Preparing the Spitfire for Raptor
Alan has been busy prepping the underside of our 1976 Triumph Spitfire ready for the Raptor treatment. He has applied an epoxy primer then seam sealed all of joints before covering in raptured.
Tag Archive: Triumph Spitfire
Welding, Grinding, And Painting
More progress has been made on our 1976 Triumph Spitfire. Classic car technician Rob fitted the left-hand rear wing and modified the rear wing door gap to give the correct clearance. The right-hand door gaps were achieved by cutting away the edges, rewelding and then grinding to get even shut lines. The front quarter valances were fitted to check the fit.
Rob found that the sill front closing panels didn’t fit correctly so these were removed and correct panels welded in.
Classic car technician Chris also had our Spitfire in the Bridge Classic Cars paintshop. He masked up the inner wings and painted them before they were put on the car.
Another New Arrival
Our 1969 Triumph Spitfire has recently entered the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
It has come to us for a full service and inspection, which classic car technician James has been doing.
Overall, the car is in good condition, although it looks like it may have been stood for some time. The engine oil and filter have been replaced along with the brake and clutch fluid. Then the brakes were stripped, cleaned and checked, again, there was some rust build-up, potentially from a lack of use.
A new distributor cap and rotor arm, along with points and condenser have been ordered, and the fuel filter was replaced as it was heavily contaminated. All fluid levels were checked and topped up where necessary, and grease points on the chassis and transmission were serviced.
Both the front seat mounting fixings were loose so James tightened these up, and the car had a good checkover in preparation for an MOT test. The only thing left to do now is the cooling system flush and new antifreeze needs to be added.
There are a couple of small issues that James identified such as the tyres which, even though they are still looking okay, are 10 years old now. The rear hub seals are weeping slightly and there appears to be some evidence of a brake fluid leak around the master cylinder area (cleaned off). There are also some minor oil leaks, possibly from the sump and gearbox casing, but otherwise, the car seems to have had new brake pipes and cylinders at some point so these are in good condition.
Fixing Spitfire Corrosion
Classic car technician Rob has continued his work on the restoration of our 1976 Triumph Spitfire. He has been repairing corrosion in various parts of the vehicle.
After focussing on the rear seat pan area, Rob strengthened the bulkhead in the spots where Spitfires have a habit of cracking. He did this by welding in strengthening plates before trial fitting the rear wings.
The corrosion around the boot aperture was cut out and replaced, and the American spec side marker lamp apertures in the bonnet were filled in.
Rob also welded the right-hand side rear wing onto the car.
Spitfire Progress
Our 1976 Triumph Spitfire has made some great progress in its restoration journey lately. The American spec chassis extensions have been removed and the lower chassis rails have been repaired. The rear of the chassis has been converted to European spec and various chassis brackets are in the process of being straightened. New chassis outriggers have also been welded into place.
Classic car technician Rob has mounted the body of our classic Spitfire back onto the chassis. The right-hand side floor, inner sill, and floor cross-member have been cut out. From there, the right-hand floor pan, inner sill and cross member were welded into the shell.
Rob repeated this on the left-hand side before cutting off the battery box and rear valance.
October 2, 2023 8:56 am
Stripping Spitfire Parts
Classic car technician Rob has been stripping parts from our 1976 Triumph Spitfire 1500. This is in preparation for them to be sandblasted before being painted or sand-coated.
Once the chassis and parts return from the sandblasters, the next phase of the restoration process can begin.
Stripping Down A Spitfire
Classic car technician Rob has been continuing his work on our 1976 Triumph Spitfire. He has been stripping down the chassis ready for it to be sandblasted.
The underseal was scraped off the underbody to ensure the best results possible are achieved during sandblasting. The doors of our Spitfire were also stripped down and the US spec side impact bars were removed and the doors were returned to European spec.
Finally, the rear wings were removed before the car left the workshop heading to the sandblasters.
The Restoration Begins
The restoration of our 1976 Triumph Spitfire 1500 has begun.
This is another exciting project for us as it is for a returning customer who currently lives in France. It is for this reason that the left-hand drive configuration will stay with the vehicle.
We have already restored three classic cars in our customer’s garage, and we are very much looking forward to making progress on the 4th. Undoubtedly, this one is going to be a stunning car when it is complete.
The restoration has been started with classic car technician Rob getting to work on stripping down the car.
September 1, 2023 7:40 am
Handmaking Classic Parts
When restoring classic cars, it can be difficult to get the exact part that you’re looking for.
This is exactly what happened when classic car technician Monty was looking to replace the door latch on our 1973 Triumph Spitfire. After ordering the part we needed (which was extremely difficult to find), it was found to be too small.
As another wasn’t available, Monty had to handmake a replacement.
In the photos below, you can see the original latch at the top, the purchased latch which was too small in the middle, followed by the one Monty made at the bottom.
This goes to show the level of skill that our technicians have in order to restore and repair the classic cars we work on.
Behind The Scenes With East Anglian Air Ambulance
The Bridge Classic Cars team recently spent some time at Bentwaters filming with some of the incredible crew of East Anglian Air Ambulance.
The shoot was for our latest classic car that has just launched on Bridge Classic Cars Competitions. This is a very special competition though as all profits will be donated to this life-saving charity.
We were extremely lucky to have the helicopter join us for the shoot, as well as getting to meet some of the skilled lifesavers that have saved thousands of lives in some extraordinarily bad situations. Watching the air ambulance fly overhead and land just a few feet away from our 1973 Triumph Spitfire and from where we were standing was an experience none of the team here will forget in a hurry.
As important as the shoot was to make sure we highlighted just how important the charity’s work is, while also demonstrating the quality of our Spitfire, it was a fun day out with a lot of laughing, and adults acting like children being so close to a helicopter!
East Anglian Air Ambulance is a charity that provides life-saving services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Since the charity first launched in 2000, they have attended the scene of more than 30,000 accidents and given critical care to thousands of casualties in need.
Spitfire Carpets
Classic car technician Brian has been completing some interior work on our 1973 Triumph Spitfire. He began by glueing the carpets back around the footwell cross members and then glued the footwell carpets in place too.
The tunnel carpet was fitted under the trim panel before Brian trimmed the binding on the cockpit carpet. He went on to add some extra foam over the tunnel area and repaired the gearshift gaiter.
Preparing Our Spitfire
We have a very special project coming up that involves our 1973 Triumph Spitfire. In preparation for this, classic car technician Jonn has been making sure it is ready to go and in full working order.
Jonn began his assessment by checking the lights and fluid levels before jacking the car up to check its tyres and brakes. All of these areas passed Jonn’s assessment. Grease was applied to any areas that needed it, and a small jubilee clip was fitted on the fuel hose to the carburettor.
The offside wing mirror was secured as Jonn noticed it was a bit loose. He also noticed that the nearside mirror had been bonded on previously. This was heated up to break the bond before the broken base plate could be looked at for repair.
Jonn also began investigating why the stereo powered on but does not appear to be functioning.
Spitfiring On All Cylinders
Our soon-to-arrive 1976 Triumph Spitfire 1500 will be undergoing a full restoration in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. This will actually be the 4th concourse restoration for one of our regular customers and we are very much looking forward to getting the work underway.
In preparation for this, we have sourced an English British Leyland engine that will eventually go into the car. As the car is left-hand drive and part of the American production run, it features the lower-performing American version of the engine which was limited somewhat due to emissions restrictions.
Before the engine goes into the car though, it will be recommissioned to match the future condition of our Spitfire.
May 4, 2023 12:47 pm
A New Arrival
Our 1973 Triumph Spitfire has recently arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. It will now be assessed by the workshop team before eventually becoming a competition car on Bridge Classic Cars Competitions.
During our travels around the country picking up and delivering classic vehicles, we visited Paul Williamson Cars up in Scotland who had the Spitfire in the showroom.
We have had several Spitfires in the workshop over the years and this one looks to be a great example.
Restoring A Spitfire
Another classic car will soon be arriving at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. Our 1976 Triumph Spitfire 1500 is coming to us for a full restoration.
This will be the 4th concours restoration for one of our customers. We will be working closely with them over the coming weeks and months to determine the final specifications of the registration. However, one thing that has already been confirmed is that it will stay as a left-hand drive vehicle. As it will be heading off to France once it leaves us, the current configuration is ideal.
We are looking forward to work beginning on our 1976 Triumph Spitfire very soon and we are sure it will look incredible once the restoration is complete.
Triumph Spitfire Brake Fluid
Classic car technician Jon has continued his investigations into the running issues that our 1977 Triumph Spitfire has been experiencing.
He bled the brakes of the car and noticed that two different types of brake fluid had been used.
Triumph Spitfire brake fluid is usually DOT5. However, when bleeding the brakes, both DOT5 and DOT4 were found.
DOT4 and DOT5 Brake Fluid
In very simple terms, brake fluid is responsible for moving the pressure from the brake lever to the brake pads. Brake fluid should lubricate the callipers, help prevent corrosion, and have a high boiling point. There are 4 different types of Brake fluid – DOT3, DOT4, DOT5, and DOT5.1
Each type of brake fluid has a different boiling point. If brake fluid boils, it forms air bubbles which increases how much it can be compressed resulting in poorer performance of your braking system.
DOT3 and DOT4 are the most common types of brake fluids used.
DOT4 brake fluid is glycol ether-based. It has a higher boiling point which is more stable than that of DOT3 brake fluid.
DOT5 is a silicon-based brake fluid and can withstand higher temperatures than DOT3 and DOT4.
As a general rule, it is usually a good idea to change the brake fluid in your car every two years. Obviously, this will depend on the amount of mileage you do but two years is a good timeframe to keep in mind. Brake fluid absorbs water over time so the longer you leave it between changes, the poorer your braking system will operate.
It’s worth noting that DOT3 and DOT4 brake fluid shouldn’t be mixed with DOT5. Doing so could result in brake failure. DOT5 is a silicone-based brake fluid so is not compatible with the glycol-based DOT3 and DOT4 fluids.
Our 1977 Triumph Spitfire Brake Fluid
When Jon bled the brakes of our Triumph Spitfire, it was clear that both DOT4 and DOT5 had been used. In the photo below, you can see that the DOT5 brake fluid has risen to the top while the DOT4 fluid fell to the bottom of the container.
Now the brake fluid issue has been resolved, investigations continue into this classic car’s running issues.
Investigating Running Issues
Our 1977 Triumph Spitfire came into the workshop for the team to investigate some running issues it was experiencing. Classic car technician Jon has begun looking into these issues and already found and rectified some of them.
The first thing Jon did was to charge the flat battery. He then removed and regapped the spark plugs. While doing this he found that the gap on 2 of the spark plugs was closed completely which could be a cause of some of the running issues.
Jon went on to remove and check the carb too.
The video below shows Jon making sure the static timing is aligned and that the rotary arm is pointing to cylinder 1 as it should. The video also shows the advance moving in the distributor when the vacuum is applied.
Behind the Scenes – Live Draw of the 1959 MGA Twin Cam & 1979 Triumph Spitfire
Our 1959 MGA Twin Cam and 1979 Triumph Spitfires have found their very lucky new owners in last night’s live draw. Let’s go behind the scenes…
For this live draw, it was just the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions team. At the closing time for tickets of 630pm, there were still 1100 tickets remaining on the MGA Twin Cam and around 400 on the Spitfire – which means incredible odds for those who had entered. But, none of us knew just who the new owners would be.
After the customary walk around of the cars in our new competition building, talking to our incredible audience on our live stream, it was time to find out who lady luck was smiling on last night. As always, we use a Random Number Generator in order to select the ticket numbers from the pre-published entry lists which are available to view before the draw.
First up was the stunning Inca Yellow 1979 Triumph Spitfire, one of the best sounding cars that we have ever had in with its upgraded stainless steel system, the sound matches its striking good looks. As the numbers were loaded into the random number generator, anticipation built. Then, with a wiring flash on the new big-screen monitor, the number appeared. 2170. This particular ticket was allocated to Neil James. The new, very lucky owner of the 1979 Inca Yellow Triumph Spitfire.
Without holding up proceedings, everyone wanted to know who was going to win the 1959 MGA Twin Cam. A car with possibly one of the best backstories we have ever had in. A true race car from its earliest days and then a classic sports car connection between a father, a son and a racing team. XLE40, the 1959 MGA Twin Cam has got an incredible history (which you can read about here). But, we were here to find out who its latest custodian was. Hayley input the numbers into the generator, and with a single click, the fate of the MGA Twin Cam had been decided. The screen showed 3476. The ticket number bought by Peter Leyland. The MGA Twin Cam’s new owner.
As a custom, we call the winners on the live stream. Unfortunately, Neil didn’t answer the phone. But Peter did. Hayley and the team had a chat with him, a true MG enthusiast at heart. He was overwhelmed with his new addition.
Soon, these two will be heading off to their new lives away from us with their wonderful new owners to adore.
Remember, you too could join the list of over 70+ people who have won with us. Head over to the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website and enter now!
March 4, 2022 9:08 am
This Just In – 1979 Triumph Spitfire
Bridge Classic Cars workshop at our Suffolk HQ have welcomed this absolutely gorgeous Mimosa Yellow 1979 Triumph Spitfire into our care.
This stunning 1970s convertible will go into our workshop for its full assessment by our in-house restoration teams and who knows, maybe you might see it at Bridge Classic Cars Competitions very soon…
Keep a lookout for more updates on the 1979 Triumph Spitfire.
January 19, 2022 8:34 am
Behind the Scenes – Live Draw of the 1972 Triumph Spitfire and REC Spitfire Watch
Bridge Classic Cars Competitions has given another lucky winner the chance to own their dream classic car. On the 13th of January 2022 on our Facebook page. The winner was announced live for all to see.
We began the live draw in our brand new workshop extension at our Suffolk HQ. A gleaming white and spacious setting to best show off the cars we will be bringing you very soon and maybe some special pieces we have in our workshop. As Hayley welcomed everyone joining us across the internet, the cars were laid out for everyone to see. Our 1964 Triumph TR4, the 1972 Triumph Spitfire and the gorgeous Aztec Gold 1976 Mercedes 350SL.
Also, in the new extension was something very special we have in at Bridge Classic Cars. The 1995 Dodge Viper RT/10. We wanted to give all of our followers a look around the car which is such a rare sight here in the UK, we need to show everyone.
Then, Craig showed everyone watching along around our restoration workshop. Projects we are working on for our amazing clients and also preparing the upcoming competition cars which hide amongst the other cars. We showed off some of our most incredible projects such as Fern Grey, the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster, and the ground-up restoration of the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1 which is also being worked on in the workshop.
But, it was time for the main event. Finding out whose Thursday night was about to get a lot better. First up was the REC Spitfire Watch, which thanks to the random number generator, was won by ticket 448. This ticket had been bought by Barry Marshall who will soon be receiving his incredible limited edition REC Watch. Finally, it was time for the big one. All of us discovering who was the lucky new owner of the 1972 Triumph Spitfire. As the number generator was reset, the comments began to flow in. Wishing each other luck and letting us know the stream was fully working and clear. Then, Hayley put in the numbers to be chosen between. And with the click of a single button, the fate of the Spitfire was sealed. It was now the pride and joy of Phil Holland, who had bought ticket 126.
As Hayley rang him, you could hear the excitement and surprise in his voice. He had owned a Spitfire in his younger days and couldn’t wait to relive those memories in his new Spitfire.
You can rewatch the live draw and the walkaround by clicking the link below!
Click here to rewatch the live draw of the 1972 Triumph Spitfire and REC Spitfire Watch
January 14, 2022 9:39 am
Behind the Scenes – Photoshoot with the 1972 Triumph Spitfire IV
The bright winters sun fell across the small, brightly coloured sports car as it sat on the south loop. The harsh highlights bounced off every surface that happened to get in the way of its rays. But, it couldn’t have looked much better.
As the car warmed up outside of The Hangar, it was in incredible condition. Having been obviously adored by its previous owner, the Spitfire’s large and vintage dials began to swing their way towards the middle which gave Freddie the signal that this classic sports car was ready to head down the runway towards its photoshoot. The paintwork was vibrant and shimmering in the December sun, just adding to the magic of this stunning car.
This is the 1972 Triumph Spitfire and it is the latest in the line of prizes from Bridge Classic Cars Competitions. And it could be all yours! Bridge Classic Cars Competitions gives everyone the chance to own their dream classic car just by buying a ticket.
And that is exactly what you could enjoy with this amazing classic Triumph.
Head over to the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions now and enter for your chance to win this stunning 1972 Triumph Spitfire IV.
December 15, 2021 11:58 am
New Arrival: 1972 Triumph Spitfire
This absolutely beautiful 1972 Triumph Spitfire IV has just arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop in Suffolk, UK.
The car will go into the workshop and be assessed by our in-house team of classic car restoration experts to begin working on a list of jobs that need to be done on this iconic British sports car. We do know that the exhaust is blowing so that will be one of the jobs that will be done by the team.
Keep an eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars blog for more updates on the 1972 Triumph Spitfire IV.
November 8, 2021 12:07 pm
Spitfire In For Service
Scott has been working on our 1971 Spitfire to identify the source of an oil leak. He discovered that it was the timing cover gasket so we’ve ordered a new part to fix it. Scott then had to fix the heater vent control lever as it was jammed and then look at a poor starting issue. Scott tried turning the idle speed up as it was very low. In doing so he noticed that some fuel lines had perished so he has replaced those too.
Spitfire’s New Hood
We’ve got a lovely triumph spitfire in at the moment that has had a new hood made up by our trim shop. This is the only modification we’ve done to this spitfire as its going elsewhere for the rest of its restoration journey.
Kath had to hoover out the back of the spitfire to prepare it for its new restoration work.
Kath first had to cut holes out of material to make the hood. The front latches have been screwed in place. Kath then bolted the hood frame to car and attached the rear plate to the hood with 3 fasteners.
The next stage was to fit stud button fasteners to rear body so that the hood can be secured in place. Kath then had to clip the cover around the hood bars inside, pull the front material over the header rail and clip in place.
A crucial step in this process was to leave it over night to stretch and then continue in the morning. Once everything was clipped down and glued in, Kath then had to fold back the hood to trim off excess material. She then riveted a metal channel into the rail and inserted a rubber seal inside channel.
Spitfire hood repair
We’ve been repairing the hood frame on our 1977 Triumph Spitfire. This involves straightening out the linkages and then drilling out old pop rivets. Once these steps have been completed, we ensure it fits back on the car without any further modifications.
Soft Spot For The Spitfire
We’ve had this beautiful 1971 Triumph Spitfire in for work before, so its nice to have it back in for another check-up! Unfortunately, the diagnosis is a blown gasket, but its no trouble for our skilled technicians. This red beauty will be back up and running in no time!
The blown gasket:
The new gasket:
Sealing up our Spitfire
Our 1971 Triumph Spitfire arrived with us last week with leaks all over the place. Ady, our specialist engine technician has been diagnosing the faults and working out what needs to be done.
“I’ve taken the sump off and taken the cover off the engine” Ady explains, “then cleaned an replaced all the seals”.
We won’t know until the engines all put back together if this has solved the problems, but we hope it has. Check back in again soon for what happens next!
October 2, 2020 8:52 am Leave your thoughts
Remove Rinse Replace Repeat
Our good friend Mary’s 1971 Triumph Spitfire is a little lighter this week as her engine has now been fully removed. Work continues to get her oil leaks and unusual noises diagnosed and repaired.
Our expert Technician Peter has cleaned and blacked the engine bay whilst the engines out. Hereafter work can begin repairing the engine itself.
The team have started with replacing all the lower engine gaskets and have sent the gearbox away to our specialist gearbox team.
Otherwise, there’s lots more planned on this little convertible sportscar. Including; fitting a new sump gasket, a new timing chain cover gasket, new valve cover gaskets and a new oil filter and fuel pump gasket.
Phew! That’s a lot to do! Looks like we have a busy time ahead with our little red Spitfire.
September 22, 2020 8:37 am Leave your thoughts
The Spitfire’s Spitting Oil
Our lovely little 1971 Triumph Spitfire is back with us to repair various leaks she’s developed over the last few months.
Her owner Mary has been bringing her jolly Spitfire to us for years, and we just love keeping her in tip top condition.
This time around, our expert classic car technicians had to completely remove the engine to locate several oil leaks.
Pete, one of our specialists, tells us about the work; “There were leaks from the engine and gearbox” he explains “it turned out a baring had gone in the alternator so we’ve replaced it.”
There’s still some further investigation to do on some strange noises coming from the engine. We’ll keep you posted with our findings…
September 17, 2020 3:31 pm Leave your thoughts
New Arrivals!
We’re always excited to see fresh classics arrive at our workshop here at Bridge Classic Cars. So, here’s a first look at the new arrivals joining us this week.
First up, it’s our 1996 Nissan Patrol. In for a paint job, re-chroming and body preparation.
Our 1958 Jensen 541R has arrived with us with gearbox issues. The specialist technical team are on hand to diagnose the faults and get her back up and running.
These Ford Escorts are both sitting comfortably at the Hanger in Bentwaters.
The light blue Ford Escort RS Turbo belongs to a customer, she’s being kept with us in our secure storage facility where we watch over many of our customers prized possessions.
The other is our very popular 1979 Ford Escort RS2000 that believe it or not, is a competition prize where one lucky winner will be handed the keys to this beauty! For more information on our competitions click here.
Lastly, this stunning 1971 Triumph Spitfire has come to us to sort a couple of problems out. Firstly, to investigate a strange noise coming from the engine along with fixing some oil leaks.
It’s great to follow a classic cars journey from their first day with us, to when we say goodbye.
Make sure you check back on our current projects page for all the latest updates on everything we’re working on at Bridge Classic Cars.
September 10, 2020 3:06 pm Leave your thoughts