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Snow Day – Our 1969 MGC GT in the snow and should you drive your classic in the winter

It’s a divisive viewpoint in the classic car world – Do you use your classic in the snow and clean it down afterwards or keep it tucked away?

Well, the cold weather was closing in on our Suffolk HQ this morning. As the snow began to fall across the surrounding countryside, some of our own cars which are stored outside whilst awaiting time in the workshop got a light dusting. One of those, was our personal 1969 MGC GT.

That’s what sparked this question. In period, these cars would of course have been taken out and driven in all weathers but as their rarity and age grow so does the scarcity in which they are used in the majority of cases.

During the cold snap a few years ago, I owned a 1972 Volkswagen Beetle 1300 and proved (if only to myself) that categorically it was the greatest all-terrain vehicle of all time. With no ABS, no power steering or traction control to interfere with driving and all its mighty 36BHP heading straight to the rear wheels with the weight of its flat-four engine sitting right above it, the grip was phenomenal as I drove on my hour long commute across the wintery Suffolk countryside on back lanes and B-roads.

But, it did pay a price. I forgot to clean down the wings and front edge of the pan which began to corrode. This would ultimately spread and caused me some more issues down the line. But, I learnt from that. Just like with a modern car, the salt and moisture will begin to cause damage and corrode components if left.

It’s not as noticeable with modern cars as it is with classics, perhaps down to the wider use of plastics and composites for body panels and trims or better weather proofing in modern paints and coatings but if left long enough for long periods of time, the dreaded bubbles start to appear…

Our customer cars do not go outside in this kind of weather. At the first hints of any rain or not ideal weather, they are brought inside for safe keeping and cleaned down instantly before being put away in the shelter of our workshop.

But it’s an interesting thought, do you use them in the winter or keep them tucked away?

Checking Over – Fixing Oil Leaks on the 1934 MG PA

As part of the scheduled checks on the 1934 MG PA, the Bridge Classic Cars workshop have been going through to get a couple of small oil leaks fixed on the car.

Jon, our technician, has gone through the bolts on the underside of the classic MG to cinch down all the gaskets and seals as we had noticed a few minor oil leaks underneath the car while it’s been in the building. With everything tightened down, the car could be run up to temperature and checked over.

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

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.

Back Together – Finishing the Service and Fixing the Carburettor on the 1957 MG A Roadster

The workshop at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on finishing up the service and carburettor rebuild on the 1957 MG A Roadster.

To start with, the team have installed the jet tube into the rear carburettor and installed the whole unit back onto the engine. As part of this, the team have also cleaned out and oil the K&N air filters to give the 1.8-litre 4-cylinder the best airflow and as part of its service scheduling.

After this was done and the carburettors were checked for leaks, which have been reported to working perfectly, the team could move on to adjusting the tappets.

The tappets and valve train were all inspected and adjusted to the correct specs before the rocker cover (complete with new gasket) was fit back onto the engine.

First Off – Servicing and Inspecting the 1957 MG A Roadster

The 1957 MG A Roadster is up on the ramps in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop at our Suffolk HQ for the team to inspect and service the classic roadster.

The team have worked through the car methodically, from front to back. Every suspension component and driveline piece has been checked over to make sure everything is working just as it should and is in good condition for the owner. This is also to try and find out the issue with the ride that the customer has brought up on the car.

Whilst carrying out the service, the team have also checked everything in the engine bay. The team did find a leak from the carburettors of the car which will be taken off and stripped down on the bench.

This Just In – 1957 MG A Roadster

Recently arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshops at our Suffolk HQ is this stunning 1957 MG A Roadster.

The car has come in for our team to work on in order to get it running perfectly for its owner. The classic roadster will be completely serviced and inspected while also carrying out an investigation into a harsh/rough ride the owner has reported to the team.

Keep a look out for more updates soon on the 1957 MG A Roadster here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page.

Ready to Go – Work on the 1971 MG B Roadster Ready to Head Home!

The Bridge Classic Cars team have finished up the final pieces of work on the 1971 MG B Roadster to get it ready to head off to its new home.

Previously, the team went to check the timing on the classic roadster only to find the fuel pump had died. This was removed and a new unit was sent out overnight to fit onto the car. While waiting for the new pieces, the team worked on getting the front-end of the MG B perfectly aligned and tracking straight and true.

The new fuel pump was fitted onto the car and the team could begin to check the hot start on the car. During that time, our technician Jon had to carry out a small, delicate wiring repair in the distributor. After this, the car ran absolutely perfectly.

Now, with everything finished up on the beautiful convertible, it was time for it to head off to its new owner.

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

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.

This Just In – 1971 MG B Roadster

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.

What’s the Story? – Why the MG A is a Sports Car Icon

Seeing as how our 1957 MG A Roadster is going to be won tomorrow, we thought we would take a look at some interesting facts about the MG A and why it is so important in the world of sports cars.

Firstly, the MG A was born with motorsports at its heart. In the years following WWII, MG wanted to be more involved in competition and gain a presence across the world at every level of motorsport. So, they began to develop sportscars with racing in mind which would ultimately lead to the creation of the MG A.

Another fact about the MG A’s past, it was always intended to be exported. Since the MG TD & TF’s, MG wanted more of a foothold in the American sports car market. Post-WWII, the Americans had experienced these new adventures in speed and handling thanks to the lightweight, nimble and progressive sportscars they had been exposed to during their time in Europe.

The MG A would be a new and radical departure from the pre-war and immediate post-war sports cars. Gone were the days of archaic and traditional handling, only to be replaced by new, modern ways of thinking. Fully independent suspension at the front for better control, and a new sleek and stylish body. Its chassis was an all-new affair, gone were the days of up-right and ‘traditional’ drivers positions – replaced with low-slung bucket seats for better feel.

Even the looks of the MG A are based in motorsport. The styling of the MG A was based on a 1951 Le Mans car. People were so taken aback by this new way of thinking and styling by MG that the car was green-lit for development.

So, in 1955 MG took the decision to debut its new sports car in full competition. 3 MG A 1500 Roadsters were entered into the 24 hours of Le Mans. 2 of the 3 cars would finish, proving their endurance and competitiveness.

From there, the legend of the MG A would only grow further. Beloved by club racers, speed junkies and back-road warriors throughout the generations. The MG A sits in a special place in a petrol-fuelled Shangri-La.

Now, it could be yours to experience all of this history, engineering and beauty rolled into one incredible bright red package. Enter now and you could win our 1957 MG A Roadster live at 7pm tomorrow night here on our Facebook page!

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

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.

Fixed Up – Replacing the Front Brakes and Rear Bushes on the 1972 MG Midget

The 1972 MG Midget has been in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop to have a few jobs carried out on out as part of its recommission.

The team have replaced the front discs, callipers and pads to brand new replacement pieces sourced by the team. Along with that, the cracked and perished rear bushes were removed from the car in order to also be replaced and set back into the leaf springs.

All of this has been done ahead of the car being collected very soon!

Up For Sale – 1972 MG Midget

The 1972 MG Midget which recently arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop has gone up for sale!

The classic MG has been checked over by our workshop who have noted a couple of jobs which will be done before the car is sold, the front brakes will be rebuilt along with new bushes on the underside.

The car is up live now eBay and our no fees classic car sales platform, MyClassics!

Delicate Work – Metal Repairs on the 1978 MG B GT

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.

On the Left – Body Repairs to the 1978 MG B GT

The restoration workshop at Bridge Classic Cars has been working on completing the repairs to the bodyshell of the 1978 MG B GT in with us for restoration.

The team have been carefully removing all areas of corrosion on the classic MG from front to back in order to get it into the best condition possible before it heads to our body shop for further refinements ahead of paint.

Each piece that has been removed from the car was used to template some of the handmade pieces which had to be created in order to fill the gaps caused by the corrosion. These were then welded into the car delicately so as to not create any warpage or movement in the surrounding areas.

Metalwork – Further Body Repairs to the 1978 MG B GT

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.

Drive It Day 2022 – Kersey Mill

All of the team at Bridge Classic Cars love our vintage and classic cars and motorbikes. That’s what sits at the core of what we do here. So, we always try to observe Drive It Day. And international day to celebrate the joy of getting out and driving our beloved classics.

For many years, we have gone to the Kersey Mill meet. And this year, our director Gordon took his newly finished 1934 MG Midget PA to the 2022 Drive It Day meet. Surrounded by countless classics from across our area, some of whom we know well and others we’re excited to get to know.

It is an event on the calendar that we always look forward to. So, take a look below for our full gallery from the 2022 Drive It Day at Kersey Mill.

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

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.

Progress – Body Repairs to the 1978 MGB GT Continue

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.

Delivering the Dream – The 1959 MG A Twin Cam at Its New Home

The team at Bridge Classic Cars Competitions have delivered the 1959 MGA Twin Cam to its excited new owner, Peter.

Peter won the MGA Twin Cam through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions and as part of every competition, we deliver their dream classic directly to their door. With such a special car, the team wanted to go along and capture the moment where the enclosed trailer ramp was dropped, and Peter saw his classic MGA Twin Cam for the first time.

You could be just like Peter! Head over to the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website and enter now for any of the competitions.

Back Together – Fitting the New Cooling System to the 1952 MG TD

The workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on fitting the new cooling system into the 1952 MG TD.

Jon, one of our technicians, has fitted up the new thermostat housing for the car to make sure the wonderful 4-cylinder engine that sits at the heart of the TD is cool. Along with the new thermostat, he made up new coolant hoses which have been routed and sized perfectly for the engine bay of the TD.

Fresh & Clean – 1957 MG A Gets a Viper Valet

The 1957 MG A Roadster has been treated to a full silver valet by the amazing team at Viper Auto Valet here at our Suffolk HQ.

Colin, the owner of Viper, carefully washed down the car to remove any contaminants from the paint before meticulously machine polishing to enhance the beautiful gloss of the vibrant red paintwork.

Viper Auto Valet handles the cleaning of our classics and makes them look absolutely stunning. Check them out by clicking here!

Before and After – New vs Old Carpets in the 1952 MG TD

With the brand new carpet set fitted into the 1952 MG TD, we thought we would show you a comparison of the original carpets and the hand-made set made by the Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim shop.

Each of these pieces was individually cut and finished by our team and fit into the car to get the best fit and finish possible, as we have with all of our interior work.

More New Pieces – Handmade Pieces for the Interior of the 1952 MG TD

The interior of the 1952 MG TD had had several more hand-made pieces crafted by the Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim shop.

Lydia and Brian have been working on completely replacing the carpet set in the classic MG with new material in the closest colour possible to the original. Each of the pieces for the car has been measured and made from the original pieces as a template in order to achieve the best fit. Countless times each individual part was test fit into the car before being hand edged and bound.

Recent Visit – Winner of the 1952 MG TD Visits the Bridge Classic Cars Workshop

The recent winner of the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions 1952 MG TD stopped by the Bridge Classic Cars workshop to check out his new car.

Alan and his partner Danusia made the trip from just North of London to our Suffolk HQ to have a look a the classic MG which Alan had won on the previous live draw but also to try out the fitment of the car. The TD’s aren’t the most spacious of cars and with Alan being well over 6ft tall he wanted to double-check he could actually fit in his new classic.

After meeting Gordon, our director, who showed him around the car Alan tried out his 1952 MG TD for the first time. And unfortunately, he didn’t fit in the car. So, we are advising him on what to do with his new car and benefits both himself and the beautiful car.

This Just In – 1974 MGB GT V8

This stunning 1974 MGB GT V8 has just arrived into the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshops at our Suffolk HQ.

The car has come for various bits and pieces such as an oil change for both the engine and gearbox, a coolant flush and an MOT. But the team have also been asked to have a look into some electrical issues with the car which cause the car to suddenly lose power.

The team will look into the electrical issue to begin with on the car and assess the entire car to make sure everything is 100% on such an iconic classic sports car for its owner.

Keep an eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more on the 1974 MGB GT V8.

Behind the Scenes – Photoshoot with the 1957 MGA Roadster For Sale

The stunning 1957 MGA 1500 Roadster in with Bridge Classic Cars has been photographed by the team here at Bridge ahead of being put up for sale on our new online classic car sales platform MyClassics.

With the weather near enough perfect, Nick set out to shoot the classic MG Roadster at our secure storage facility The Hangar. The vintage Roadster was brought out of The Hangar and moved into position on the pad for its photoshoot.

The car is even more beautiful in person. Finished in vibrant red with its contrasting white hardtop and sitting on wire wheels with disc brakes on the front and drums on the back it looked perfect in the late winter sunshine. The interior is one of the most characterful we’ve come across. The seats show age cracks and the red has darkened over time to give a beautiful contrast against its exterior. The beige harnesses that drape across the leather make the car feel as racy as it looks and being fitted with a later 5-speed gearbox helps this MGA become a car for all occasions.

The car has been entirely inspected by our restoration workshops, where only a minimal carburettor set-up was required to have it running perfectly. The car was restored in the late 1990s and bought by its previous owner after searching for what he deemed to be the most perfect MGA in the UK, and was found at a Lotus Main Dealer in Henley. The optional white hardtop is in good condition and allows that extra level of confidence should the weather turn on a Sunday blast or to cut down the wind noise on a cross-continent jaunt however the beige soft top on the car is in fine condition with minimal marking and little to no tears or fraying.

The car is now for sale on the all-new Bridge Classic Cars online sales platform MyClassics. An online sales platform where there are no fees for buying and no fees for selling your classic inside a community of like-minded enthusiasts.

To view the beautiful 1957 MGA 1500 Roadster for sale by Bridge Classic Cars on our MyClassics platform, simply click the link below.

Click here to view the 1957 MGA 1500 Roadster for sale on MyClassics.

Careful Cutting – Working on the Clock & Radio Panel of the 1968 MGC Roadster

The trim shop at the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ have been working on finishing up the interior of the 1968 MGC Roadster.

Brain, one of our trimmers, has been carefully cutting out a new hole to fit up the new clock into the dashboard of the classic and rare MGC. The panel had to be clamped down and the new wood veneer laid over the top to use as a template to mark out the piece.

Once the piece had been marked out, Brian carefully drilled out the new clock opening and finished it by hand. Now that this was complete, he could begin to secure the veneer to the panel.

After the adhesive had cured completely, he could fit the panel into the car and secure everything down into the car.

Unpicked – Deconstructing the Rear Seat of the 1978 MGB GT

The trim team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on very carefully unpicking and deconstructing the rear seat of the 1978 MGB GT.

Brian carefully unpicked all the stitching of the rear seat in order to assess and inspect the piece.

He also has been making new straps for the car out of handpicked leather to suit the rest of the cars interior.

Update – Progress on the 1968 MGC Roadster

The 1968 MGC Roadster in the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop at our Pettistree HQ has had a series of key jobs finished on the classic roadster.

Jon has been working on getting the MGC Roadster sorted for its new life. Ranging from the engine bay, under the dash and the wheels.

The first job was to fit up the new hoses which lead to the breather tank in the engine bay of the car. This is vital that any excess oil or any fumes are routed into a separate tank. There are several vent tubes associated with the 6-cylinder engine that are required to be routed to the catch can.

Next, he began to look into getting the heater cable fixed in place and linked up to the controller/dial on the dashboard of the MGC. With everything linked up, Jon could test the heating system in the cabin of the classic MGC.

A crucial job that needed to be done on the car was replacing one of the wheel bearings. Jon noticed that the wheel was making some small noises and allowed for some small movement back and forth when rocked.

With all of this done, the car can be completely road tested and signed off.