News

Jaguar MKVII Update

Our 1954 Jaguar MKVII has had its cylinder head welded to resolve corroded water ways. Ady has also started revuilding the engine after its been

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DB2/4 Clean Up

Scott has been cleaning and restoring more parts from the DB2/4, making sure they’re read to be fitted again.

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Parts Of A Bygone Era

This contraption we were given seems to be an old fashioned Jaguar air conditioning diagnostics unit. We love discovering bits and bobs that no longer

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Another Mini In

This stunning baby blue 1989 Austin Mini is coming into the workshop soon. Keep an eye out for where this mini will end up…

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1959 Jensen 541R For Sale

Now that we’ve received all the parts for this 1959 541R Jensen, it’s up for sale and ready for someone to take it on as a project. For the new owner of this Jensen, we can restore it to any standard they wish, whether that’s original or bespoke.

Our Peony Red Jensen has been a similar project with the client wanting to take on a project for us to create a bespoke classic.

Please note: this vehicle is for sale via eBay as an auction. The starting price is £1,000 and the auction ends on 9th June 2021 – eBay ad

1956 Jensen 541 For Sale

Now that we’ve received all the parts for this Jensen, it’s up for sale and ready for someone to take it on as a project. For the new owner of this Jensen, we can restore it to any standard they wish, whether that’s original or bespoke.

Our Peony Red Jensen has been a similar project with the client wanting to take on a project for us to create a bespoke classic.

T2 Polished Like New

Our 1976 VW T2 Westfalia has made its way up to the hanger after a thorough polish to finish its service. We can’t believe how good its looking now! Next up, a photoshoot…

Peony Windows Fitted

Our 1960 Peony Red Jensen 541S has had the windows fitted and is now resembling more and more of a working car.

Jaguar E-Type’s New Interior And Exterior

Our 1973 White Jaguar E-Type Series 3 Roadster is undergoing a double-whammy with both interior and exterior being worked on simultaneously. Brian has been assembling the seat bases by fitting the rubber diaphragms to the seat frames, marking out the foam and gluing it to the base, gluing the centre of the seat covers to the centre section foam pieces and then applying the cover. Brian then had to fit the seat belt switch and seat runners before finishing the bases.

Matt has been working on the bonnet so that its ready to have colour. The bonnet has been stripped down and covered in Epoxy and primer. Certain areas have been painted in the body colour ready for when the bonnet is bolted back together.

Amphicar’s Dip In The Pool

Our 1965 Amphicar had a dip in the pool to test its seals against the water. The result was small ingress of water and we’ve discovered that a few small holes we’d filled in thinking they were holes, actually happen to be integral to the water flow and buoyancy of the Amphicar as they allow water to flow through the car and out another side.

Elegantly Enjoying A Coffee In London

Getting off the tube at Embankment on a beautiful sunny afternoon, we were greeted by a wonderful 1964 Jaguar E-Type having stopped off for a coffee break.

Quite the statement and the making of the perfect British scene.

Any tourist visiting the capital today would think this is what Britain is all about!

Motorcycle Roadtrip: Scotland

A good friend of Bridge Classic Cars, Sam, along with his friends are currently on a road trip through the beautiful scenic routes of the Scottish highlands on their motorbikes. They set off from Easton on Sunday and we hope to keep up to date with their week away.

In order below:

  • Easton Village Green – Suffolk
  • Skipton Premier Inn – Yorkshire Dales
  • Yorkshire Dales

Heading up beside Lock Restil.

Loch Restil lies in the pass between Glen Croe and Glen Kinglas on the Cowal peninsula, Argyll and Bute, West of Scotland. One of the main roads to the west of Scotland coast, the A83, passes Loch Restil. The burn that flows from Loch Restil is one of the feeds of Kinglas Water, in Glen Kinglas, which flows under the Butter Bridge.

Loch Restil lies within the Argyll Forest Park which is itself a part of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.

Monday, they made it to Appin where they stopped for a debrief! Next stop, the Isle Of Skye…

Today, the boys have stopped off with the beautiful backdrop of Ben Nevis, the mountain with it’s head in the clouds.

Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles. It is located at the western end of the Grampian Mountains in the Lochaber area of Scotland, close to the town of Fort William and is affectionately known as ‘The Ben.’

Ben Nevis attracts an estimated 125,000 complete and a further 100,000 partial ascents per year, most of which are made by walkers. For climbers and mountaineers the main attraction lies in the 600-metre (2,000 ft) high cliffs of the north face. Among the highest cliffs in the United Kingdom, they harbour some of the best scrambles and rock climbs at all levels of difficulty, and are one of the principal locations in the UK for ice climbing.

Now heading up towards Eilean Donan Castle. Eilean Donan is recognised as one of the most iconic images of Scotland all over the world. Situated on an island at the point where three great sea lochs meet, and surrounded by some majestic scenery, it is little wonder that the castle is now one of the most visited and important attractions in the Scottish Highlands.

Although first inhabited around the 6th century, the first fortified castle was built in the mid 13th century and stood guard over the lands of Kintail. Since then, at least four different versions of the castle have been built and re-built as the feudal history of Scotland unfolded through the centuries.

Partially destroyed in a Jacobite uprising in 1719, Eilean Donan lay in ruins for the best part of 200 years until Lieutenant Colonel John MacRae-Gilstrap bought the island in 1911 and proceeded to restore the castle to its former glory. After 20 years of toil and labour the castle was re-opened in 1932.

There are four generations of the MacRae family past, present and future who are still the Constables of Eilean Donan Castle today.

Tuesday saw Sam and the boys just south of Loch Ness, running beside the Caledonian Canal.

Wednesday was not such good news as their plans were delayed due to hitting some rubbish weather. At least they had chess!

Back on the road again. This time, Sam and the guys are in the Cairngorms National Park.

The road trip is finally coming to an end, almost 3000 miles now as they start to head home now via Glen Coe.

Glen Coe is a glen of volcanic origins, in the Highlands of Scotland. It lies in the north of the county of Argyll, close to the border with the historic province of Lochaber, within the modern council area of Highland. The glen is noted for its scenic beauty. A review by Scottish Natural Heritage in 2010 made reference to the “soaring, dramatic splendour of Glen Coe” and “the suddenness of the transition between high mountain pass and the lightly wooded strath” in the lower glen. It also described the journey through the glen on the main A82 road as “one of the classic Highland journeys”. The main settlement is the village of Glencoe located at the foot of the glen. Glen Coe is regarded as the home of Scottish mountaineering and is popular with hillwalkers and climbers.

And one final picture of the boys as they head home…

We love a road trip at Bridge Classic Cars and as Summer is just round the corner, the sun is shining, let’s check out the Best UK Road Trips For The Summer

Jaguar MKVII Update

Our 1954 Jaguar MKVII has had its cylinder head welded to resolve corroded water ways.

Ady has also started revuilding the engine after its been re-bored, cleaned and painted.

DB2/4 Clean Up

Scott has been cleaning and restoring more parts from the DB2/4, making sure they’re read to be fitted again.

Bristol Dent Correction

Our 1973 Bristol has gone into the paint shop to have a small dent repaired. Now finished, you’d never know it had been there.

Fiat 500 Awaits MOT

Our Fiat 500 Abarth has now been finished and is awaiting an MOT. We’ve soldered the wires to the bulbs in the rear lights to resolve the poor condition, repaired the number plate light, choke, fitted a fiddly gear stick head, completed the steering rack conversion, amended the electrics and brake master cylinder reservoir.

MGB PDI and Service

Our beautiful Iris Blue MGB was recently won however before we can drop it off at the winners house, we need to carry out a service, pre-delivery inspection and a handful of repairs to ensure its in perfect condition.

Scott has checked all fluids, fitted a new hub seal, rev counter cable and fixed the overdrive.

Austin Mini Gets New Interior

Our new Mini is having some new interior made up before in comes into us. Kath is working on taking apart the rear seats and recovering them. She begun by removing the old covers, making new vinyl which she mounted on 12mm scrim foam. Kath then made up some piping, sealed the edges and trimmed off excess foam. Next up, Kath cut out the calico to sew into the base for attached the foam to. Once she’d sewn up the flutes and sewn in the calico, she could attach the piping along each side.

Peony Red Jensen Gets New Carpet

Kath has made a boot carpet for out 1960 Jensen 541S. She begun by inserting rubber grommets in the holes, made templates and then cut out the patterns. When she had cut out the carpet, she could bind and shape the edges.

Ford Model’s New Seats

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

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

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

Lewis Hamilton Wins Autocar Award 2021

The Autocar awards celebrates the amazing people and their hard work within the automotive industry.

The editors choice went to Lewis Hamilton for his amazing work both on and off the track. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion has become an advocate for environmentalism and the Black Lives Matter movement, using his high profile to promote positive change in society.

Autocar editor Mark Tisshaw said: “As the most successful driver in Formula 1 history, Sir Lewis Hamilton was an obvious choice for recognition at this year’s Autocar Awards – but we were just as impressed by his achievements outside of his Mercedes-AMG car. Hamilton has used his high-profile to speak out on a number of important social issues, and hasn’t been afraid to stand up for what he believes in, even if that might attract criticism from some.”

Barn Find E-Type In For Work

This 1968 Jaguar E-Type Series 1.5 4.2 has come in for a re-commission and possible restoration. We’re evaluating the extent of the work as we aim to first get it to MOT standard and work on enhanced reliability as the owners aim to take it around Europe.

We’re told its been sat in a barn for 4 years. Once it’s had a thorough clean and we’ve evicted the rodents, we’re sure it will look better.

1969 Ford Escort Twin Cam In

This stunning 1969 Ford Escort Twin Cam is a Ford Escort with Lotus twin cam engine. With less than 900 made over a few years between 1968-71, these cars are not only valuable but also rare. The powerful engine from a Lotus Cortina paired the light Escort made for the perfect rally car.

This Escort is in for a full re-wire which will be handled by our workshop

Originally sold by Withers of Winsford, the rally company and came with a purple stripe.

Ford Model T Leak And New Seats

Our engine expert Ady has removed the core plugs, inlet and manifolds on the ford model T to address a leak and the rust. These will then be replaced.

The Model T has also received neat seat covers made by Brian.

Brian begun by gluing a foam base to the board, making holes for the buttons to go through and then threading buttons through the leather. Once the buttons were sewn in, he could then cut slots for the frame and turn the edges neatly over.

Local Retired Driving Instructor Gets Dream Come True With Classic Car Outting

A resident of a local car home recently got taken for a spin in a 1979 Beauford Touring Car. Malcom Gooch, 76, from Campsea Ashe is a retired driving instructor and has had ‘a lifelong passion for cars’.

“He told us he had driven Porsches and Ferraris but he had never been out in an open-top classic car.” said Kieran Broadhurst, team leader at the Kingsley Healthcare home.

Malcom and Mrs McGilloway, senior support worker, drove out to Aldeburgh, stopping at Thorpness to look out over the sea, before heading back.

The owner of the Beauford, Mr Beadle said “as a former driving instructor, he was reassured to know I am a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists.”

He added that it was his long-held ambition to own the car after he finally tracked one down in a barn, “It had been bought and stored in a barn by the landowner and only had 250 miles on the clock from when it was built in 1979,” he said.

“The engine had regularly been turned over so I was able to drive it back to Suffolk straight away.”

Image Credit: Kingsley Healthcare

New Brakes On The T2

Mauro has replaced the rear brake cylinders in our 1976 VW Westfalia T2 to resolve the leak.

Peony Red Air Vents

Kath has made a cover for the metal plate Paul made as part of the windscreen air vents.

Behind The Scenes: Double Jensens

The marketing team went up with Workshop manager, John last week to photograph the two Jensen’s that have just left us. Whilst Ellie shot the main visuals, Freddie worked on a behind the scenes video.

The final photos, shown below, have been sent on to the client and will feature online.

Parts Of A Bygone Era

This contraption we were given seems to be an old fashioned Jaguar air conditioning diagnostics unit. We love discovering bits and bobs that no longer exist – they’re like mechanical time capsules!

Porsche Pops In

A friend of Bridge popped in the other day and came in his lovely Porsche 911 Targa and isnt it goregous!

Another Mini In

This stunning baby blue 1989 Austin Mini is coming into the workshop soon. Keep an eye out for where this mini will end up…