Bridge Classic Cars have the honour of being the current caretakers of the incredible 1905 Riley 9HP believed to be one of only three remaining in the world. The car has many unique brass pieces which make up its antique charm. These irreplaceable pieces are being documented and catalogued ready to be sent off for […]
Some of the coachwork for the 1951 Riley RMB that is in with Bridge Classic Cars for restoration has been sent off to a local joinery specialist to be remade in brand new timber. The wooden components of the Riley were in a bad way. Thankfully, Bridge Classic Cars have many local specialists around us. […]
James has been continuing with the bodywork of the 1951 Riley RMB that is in at Bridge Classic Cars for restoration. Our in-house fabrication team have had the rear wing of the Riley on the workbench to carry on with replacing the areas that needed attention. Many of the flanges and construction have issues, whether […]
Here at Bridge Classic Cars, we have some of the best fabricators in the business we believe. One of the best showcases of this is the incredible work that our in-house fabricator, James, has done on the 1951 Riley RMB. James has tried to use as much original material as possible during the restoration of […]
The frame for the 1951 Riley RMB that is being restored at Bridge Classic Cars has just arrived back from its appointment with an acid bath. The chassis had been stripped back in-house but was recommended to be chemically treated by a specialist so that our in-house fabrication team could look into the true condition […]
The doors on the 1951 Riley RMB have got some beautiful wooden trims inset around the window openings. Sometimes it’s best to leave things like carpentry to the specialists who know and understand the material they’re working with more than anyone else. So, the doors have been sent off to local joiners Ashbocking Joinery to […]
Our master fabricator James has been busy in the Bridge Classic Cars fabrication shop carefully and methodically recreating the windshield surround on the 1951 Riley RMB. Using traditional shaping methods, James has recreated the original tops of the cowl/windshield surround. The shape is complex with many compound curves and edges but that is no trouble […]
With a car as intricate and flowing as the 1951 Riley RMB, it’s important that our in-house metalwork craftsmen at Bridge Classic Cars apply all their skills and knowledge to ensure each flow, curve and line are exactly right on the car. Highlighted in this post is the extensive work our fabricator James has done […]
6am this morning and a lovely collection of classics welcomed Craig to Ufford Park Woodbridge. Assuming the owner’s were enjoying an overnight stay and unless an amazing coincidence probably all knew each other. Not sure whether the classics belong to a club or just a group of friends out for a road trip but lovely […]
We’ve just received the chassis to our yellow 1951 Riley back from the sandblasters. With all the rust off, we can now start to build it back up.
Scott has been fitting the newly relined brake shoes to our Riley Monaco. This has cured the squealing brakes and has now gone back to its owner.
James has been working to dismantle our yellow 1951 Riley and fabricate a new vent panel.
Currently, we’re doing a lot of research into our 1951 Riley as the restoration of it will need a lot of multi-trade skills from woodwork to metalwork. Lydia has been cleaning off the glue and paint from the panels. Once we’ve got the detail blueprints back, we can start to measure up the new parts […]
Scott has been working on our Riley Monaco to remove the brake shoes so that they can be sent off for relining with a softer material. He’s also fitted a lager rubber block to the clutch pedal to make it more easily accessible for the driver.
Pricey has been burning off leftover under-sealer and old paint before it goes to sandblasting. He then scrapes it off so that as little is left as possible.
Scott has begun to take apart the brakes on our 1934 Riley Monaco to determine the issue. He’s stripped the brakes down and checked them over, cleaned and greased them. He discovered that they still squeaked, so he filed the leading edge of the shoes to a chamfered edge. Unfortunately, Scott found that the squeaking […]
This 1934 Riley Monaco has come in to address the squeaking brakes, which are making rather severe noises. We’ll start taking them apart to see what the issue is.
We’ve started on the restoration on our Riley which is in for body refurbishment and paint. Currently the fabrication bay have taken the body from the chassis and started to strip the wooden frame. Once everything has been stripped and refurbished, we will then endeavour to repaint the body.
Our 1953 Riley RMS has been completed, having had its overdrive removed and it now awaiting collection from the client.
Our lovely 1953 Riley which broke down recently is currently being stored up at Bentwaters whilst we wait for the parts to come back. This poor classic unfortunately broke down due to loosing drive. We’ve taken the overdrive out and found that the coupling between the gearbox and overdrive was sheered. After repairing the coupling, […]
This beloved Riley RMS has come in after being recovered from a break down. We understand that driving a classic can be a labour of love and at some point, you’re going to break down, but that’s what we’re here for! This Riley will be back on the road in no time. We’ve worked on […]
As the story goes; the car was discovered having been stored in what looked to be a purpose-built building to hide the car during wartime. Whether this was to protect the car from any war damage or to hide it away from sight. Bought recently by Bridge Classic Cars to restore at leisure is our […]
Our 1953 Riley RMS initially came in with some alignment issues with the bonnet and side panels however we discovered that the handbrake was sticking. To try and resolve this, Scott stripped the rear brakes, cleaned and greased where necessary and then cleaned up and re-greased the compensator as it was sitting too tight. Scott […]
The owner of this fabulous 1953 Riley came to Bridge Classic Cars fearing the worst. The thermostat was showing severe overheating, often connected to a blown head gasket, which can be a huge expense. Luckily, the specialist technicians in our workshop quickly diagnosed the fault. “It was actually just the thermostat that was stuck,” explains […]
The 1926 Riley Merlin Nine Briggs came to us with a rigid exhaust pipe. Eventually, the natural movement of the engine would lead it to break. Our specialist classic car technician Dave has built her a new, more flexible, exhaust pipe. “A rigid exhaust pipe would eventually break the exhaust manifold,” explains Dave. “I’ve now […]
Bridge Classic Car’s Directors, father and son team Gordon and Craig visited the British Motor Museum this week on one very specific mission – to learn all about their 1905 Riley 9HP. The museum is home to what is believed to be one of only three 1905 Riley’s in existence. Gordon and Craig were invited […]