For Sale – 1998 Mercedes E240

December 7, 2022

Our 1998 Mercedes E240 is for sale!

This is a beautiful car that has only covered 34,000 miles from new. Very little work was needed but we have painted the off-side rear door as the lacquer was slightly faded.

We originally purchased our E240 from a good friend of Bridge Classic Cars to be part of our own personal collection. However, it is such an impressive car that we feel it needs to be enjoyed by a new owner who will get more use out of it.

It has been extremely well cared for with no rust and the interior looks to be in the condition it would have been in when it first left the factory.

Our 1998 Mercedes E240 is available on eBay.

Ready To Win – Entry Is Now Open!

December 7, 2022

Our 1985 Ferrari Mondial is now ready for its brand-new owner.

It has been thoroughly checked and has been given the go-ahead from our workshop team that it can be put live on Bridge Classic Cars Competitions.

Entry is now open so you can get your tickets to be in with a chance of winning your very own Ferrari at Bridge Classic Cars Festive Live Draw.

The draw has already been guaranteed for Thursday 22nd December so someone will win our 1985 Ferrari Mondial before Christmas.

Good luck!

A Rare Aston Martin DB4 Found After 30 Years

December 7, 2022

Imagine walking into an old barn and finding a classic car. Now imagine walking into an old barn and finding an extremely rare 1962 Aston Martin DB4.

With only 1100 DB4s ever made, finding one in a barn is not something most of us will ever even dream of being fortunate enough to do.

However, that is exactly what happened recently when a barn find turned out to be a very special car!

The car in question belonged to a man who, after returning from the Vietnam war in the 1970s, returned to work at a local car body shop. After doing some work on his boss’s car, he was gifted the DB4. He towed it home and carefully parked this rare classic car in his barn with the plan of eventually restoring it.

Unfortunately, the restoration never happened and the car sat in the barn until it was found more than 30 years later.

The 1962 Aston Martin DB4 has a 3.7-litre straight-six petrol engine and, even in its current state, is valued at around £270 000. When fully restored, previous DB4s have sold for more than £1 million.

This DB4 is currently for sale in New York through Gullwing Motor Cars.

The full story can be found here.

We love Aston Martins here at Bridge Classic Cars and we have had a wide range of them in the workshop over the years. Below is just a small example of some of the beautiful Astons we have seen and, although they might not be as rare as the one found recently in an old barn, they are all equally as stunning to look at.

Drive It Day 2023

December 6, 2022

Highlights of Drive It Day can be seen here.

Bridge Classic Cars are pleased to be hosting a Drive It Day on Sunday 23rd April 2023.

National Drive It Day was created by the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs in 2005. It celebrates the 65 cars that attempted to drive 1000 miles from London to Edinburgh and back again in 1900 to prove the viability of the motor car.

This epic journey began on 23rd April 1900 and ended on 12th May 1900 when 35 of the original 65 cars that began the journey successfully arrived back in London.

National Drive It Day has become even more than a celebration of this mammoth undertaking. It is now an event where classic and historic vehicle enthusiasts can get together to not only share memories and experiences of their own classic vehicles but also raise money for the NSPCC too.

More information on the origins of the event can be seen here.

The drive will begin at our secure storage facility, The Hangar, located at Bentwaters Parks – a former military air base. There will be time to have a coffee, talk to other enthusiasts, and admire all of the special vehicles in attendance. At noon, we will travel, in convoy, covering a 7-mile scenic route to our workshop in Pettistree, Woodbridge. Here we will have live music from The Buskateers, food from Otis Breading and Suffolk Fried Chicken, and The Atelier Bar will be open until 3 pm.

Commemorative rally plates can be purchased from the official Drive It Day website with the money raised from the purchase providing vital funding for Childline.

For more information, please contact Lily via events@bridgeclassiccars.co.uk

Highlights

Our 2005 Chrysler Crossfire Delivered

December 5, 2022

The lucky winner of our 2005 Chrysler Crossfire recently took delivery of his new car.

Stephen Paul was randomly selected as the lucky winner of this Dr Who related car with ticket number 525 in our live draw held on Thursday, 24th November 2022.

Everyone at Bridge Classic Cars would like to congratulate Stephen again on winning this special car.

As this was a special competition with our best-ever odds, we had a great time during the live draw and, as you can see from the pictures below, the whole team was excited to be a part of it.

An Amphicar Comes To Bridge Classic Cars

December 5, 2022

It’s not every day that you get to see an amphibious car up close. However, we were lucky enough to do just that when a 1964 Amphicar 7-70 came to visit the Bridge Classic Cars workshop recently.

This is a very interesting car and it will likely be returning to us very soon so we can complete some work on it for its owner.

Seeing interesting vehicles like this in the workshop is always exciting so we look forward to welcoming this 1964 Amphicar 7-70 back very soon.

Our 1957 Jensen 541R Returns (Briefly)

December 5, 2022

We recently welcomed our 1957 Jensen 541R back into the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.

It was only a short visit but our team of classic car technicians was still able to resolve a couple of issues the owner was experiencing.

Classic car technician Dave turned his attention to resolving a rattle coming from the driver’s door of this rare classic car as well as investigating and resolving an oil leak.

Dave resolved both issues and, as quickly as it arrived, our 1957 Jensen 541R was leaving us once more. As you can see from the photos below though, its owner, Jeorg, was very happy with the quick turnaround.

Having any Jensen in the workshop is something we thoroughly enjoy, but having one as beautiful as this one is extra special and we hope to keep updated with its adventures in the future.

Another New Arrival – 1973 Triumph TR6

December 5, 2022

We have recently welcomed yet another classic car to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop in the form of our 1973 Triumph TR6.

As with all cars that come to us, our team of classic car technicians will give it a thorough inspection and assessment before making a plan of action for its future.

This will ultimately be a competition car through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions but, before that, we will certainly enjoy having it with us until a new owner is found in the very near future.

Just Arrived 1975 MG B GT V8

December 5, 2022

Everyone knows that we love a classic MG here at Bridge Classic Cars. With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that one of the latest additions to our workshop is our 1975 MG B GT V8.

This will eventually be a competition car that will be won through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions. However, before that happens, our team of experienced and skilled classic car technicians will put it through a thorough inspection and assessment.

We love an MG and this looks to be a great example of why we do.

Throttle Cable Adjusted

December 5, 2022

Our 1985 Ferrari Mondial is going to be a big part of our Bridge Classic Cars Festive Live Draw. With one lucky person going to win this beautiful classic car in time for Christmas, our workshop team are working hard to make sure everything is working as it should be.

Classic car technician Steve has been giving our Ferrari Mondial a thorough inspection and assessment. While he was doing so, he adjusted the throttle cable as he wasn’t satisfied with its current performance.

With our 1985 Ferrari Mondial going live on the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website very soon, you can be sure that it will be ready to go for its new owner to win on Thursday 22nd December at our Festive Live Draw.

A New Ignition Coil

December 5, 2022

Classic car technician Dave has been continuing his work on our extremely rare 1905 Riley 9HP.

After recently trial-fitting the wooden bodywork, Dave has, once again, turned his attention to getting our Riley 9HP up and running.

Dave has installed a new (and much improved) ignition coil set up into this very special classic car. With this latest addition, our 1905 Riley 9HP continues to move closer to being started up and ready to drive once more.

The Restoration Continues – 1959 Jensen 541R

December 5, 2022

Our workshop team have been hard at work with the restoration of our 1959 Jensen 541R.

Lydia has been stripping various interior parts ready for them to be re-covered and fully restored to their former glory. Brian has also been working on the interior of our Jensen 541R. He repaired the rear quarter panel top wood section. He did this by first marking out the side window surround panels and rear window top panel. He then cut out the new panels and the new rear quarter panel wood.

These wood sections were screwed together to form the rear quarter top panels. Brian then cut out the rear quarter side panels from mill board before bending the panel to shape. He then glued and stapled the side panels to the top panels.

The kick panels were then marked and cut out as were the glovebox end panels. Brian then went on to cut out the footwell panel and rear boot trim panel.

While Lydia and Brian were working on the interior of this rare classic car, Al was repairing and rebuilding the underneath of the bonnet.

Classic car technician Paul prepared the front upright bearing spindle for crack testing too.

Chirs has also been working on our Jensen 541R. He has been completing fibreglass work, filler work and panel gapping. Chris also removed the panels from the chassis so that it can be sent away for sandblasting.

Some components of our 1959 Jensen 541R have been refurbished and will soon be ready to be re-installed in the car as it continues to make good progress through its restoration journey.

Progress Continues On Our 1971 Jensen FF MKII

December 5, 2022

Our 1971 Jensen FF MKII has had the attention of classic car technician Jon recently.

The first job Jon completed was to remove the old distributor and replace it with a new one. He also re-routed the speedo cable and fitted a new fuel filter too.

Jon went on to strip, clean, and inspect the brakes of this very impressive-looking classic car.

The cooling system of our Jensen FF was drained by Jon too. So he could gain access to the water pump and thermostat, he had to remove some of the components surrounding them. This gave Jon the opportunity to thoroughly inspect each component and replace any that were no longer in full working order.

All hoses were removed and all mating surfaces were cleaned.

Jon continued his work on our 1971 Jensen FF MKII by making a new gasket for the thermo housing. The cooling system was flushed and blown out too.

The grill was removed so Jon could access and remove the a/c fan.

The coolant pipe was found to be badly corroded so this needed to be cut and modified to resolve this issue. Once the new pipe was cut and painted, the whole system was refitted to the car.

Jon’s work on the cooling system of our 1971 Jensen FF MKII carried on with a new fan switch being fitted, rewiring the fans, and filling the system vacuum with the old coolant that was saved earlier in the process.

Work on the car wasn’t done yet though as Jon went on to remove the fuel tank. He did this to investigate the leak that the owner of the car says happens when the tank is full. Jon’s investigation began by pressure testing the fuel tank. A hole was found in the tank seam once the rust was removed.

Classic car technician Jon cleaned and prepared the new parts that will be needed to fit the new fuel tank. The tank straps were sanded and painted and a new filler neck hose was shaped ready to be fitted.

A new electric fuel pump was installed in our 1971 FF MKII. For this to happen, Jon prepped the area by removing the rear seat so he could secure the new mounts through the floor. The mechanical fuel pump was removed and a blanking plate and gasket were made, painted, and fitted.

Jon’s attention then turned to the wiring that leads to the new fuel pump. The fuel pipes were replaced and joined at the front while armouring was used in places to make sure the wiring was properly protected.

Jon has put a lot of time, effort, and skill into our 1971 Jensen FF MKII lately. Lots of progress has been made and work will continue until this beautiful classic car is ready to drive out of the workshop and get back on the road with its owner.

More Work On Our 1975 MGB GT V8

December 5, 2022

Classic car technician Steve has continued his work on our 1975 MGB GT V8. As this will soon be a competition car on Bridge Classic Cars Competitions, the workshop team are making sure it is working as it should and is ready to be won by its new owner in the near future.

Steve noticed a dent in the sump which he removed and repaired before reinstalling back onto this beautiful classic MG. As well as fixing the dent in the sump, Steve also fitted a new timing cover and water pump rear housing. This was to replace the corroded and leaking housing that Steve found on the car during his initial inspection and assessment.

The engine of this classic car has been put back together now too which has given the car a big leap forwards toward being ready to leave us and get back out on the road.

Steve wasn’t done yet though as he went on to fit a new exhaust mount and clamp as well as new rear shackle bushes too.

Work continues on our 1975 MGB GT V8 and it won’t be long before it goes live on the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website ready for someone to win. This will no doubt be a very popular competition but, until then, our workshop team will continue getting it ready for its new owner.

Checking Over Our 1988 Jaguar XJS Convertible

December 5, 2022

It may have only been in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop for a short while but classic car technician Scott has already been busy getting his assessment and inspection of our 1988 Jaguar XJS Convertible underway.

Scott noticed an oil leak during his checks so he spent some time looking for the source of the leak. He also gave the car a thorough looking at to look for any areas of corrosion. Any areas found have been reported and will be resolved while the XJS Convertible is in the workshop.

The diff and gearbox oil were also checked. Scott replaced the diff oil before replacing the broken grease nipple on the drive shaft.

Scott then went on to remove and clean the coolant level sensor before continuing his checks on the rest of the car.

Our 1988 Jaguar XJS Convertible will continue undergoing its checks and assessment as well as having any issues found resolved by our team of classic car technicians. Classic Jaguars like this are always enjoyable to have in the workshop so we will certainly make the most of having this one with us.

Let’s get plastered…

November 30, 2022

Thanks to Joe from F&S Plastering for plastering our new office space. We are now looking forward to our new, larger space in the coming weeks.

Diagnosing An Electrical Fault

November 29, 2022

Classic car technician Steve has been looking after our 1975 MGB GT V8 since it first arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.

After completing his initial assessment of the car, and resolving some of the issues he found, Steve has been working to diagnose an electrical fault with the high beam.

Steve’s investigations ultimately led him to trace the fault back to dirty contacts on a light switch. These contacts have now been cleaned and checked and the fault looks to have been resolved.

Despite sounding like a relatively small job in comparison to a full restoration, it’s jobs like this that end up making a huge difference to the overall finish and drivability of the classic cars we work on here at Bridge Classic Cars.

Our 1975 MGB GT V8 will go on to be a competition car at Bridge Classic Cars Competitions and we are excited for a new owner to be found for this beautiful classic car, so keep an eye on the competition’s website if you want to win it for yourself.

Interior Work – 1959 Jensen 541R

November 29, 2022

The body of our 1959 Jensen 541R has undergone lots of restoration work recently. With classic car technician Rob modifying the front chassis, welding, and rebuilding various parts of this rare classic car, it has certainly made lots of progress on its restoration journey.

As work continues on the external elements of the car, classic car technician Brian has turned his attention to the interior. In particular, Brian has been working on the seats that will eventually help make the inside of our 541R as impressive as the outside.

Brian’s work started by cleaning the old foam and glue from the front seat frames. He could then fit the new foam into the front seat base tubs. Foam was fitted to the front edges and the inner rear edges before the front squab seat side foams were cut and glued in place.

The centre foams were also cut, fitted, and glued into place before the centre pad foams and wadding were added to the side foams. New backboards and new base foams were also cut.

Brian went on to cut and glue the front edge foams and trimmed them to shape. The wood for the seat base frame was also cut to the right size.

Our 1959 Jensen 541R is a very rare car. We have restored many Jensens in our workshop and we definitely enjoy seeing cars like this one get better and better the longer they are with us.

Starting Work On Our 1971 Jensen FF MKII

November 29, 2022

Our 1971 Jensen FF MKII hasn’t been in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop very long but it has already had classic car technician Jon’s attention this week.

The first thing he wanted to do was to get the engine up and running. As Jon was working on making this happen, he discovered that the battery was flat and the starter motor was no longer in working order.

The battery was charged and the old starter motor was removed with a new one being installed in its place.

Once the new starter motor was installed, Jon modified the 4×4 front prop mount to clear the starter. Once this was done, he was able to reassemble everything.

When Jon removed the spark plugs of this rare classic car, it was obvious that they had not been changed for a while. New spark plugs were installed so this should certainly help our Jensen FF get back onto the road.

Another issue noted was that the driver’s door was not closing properly. Jon also managed to resolve this issue by making new spacers for the striker that he fitted and adjusted to make everything fit nicely.

We may not have had our 1971 Jensen FF MKII with us for very long but Jon has already investigated, assessed, and resolved some of the issues identified.

Only 320 Jensen FFs were made and only 110 MKII versions like this were produced. With so few being in existence, it’s really important that we keep as many on the road as possible. Everyone at Bridge Classic Cars enjoys working on rare vehicles and we are certainly excited to have a car as rare (and as beautiful) as this in our workshop.

Work will continue on our 1971 Jensen FF and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for it.

Investing in the future at Bridge Classic Cars

November 28, 2022

Here at Bridge Classic Cars we very much believe in investing in the future and investing in new people to make that future happen.

A little over a month ago, Lily joined the team to help launch our newest project which is already starting to take shape. These ideas will help build the landscape of Bridge Classic Cars in 2023.

In order for the fresh new minds to work, we needed to create fresh, new space for it to all happen in so here we have our latest office space. A extension on what is already the marketing office here at Bridge, the space will now be twice the size and open planned for many minds to work together!

Or to chat more and share snacks…

Ollie from OJHurd Carpentry pulled in some long nights for us to get this built in just 4 days.

With the electrics now in, all we need now is the new window openings, the plastering, the decorating and voila…our events hub will be here!

We are very much looking forward to all of the new and amazing events being thought up in our new space. Freddie is already wanting the extension of his office to have plants and water features but we think a couple of desks and a cabinet will be just as good!

We won’t give away too much for what we have coming up next year but more information will follow very soon indeed!

Investigating Exhaust Blow – 1972 Jaguar E-Type V12 Series 3

November 28, 2022

Classic car technician Jon has been investigating the exhaust blow (blowing noise) on our 1972 Jaguar E-Type V12 Series 3. From listening to it, Jon believed that the issue seemed to be coming from the offside bank of the exhaust manifold.

To confirm his suspicions, Jon had to strip and investigate this area of the car.

After a bit of work, Jon was able to gain access to properly investigate. He found that the front manifold of this classic car was cracked and was causing the blowing noise coming from the exhaust.

The front manifold was removed and was found to be in need of replacement. While Jon was waiting for the new part to arrive, and while he had access to it, he removed the rear manifold too in order to check it was in better condition than the front.

Jon went on to clean all the parts and mating surfaces ready for the new parts to be fitted. Once the new parts have arrived and have been put into the car, Jon is hopeful that the exhaust blow would have been resolved.

Work will continue on this beautiful Jaguar E-Type to make sure it is soon ready to leave the Bridge Classic Cars workshop and be returned to its owner. We know that once it’s back out on the road, it will be extremely enjoyable to drive and experience.

Repaired, Painted, And Looking Good

November 28, 2022

Our 1998 Mercedes E240 has recently undergone some repair and paintwork.

Now that this classic car has some new paint, it is looking much better than it did when it first arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop and classic car technician Mauro has been putting things back together to get the car ready to move on to the next stage of its stay with us.

Our 1998 Mercedes E240 will eventually be put up for sale. It’s a beautiful car and will make a great addition to someone’s garage in the future.

For now though, we will enjoy admiring it in the workshop.

Being Put Back Together

November 28, 2022

Our 1986 Daimler DS420 has been going through the process of being put back together after recently getting a new coat of paint.

The doors of this large classic car have been reattached and the new paintwork is looking good!

Since it first arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, our 1986 Daimler DS420 has undergone lots of restoration work and it now looks very different to how it did when it first arrived.

While its time in the paint shop might be getting closer to coming to an end, there’s still more work to be done on our DS420. Our expert team of classic car technicians will continue working on this classic limousine until it is ready to leave us and get back out on the road.

In the meantime though, the below photos show the new paintwork and the current state of this classic car.

Nearly There – 1978 MGB GT

November 28, 2022

Classic car technician Rob has been looking at our 1978 MGB GT. As this car is getting very close to being ready to leave us, he has been double-checking that everything is working exactly as it should.

While there is still some work needing to be done on this eye-catching classic car (the sunroof being the main one), it is clear to see that it won’t be too much longer before it drives out of our workshop and back to its owner.

The workshop team here at Bridge Classic Cars have put a lot of time and effort into bringing this classic car back to life. It has recently been started and, like Rob has been doing recently, checks will continue to be done until everyone is satisfied it is good to go.

We love a classic MG so we always love having them come into the workshop. However, it is equally as exciting to see a fully restored MG as beautiful as this one leave us and move on to the next chapter of its life on the road.

Our 1978 MGB GT might not be quite ready to leave us just yet but, once the sunroof is installed by classic car technician Brian, and Rob has finished his checks, we will have to say goodbye to this beautiful classic car. Until then though, we will continue to enjoy having it with us.

1964 Rover P5 Coupe – The Assessment Begins

November 28, 2022

As it recently arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, our 1964 Rover P5 Coupe needs to undergo a thorough inspection and assessment from our experienced team of classic car technicians.

Paul has begun his initial assessment of this beautiful classic car as preparations begin for it to be offered as a competition car through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions.

Our 1964 Rover P5 Coupe impressed Paul as, from first impressions, it looks to be in good shape. However, Paul did notice that, despite the car being well cared for and maintained, it appears that one of the brake shoes was fitted incorrectly.

This has now been resolved and the inspection and assessment of our 1964 Rover P5 will continue until Paul and the rest of the workshop team are completely satisfied that it is ready for someone to win.

Trial Fitting Bodywork – 1905 Riley 9HP

November 28, 2022

Our 1905 Riley 9HP has been going through a big transformation over the last few weeks. A big step towards this ultra-rare car looking more like it should was when the wheels were fitted. This was a great opportunity to see much more clearly how our finished Riley will hopefully look.

However, classic car technician Dave has been taking our 9HP through an even bigger stage of its transformation and restoration by trial-fitting the wooden bodywork.

This was the first time in a very long time that the bodywork and chassis were together in what is likely to be their final configuration.

While it’s still not the right time for everything to be secured into place, this trial-fitting gave everyone here at Bridge Classic Cars a clear view of how special this car truly is.

Even Dave couldn’t help himself and had to take a seat in the car he has been working so hard to bring back to life.

Obviously, there is still a long way to go before our 1905 Riley 9HP is ready to leave us, but it certainly won’t be too much longer before the sound of the engine is heard throughout the workshop.

Starting the engine for the first time in decades will be an extremely special moment and it is one we are very much looking forward to.

The photos below show just how much of an impact having the bodywork on the chassis has on the car. A huge amount of work has gone into the project to get it to this stage and it is always rewarding to see it make big steps towards its finished state.

Entry Is Now Open – 2005 Aston Martin DB9

November 25, 2022

Our 2005 Aston Martin DB9 is now live on the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website.

This was Bridge Classic Cars Director, Craig’s personal car and it is a beautiful example of the DB9.

It has recently gone through a pre-delivery inspection with our experienced team of classic car technicians and it is now ready to be won by its new owner.

All the details you need can be found here.

Ready To Be Won

November 24, 2022

Our 2005 Chrysler Crossfire is ready for someone to win in the latest draw over at Bridge Classic Cars Competitions.

Before a new owner is found, there were some small areas of the car that our team of classic car technicians wanted to work on.

After Brian replaced the headliner in our Crossfire, classic car technician Alan repaired and painted the spoiler and this is now working exactly as it should and looking good doing it too.

While Alan was working on our 2005 Chrysler Crossfire, he noticed that there was some flakey paint on the windscreen frame. This was primed, painted, and fully resolved.

Our 2005 Chrysler Crossfire is now ready for a new owner to be found so make sure you get your tickets now to be in with a chance of winning it.

Just Arrived – 1967 MGB GT

November 24, 2022

The latest addition to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop is our 1967 MGB GT.

It has come to us for an appraisal and possible further work depending on what our team of classic car technicians find during their assessment.

Everyone here loves a classic MG and this one will certainly get its fair share of attention while it is with us.

Once an initial assessment has been completed, a detailed plan of action for the future of this beautiful classic car will be made.

Just Arrived – 1964 Rover P5 Coupe

November 22, 2022

Another new arrival has made its way to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. The latest addition to the collection is our 1964 Rover P5 3-litre Coupe.

It will soon undergo a thorough inspection and assessment by our classic car technicians before it can move on to the next stage of its journey.

The current plan is for this to be a competition car over at Bridge Classic Cars Competitions so, if you like the look of this impressive classic car, keep an eye on the competitions website for your chance to win it.

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Highlights