Scenes – Shooting the 1971 MG B Roadster at Helmingham Hall

July 26, 2022

After its full check-over by the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, the latest competition car was given the green light to go off for a very special shoot.

The soft and warm light of a summer’s evening set the perfect backdrop for a drive in a classic roadster. The delicate rays of light dancing over its British Racing Green paintwork only highlighted the timeless shape and sophistication of our 1971 MG B Roadster.

The location only added to that air. The stunning Helmingham Hall here in Suffolk, where our MG B Roadster will be won in just over 2 weeks’ time.

The team transported the car into the grounds of the country estate which would be used as the location for this shoot. The team jostled the car into position, perfectly framed by the brick archway of the entrance to the main house, before it was let loose on the grounds with Lucy and Lily at the helm of the classic roadster. The beautiful 1.8-litre 4-cylinder happily singing past the rows of oak trees that line the estate’s meandering roads.

With the roof down, the MG B’s beautiful black interior set a wonderful contrast against its driver and passenger. Highlighting the depth and grace of these much-loved sports cars.

It could have been a scene from a 1970s arthouse film – The amber hues from the building’s glorious red brickwork falling on the parched grass only to be shocked by the richness of the green on the car.

The magical nature of a roadster in summer is something all enthusiast drivers can appreciate. That feeling of letting the outside in, noticing the sights and sounds missed when completely enveloped in the steel and glass canopy of a coupe. Driving purely for the love of driving, nowhere to really go and no time to be there.

This sense of freedom, the air of sophistication and the theatre of life in a classic convertible could be yours. You could win this 1971 MG B Roadster! Head over to the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website and get your tickets now for this amazing car. The live draw is due to take place at the Helmingham Hall Festival of Classic and Sports Cars on August 4th 2022.

Get your tickets now and be in with a chance of winning this truly breathtaking classic. Or, to check out the full behind-the-scenes gallery and video see below:

Nostalgia – History of the 1971 MG B Roadster

July 18, 2022

Every car has a story. The series of events from the day its first owner stared wide-eyed at their new car to the teary-eyed day they said goodbye, a cycle that repeats throughout the years, decades and generations. So, when we find an extensive and in-depth history file in the car it always makes for amazing reading.

In this case, it’s the story of the 1971 MG B Roadster. Its previous owner has meticulously catalogued his work with the car but also did something we find utterly beautiful.

The previous had managed to track down the car’s original owner! The car was collected from a local MG dealer in Colwyn Bay in Wales on the 1st of January 1971, a British Racing Green with black interior 2-seater sports car. The first owner kept the car for a few years before then selling it to a friend who also adored the car for several years before selling it on.

Inside of the history folder is several handwritten letters between the previous owners to fill in the gaps in the car’s history.

There’s also a wonderful leather-bound photo album that documents the car’s aesthetic restoration in 1989/1990.

Again, it all goes to add to the incredible history of the car and show that each and every one of our classics has a story beyond our own with our cars.

This Just In – 1971 MG B Roadster

July 11, 2022

Just arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ is this beautiful dark green 1971 MG B Roadster.

The restoration teams at the Pettistree workshops will go through the car aesthetically and mechanically to put together their report on the MG B.

Keep a look out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more on the 1971 MG B Roadster very soon.

In Colour – 1978 MG B GT Painted in Blaze Orange

July 5, 2022

The paint and body team at Bridge Classic Cars have got the 1978 MG B GT refinished in its original colour, Blaze Orange.

The team have laid down several layers of bright, vibrant orange on the body shell and panels of the classic MG B. The car will be taken out of the booth after the paint has begun to cure and left to fully harden before being colour sanded and polished.

This is a massive milestone in the restoration of the 1978 MG B GT!

Primed & Ready – Getting the 1978 MG B GT Ready for Paint

July 5, 2022

The body shop team at Bridge Classic Cars have handed over the 1978 MG B GT to our in-house paint team to get the classic sports car ready for colour!

The team have been working on refining the lines and form of the MG B GT in our body prep area before it was taken into the paint prep bay to be thoroughly cleaned down for its final stages of primer and reworking.

The team always make sure that every panel is inspected and checked over before the car enters the booth and any dust or debris is removed from the car before mask up and again afterwards. The team then could use Polyfan on the shell to recheck for any low spots once it has been sanded off the body and any adjustments made.

Then after another clean-down, it was taken into the boot/oven once more for the final primer to be laid. Whilst the primer was curing, the team could begin to seam seal the boot and engine bay of the classic M B and another layer of primer laid down in those areas.

Best Ride – Replacing the Front Shock Absorbers on the 1975 MG B GT V8

June 16, 2022

The workshop at Bridge Classic Cars have replaced the front shock absorbers on the 1975 MG B GT V8 in with us.

Upon inspection, our technicians noted there were a few leaks coming from the components so replacements were ordered. Once they arrived in stock, Jon began to remove the old components from the front suspension to cross-check them against the new pieces.

With everything checked, the new shock absorbers could be put into place and tightened down. Before the car was road tested and given the all-clear by the workshop.

Root Cause – Getting to the Bottom of the 1975 MG B GT V8’s Oil Leak

June 15, 2022

The 1975 MG B GT V8 has come back to visit the Bridge Classic Cars workshop for the team to have a look at an oil leak reported by the owner of the car, Roger, who won the car from us back in December.

The car has been used and enjoyed by Roger but after a drive noticed an oil leak coming from the B GT V8 and had it looked at by another garage locally to him who unfortunately didn’t seem to find the problem. So, Roger asked if the car could be looked at by the team here.

Once it arrived and our technician Jon got it onto a ramp, he could see the oil sump had taken a considerable hit at some point and he suspects this had caused the gasket to partially blow out due to the edges (which make up the mating surface for the gasket) to roll outwards and not seal correctly.

So, the team cleaned out the original sump for the car and carefully cleared off the paper gasket to begin reshaping the sump whilst we waited for the new cork-style gasket to be delivered. Once it arrived in stock, Jon could fit the new replacement gasket and fit the cleaned and reshaped sump to the underside of the V8 and top up with fluids.

Delicate Work – Metal Repairs on the 1978 MG B GT

June 10, 2022

The 1978 MG B GT is having some of the final stages of its metal work carried out by the restoration workshop here at Bridge Classic Cars.

Rob, one of our technicians, has carefully been cutting out the corroded areas of the bodyshell to be replaced with hand-made and high-quality patch panels from specialists.

Rob has replaced the area in the rear drivers side pillar which at the base has corroded all the way through itself. For this, he made sure to inspect the piece entirely and form a panel which will fit tightly and also add strength into the area before welding it in.

Then, he could move onto the rear quarter panel. This had a few areas requiring work, some with small handmade patches and others (like the forward section) having high-quality sourced replacements installed into the bodyshell.

Replaced – Metal Work on the 1978 MG B GT

June 8, 2022

The restoration workshop at Bridge Classic Cars has been continuing with the metal repairs to the 1978 MG B GT in with us for restoration.

The team have been working on the right-hand side of the car to remove the areas of corrosion to key parts of the bodyshell. This begun with cutting out the corrosion at the rear of the car in the valance. These were cut out of the car to create new templates for replacements, so the team could make the new pieces as close as possible to the originals.

Then the team could move on the car’s windshield pillars which had areas of corrosion at their base. This was peeled back to expose just how in-depth it had gone into the piece before the team replaced it.

Along with this, some pieces at the top of the inner wing was also replaced due to corrosion and to allow for the best fitment of the new wings which have been test fitted to the body to check alignment.

Metalwork – Further Body Repairs to the 1978 MG B GT

May 24, 2022

The restoration teams in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop have been carrying on with the metal repairs to the bodyshell of the 1978 MG B GT.

The team have methodically been cutting out any form of corrosion from the classic sports car for it to be replaced with high-quality panels that we have sourced for the project. Each piece of the car is carefully inspected and assessed to see just how far the corrosion has gone into the bodyshell which is then removed and replaced.

Like New – Continuing the Metal Work on the 1978 MG B GT

April 22, 2022

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.

Solid Foundations – Further Metal Work on the 1978 MG B GT

April 14, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars restoration teams have been continuing work on the metal repairs to the 1978 MG B GT.

Our technician, Rob, has been systematically carrying on with removal and repairs to the body shell and doors for the classic sports car. Rob has worked on remaking several key flanges and plates which had corroded away on the car and would be needed not only for the structure but also for the alignment of the panels once the MG B enters our in-house body shop.

Keep a look out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more updates on the 1978 MG B GT.

Progress – Body Repairs to the 1978 MGB GT Continue

April 13, 2022

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.

Rebuilt – Rebuilding the Distributor and Carburettors of the 1978 MGB GT

March 22, 2022

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.

Clearance – Adjusting the Ball Joint Spacing on the 1973 MGB GT V8

March 17, 2022

The workshop at Bridge Classic Cars noted a small noise coming from the suspension of the 1973 MGB GT V8 during its pre-delivery inspection and found a small clearance issue.

The wheel weights fitted to the new minilite wheels were interfering with a ball joint and had damaged the rubber gaiter. So, the weights were moved to the inner edge of the wheel and the ball joint was replaced.

This has given the arm and the balljoint enough clearance to spin freely without any interference.

Checking Over – Inspecting the Pieces Removed from the 1978 MGB GT

March 16, 2022

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.

Finished Up – Refoaming and Recovering the Rear Seat of the 1978 MGB GT

March 16, 2022

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.

Tracked and Ready – Tracker Fitted to the 1975 MGB GT V8 and Loaded Up for Its New Home

March 16, 2022

With the 1975 MGB GT V8 off to its new home with its lucky winner Roger, the team at Bridge Classic Cars organised having a state of the art tracker fitted to the classic MGB for security.

It’s a request we are getting more and more frequently to fit trackers to the classic cars that come through our restoration workshop. So, we work closely with a specialist company who instal and set up the system into the cars for their owners.

With the tracker secured and hidden in the car, the team could load up the classic V8 sports car into our enclosed trailer for the journey to its new home.

From Scratch – Making the New Rear Seat Coverings for the 1978 MGB GT

March 15, 2022

The trim team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on handmaking the new rear seat cover for the 1978 MGB GT in for restoration.

The rear seat is being refinished in black leather to match the rest of the car. For this, Lydia used the original cover as a template to work from to get the best fit for the seat. Along with the new covering is new leather straps and a felt/carpet base piece to cover the wooden base board of the seat.

Clean Down – Cleaning Up the Engine and Gearbox from the 1978 MGB GT

March 11, 2022

With the bodywork on the 1978 MGB GT currently happening in the Bridge Classic Cars body shop, the restoration technicians in the workshop have taken the opportunity to clean up the engine and gearbox in preparation to go back in the car at a later date.

Our technician Rob has completely steam cleaned both the engine block, cylinder head and gearbox of the classic MGB. After plugging up any oil galleys and vital ports (as well as the exposed valvetrain), he could use our high pressured steam clean to knock the years of dirt and road grime off the 4 cylinder powertrain from the car.

Once thoroughly cleaned and dried, the engine and gearbox were put back together and stored ready for when the restoration calls for the drivetrain and the body to meet again.

Assess and Repair – Removing and Repairing the Interior of the 1978 MGB GT

March 9, 2022

The trim shop at Bridge Classic Cars worked on removing the interior of the 1978 MGB GT before it headed to our body shop to begin its rust repairs.

With the interior of the classic MGB removed and safely upstairs into our in-house trim shop, the team could begin working through the interior for the car.

The front seats of the sports car are in incredible condition, all that was needed was to tighten up the clips to pull the covers a touch tighter and regrease the mechanisms to avoid any unpleasant squeaking.

The rear seat of the MGB GT had slightly more wear, however. The ends of the foam panel underneath had deteriorated away so the trim team removed the cover and carefully cut and sectioned in new pieces to the ends of the base.

The next job was to strip back and inspect the rear squab panel. This involved the removal of all hardware, covers and foam from the panel.

Bridge Classic Cars are award winning Classic Car Restoration and Maintenance specialists. Your pride and joy is in safe hands with our expert Classic Car Technicians. Take a look at our awards here.

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