Projects

Ready for Take-Off – Pre-Delivery Inspection on the 1960 Jensen 541S ‘Peony Red’

It’s nearly time for Peony Red, the 1960 Jensen 541S to go off to her new home away from us here at Bridge Classic Cars. Every square inch of Peony Red has been worked on in-house at Bridge Classic Cars by our expert in-house restoration teams.

We will be sad to see her go but before she leaves, our workshop manager and senior technician John has been giving her a pre-delivery inspection ahead of our travels. John has been going through each individual system on the car to ensure everything is all present and correct before the end of the week.

Alongside John is Tamas, one of our junior technicians to work on getting Peony Red ready.

Safe travels.

Next Phase – Wiring and Plumbing the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series 3 Roadster

Scott, one of our in-house restoration experts has been hard at work getting ”Fern Grey” the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series 3 Roadster plumbed and wired.

Recently Scott carefully got the newly built 5 litre V12 into place in the car, taking his time to make sure everything was exactly where it should be and safely locked into place. Then once the engine was in its final position, Scott got to work hooking up the various systems needed to fire this stunning 12 cylinder Jaguar into life.

First up, the team fitted up the newly rebuilt Stormberg carburettors onto either side of the engine. Along with that were the large aluminium intakes that feed the Strombergs. Along with that are the various pipes and hoses that need to be spread across the engine bay and allow the long-legged V12 to run faultlessly and reliably. All of these components needed to go into place first to then get the heater system into place as it sits close to the back end of the carburettors.

From there, Scott worked his way from the engine bay into the cabin with the wiring. All of the related dials and lights needed to be wired up to the engine and the fuse box for when Fern Grey bursts into life. Each of the wires was meticulously run by Scott to ensure they would not chafe or mar the elegant green/grey paintwork that flows with the elegant, iconic lines of this E Type Roadster.

Looking Closer – Diagnostics on the 1968 Jaguar E Type 4.2

Bridge Classic Cars have the 1968 Jaguar E Type back in the workshop this week to have a look into a few issues the customer has noted with the car.

First up is some electrical issues. The customer reported an issue with the headlights which our technician Paul has looked into and found there was an issue with the fuse box. For this, a replacement is needed to make sure the issue is fully resolved and many happy nighttime miles can be done in this gorgeous dark green icon. We recently fitted an immobiliser to the car on its last visit with us. This has also been a concern to the customer so our team have relocated the system to be easier to access and have less interference from surrounding systems, ensuring the car is safe and reliable.

With winter approaching and the temperature starting to drop, the heater in a classic is even more important. The customer raised a concern about the heater not working so our technicians began to diagnose this for our customer. After all the related cables and pipework had been inspected and found to be in good working order, the heater valve itself was inspected. After thorough inspection by the team here at Bridge Classic Cars, it was found that the E Type requires a replacement Heater Valve.

Next was to inspect a slight leak from the top of the engine. The long-legged straight-six, hidden under that timeless bonnet was gone over by the team and each port and seal was checked. Upon inspection, Paul had noticed that the cam cover at the top of the engine had signs of a leak. With this narrowed down as the source of the issue, a new one is required to ensure the 4.2-litre straight-six remains in good health.

Coming Together – Refit on the 1973 MGB GT V8

Bridge Classic Cars team of in-house restoration experts have been working on getting this 1973 MGB GT V8 we have in all buttoned up and ready to hit the road!

John and the workshop team have gone through hours of wiring checks and small fixes that were needed to ensure the wiring system throughout the whole car was in good working order and each component worked exactly as it should. Along with that, the interior of the car can now begin to go back in. Step by step, it’s beginning to look like an MGB GT again.

Underneath, there’s a brand new exhaust system to help that V8 breathe. Tucked up nearly underneath its brightly coloured body, there will be no doubt thanks to the new exhaust that this is indeed a V8 car. Also, the new brakes and clutch hydraulic systems have been put in, bled and tested passing with flying colours.

All of this means we should be able to test this stunning little sportscar on the road very soon. Keep an eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for updates on the 1973 MGB GT V8.

Back in Shape – Metalwork for the Scuttle/Windscreen Surround on the 1951 Riley RMB

Metalwork on classic cars is a craft. A skill that takes years to master and dedication to conquer. Our in-house bodywork experts at Bridge Classic Cars have those skills, experience and dedication.

Work is continuing on the windscreen/scuttle for the 1951 Riley RMB by our in-house expert James. Last time he worked on the top of the windshield surround but this time, it was the case of the lower scuttle.

Some of the metal bracing and reinforcement had deteriorated over time quite badly. These pieces help give that stunning spilt windscreen its shape and hold it rigid, so their placement and construction are crucial.

Using the existing pieces as a template, James cut the new parts roughly into shape to begin refining them closer to the originals. Then, offering the pieces up to the panel James could work on shaping them more and more till the fit was perfect.

All of the areas underneath the remade panels were rust treated carefully before being welded in.

Put in Place – Fitting the Interior Panels and Carpet into the 1970 Dodge Charger

Kath and the in-house trim team have been busy working on the insides of the 1970 Dodge Charger that’s in here at Bridge Classic Cars.

Kath has been working on getting the rear panels ready and into the car. The weatherstrip has been riveted to the bottom of the window opening along with the chrome strips that make up the ribbing for the panel.

Before that, Kath and the team had tested fitted the carpet and found that in place it didn’t sit quite right. In places, the carpet was actually too long. Not a problem for the Bridge Classic Cars trim-shop! Kath simply cut the carpet and then re-edged it to fit the car perfectly (more on that in the next post)

This meant that the carpet now sat where and exactly how it should in the iconic muscle car, taking extra care and attention to make sure any brackets or holes needed for trim work were neatly and discreetly cut.

Next time, we’ll take you behind the scenes of how Kath cut and rebound the carpet for the Charger!

Keeping the Noise Down – Putting Sound Deadening in the 1970 Dodge Charger

After Kath had mocked up the rear seats into the Charger, it was time to start getting the carpets into the car.

However, underneath the carpet is where to most important bit of the interior is. The sound deadening. It’s crucial in making long journeys more enjoyable just due to its job of cutting down the cabin noise.

Kath carefully laid out the material across the floors of the car to make sure each piece was just in the right place to give the best result. All of this needed to be done before fitting up the carpets, which will be happening next!

Finishing Touches – Making the Tunnel Carpets for the 1960 Jensen 541S ‘Peony Red’

As part of Peony Red’s pre-delivery inspection, our in-house trim team have been busy finishing off parts of the interior. Mainly the tunnel carpet.

This Jensen 541 has been a long-loved restoration by us here at Bridge Classic Cars. Every department of our in-house restoration team has worked on this car in one way or another. Now, our trim shop is finishing off the last bits. Mainly it needed to have its transmission tunnel carpets finished.

The sound-deadening and insulation were fitted to the tunnel and then the templates could be made for the piece. After they had been cut, edged and fitted a small inspection flap needed to be carefully cut into the finished carpets for future use if ever needed. Kath carefully made a small ear from the matching carpet and trimmed it just like the other carpet to match and bring the whole piece together.

Next was the all-important tool tray. A unique piece of the Jensen 541, it lives underneath the glove box. The tray itself has been in our body and paint shop to make sure it looks absolutely perfect before it’s cover was made by Kath and fitted to the glovebox.

The interior of Peony Red looks absolutely sensational if we do say so ourselves.

Out With the Old – Replacing the Wiring Harness on the 1974 Triumph TR6

John has been hard at work on the 1974 Triumph TR6 that is in with us at Bridge Classic Cars for a wiring issue. A rat or a mouse has managed to chew its way through part of the wiring loom.

Consequently, when the owner went to start the car is actually melted some of the wiring! Because of the extent of the damage to the wiring loom. John felt it best to replace the harness as a precaution due to the extensive damage.

John carefully began to remove the old harness for the car, working his way through the separate systems to ensure all the components could also be inspected.

The new loom was then put in place step by step, whilst also running through each part to make sure it functioned correctly now that power could be applied to the harness. Wit the harness now in, its time to test the car completely.

A New Look – Repainting the Bonnet and Boot on the 1984 Jaguar XJ

Some of you may remember the 1984 Jaguar XJ bonnet and boot that a customer had asked us to refinish. The rest of the car had been painted elsewhere but that isn’t a problem for our in-house paint team.

After working on the rust repairs for the panels and making sure the surfaces were flat and true, Chris and the team got to the meticulous job of paint matching.

Thanks to our state of the art paint system as well as years of experience, Chris managed to exactly match the shade and hue of deep, vibrant maroon for this classic Jaguar. The results look incredible.

Chris and the team take their time with the prepping of each individual piece that needs painting and that also includes laying the primer in just the right way that it sits and shines just in the right way for the colour coat to achieve the best finish.

Coming Together – Metalwork on the 1951 Riley RMB

As you might have seen in our previous post on the 1951 Riley RMB here at Bridge Classic Cars, James has been hard at work getting the wings into the best shape possible.

James, our expert in-house fabricator, has been working on the Riley for quite some time. A lot of the panels needed extensive repairs and reworking to be useable in the restoration of this beloved classic. The rear wings are currently the pieces on James’s bench.

After James worked the repair patches into the original wing, he then had to work them carefully and methodically to ensure they met the original shape and dimensions of the car. Also, he has to make sure both sides are identical. This takes a highly skilled hand and incremental adjustments to achieve the finish you see before you.

James has blended new pieces into the originals and almost seamlessly blended new and old together through the medium of metal. Any adjustment to the piece also means that the entire panel must be checked to see if it has caused any sort of distortion elsewhere.

But, these wings are looking absolutely incredible for when they eventually meet back up on the car.

Back Together – Refitting the Engine and Gearbox to the 1998 Honda Integra Type R

Tamas and Paul, our in-house restoration technicians have been busy refitting the wiring harness, accessories, engine and gearbox back into the 1998 Honda Integra Type R that is in at Bridge Classic Cars.

Using reference photos and the catalogued parts from the dismantling of the car, the whole engine bay now looks as good as new.

Next stages for the Integra will be to get the vehicle back together before final check overs. Expect to see more here on the Bridge Classic Cars blog.

Looking Back – Fitting the Door Mirrors and Dome Light to the 1970 Dodge Charger

The in-house trim experts at Bridge Classic Cars have been hard at work. Teaming up to conquer the interior of the 1970 Dodge Charger.

One of the jobs on the list for the interior refit was to fit the signature dome light. This involved a small hole in the brand new headliner for the wires to be passed through. Thankfully with the skill of our trim fitters, you would never know it was ever there and the outings all lined up to be able to secure the light to the roof.

Next up, Brian began to work on getting the new rearview mirrors to the doors of the Charger. These mirrors are so iconic to the Charger that their placement is crucial. Brian, one of our in house trim experts, carefully measured up and mocked up the mirrors countless times before drilling the holes for the fixings to pass through. Once in place, the mechanisms to control the mirrors can be installed to make them fully functional.

Background Sounds – New Speakers and Speakerbox on the 1960 Jensen 541S ‘Peony Red’

Peony Red, the 1960 Jensen 541S, is reaching the end of its restoration and its pre-delivery inspection. So it’s time to get the last few finishing touches completed and in the car.

One of these systems that is being finished by our in-house trim experts is the sound system. Peony Red has got a modern stereo unit, although it is a classic-looking head unit it is thoroughly up to date. With that, it does require a set of new speakers.

Kath has been working on making new speaker boxes from scratch for the car. These were made from a simple wooden box but finished in matching carpet to the rest of the interior to blend into the car and be completely useable for her new owner.

Just because it’s a classic car, doesn’t mean you can’t have some of the modern luxuries. We think its a good balance of old and new in this stunning 1960 Jensen 541S

Starting From Scratch – Diagnosing an Oil Leak on the 1963 Jaguar MkII 3.4

Our in-house engine builder at Bridge Classic Cars, Ady, has been working at trying to get to the bottom of the oil leak with the 1963 Jaguar MkII 3.4.

At idle, the engine would behave itself perfectly. Not a spot of oil but any higher in the revs and it would begin to leak. Ady has spent countless hours hanging over the engine bay of the MkII trying to get to the root cause of the issue. He believes he has found the cause.

Upon inspection for the oil leak, Ady has found the bores in several cylinders to be heavily scored.

With some of the pistons, the rings have too much play in them and allow a lot of the cylinder head pressure to escape past the rings, down the cylinder and into the crankcase. With this added pressure, it begins to push the oil out to any opening that may have a weakness.

The rear main seal on the MkII 3.4’s is a split seal design. Meaning at the bottom engine they are cut to allow them to be slipped into place during installation. This, with the added crankcase pressure, has been pushing the oil from the crankcase through the rear seal and out. So a combination of pistons slop, ring movement and too much crankcase pressure have been causing the leak we have been searching for.

The only remedy for this in Ady’s experience, is a full engine rebuild with new parts including a rebore to clean up the cylinder walls.

Keep an eye on the Bridge Classic Cars blog for more updates on the MkII 3.4.

Solid Foundations – Getting the Frame of the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Ready for Powdercoat

The frame and body for the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 that is with us here at Bridge Classic Cars have been separated ahead of the frame being sent off for powder coating.

The body will remain here with our in-house paint and body teams to continue work while we wait for the other parts to come back.

Powder coating frames gives not only the best finish but the best protection for the chassis so it’s worthwhile having it done to this amazing car.

Finding the Cause – Leak from the Gearbox of the 1954 Jaguar MkVII

The 1954 Jaguar MkVII that was in with us for restoration is back in the workshop to look into a leak from under the car.

Upon inspection by the Bridge Classic Cars restoration team, it was found to be an issue with a gearbox seal. This has been sent away to a specialist gearbox expert to have the proper rectified in order to the engine and gearbox back in the car as soon as possible.

Keep a look out on the News Page for more updates on the Jaguar MkVII

Ready to Go Home – Paint Repair on the 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera S

Chris and the paint shop team at Bridge Classic Cars have been hard at work on the front bumper of the 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera S in for some paint repairs on the front bumper.

Rather than try to blend the paint into the existing finish, Chris thought to get a better result would be to entirely repaint the bumper and match it to the body.

As you can see, the results look fantastic. Now, the Carrera is ready to go back home to its adoring owner.

Milestone – Engine in Place on the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series 3 Roadster

There’s always certain parts of any build that can be classed as milestone moments. That rings especially true for the first time the chassis is reunited with its powertrain.

This 1973 Jaguar E Type Series 3 Roadster being built by us here at Bridge Classic Cars has just met that fabled milestone. The built 5 litre V12 is now safely in place between the immaculately restored frame rails and securely in the car. Scott has been working hard to get all the necessary systems in place for a few days before the engine was carefully lowered into position. Firstly to ensure they will fit and secondly so that no damage is done to the long list of refurbished or brand new parts.

The engine looks incredible inside the car. In terms of its packaging, it is a feat of engineering to fit an engine this large in such a compact but stylish skin.

Once Scott has finalised the installation into the car, it will then be time to get everything hooked up and ready to be tested.

The Once Over – Inspecting our 1994 Piaggio Ape TM P50

Those who have been following the blog for a while may remember the 1994 Piaggio Ape we talked about back in July.

Well, it is now in our workshop being inspected ahead of its MOT. Our in-house restoration team at Bridge Classic Cars wanted to check over all the systems on the van/scooter to make sure there would be no problems.

During loading at our storage unit at RAF Bentwaters, Mauro (whose grandfather originally owned this amazing little car) found the throttle cable had snapped so as soon as he got back to the workshop, a new replacement was put on order. While waiting for the cable, Mauro began to strip down the brakes and bearings on the Ape to inspect all of the components and make sure everything was in tip-top condition.

The front drum apparently needs a new shoe but apart from that the little machine seems to be in very good condition.

We’re looking forward to having fun with this one!

Put on the Shelf – Making the Rear Parcel Shelf for a 1970 Dodge Charger

Our incredibly talented trim-shop experts have been hard at work on the 1970 Dodge Charger currently in at Bridge Classic Cars.

Next on the list of pieces that need to be done in order is the rear parcel shelf. For this, Kath had to make it from scratch. Creating a tight-fitting template, it was then cut from ply and covered to match the rest of the interior.

Kath even repainted the original fixings to make sure all originality could be kept and create a uniform look to the car.

After it was wrapped in matching material, the trim team fit it into the car and it looks absolutely amazing in the back of this wonderful muscle car.

Back to Basics – Stripping Down the 1977 MGB Roadster

The Bridge Classic Cars paint and body experts have been busy assessing the 1977 MGB Roadster that is in with us for Aesthetic restoration.

Chris and the team careful began to take apart and inspect every aspect of the car. Removing the interior to assess condition but also to gain access to vital structural parts of the car’s chassis. In all, the car’s underpinnings were in relatively good shape. However, some of the body panels will require work done to them in order for this stunning little roadster to be in the best condition possible.

Chris and Lydia then began to remove the paint for each of the panels to assess any more repairs that will be needed in terms of bodywork.

Outside Help – Doors for the 1951 Riley RMB

The doors on the 1951 Riley RMB have got some beautiful wooden trims inset around the window openings. Sometimes it’s best to leave things like carpentry to the specialists who know and understand the material they’re working with more than anyone else.

So, the doors have been sent off to local joiners Ashbocking Joinery to be refurbished. These are a very important part of the aesthetic of the car not only the door so as with everything we do, we only want it to be the highest standard for our client.

We can’t wait to show you what they look like when we get them back! Keep an eye out here on the Bridge Classic Cars blog.

Fit-Up – Mocking Up the Rear Seats of the 1970 Dodge Charger

Kath has been working on test fitting the carpet on the 1970 Dodge Charger in the trim shop of Bridge Classic Cars.

To check the best fit on the carpet, she has had to mock up the rear seat in place. It looks incredible! The carpet does need to be stretched and skillfully manipulated into its final place but the results so far are looking amazing.

More very soon on the 1970 Dodge Charger here at Bridge Classic Cars.

Coming Back Together – Refitting the Engine Bay of the 1998 Honda Integra Type R

The freshly painted 1998 Honda Integra Type R is out of the paint booth after its sympathetic respray here at Bridge Classic Cars. Now it’s time for our in-house restoration technicians to begin putting everything back together.

As you may have seen previously, the engine bay on the Integra Type R has been cleaned up and resprayed in its factory Championship White. Now the paint has cured it’s time to refit all the systems under the bonnet. Tom and Paul have been working on getting all the pipework and components back to their original locations while also taking extreme care as to not undo any of the hard work done by our in-house painters.

Soon, it will be time drop the engine back in…

Mirror Finish – Painting the Front Bumper of the 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera S

Our incredible in-house paint team have begun work on the part repairs to the 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera S at Bridge Classic Cars.

There were a few small scuffs and scratches in several areas of the bump. Carefully, Chris and his team removed the bumper from the car in order to prepare it for assessment and the repairs needed.

With that, the plan was made to entirely repaint the front bumper. Carefully colour matching the paint to the rest of the car, Chris got the bumper into the booth and laid down several coats of gloss black onto the panel.

Cool, Calm and Collected – Fitting the New Radiator to the 1999 Mercedes E55 AMG

We’ve been waiting on the radiator/gearbox cooler for the 1999 Mercedes E55 AMG, but it is now in the car ready for it to be tested.

Some may remember from the previous post, our technician Paul, found a leak coming from the radiator which on the E55’s also acts as a gearbox cooler. Unfortunately, this required it to be replaced with a brand new unit to ensure both the V8 and its gearbox remain well within their operating temperatures.

Now that the new unit is in the car, our in house technicians can begin testing the various systems to ensure that this ’90s super wagon is ready to be used and enjoyed.

Getting into Shape – Windshield Surround on the 1951 Riley RMB

Our master fabricator James has been busy in the Bridge Classic Cars fabrication shop carefully and methodically recreating the windshield surround on the 1951 Riley RMB.

Using traditional shaping methods, James has recreated the original tops of the cowl/windshield surround. The shape is complex with many compound curves and edges but that is no trouble for our in-house fabrication shop. Carefully manipulating the metal through the English wheel and the shrink/stretcher, James managed to create the same sweeps and bends of the original.

Then with the hammer and dolly, finessing the final shape into place. Then, it was time to do it all over again for the otherside. The only way to create this piece was in two separate parts. The skill that our master fabricators have is the seamlessly blend them together.

The two halves were then welded together to create one entire panel that can be fitted into the windshield surround. Later, the welds will be ground back to create a smooth finished piece and then cut down to size for the perfect fit.

Safely Stowed – Fitting the Tonneau Cover on the 1966 Sunbeam Alpine

Our 1966 Sunbeam Alpine is freshly back from its time at the 78th Goodwood Members Meeting last weekend and it’s now time to have its tonneau cover fitted.

The Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim experts worked hard to get the new cover fitted and sitting just right on the back of this bright blue ’60s sportscar. Brian worked on getting the hardware fitted into the body of the car in just the right place to tightly pull the black cover in each way to make sure it flowed and sat well on the car.

Our in-house trim team can work wonders with just about any material they are given for a job. This, is a perfect example of the time, care and dedication given to a job by Brian, Kath and Lydia.

On Thursday (October 21st) the car will be part of a live draw over on our Facebook page where we will find out who the next lucky owner of this wonderful little sports car will be.

Tickets are still available! Just click the link below to head over to the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website.

Enter here for the 1966 Sunbeam Alpine

This Just In – 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera S

Just into the workshop is this stunning 2008 Porsche 997 911 Carrera S in black that has got a small bit of damage to the front bumper.

Not a problem for the Bridge Classic Cars paint team who will assess the damage to the panel and work their magic to get this immaculate example of the worldwide loved sportscar back to perfect condition.

Follow along on the Bridge Classic Cars blog page.