The Porsche Owners Club
March 27, 2023
We recently welcomed the Porsche Club GB to The Atelier at Bridge Classic Cars. Having more than 30 Porsches parked up outside while members of
News
An Evening With Ed Stafford
March 27, 2023
On Saturday 25th March, we hosted an evening with Ed Stafford in The Atelier at Bridge Classic Cars. The night saw more than 100 people
The Rebuild Begins
March 27, 2023
Now that our 1996 Rover 220 Turbo has been painted, classic car technician Mauro has begun the process of putting it back together again. Before
Paint Prep
March 27, 2023
Our 1964 Daimler 250 V8 has been going through its preparation for paint with classic car technician Scott. Scott removed all the brightwork and trim
Top Gear Filming Paused
March 24, 2023
The BBC has announced that filming of series 34 of Top Gear has been halted following Freddie Flintoff’s crash back in December. The accident happened
A Successful Club Meet
March 24, 2023
Yesterday, we welcomed the Essex Austin Seven Club into The Atelier at Bridge Classic Cars. It was great to see the members of the club
In The Workshop – 1980 MGB GT
March 24, 2023
Everyone here at Bridge Classic Cars loves an MGB. With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that another one has recently arrived
Thunderbirds are go!
March 24, 2023
A 1956 Ford Thunderbird has just come into the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. The owner of this classic Thunderbird has brought the car to us
Welcoming A Ford Sierra
March 24, 2023
We have recently welcomed our 1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 into the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. This all-wheel-drive classic Sierra was designed to be a more
A Classic Frogeye
March 24, 2023
Another stunning car has arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop in the form of our 1958 Austin Healey Sprite, commonly known as the Frogeye
Entry Is Open – 1987 Porsche 928 Series 4
March 23, 2023
Tickets are now available for our 1987 Porsche 928 Series 4. This is a fantastic example of the transaxle grand tourer that offered a more
Another New Arrival
March 23, 2023
Our 1969 Morgan 4/4 1600 has just arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. It comes from just 2 previous owners and has covered a
A Lotus Elise Arrives
March 23, 2023
A very special Lotus Elise has recently arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. Our 1998 Lotus Elise S1 comes from only one previous owner
Work Begins On A New Arrival
March 23, 2023
Our 1937 Vauxhall 25 Wingham Cabriolet recently arrived in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, and work has already begun on this rare but extremely eye-catching
Waiting For Its New Owner
March 22, 2023
Our 1974 Triumph Stag has been successfully delivered to the NEC in Birmingham ready for the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show Sale this
The Ford Capri Is Coming Back!
March 22, 2023
The Ford Capri is making a return to the world of motoring and is expected to go on sale next year. However, things will be
New Shocks For Our Suzuki
March 22, 2023
The new shocks for our 1984 Suzuki GSX 400T have finally arrived! To make them fit as they need to, a new upper mount will
2 Classics Go Home
March 22, 2023
Our 1986 Daimler DS420 and our 1970 Bristol 411 have left the Bridge Classic Cars workshop and are now on their way back to their
Restoring A Spitfire
March 22, 2023
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
Just Launched – 1979 Austin Morris Mini 850
March 21, 2023
Our 1979 Austin Morris Mini 850 is now live on the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website. After spending time in the Bridge Classic Cars Paint
Rebuilding A Jensen 541R
March 21, 2023
Classic car technician Rob has continued his work on our 1959 Jensen 541R. He has made and fitted the bulkhead heat shields, as well as
Rolls Royce Is Going To The Moon
March 21, 2023
Rolls Royce has been given funding from the UK Space Agency to continue its research into how nuclear power could be used to support a
Brake Issues
March 21, 2023
One of the issues classic car technician Steve has found with our 1980 Talbot Sunbeam Lotus is that there was no brake fluid going to
Back To Metal
March 21, 2023
Classic car technician Al has been stripping our 1976 Aston Martin AMV8 back to bare metal in preparation for a new coat of paint. After
Our MGB GT Delivered
March 20, 2023
Lucky winner, Michael Bambridge took delivery of his 1968 MGB GT recently. Michael won this beautiful classic car when his ticket number, 2232, was randomly
Brakes And More
March 20, 2023
All of the brakes on our 1970 Jaguar E-Type Series 2 have been bled by classic car technician John. After bleeding the front brakes, John
Working On A Classic MGB
March 20, 2023
Our 1975 MGB GT V8 has been in the hands of classic car technician Steve. He has been fitting new poly bushes to the front
Painting Daimler Parts
March 20, 2023
Classic car technician Mauro has been painting parts of our 1964 Daimler 250 V8 including the front suspension frame. This classic car has been in
The Ferrari Roma Spider Is Here
March 17, 2023
The brand new Ferrari Roma Spider has been revealed – and it certainly seems to be causing quite a stir. This 612bhp V8 convertible supercar
The Next Generation Of Classic Car Restoration
March 17, 2023
To some people, the classic car world is one that will eventually die out as the automotive industry continues to move forwards at a blistering
The Porsche Owners Club
March 27, 2023
We recently welcomed the Porsche Club GB to The Atelier at Bridge Classic Cars. Having more than 30 Porsches parked up outside while members of the club enjoyed a coffee and a chat before having a personal tour of the workshop was something that everyone here enjoyed just as much as our guests.
Thank you to all of the members of the Porsche Owners Club that attended, it was a fantastic morning spent with you and we hope you come back and see us again very soon.
Several car clubs are coming to visit The Atelier like the Porsche Owners Club did, and we are equally as excited to welcome all of them to Bridge Classic Cars.
If you are interested in holding a club meeting in The Atelier at Bridge Classic Cars, please contact lily on events@bridgeclassiccars.co.uk or check out our Events page for an up-to-date list of what’s happening.
An Evening With Ed Stafford
March 27, 2023
On Saturday 25th March, we hosted an evening with Ed Stafford in The Atelier at Bridge Classic Cars.
The night saw more than 100 people join us to hear Ed talk about his adventures, his life, and his current and future projects. It was such a great experience to listen to the exciting and inspiring stories from the man himself and we are extremely grateful to Ed for being so open and honest with us and the audience.
From hearing about becoming the first person to ever walk the length of the Amazon River and being arrested and threatened with death along the way, to living on an uninhabited Pacific island in complete isolation, to family life with his wife and children, Ed shared so much that everyone in attendance couldn’t help but feel even more connected to him than they did to begin with.
Also on the night, we found the winner of Ed’s 2015 Land Rover Defender 110. The lucky winner was randomly selected during our live draw that Ed joined in with. The Defender was very popular and sold out while he was on stage.
Everyone here at Bridge Classic Cars had a fantastic evening and we loved welcoming so many faces, both new and old, into The Atelier. As the event was designed to be an intimate evening, the audience could speak to Ed and take photos with him. Many books were signed and even more selfies were taken!
A big thank you goes out to everyone who attended An Evening With Ed Stafford and thanks to Ed for being such an amazing guest.
We will be hosting more Evening With… events throughout the year including our Evening With Martin Donnelly, Formula 1 legend on Saturday, 20th May 2023 and we are very excited to welcome more of you to Bridge Classic Cars very soon.
The Rebuild Begins
March 27, 2023
Now that our 1996 Rover 220 Turbo has been painted, classic car technician Mauro has begun the process of putting it back together again.
Before painting, a lot of the components were removed to ensure the paint job was completed to the high standards that our technicians work to. Once everything is back on the car, it will be a great-looking vehicle and we are very much looking forward to seeing it continue to progress through the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
Paint Prep
March 27, 2023
Our 1964 Daimler 250 V8 has been going through its preparation for paint with classic car technician Scott.
Scott removed all the brightwork and trim ready to be fully prepped for a new coat of paint. Before our classic Daimler is finished in the paint shop, Scott also cleaned all the items he removed so they are ready to go back on the car once painted.
The front axle was reassembled and fitted back onto the car too.
Top Gear Filming Paused
March 24, 2023
The BBC has announced that filming of series 34 of Top Gear has been halted following Freddie Flintoff’s crash back in December. The accident happened while Freddie was driving a Morgan Super 3 which is an open-top 3-wheeled sports car.
Although this doesn’t mean Top Gear is no more, it certainly indicates that a likely outcome of the situation is the program no longer being made. The BBC has said that a final decision on how best to continue will be made later in the year.
Freddie was hospitalised after the accident and is reported to have suffered broken ribs and facial injuries. The show has been in the news several times over the years due to presenters getting injured – most notably, former presenter Richard Hammond’s 2006 crash while driving a jet-powered car at around 300mph. Richard suffered a frontal lobe brain injury and was in a coma before eventually recovering. However, the TV personality has indicated that he still suffers some side effects from the injuries he sustained in the accident.
A Health and Safety review will take place before any final plans are made but it would appear that something needs to change to prevent even more serious incidents from occurring.
Top Gear has been an incredibly popular show for the BBC and has versions of it made in countries all over the world. If it does indeed end up being axed, it would likely be a tough decision for the broadcaster to make.
In a statement, the BBC said “Under the circumstances, we feel it would be inappropriate to resume making series 34.”
“We have sincerely apologised to Freddie and will continue to support him with his recovery.”
“We understand this will be disappointing for fans, but it is the right thing to do, and we’ll make a judgement about how best to continue later this year.”
It would be a shame for many people if this does prove to be the end for Top Gear. Hopefully, an alternative solution can be found but, for now, at least, Top Gear is on hold indefinitely.
A Successful Club Meet
March 24, 2023
Yesterday, we welcomed the Essex Austin Seven Club into The Atelier at Bridge Classic Cars.
It was great to see the members of the club spending time with us enjoying coffee and snacks before getting to have a look behind-the-scenes of the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, as they had a tour of our facilities.
We always enjoy hosting car clubs. With several others already booked in, we are looking forward to seeing more of you in the very near future.
In The Workshop – 1980 MGB GT
March 24, 2023
Everyone here at Bridge Classic Cars loves an MGB. With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that another one has recently arrived at the workshop.
This stunning orange 1980 MGB GT is certainly an eye-catching car and we know that it will be a popular addition to someone’s garage in the near future. Until then though, it will spend a bit of time with the workshop team making sure everything is as it should be.
Thunderbirds are go!
March 24, 2023
A 1956 Ford Thunderbird has just come into the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
The owner of this classic Thunderbird has brought the car to us to investigate and resolve a number of issues that they have been experiencing. Some of the work that will be completed on the vehicle includes replacing the starter motor, changing the spark plugs, modifying the battery box, and some small areas of paintwork.
As you can see from the images below, our 1956 Ford Thunderbird is a fantastic-looking car and the work being undertaken will make sure it stays on the road for as long as possible.
Welcoming A Ford Sierra
March 24, 2023
We have recently welcomed our 1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 into the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
This all-wheel-drive classic Sierra was designed to be a more affordable practical sports car that could be used in all seasons. When compared to its competitors at the time, the Sierra had great grip, a well-balanced chassis, and impressive speed.
Our 1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 looks great and, once it’s been assessed by the workshop team, an exciting future is planned!
A Classic Frogeye
March 24, 2023
Another stunning car has arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop in the form of our 1958 Austin Healey Sprite, commonly known as the Frogeye thanks to its prominent bonnet-mounted headlights.
After initially being supplied to America, it came back to the UK in 1963. The previous owner has owned the car since 2008 and has completed various modifications to the engine and gearbox to help make it more usable on modern roads.
Our 1958 Austin Healey Sprite is a beautiful classic car and we are very excited to have it with us in the workshop.
Entry Is Open – 1987 Porsche 928 Series 4
March 23, 2023
Tickets are now available for our 1987 Porsche 928 Series 4.
This is a fantastic example of the transaxle grand tourer that offered a more usable and practical version of the Porsche 911. Finished in Grand-Prix white with a black leather-trimmed interior, our 928 has a 5-litre V8 that generates 320bhp.
If you have always wanted your very own Porsche, then this is your chance to win our 1987 Porsche 928 Series 4.
All the information you need can be found on the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website.
Another New Arrival
March 23, 2023
Our 1969 Morgan 4/4 1600 has just arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. It comes from just 2 previous owners and has covered a little under 88,000 miles.
Back in 1988, it was subject to an extensive restoration which included a new chassis. The engine was overhauled in 1999. Since then, this stunning Morgan has had new woodwork, new wings, and a repaint. Its 1600cc Kent engine and 4-speed transmission keep our Morgan 4/4 driving smoothly on the road even after all of these years.
We are looking forward to seeing our 1969 Morgan 4/4 1600 eventually leave the workshop and get back out on the road where it belongs.
A Lotus Elise Arrives
March 23, 2023
A very special Lotus Elise has recently arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. Our 1998 Lotus Elise S1 comes from only one previous owner and has covered a little over 11,000 miles in its life.
If one previous owner wasn’t special enough, the one person who has owned this stunning car was Jeff Ward. Jeff was a longstanding member of the 750 Motor Club and was involved in motor racing for many years. He started racing in an Austin 7 before moving on to a 750 formula car (that he built himself) and then on to a Chevron.
Jeff was a founder of the London Special Builders Group and author of The Special Builders Guide and helped many racers progress up the motorsport ladder. Jeff ran a business making trailer lighting boards which were used by the AA and RAC – this certainly helped fund his car and bike collection.
Following Jeff’s sad passing in 2022, we are fortunate enough to take ownership of our 1998 Lotus Elise S1. It looks to be in great condition and we are very much looking forward to seeing what the future holds for this special Elise.
Work Begins On A New Arrival
March 23, 2023
Our 1937 Vauxhall 25 Wingham Cabriolet recently arrived in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, and work has already begun on this rare but extremely eye-catching classic car.
Since it’s been in the workshop, classic car technician Mauro has been painting the underside of our Wingham as well as fitting a new exhaust system.
As well as Mauro’s work on our classic Vauxhall, Brian has been working on the boot shelf. Brian also made paper patterns for the boot floor carpet. He then moved on to making the patterns for the corner covers for the bonnet.
Brian removed the old seals on the A post-panels ready for new ones to be made. He made the new seals from vinyl and clear tubing. He glued the vinyl around the tube before stapling them to the A post-panels.
After cutting out the bonnet protection covers, Brian trial-fitted these before cutting them out of leather.
Carpet was fitted to the boot shelf and boot floor before work started on the window seals. After undoing the side window seal panels, Brian added plywood to the top section of the panel to make it thicker before recovering the side window panels.
Waiting For Its New Owner
March 22, 2023
Our 1974 Triumph Stag has been successfully delivered to the NEC in Birmingham ready for the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show Sale this weekend (25th and 26th March).
Classic Car Auctions will be hosting the auction and there are plenty of incredible vehicles available alongside our stunning Stag.
If you are interested in becoming the new owner of a 1974 Triumph Stag, then full details about it and the auction can be seen here.
Classic Car Auctions describe the car as “a handsome Sapphire Blue ‘Late Mk II’ Triumph Stag that has led a sheltered life for the last ten years” and “an attractively presented example of Triumph’s innovative design.”
We are looking forward to seeing our 1974 Triumph Stag go to a new home where it can be enjoyed by a new owner.
The Ford Capri Is Coming Back!
March 22, 2023
The Ford Capri is making a return to the world of motoring and is expected to go on sale next year. However, things will be a bit different to the Capris of old, as the new Ford Capri will be electric!
With a price tag of around £40,000, the electric Capri is reportedly going to produce 300bhp, have a range of 310 miles when fully charged, and accelerate from 0-60mph in a little over 6 seconds. Despite being electric, there will still be plenty of recognisable features to be seen such as the traditional four headlights. To help make the Capri practical in the modern world, an interior touch screen and wireless phone charger will also be added.
The original Ford Capri was extremely well-received and sold 400,000 units within 2 years of its launch before going on to sell more than 1.8 million units up until production was stopped at the end of 1986. After being introduced at the Brussels Motor Show in 1969, the MK1 was known for its spotlights, Rostyle wheels, and bulging bonnet. Back then, a Capri would cost you less than £1000 for an entry-level model.
The Capri has been seen and loved at car shows all over the world and celebrated its 50th birthday at the Silverstone Classic in 2019. With several celebrity Capri owners, some of these classics have been sold for more than £70,000 in recent years.
In addition to its popularity on the road, the Ford Capri also experienced success on the race track with multiple touring car championship titles to its name.
Ford confirmed that it plans to launch seven new electric vehicles by 2024 so we might be seeing more iconic classic Fords make a return of sorts in the next 12 months (including an electric Transit Van) so the Capri might still be joined by some of its former road mates very soon.
New Shocks For Our Suzuki
March 22, 2023
The new shocks for our 1984 Suzuki GSX 400T have finally arrived!
To make them fit as they need to, a new upper mount will need to be made on the drive side. The stub to the collar on the frame will need grinding off so it can be drilled out and a new one welded in. On the other side of the bike, a spacer and dome note should be all that is needed.
2 Classics Go Home
March 22, 2023
Our 1986 Daimler DS420 and our 1970 Bristol 411 have left the Bridge Classic Cars workshop and are now on their way back to their owner in the Netherlands.
Both cars have been completely transformed from how they looked when they first arrived with us and we are very excited to see them be reunited with their owner. The 1970 Bristol 411 was a right-hand drive vehicle before our team of classic car technicians converted it to a left-hand drive. Once converted it was rebuilt and eventually turned into the beautiful classic car you can see in the images below.
The 1986 Daimler DS420 originated in America before being brought to us. Since being in the workshop, its colour has changed from white to blue and various other issues have been resolved to get the car into the condition it leaves us in.
After a lot of time and effort, it is always great to see restored cars leaving the Bridge Classic Cars workshop and being returned to their owners.
We hope our customer enjoys their restored classics and we look forward to seeing them being driven on the roads in the Netherlands.
Restoring A Spitfire
March 22, 2023
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.
Just Launched – 1979 Austin Morris Mini 850
March 21, 2023
Our 1979 Austin Morris Mini 850 is now live on the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website.
After spending time in the Bridge Classic Cars Paint Shop and having a full re-paint, this is one of the best-presented classic minis we have ever had as a competition car.
Tickets are available to buy now so don’t miss your chance to be the new owner of our 1979 Austin Morris Mini 850.
Rebuilding A Jensen 541R
March 21, 2023
Classic car technician Rob has continued his work on our 1959 Jensen 541R. He has made and fitted the bulkhead heat shields, as well as bolting the rear axle and front suspension cross member into place.
The engine of this rare Jensen is now also back with the car. Rob actually came up with an innovative new way of getting the engine back into the car and this is something the whole team will look to implement going forwards.
As we are well-known for some of our restoration work on Jensens 541Rs, it shows that the experience the classic car technicians, like Rob, have is allowing them to come up with new ways of restoring these cars and keeping them on the road for as long as possible.
We will certainly be delving deeper into the new engine fitting process very soon but, for now, it is exciting to see our 1959 Jensen 541R coming back together nicely.
Rolls Royce Is Going To The Moon
March 21, 2023
Rolls Royce has been given funding from the UK Space Agency to continue its research into how nuclear power could be used to support a future human base on the moon.
Going into space obviously requires a dependable power source to keep the multitude of systems operating during missions. Things like life support and communications are of paramount importance, and scientific experiments also need to be conducted with a consistent power source.
As nuclear power has the potential to drastically increase the amount of time humans could stay on the moon in future missions, scientists and engineers at Rolls Royce are working on a Micro-Reactor programme which aims to develop technology to power a lunar base.
The UK Space Agency has given £2.9 million in funding to the project with the aim of delivering an initial demonstration of a UK lunar modular nuclear reactor. This round of funding comes after a £249,000 study in 2022 which was also funded by the UK Space Agency
Nuclear Power
Rolls-Royce plan to have a reactor ready to send to the moon by 2029. While the project is primarily focused on powering facilities off-planet, the aim is to create a world-leading power and propulsion capability for multiple industries and needs including a clean, green, and long-term power source. Micro-Reactor technology also has a lot of potential to be used for commercial and defence applications too.
A nuclear Micro-Reactor is relatively small and lightweight when compared to other power systems and generates continuous power regardless of location, available sunlight, or any other environmental conditions. Along with their engineers, Rolls-Royce will be working with several other parties including the University of Oxford, the University of Bangor, the University of Brighton, the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and Nuclear AMRC.
Thanks to the £2.9 million in funding, Rolls-Royce can now further strengthen its knowledge of these highly complex systems. The project will focus on three key features – the fuel used to generate heat, the method of heat transfer and the technology to convert that heat into electricity.
Making The Moon A Permanent Base
The UK Space Agency recently announced that funding of £51 million was available to UK companies to help develop communication and navigational technology to support missions to the moon. It forms part of the European Space Agency’s Moonlight Programme which has the goal of having a constellation of satellites in orbit around the moon.
Partnering with Rolls-Royce is just one step towards future astronauts and rovers having the capabilities to navigate the lunar surface safely, as well as helping to support scientific experiments.
What The Experts Say
George Freeman, Minister of State at the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology said:
“Space exploration is the ultimate laboratory for so many of the transformational technologies we need on Earth: from materials to robotics, nutrition, cleantech and much more. As we prepare to see humans return to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years, we are backing exciting research like this lunar modular reactor with Rolls-Royce to pioneer new power sources for a lunar base. Partnerships like this, between British industry, the UK Space Agency and government are helping to create jobs across our £16 billion Space Tech sector and help ensure the UK continues to be a major force in frontier science.”
Abi Clayton, Director of Future Programmes for Rolls-Royce said:
“The new tranche of funding from the UK Space Agency means so much for the Rolls-Royce Micro-Reactor Programme. We’re proud to work collaboratively with the UK Space Agency and the many UK academic institutions to showcase the best of UK innovation and knowledge in space. This funding will bring us further down the road in making the Micro-Reactor a reality, with the technology bringing immense benefits for both space and Earth. The technology will deliver the capability to support commercial and defence use cases alongside providing a solution to decarbonise industry and provide clean, safe and reliable energy.”
The Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, Dr Paul Bate, said:
“We are backing technology and capabilities to support ambitious space exploration missions and boost sector growth across the UK. Developing space nuclear power offers a unique chance to support innovative technologies and grow our nuclear, science and space engineering skills base. This innovative research by Rolls-Royce could lay the groundwork for powering continuous human presence on the Moon, while enhancing the wider UK space sector, creating jobs and generating further investment.”
Rolls-Royce In Space
With this partnership between the UK Space Agency and Rolls-Royce, it is a clear sign that big names in the automotive industry are much more than just car manufacturers. They have the potential to not only change people’s day-to-day lives by creating convenient vehicles, but they also have the potential to change the future of humanity on a planetary level.
Brake Issues
March 21, 2023
One of the issues classic car technician Steve has found with our 1980 Talbot Sunbeam Lotus is that there was no brake fluid going to the near-side front wheel. After disassembling the brake compensation valve, Steve found that this was caused by the internal piston being fitted the wrong way round at some point in the vehicle’s life.
While working on the brakes, Steve also found that the master cylinder reservoir seals were fitted incorrectly. This meant that the brake fluid was blocked from filling the rear chamber and going to the rear brakes.
Steve continues to work on our 1980 Talbot Sunbeam Lotus and will carry on investigating and resolving the reported issues while we have the car in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
Back To Metal
March 21, 2023
Classic car technician Al has been stripping our 1976 Aston Martin AMV8 back to bare metal in preparation for a new coat of paint.
After Scott stripped most of the components from this classic Aston Martin, Al continued the prep work until it was just a bare metal shell. Even in this state, you can still see how stunning our AMV8 is but, once it leaves the Bridge Classic Cars paint shop, it will look even better and be one step closer to getting back out on the road with its owner.
Our MGB GT Delivered
March 20, 2023
Lucky winner, Michael Bambridge took delivery of his 1968 MGB GT recently.
Michael won this beautiful classic car when his ticket number, 2232, was randomly chosen during our live draw held on 9th March 2023.
Everyone here at Bridge Classic Cars loves MGBs and this one is no exception. We would like to congratulate Michael again on his win and we hope he enjoys being an MGB owner.
Brakes And More
March 20, 2023
All of the brakes on our 1970 Jaguar E-Type Series 2 have been bled by classic car technician John. After bleeding the front brakes, John reassembled the front suspension. All the brakes were bled as it was noticed that the brake fluid looked high in water content.
John went on to clean and fit new bonnet bushes and pins. He rewired the loom to the bonnet as it was hard-wired to it previously – John had to cut the wires to remove the bonnet. Once the bonnet was refitted, the wiring was completed and connected to the inside of the bonnet and to the new connector plug.
The bonnet ram was cleaned and repainted before John went on to refit the stereo and interior. While doing this, he noticed that the horn and the main beam flash weren’t working. After checking and replacing the fuse, John found some ‘interesting’ wiring behind the dash which had been done prior to coming to us.
Exhaust blow was coming from the downpipes so these were removed, cleaned, and resealed. The thread of 3 studs had gone so these were removed and replaced with nuts and bolts instead. After tightening and testing, everything was working as it should.
Working On A Classic MGB
March 20, 2023
Our 1975 MGB GT V8 has been in the hands of classic car technician Steve. He has been fitting new poly bushes to the front suspension as well as fitting new front bump stops too.
Steve went on fit a new universal joint to the steering column as his work continued on our classic MGB GT V8.
MGBs are very popular with the team here at Bridge Classic Cars and this one is a great-looking classic so we are enjoying having it in the workshop for a little while.
Painting Daimler Parts
March 20, 2023
Classic car technician Mauro has been painting parts of our 1964 Daimler 250 V8 including the front suspension frame.
This classic car has been in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop for a few weeks now and work has been ongoing to get it back out on the road after being in storage for several years.
The Ferrari Roma Spider Is Here
March 17, 2023
The brand new Ferrari Roma Spider has been revealed – and it certainly seems to be causing quite a stir.
This 612bhp V8 convertible supercar is the first front-engined Ferrari to have a fabric roof since 1969 when the 365 GTS4 was released. The new Spider is heavier than the Roma Coupe (84kg heavier, in fact) but the added weight is mostly the result of the roof storage and wind deflector that helps increase comfort and aerodynamics.
The wind deflector rotates the backrest of the rear seats into a position where it sits behind the driver and passenger’s head. This clever design is deployed with the press of a small button on the centre console. Speaking of the centre console, the new Spider has the familiar Roma dual-cockpit look thanks to the high position of the control panel.
Performance figures are pretty impressive too with 612bhp being generated from the 3.9-litre V8 turbo. 0-62mph is done in 3.4 seconds and you can carry on all the way up to just under 200mph. It also has an 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox and it sounds even better than previous models thanks to the new exhaust tune.
The roof can be opened or folded away in 13.5 seconds and this can be done at any speed up to 37mph. Inside the car, the driver benefits from an 8.4-inch central display and, as an optional extra, a screen can be added to the passenger side too.
A Ferrari like this certainly won’t come cheap and the UK price point has not yet been confirmed by Ferrari. However, a smart guess would be that it will be more expensive than the coupe which currently starts from around £175,000. This might make it an unobtainable car to most but, even admiring it from a distance, you can’t help but appreciate its stunning looks.
The Next Generation Of Classic Car Restoration
March 17, 2023
To some people, the classic car world is one that will eventually die out as the automotive industry continues to move forwards at a blistering pace towards an alternative fuel future.
However, classic cars hold so many memories and interesting stories that more and more of the younger generations are finding their way into classic car restoration. One such person is 19-year-old Luke Henshaw who is the Heritage Vehicle Apprentice at The Great British Car Journey in Ambergate, Derbyshire.
