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A Mustang Returns

April 5, 2023

After spending a bit of time in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop in 2020 for some minor repairs before going into storage at The Hangar,

Read More »

A Ford Cougar Arrives

February 13, 2023

We recently welcomed a Ford Cougar to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. These cars aren’t seen too frequently so we are very excited to have

Read More »

Fast Fords – From 1908 – 2023

October 19, 2023

Fast Fords have been a consistent part of the automotive industry for as long as most of us can remember. From the introduction of the Model T through to the newest electric models, Ford has always been a popular car of choice for racers and everyday drivers alike.

Ford Model T

The Ford Model T was introduced in 1908 and quickly gained popularity as an affordable and reliable mode of transport for its time.

In 1922, racer Noel Bullock entered a race with his Model T that he affectionately called “Old Liz”. As “Old Liz” didn’t have paint or a roof, spectators of the race compared the car to a tin can. After surprising many people, Noel and “Old Liz” won the race and the nickname for all Model Ts became “Tin Lizzie”

A 1915 Ford Model T in the Bridge Classics Cars workshop

Ford GT40

The 1960s was a decade when Fast Fords made a big impact on the track and road. This was when iconic models like the Ford GT40, originally designed to beat Ferrari at Le Mans, made itself famous. If that wasn’t enough, in 1966, Ford achieved a historic 1-2-3 victory at Le Mans, showcasing just how successful their Fast Fords could be in endurance racing.

Ford introduced the Mustang in 1964, which was hugely popular with the American public. It offered a combination of style and power that was unrivalled in its era. Models like the Shelby GT350 and GT500, with their thundering V8 engines, became legends in their own right. The Shelby Mustangs represented a golden age of American muscle cars and certainly made their mark in automotive history.

Ford Escort

In the 1970s, the Ford Escort RS1600, with its high-revving 1.6-litre engine and rally pedigree, became a symbol of Ford’s commitment to manufacturing practical performance cars. The Escort would dominate the World Rally Championship, and its rallying success would influence Ford’s performance-oriented models going forward, establishing a tradition of creating cars that worked both on and off the track.

Ford continued to evolve its performance lineup by introducing the Ford Capri, a sporty coupe that offered affordable speed and style. It found success in various racing series, including the European Touring Car Championship.

Fast Fords - Ford Capri
Fast Fords - Ford Capri
Fast Fords - Ford Capri
Fast Fords - Ford Capri
A 1983 Ford Capri 1.6 LS in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop

Turbocharging Fast Fords – The Mighty Cosworth

The 1980s saw the birth of an icon in the form of the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth. The Sierra RS Cosworth, designed in collaboration with Cosworth Engineering, was a rally-inspired car with a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine. A distinctive whale-tail spoiler and powerful engine made the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth an instant classic, both on the road and on the rally stage. The Sierra RS Cosworth claimed numerous victories in the World Rally Championship.

The Sierra RS Cosworth’s success led to the development of the Ford Escort RS Cosworth, another turbocharged legend that maintained Ford’s rallying dominance. These cars showcased Ford’s ability to combine performance and innovation, setting the stage for future fast Fords.

Ford Focus ST and RS

In the 21st century, Ford continued its legacy of performance with the creation of the Ford Focus ST and RS models. These hot hatches, known for their combination of practicality and performance were just as popular as the previous Fast Fords.

The Ford Focus RS featured a turbocharged 2.3-litre engine, all-wheel drive, and a drift mode, which allowed drivers to enjoy controlled oversteer on the track. This combination of power, handling, and agility earned the Focus RS a large following and status as a modern classic.

Ford GT

In 2016, Ford introduced a modern interpretation of its classic Ford GT supercar. The 2016 Ford GT paid homage to the iconic GT40 and its Le Mans victories. With a twin-turbo V6 engine, carbon-fibre construction, and a range of cutting-edge features, the new Ford GT was a true supercar in every sense.

The Ford GT made a triumphant return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2016, winning the GTE Pro class, 50 years after the historic 1-2-3 victory of the original GT40.

Looking to the Future: Electric Fast Fords

As the automotive industry evolves, Ford is not only committed to maintaining its tradition of fast cars but also adapting to new technologies. The Ford Mustang Mach-E, an all-electric SUV, is a prime example of Ford’s determination to blend performance and practicality with sustainability.

More electric models have been released and more are still to come. Let’s hope that the change from petrol and diesel to electricity doesn’t dampen the spirit of Fast Fords too much!

Win One Of The Iconic Fast Fords – Our 1991 Ford Escort RS Turbo

Bridge Classic Cars Competitions wants you to find your Levi jeans, your Ellesse sweatshirts and dig out the classic Reebok wedges from the loft and get behind the wheel of this, our 1991 Ford Escort RS Turbo Series 2.

Finished in A9 black, which according to the history file was refreshed in 2018, with the iconic grey Recaro sports seats complimenting its grey cloth interior, our Escort RS Turbo looks just as good, and as menacing, as it first did 32 years ago.

  • An iconic and nostalgic performance car for an entire generation
  • Recently refurbished Black paintwork with grey interior
  • A 1.6-litre engine with uprated turbocharger and supporting upgrades
  • Dyno print out from 2005 claiming 180BHP and 180LB/FT of torque
  • The perfect performance car to relive your younger days!
  • Limited to 4499 tickets
  • Bridge Classic Cars Pre-Delivery Inspection

Full details can be seen on the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website.

Fast Fords - Ford Escort RS Turbo
Fast Fords - Ford Escort RS Turbo
Fast Fords - Ford Escort RS Turbo
Fast Fords - Ford Escort RS Turbo

Mark 2 Transit In The Paintshop

September 25, 2023

Our Ford Transit MkII Tipper has spent some time in the Bridge Classic Cars paintshop with classic car technician Chris.

Chris has been prepping and priming the vehicle ready for it to be painted in the near future. This classic work vehicle continues to make good progress through its restoration with us.

Before entering the paintshop, our Mark 2 Transit spent some time in the fabrication bay with other Chris who made some repairs to the metalwork.

A Mustang Returns

April 5, 2023

After spending a bit of time in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop in 2020 for some minor repairs before going into storage at The Hangar, our 2016 Ford Mustang GT is back!

This time, it’s back for a very exciting reason…it’s now a competition car that will be won through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions.

Our Mustang is loud, it’s fast, and it’s an eye-catching car that will be sure to get a whole load of attention wherever it ends up. You can enter the draw to win this stunning muscle car once it goes live on the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website very soon.

A Ford Cougar Arrives

February 13, 2023

We recently welcomed a Ford Cougar to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.

These cars aren’t seen too frequently so we are very excited to have it with us. For now, it will be part of our personal collection but we are excited to see what the future holds for our Cougar.

The End Of The Ford Fiesta

October 27, 2022

Rumours have been circulating over the past couple of days that the Ford Fiesta will be removed from production soon. Ford has now confirmed that these rumours are, in fact, true and the Fiesta will be no more as of June 2023.

Since its introduction in 1976, the Fiesta has become a common sight on UK roads and consistently featured in the list of most popular cars in the country.

The Ford Fiesta has become something of an icon over the years and it is a highly recognisable car. With so many people having owned a Fiesta, been driven around in a Fiesta, or fallen in love with a Fiesta, this news will likely bring a sense of sadness. Fond memories of this little car will be commonplace and it’s hard to not feel that this is the end of an era.

Ford has said that the reason for the discontinuation of the Fiesta is linked to their “planned transition to an electric future.”

The statement from Ford states:

“As we get ready to transition to an electric future, we will discontinue production of S-MAX and Galaxy in Valencia, Spain in April 2023 and discontinue Fiesta production in Cologne, Germany by end of June 2023….We will introduce three new exciting electric passenger vehicles and four new electric commercial vehicles in Europe by 2024. We plan to sell more than 600,000 electric vehicles in the region by 2026, and the electric passenger vehicle production at the Cologne Electrification Centre will reach 1.2 million vehicles over a six-year timeframe.”

This statement also confirms the end of the Ford S-Max and the Ford Galaxy to make way for a new range of electric Ford vehicles over the next few years.

Whatever the reason, the Ford Fiesta is coming to an end so it’s time to say goodbye to the little Ford that made a big impact on the motoring world.

Ford Fiesta
Ford steering wheel

On Tour – Previous Bridge Classic Cars Projects on the Road.

October 1, 2021

First up on tour is the amazing 1969 Ford Escort Twin Cam that was cruising around Ireland on holiday with its owner. We worked on this very car earlier this year and it’s amazing to see it being used and enjoyed. Safe travels!

Next on the road is the 1960 Jensen 541S ”Prototype” which was taking part in Petit Tour in Belgium. This Jensen was in with us in 2017 and 2019 for a full restoration but it’s amazing to see it out and being enjoyed by its owner.

On the Straight and Narrow – Looking into the Steering on our 1967 Ford Mustang

September 23, 2021

This 1967 Ford Mustang isn’t like many others. This is a right-hand drive 1967 Ford Mustang.

That does make refurbishing the suspension and steering systems a little bit trickier. But, it’s nothing our in-house restoration technicians can’t handle. The conversion was done on the car prior to its history with ourselves, apparently done during the vehicles life done in the Phillipines.

Our Technician, Paul, has been slowly taking apart the steering rack in preparation to be rebuilt along with its suspension set up.

We are currently sourcing replacement pieces for the vehicle thanks to the detailed nature of the assessment on each component of this unique Mustang.

More paint prep for the Ford Capri.

August 27, 2021

As well as the exterior of the 1983 Ford Capri 1.6 LS being transformed in the body and paint shop, Lydia’s been getting pieces from the engine bay in a better state for re-painting. This piece was sandblasted to get the original paint and corrosion off in preparation.

Ford Capri goes monochrome!

August 26, 2021

It’s priming day for the 1983 Ford Capri 1.6 LS! But let’s go back to the end of last week for this blog post, when Matt was marking out with masking tape where he could spot dents were on the exterior of the car. He then masked up the front windows and sun-roof to avoid any damage, and began the process of sanding, filling and sanding again all over the car, using both a DA and block sander for the large areas and then using red scotch to go over the shiny bits lefts behind. The work has continued this week. It’s going to be a sympathetic paint job because we’re not taking the windscreen out, so can’t go all-out on it. Thankfully, Matt has found very little corrosion in the process.

Newly purchased, Ford Capri!

August 11, 2021

Here’s a car that a lot of people are fond of. Purchased by us today is this 1983 Ford Capri 1.6 LS! The bodywork on this car is fantastic, with no signs of corrosion underneath, the original cloth interior is in great condition for its age and it’s only had two other owners! Keep your eyes peeled on the happenings of this new purchase!

Ford Model T’s Rear Box Covers

June 29, 2021

Brian has made up some covers for the rear box pillars on our 1915 Ford Model T. He’s done this in the same style as the seats, making it out of leather and buttons to create this luxurious effect.

He began by making up buttons for the rear box covers, marking out the button holes and drilling them into the wood. He then fit wooden sections to the shelf so that it will stay in place and fit neatly onto the pillar. He then glued the foam to the wood and proceeded to cover the foam and board in the leather. Once that was done, he could then fit it to the Model T.

Ford Model T’s New Floor

June 25, 2021

We’ve recently recovered the floor of the 1915 Ford Model T in rubber rather than bare wood. Brian has done a fantastic job to make it look smart.

Ford Model T Interior Completed

June 24, 2021

We’re delighted to see that our trim shop specialists, Kath and Brian have finished the interior trim for our 1915 Ford Model T. They’ve covered the bench seats and battery box in the back and the bench seat in the front with this delicate and luxurious button pattern in a black leather.

Ford Model T’s Bench Seats

June 23, 2021

Our 1915 Model T’s front seats went down so well with its owner, he’s requested that we also cover the bench seats in the back with the same intricate hand styled buttoned leather. Being hand made, Kath and Brian need to work closely together to make sure that they mimic each others work as closely as possible.

Congratulations To Another Winner: Ford Anglia

June 18, 2021

We’ve just delivered Kevin’s 1959 Ford Anglia. Kevin tells us he’s been entering since our 1976 Triumph Spitfire, which was our fourth ever competition! Perseverance has paid off for Kevin, what a great win. Congratulations and we wish you many happy miles in your new Anglia!

Ford Model T’s Custom Battery Box

June 17, 2021

We’ve also created a cover for the battery box on our 1915 Ford Model T. Brian put together the foam and leather, and then added the buttons with make this beautiful dimpled effect.

Ford Model’s New Seats

June 10, 2021

Our 1915 Ford Model T has had some amazing new seats made by Brian in the trim shop. Tom had made the wooden board base and Brian worked on creating the elegantly finished leather.

Brian began by glueing the squab to the board and making buttonholes. He then fitted the buttons through the leather and attached washers to the back. Brian could then fit the cover before cutting the backboard from the millboard and cutting holes for the bolts. He then glued the leather to the backboard, turned it onto the back and glued it in place.

We’re also endeavouring to lengthen the bonnet catches as it is currently not closing correctly.

Ford Fiesta MK1 Looking For New Home

June 4, 2021

We;ve recently come across this MK Ford Fiesta – isnt it cool!

This lovely classic is up for sale and looking for a new owner, pop us a message if you fancy this as your next classic! It would make a fantastic practical daily.

The East Anglian Anglia’s Clean Up

May 28, 2021

Our 1959 Ford Anglia has had a thorough clean and polish and just take a look at what a difference its made! From a dull, dusty and sad Ford to a magnificent shiny piece of iconic Ford history! This East Anglian Anglia is ready to go, but what’s the next steps?

Take a look at the before and after:

New Seat Covers For Ford Model T

May 25, 2021

Kath has been tasked with making some new leather seat covering for the 1915 Ford Model T. The seats are relatively basic however fresh new leather will certainly brighten them up.

Kath marked out and measured the seats to be recovered as well as marking out where the sewn in diamond would sit, which she tasked Lydia with later making. She then looked into making some piping and how to adjust the patterns to accommodate the button holes in the square back.

Ford Model T Gets New Brakes

May 12, 2021

We’ve been working on getting this 1915 Ford Model T up and running again, starting with refreshing the brakes. On this age car, the brakes are drum and steel which are only located on the back. We’ve taken the wheels off the back right hand side to find they’re totally dry and looking well. We’ve refreshed the grease on the hand brake pivot point and reassembled it. On the opposite side at the back the brakes were full of oil, which is as expected as the oil in the axel runs to the left hand side. We’ve taken it apart and replaced the outer race on the bearing as well as fitted an oil seal inside. At the front we’ve refreshed the grease in the hubs as well as noted some wear in the king pin.

The Ford Capri’s Run-In With A Ladder

May 11, 2021

This stunning 1971 Ford Capri has had an unfortunate run in with a ladder that has left some small cosmetic grazes on its rear quarter panel. We’ve taken it into the capable hands of our paint shop to have a touch up so that it can leave looking brand new.

We’ve all been ogling at this stunning bronze example. The paint, a golden bronze, is otherwise spotless and the interior is well preserved and well-loved.

Early Ford Model T Barn Find In For Recommission

April 20, 2021

This barn find Ford Model T is a turn of the 20th Century classic. Dating back to 1926, this unique green Ford is part of local history, with its life both beginning and being in Suffolk as an agricultural and taxi vehicle, hence the unique green. Henry Ford famously said that “Any customer can have a car painted any colour that he wants, so long as it is black.“, making this green unique to work vehicles.

This Model T has had quite the life, being owned or looked after by the Potters for the majority of its life. In 1915, this Ford was delivered by train from Old Trafford and was bought by A.G Potter, who then supplied it to Mr Funden Self of Marlseford who used it for deliveries, provisions and as a taxi service once a week to Ipswich Market, an exciting journey from Framlingham at the time. Mr Self used it until he died. In the early 1930’s this Ford became the property of Mr Walker, Sir Colin’s father. It then remained in a barn until 1954 when A.G Potter was employed to look after and restore the car with the agreement that he could use it as and when he wished. In 1963, the car was used in A.G Potters Golden Jubilee celebrations where it was used to collect Lord Cranbrook in Great Glemham to perform the opening ceremony.

Mr Potter, who handed his beloved Ford over to us today for recommissioning, owns a selection of other classics including Ford Popular, a Willies Jeep and another Model T, this one being a black 1926 model. All of which have been stored in his barn at his house, making these classics almost barn finds.

You can read more about the history of the car, here:

The black 1926 Ford was his fathers who acquired it from Rv. John Waller from Walderingfield, who had, in turn, bought it new in 1926. The Waller family still reside in Suffolk. Both of these Ford Model T’s have spent their whole life in Suffolk and mostly owned by the same family. Such a sentimental and personal link to these cars is always lovely to see as their history and their stories become more tangible.

The Ford Popular is unfortunately in a great state of disrepair and cannot be restored however the Willie’s Jeep is in running order.

Resurrecting Classic Race Car Driving

February 15, 2021

Nestled in the centre of France, just a few miles from Clermont-Ferrand is a newly founded school of classic race car training: The Classic Racing Group.

Julien Chaffard, a young French engineer and enthusiast has set up the world’s first full-service curriculum school for open-wheel racing. The company consists of only 6 employees with all of them under the age of 30. The light and young energy reflects Julien’s laid back, easy to like aura. The courses allow engineers and enthusiasts to get involved and learn how to drive these classic machines.

The school hosts its classes in the nearby legendary Circuit de Charade which was the home to the 1965 and 1972 Formula One championships and has a history with Jackie Stewart, Jim Clark, and Jochen Rindt gracing its circuit with their victories. Close to the home of Michelin, the stunning track has been carved from the mountains and features dramatic elevation changes. Sir Stirling Moss, former F1 racing driver claimed, “I don’t know a more wonderful track than Charade.”

Their classes run through the summer, starting in spring and concluding in autumn. Within these courses, individuals learn how to drive and handle exact replicas of the much revered Formula Fords that were manufactured by the Crosslé Car Company, which won the European Championship in 1969. These replicas have been made by Crosslé itself which still stands as the UK’s oldest racing manufacturers. As well as these classes, participants are also welcomed into the Classic Racing school’s club house that’s decorated by timeless memorabilia and a luxury bar.

The school offer three types of programmes to racing enthusiasts; an ad-hoc styled track Day for those want a chance to sit behind the wheel of a classic single-seater, a Racing School for the more dedicated students who can join get involved in several events during the year, or a Competition Experience.

With the art and trade of classic race car driving, and in tern engineering, slowly dying out, the only way to resurrect it, is to involve the next generations. With much of the engineering found in these classic motors spurring the ground breaking mechanics of the cars we see on tracks today, the best way to advance the industry is to get involved in its past.

If you fancy your chance at becoming a classic race car driver, or are an enthusiast, we’ve got just the car for you! Our 1972 Original Chevron B20 72-2 is up for sale and is thought to be one of just a few in existence. You can view the car for sale here and take a look at our blogs about it here.

You can see the full interview with Petrolicious here as well as their stunning photos;

https://petrolicious.com/articles/this-is-how-a-few-20-somethings-are-creating-a-new-school-of-classic-racing

Check out the racing school’s website here:

https://www.classicracinggroup.com/en/home/

Stourbridge News – September 2020

September 26, 2020

Colin Dixon, winner of our 1966 Ford Mustang, has appeared in his local newspaper this week – The Stourbridge News.

Colin won the American muscle car through our classic car competitions site. He bought a single entry for just £7.50 which turned out to be the winning ticket!

Since then, Colin has been enjoying the Mustang with his wife Christine, describing the win as “a dream come true.”

For your chance to have a dream come true and win your very own classic, head to the competition site to check out our current prizes.

Is this Sierra really rarer?

September 23, 2020


This 33-year-old Ford Sierra Cosworth is set to fetch a cool £100k at auction because it’s claimed to be ‘the best one in the UK’ of only 500 ever made.

https://www.facebook.com/BridgeClassicCars/posts/3105893702867155

We only have to take a look into our archives and current competitions to see that Fords are becoming increasingly popular.

Earlier this year we ran a Ford Mustang competition where over four thousand tickets flew off the shelf and one lucky winner was handed the keys after spending just £7.50 on his ticket.

We also ran a draw to win a 1991 Ford Sierra Sapphire which only had just over 4,500 miles on the clock. Another incredibly popular competition prize.


Our latest competition Ford is our awesome 1979 Ford Escort RS2000. A similar low-mileage MKII Escort RS2000, also finished in Diamond White, sold at Silverstone Auctions in 2017 for a whopping £97,000!

So could this mean the estimation on this Ford Sierra Cosworth could well be accurate? We’ll have to wait and see..


If you don’t happen to have 100 grand burning a hole in your back pocket though, you could spend just £15 on a ticket for our 1979 Ford Escort RS2000 competition instead and join our many classic car winners. It could well be worth a small fortune if Fords continue to flourish!

Freddie’s In The Fast Lane

September 11, 2020

Our superstar marketeer Freddie put his ‘out of office’ on today and headed up to Norfolk for a track day.

Hosted by Car Chase Heroes, Freddie is spending the day in some exceptional company with a Porsche 911, a Lotus Cortina, a Ford MK1 Escort, a Jaguar E-Type, a Chevrolet Corvette, a Ford Mustang GT500, a Lamborghini Gallardo and a Ferrari 348.

Freddie’s having a great day, we can’t wait for him to get back to Bridge HQ and tell us all about it. Enjoy Freddie!

You Can’t Brake Her Spirit

September 9, 2020

After five long years of sitting idle, this fantastic 1953 Ford Transit was brought back to life by our talented engine mechanics here at Bridge Classic Cars.

This week, she’s has a full refurbishment of her wheels and brakes. The brakes kept sticking, so now the engine is running smoothly, it was time to get her wheels and brakes doing the same.

No one can break this little vans spirit now!

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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