Ready For Delivery
March 28, 2024
Our 2007 Land Rover Defender 110 is loaded in our trailer and is on its way to the lucky new owner.
Defender
Our Defender On Social Media
March 27, 2024
Our 2010 Land Rover Defender 110 was recently featured in a post by Georgie from GeorgieLostintheWild on Instagram. It looks great out in the wild
Battery And More Checks
March 21, 2024
Our 2007 Land Rover Defender was suffering from a battery drain which John traced back to the wiring to a relay. The wiring was modified
Our Defender
January 17, 2024
Our 2010 Land Rover Defender has been undergoing some work in the Bridge Classic Cars paintshop as Mauro has been painting the roof before polishing
Defender Improvements
January 11, 2024
The Bridge Classic Cars Defender has been having some work completed recently. Lydia sanded off the sharp edges of the rear bench to avoid any
Removing Interior Panels
January 8, 2024
Lydia removed the interior panels of our 2010 Land Rover Defender. The roof had to be removed for some bodywork to take place and the
The Bridge Defender
December 19, 2023
Our 2010 Land Rover Defender has officially become part of the Bridge Classic Cars team. Since it has been in the workshop, it has proven
The Mince Pie Drive
December 8, 2023
On 1st December 2023, we set off on a festive adventure across the Suffolk countryside – our first-ever Mince Pie Drive. The day dawned bright
Camping With Our Defender
October 3, 2023
There aren’t many better-equipped vehicles for a camping trip than our 2010 Land Rover Defender. Recently, Craig went camping with his family and, as you
Paint Repairs
September 29, 2023
The Bridge Classic Cars paintshop has been the home of our 2010 Land Rover Defender for the last few days. During its stay, classic car
Assessing Our Defender
September 18, 2023
Our 2010 Land Rover Defender has been in the skilled hands of classic car technician Jonn as he has begun his initial inspection and assessment
A Defender Arrives
September 13, 2023
Our 2010 Land Rover Defender has recently arrived in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop and it looks great! This will likely be a competition car
Land Rover Defender – The History Of An Icon
May 17, 2023
The Land Rover Defender is an iconic vehicle that has left an undeniable mark on the automotive industry. Renowned for its ruggedness, versatility, and off-road
Ready For Delivery
March 28, 2024
Our 2007 Land Rover Defender 110 is loaded in our trailer and is on its way to the lucky new owner.
Our Defender On Social Media
March 27, 2024
Our 2010 Land Rover Defender 110 was recently featured in a post by Georgie from GeorgieLostintheWild on Instagram.
It looks great out in the wild and we are very pleased she enjoyed driving it as much as we do.
Battery And More Checks
March 21, 2024
Our 2007 Land Rover Defender was suffering from a battery drain which John traced back to the wiring to a relay. The wiring was modified to bypass the relay which wasn’t needed. A permanent ignition feed was also fitted for the rear-view camera.
The car was then checked over before it is won on Tuesday.
During the checks, our other Jonn made the following notes:
Carry out inspection. Start repairs. Reverse lights still not working after new switch fitted. Remove multi plug and short out. Ignition on and reverse lights working. Remove switch from gearbox and grind away nut slightly so switch goes further into gearbox. Test switch plugged in but not fitted to gear ox. Operate and light works. Fit to gearbox and tighten. Test reverse lights, now working. Adjust hand brake via transmission brake shoe adjuster. Strip and remove brake pipes from across rear axle to replace.
Manufacture new brake pipes for rear. From rear flexis to calipers. Secure and cable tie Abs wiring to pipes. Remove bleed nipples and clean and blow out, refit. Inflate tyres and torque wheel nuts. Adjust washer jetvaim and test. Resecure trim around nearside rear door lock button.
Fit new rear wiper blade. Raise on ramp mp and strip rear flexi brake pipes. Corroded badly and unable to remove brake pipes from flexis. Cut front to rear brake pipes and chisel off bracket supporting rear flexis. Get Christian to make a new support bracket. Mount new flexis at axle end and secure to mount. Reconnect brake pipes across rear axle. Upon inspection found joiners for front to rear brake pipes on top of nearside chassis rail.
Manufacture new brake pipes to rear flexis. Fit each in turn shaping pipe as its fitted. Drill and paint new mount and fit and connect pipes at each end. Use small pieces of hose to protect pipes from chaffng and secure with cable ties.clear up area.
Top up brake fluid and free of all bleed nipples. With John’s help bleed brake system complete. Carry out pressure check. Tack weld weights back onto rear rpropshaft. Take outside and warm up. Carry out road test. Recheck all joints and connections on return and found small weep at nearside chassis joiner. Drain circuit and re flare original steel pipe on car. Reconnect and tighten. Re bleed circuit and pressure check. Ok this time. Carry out road test to fuel station and put £30 diesel in. Finish pdi, ok.
Our Defender
January 17, 2024
Our 2010 Land Rover Defender has been undergoing some work in the Bridge Classic Cars paintshop as Mauro has been painting the roof before polishing it too.
As well as the painted roof – for the rear panels, Craig chose a simple vinyl to match the existing interior colour, which really helped to brighten up the back of the vehicle as it was very dark. Lydia applied a thin scrim foam and then the vinyl, and stapled that to the back. She then refitted the panels and secured them with screws and cup washers. Lydia then had to refit the seat and the toolbox before Mauro helped her to attach the bolts to them.
Defender Improvements
January 11, 2024
The Bridge Classic Cars Defender has been having some work completed recently.
Lydia sanded off the sharp edges of the rear bench to avoid any future injury to passengers. She then sprayed the bare metal with black paint to finish.
While Lydia did this, Mauro primed the roof ready for paint.
Removing Interior Panels
January 8, 2024
Lydia removed the interior panels of our 2010 Land Rover Defender. The roof had to be removed for some bodywork to take place and the play lining in the rear was removed so it could be covered.
The Bridge Defender
December 19, 2023
Our 2010 Land Rover Defender has officially become part of the Bridge Classic Cars team.
Since it has been in the workshop, it has proven itself to be a true workhorse, so we had no choice but to make it a Bridge vehicle.
Now that it is all branded up, you might just see it on the road soon.
The Mince Pie Drive
December 8, 2023
On 1st December 2023, we set off on a festive adventure across the Suffolk countryside – our first-ever Mince Pie Drive. The day dawned bright but extremely cold and icy. We decided to still venture out, albeit with a smaller convoy than first planned. The Bridge Classic Cars team wrapped up warm and headed out (special mention goes to our friends Garry Catchpole and Derek Rush for joining us).
The idea behind our Mince Pie Drive was to take classic cars to several local residential care homes to bring nostalgia and festive cheer to the residents and staff. There were mince pies, kindly provided by The Bakehouse Bakery Woodbridge, and carol singing from Molly and me (sorry about that folks!)
We went first to Highlands in Woodbridge before making our way to Bucklesham Grange Care Home, where we were greeted by the lovely Amanda-Jane Frank, who introduced us to the residents. Several came out to have a look at our cars, with Derek’s BMW proving to be a favourite here. Luke Deal from BBC Suffolk came along to chat with us and see what we were up to. You can listen to that interview here.
Next, we headed to Glebe House in Hollesley. The residents were just having their lunch, and talk about a meal with a view! The mince pies were a very welcome dessert! Lastly, whilst chasing the last hour of daylight, we popped to our neighbours at Lehmann House in Wickham Market.
We are so humbled by all the lovely residents and incredible care workers we met on our Mince Pie Drive. It was so wholesome to be able to remind them of yesteryear by bringing along a spectrum of cars. There really was something for everyone.
We can’t wait to do more events like this in future.
Camping With Our Defender
October 3, 2023
There aren’t many better-equipped vehicles for a camping trip than our 2010 Land Rover Defender.
Recently, Craig went camping with his family and, as you can see from the photos below, our Defender looks very much at home in the great outdoors!
Soon to be available to win through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions, our Defender will be a great off-road capable vehicle for its lucky new owner.
Paint Repairs
September 29, 2023
The Bridge Classic Cars paintshop has been the home of our 2010 Land Rover Defender for the last few days. During its stay, classic car technician Chris has been repairing some areas of the paintwork.
In addition to some of these repairs, Chris also painted the chequer plates and made a new step to help get in and out of the vehicle. The front bumper was also improved and, as you can see from the photos below, our Defender is already looking great.
Assessing Our Defender
September 18, 2023
Our 2010 Land Rover Defender has been in the skilled hands of classic car technician Jonn as he has begun his initial inspection and assessment of this future competition car.
Chris has also been working on our Defender by undersealing.
A Defender Arrives
September 13, 2023
Our 2010 Land Rover Defender has recently arrived in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop and it looks great!
This will likely be a competition car at some point in the future but, for now at least, it will go through an inspection and assessment, have some minor changes made to it, and stay in our collection.
Defenders are usually very popular here so we are excited to see this one be improved before eventually going to its new home.
Land Rover Defender – The History Of An Icon
May 17, 2023
The Land Rover Defender is an iconic vehicle that has left an undeniable mark on the automotive industry. Renowned for its ruggedness, versatility, and off-road capabilities, the Defender has built a fan base of drivers and adventure enthusiasts around the world.
The Original Land Rover Is Born
The story of the Land Rover Defender started in the aftermath of World War II. Maurice Wilks, the chief designer at Rover, was inspired by the surplus American Jeeps used during the war. He saw an opportunity to create a similar vehicle for civilian use. In 1947, he sketched the first design for what would become the original Land Rover.
The Land Rover made its debut at the Amsterdam Motor Show in 1948, attracting a lot of attention. It was immediately recognised for its robustness, simplicity, and versatility. The original Land Rover featured a boxy design with a lightweight aluminium body and a robust chassis. It was equipped with a 1.6-litre engine and had permanent four-wheel drive, making it capable of driving over rough terrains with little issue.
Series II and III
The Original Land Rover went through several iterations and improvements and, in 1958, the Series II was introduced. The Series II featured more refined styling and a larger engine. It became increasingly popular as a commercial vehicle in various industries, including agriculture, military, and exploration.
In 1971, the Series III was unveiled, marking a significant milestone in the Land Rover’s history. It featured a more comfortable interior, improved brakes, and an upgraded suspension system. By this time, the Land Rover had gained a reputation as a reliable workhorse and was loved by farmers, adventurers, and anyone else who needed an all-terrain vehicle.
110 And 90
In 1983, the Land Rover One Ten and Ninety models were introduced, which marked the beginning of a new naming process which was based on the wheelbase length (in inches) of each vehicle. These models featured several enhancements, including better soundproofing, improved heating systems, and more refined interiors.
The Land Rover Defender Name Arrives
In 1990, the Land Rover Defender name was officially introduced, as a way to differentiate the rugged off-road vehicle from the more luxurious Range Rover models that were now being produced. The Defender continued to evolve, with the introduction of more powerful engines, improved suspension systems, and advanced safety features.
Throughout its history, the Defender has been associated with numerous expeditions and adventures. It has conquered challenging terrains across the globe, from deserts to snow and ice and everything in between. Its off-road capabilities, combined with its durability, have made it the vehicle of choice for explorers, conservationists, and outdoor enthusiasts in some of the harshest environments on the planet.
The End Of An Era
Despite its iconic status, the Land Rover Defender faced challenges in meeting modern safety and emission standards. After a remarkable production run spanning over six decades, the original Defender ceased production in 2016. This marked the end of an era for Land Rover enthusiasts, who mourned the loss of a true automotive legend.
A New Beginning
Land Rover recognised the significance of the Defender and the demand from its passionate fan base. In 2020, the company unveiled the all-new Land Rover Defender, blending the classic design elements with modern technology and engineering. The new Defender retains its boxy silhouette, rugged capabilities, and off-roading ability while incorporating advanced features such as all-wheel drive, advanced terrain response systems, and a range of powerful engines.
The introduction of the new Defender brought new life into the iconic nameplate, ensuring that the legacy of this legendary vehicle continues into the future. Even to this day, the Defender remains a symbol of adventure, freedom, and exploration, embodying the spirit of the original Land Rover.
The history of the Land Rover Defender is a story of innovation, endurance, and timeless design. From its humble beginnings as a post-war utility vehicle to its status as a global automotive icon, the Defender has captured the imagination of generations.
I am a big fan of the Land Rover Defender and we have had several come into the Bridge Classic Cars workshop which is certainly an exciting perk of the job!
Here’s to many more years of the iconic adventurer!
