Covered – New Rear Matting in the 1980 Austin Mini Van
May 18, 2022
The interior team at Bridge Classic Cars have been busy making new rear matting for the load bay of the 1980 Austin Mini Van. The
classic mini specialist uk
Behind the Scenes – Shooting the 1980 Austin Mini Van
May 16, 2022
There is something about a classic Mini which cannot help but put a smile across your face and that’s before you’ve even driven it. Just
This Just In – 1980 Mini Van
April 25, 2022
Just arrived into the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop at our Suffolk HQ is this wonderful 1980 Mini Van. But, it’s hiding a secret… Underneath
Headed Home – Team C Racing Mini Shell Heading Back for Final Build
March 30, 2022
The Team C Racing Mini has been completed by the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint shop and is headed back home to Team C for
In The Sun – The Team C Racing Classic Mini Painted
March 24, 2022
The Team C Racing Mini, which has recently been in the Bridge Classic Cars paint booth, has been in the paint shop curing overnight. So,
Finished in Colour – Painting the Team C Racing Classic Mini Shell
March 24, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint booth has recently had the body shell of the Team C Racing classic Mini in to begin the process
RaptorGuard – The Underside of the Team C Racing Mini Shell RaptorGuarded
March 22, 2022
The paint shop inside of Bridge Classic Cars have sealed the bottom of the classic Mini for Team C Racing. The underside of the Mini
Primed and Ready – Team C Racing Mini in Primer
March 16, 2022
The body shell and panels for the Team C Racing classic Mini has moved from the Bridge Classic Cars body shop to the paint booth
Preparations – Preparing the Team C Racing Mini Shell
March 14, 2022
The Team C Racing classic Mini shell has been in with the Bridge Classic Cars paint and body team in preparation for its new colour
This Just In – Team C Racing Classic Mini
March 10, 2022
The newest arrival to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop at our Pettistree HQ is the first of the 3 classic Mini shells that the restoration
Coming Soon – Team C Mini’s
March 1, 2022
Continuing our relationship with Team C Racing, we are about to being the process of respraying 3 classic Mini’s for the local Mini specialists. Firstly,
Covered – New Rear Matting in the 1980 Austin Mini Van
May 18, 2022
The interior team at Bridge Classic Cars have been busy making new rear matting for the load bay of the 1980 Austin Mini Van.
The team begun by making a paper template to ensure the matting would fit up tightly to the rear arches and meet perfectly in the centre of the classic Mini. Once each side have been marked out and cut from paper, it could then be transferred onto the matting and cut to size.
The next step involved gently keying the load floor inside the car to give it the best surface to adhere to. Then, very carefully it was put into place with the adhesive and left to cure.
Behind the Scenes – Shooting the 1980 Austin Mini Van
May 16, 2022
There is something about a classic Mini which cannot help but put a smile across your face and that’s before you’ve even driven it. Just seeing one is a sure-fire way to brighten up your day. So, that’s why the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions team have sourced this. A 1980 Austin Morris Mini Van.
Beneath its humble and unassuming green paintwork though, lies a true athlete. Being a workhorse, the Mini Van was originally fitted with 998cc 4-cylinder engine. It’s previous owner however has fitted the pint-sized prowler with a 1380cc supercharged engine with a sports exhaust system so the whole world can hear about it. The team were very excited to shoot this particular car!
As the team pulled the classic Mini out of our secure storage facility, The Hangar, it happily sat idling in the late-spring sun. After it’s check-over by the restoration workshops at our Suffolk HQ, and given the full green-light, the team could take it out onto the airfield to shoot what needed to be done. The Mini pulled away perfectly, it wasn’t savage or had a throttle like a hair-trigger. It was actually rather civilised. With the sliding front windows open and the engine happily buzzing along this is the type of classic you could quite happily use for longer journeys or even on your commute to work when the weather is nice.
The reversed Cooper S wheels allow for more rubber to be placed under the Mini, which has had recent suspension and steering work done to it by the previous owner, and you can really tell there’s more contact with the tarmac that rushes under your feet. The short, sharp steering gives you all the feedback you need and when you need the brakes, they are right there when you want them.
The interior, is sparse and utilitarian. The single Cooper S style instrument panel is the only form of distraction in an otherwise purposeful setting. A perfect place to be when you experience the pull and whine of the Vmaxscart Supercharger fitted to the car…
But now, Bridge Classic Cars Competitions wants you to experience this. The 1980 Austin Morris Mini Van could very well be yours! One lucky winner will soon be taking delivery of the classic Mini just in time for summer. And it could be you… All you have to do is head over to the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website and enter now for your chance to win the 1980 Austin Morris Mini Van.
This Just In – 1980 Mini Van
April 25, 2022
Just arrived into the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop at our Suffolk HQ is this wonderful 1980 Mini Van. But, it’s hiding a secret…
Underneath the beautiful green bodywork lies the heart of a hotrod. This bite-sized bruiser is packing a 1380cc supercharged A-series engine! All of that performance in a small car is a recipe for fun in our books.
The car will of course go through the usual inspections and assessments by our in-house restoration teams who will check over the entire car in order to find out if anything needs to be done to this incredible classic Mini for it to be in absolutely tip-top shape.
Keep an eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page very soon for more on this tiny terror!
Headed Home – Team C Racing Mini Shell Heading Back for Final Build
March 30, 2022
The Team C Racing Mini has been completed by the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint shop and is headed back home to Team C for final assembly.
The Innocenti Mini arrived at our workshops a few weeks ago and has had many hours of work put into it in order to get it looking absolutely perfect for the project. The car has even had the underside of the shell completely prepared and treated with tint matched Raptor Guard to protect it from the elements.
It’s sad to see some of our projects leave us but this one has been a pleasure. And, there’ll be a new Team C Racing Mini for the Bridge Classic Cars team to start work on soon.
In The Sun – The Team C Racing Classic Mini Painted
March 24, 2022
The Team C Racing Mini, which has recently been in the Bridge Classic Cars paint booth, has been in the paint shop curing overnight. So, with the weather looking perfect the team thought we’d grab some photos of it out in the sun.
This is the first stage of getting the classic Mini into colour. It still needs to be cut back and polished but it looks absolutely brilliant.
Finished in Colour – Painting the Team C Racing Classic Mini Shell
March 24, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint booth has recently had the body shell of the Team C Racing classic Mini in to begin the process of getting the car into colour.
Chris, along with the rest of the Bridge Classic Cars paint and body team, have been getting the body shell of the classic Mini into the best shape possible before it heads into the booth. Every surface on the car, from top to bottom, has been meticulously prepared and cleaned down before being moved into the booth.
Coat by coat, Chris built up the layers of deep brown on the inside and outside of the shell of the Mini. Then, he could turn his attention to the roof of the car. For this, he had to re-mask the rest of the car before re-priming and laying down the white which gives this Mini its classic look.
RaptorGuard – The Underside of the Team C Racing Mini Shell RaptorGuarded
March 22, 2022
The paint shop inside of Bridge Classic Cars have sealed the bottom of the classic Mini for Team C Racing.
The underside of the Mini was hand sanded to make sure the surface was perfect before it was handed over to the paint team. Chris has tinted the RaptorGuard to match the colour intended for the rest of the body but is much harder wearing and more durable than normal paint.
Primed and Ready – Team C Racing Mini in Primer
March 16, 2022
The body shell and panels for the Team C Racing classic Mini has moved from the Bridge Classic Cars body shop to the paint booth ready to be shot in primer.
With the body and panels cleaned down thoroughly and masked up, Chris could begin the process of getting the classic Mini into primer ahead of its colour change. Several coats of primer were laid onto the body before it is taken back to the body shop to have more delicate sanding done to ensure the best finish on the shell for our friends over at Team C Racing.
Preparations – Preparing the Team C Racing Mini Shell
March 14, 2022
The Team C Racing classic Mini shell has been in with the Bridge Classic Cars paint and body team in preparation for its new colour scheme.
Our paint and body restoration technician Mauro has worked on preparing the classic Mini. The car arrived into us in grey primer, but the team have begun body sanding the entire shell to make sure that every curve and panel is in perfect shape before it finally gets its new colour.
The shell, after being sanded, has been taken into the booth and prepared for its next round of primer and sanding in the pursuit of perfection.
This Just In – Team C Racing Classic Mini
March 10, 2022
The newest arrival to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop at our Pettistree HQ is the first of the 3 classic Mini shells that the restoration teams will be working on for our friends at Team C Racing.
This car will be worked on by our paint and body teams to be transformed into a brown body/white roof classic Mini for Team C.
Keep a lookout on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more updates very soon on this classic Mini.
Coming Soon – Team C Mini’s
March 1, 2022
Continuing our relationship with Team C Racing, we are about to being the process of respraying 3 classic Mini’s for the local Mini specialists.
Firstly, the car finished in grey primer. This will be changed to brown with a white roof. A classic colour combination for a Mini.
Secondly, the black and red car. The entire car will be changed over to orange and a fibreglass bonnet fitted to the car.
Lastly, the white car. This will be having some bodywork carried out on the car before it is resprayed in a brand new white. This car is having a new front panel fitted and a rear quarter panel to make sure the body looks as good as the paintwork on top of it.
Anyone who knows of Team C will know they’re keen racers and true enthusiasts and experts when it comes to everything classic Mini. So, Bridge Classic Cars is happy to help and will be painting these 3 Mini’s over the next few weeks.
