Brian and the Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim experts have been working on getting the new bucket seats to sit properly in the 1970 Dodge
Paul, one of our in-house restoration experts, has been working on replacing the corroded sills on the 1992 Toyota MR2 that is in at Bridge
During the disassembly of the suspension components of the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 that is in at Bridge Classic Cars for restoration, our restoration technician
Kath, one of our amazing in-house trim experts, has been working on the seats for the 1956 Jensen 541 that is currently in with Bridge
The gauges and dials in the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 are some of the most beautiful out there. Simple black Smiths units with white lettering
Hidden in the back roads of Norfolk lies one of the greatest automotive manufacturers and most successful racing teams of all time. Lotus Cars. Recently,
It’s the special details on the Bridge Classic Cars restoration projects that make them bespoke to each of the owners. Take for example this storage
Bridge Classic Cars take pride in that our in-house restoration technicians will go the extra mile to make sure that all of our restoration work
Tamas and Paul have been hard at work putting the 1998 Honda Integra Type R back together after its recent bodywork here at Bridge Classic
Our in-house paint team at Bridge Classic Cars have been busy preparing and painting the new doors for our workshop extension! These are being painted
James has been continuing with the bodywork of the 1951 Riley RMB that is in at Bridge Classic Cars for restoration. Our in-house fabrication team
Brian has been working on the dashboard on the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster in preparation for the rest of the car being
Whilst the interior for this amazing 1977 MGB Roadster is in with our extremely talented in-house trim shop here at Bridge Classic Cars, the body
As part of any vehicle that comes into Bridge Classic Cars for assessment, the number one priority is the safety of the vehicle. With older
Our 1967 Austin Mini is ready to be the star of the show this weekend at the NEC in Birmingham. If you are heading to
The Ford Escort Mk1 is an incredible car. But an Escort RS Mexico is another thing all together. This is 1975 Ford Escort RS Mexico
The Jensen 541 interiors are special. Each one entirely handmade with the best materials, all crafted and fitted by hand as it would have traditionally
Brian, one of our incredible in-house trim experts at Bridge Classic Cars, has been hard at work rebuilding and refitting the seats of the 1977
Our in-house restoration technician John has been hard at work getting the 1958 Triumph TR3A ready for its date across the auction block at this
Brian is working on the inside of the 1970 Dodge Charger that is in the Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim shop. Brian has been building
A crucial part of classic sportscars is it’s brightwork. An instantly recognisable symbol for elegance and style, chromework is the cornerstone of a finished classic.
Bridge Classic Cars have been working on this 1973 MGB GT V8 that has been in our workshop for a while, and during its testing
It’s not often we get to see more modern classics here in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. But, when we do they are iconic. Take
Bridge Classic Cars have it’s latest Bridge Classic Cars Competitions car in the workshop before its draw tomorrow night. The car is being checked over
From our last post, you saw our in-house restoration technician Scott busy at work in the workshop at Bridge Classic Cars plumbing and wiring the
Preparing a classic car for winter is very important. And, at Bridge Classic Cars we know what it takes to keep your pride and joy
Brian, one of our in-house trim experts at Bridge Classic Cars, has been hard at work fabricating a new glovebox for the 1970 Dodge Charger.
The body for this 1977 MGB Roadster is currently in with Kris in our in-house body shop being worked on to make sure it looks
Refinishing or recovering a steering wheel is no simple task. The right balance of tactile feel, smoothness, finish and contrast is something that only comes
We have an incredible in-house trim team here at Bridge Classic Cars. They’ve been hard at work on the interior of the 1970 Dodge Charger
Brian and the Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim experts have been working on getting the new bucket seats to sit properly in the 1970 Dodge Charger that is in with us for interior fitting.
When the seats were fixed into the cabin they sat slightly at an angle. The seats are supposed to sit square in the car, which means some modifications were needed to be done to the seat rails. Thankfully, this is no problem for our incredible trim team.
Brian worked on reshaping and reforming the seat rails to fit perfectly into the car and allowed both seats to sit flat, square and evenly in the cockpit of this incredible muscle car.
Paul, one of our in-house restoration experts, has been working on replacing the corroded sills on the 1992 Toyota MR2 that is in at Bridge Classic Cars.
On any classic, corrosion is an issue but caught early it can easily be repaired. As a matter of course the entire door sills are being replaced on the MR2 as these are a safety item and that’s a keystone of any work on a classic car, it’s also something we pride ourselves on at Bridge Classic Cars.
Paul cut out the sills from the front arch to the rear arch and replaced them. Welding them in inch by inch to make sure that they sat straight and true on the car. Now that these are in, the next stage is to get the paintwork/protection onto the sills to ensure they will be perfect for many more years to come.
During the disassembly of the suspension components of the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 that is in at Bridge Classic Cars for restoration, our restoration technician Mauro found some hairline cracks in a few of the pieces.
The pieces that Mauro found were the rear suspension brackets. Along with our workshop controller, John, the parts were recorded and a plan being worked out how to move forward with these particular parts before sandblasting.
Kath, one of our amazing in-house trim experts, has been working on the seats for the 1956 Jensen 541 that is currently in with Bridge Classic Cars for a full restoration.
Last we saw Kath working her skill on the front of the seats, creating new padding and covers for the fibreglass buckets. Now, Kath is applying the same level of attention and detail to the back of the seats. Methodically, Kath has used traditional techniques to carefully remake the seatbacks in matching red leather.
The base of the seat has also been lined in preparation for the base padding which is currently being worked on by the Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim team.
The gauges and dials in the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 are some of the most beautiful out there. Simple black Smiths units with white lettering and easy to see layout. This style of dial is so synonymous with classic sportscar that anything else would look amiss in such an elegant and deserving car.
The rest of the car is currently undergoing a full restoration at Bridge Classic Cars but these units are being sent away to a specialist to be rebuilt and entirely refurbished to match the high level of fit and finish our in-house restoration teams will be doing to the car.
Once the dials are back from their refurbishment, they will be carefully stored until our in-house trim team is ready to fit them into the stunning dash and get them securely placed in the car.
Hidden in the back roads of Norfolk lies one of the greatest automotive manufacturers and most successful racing teams of all time. Lotus Cars.
Recently, Bridge Classic Cars Competitions joined forces with both Norwich City Football Club and Lotus Cars to help raise money and awareness for the Norwich City Community Sports Foundation. Thanks to a massive group of very generous people, the total raised for the Foundation was £100,000! and each of the entrants wanted a very special car.
Lotus had given Bridge Classic Cars Competitions and Norwich City the first VIN of the 2021 Lotus Elise Sport 240 Final Edition. The first car from the last production run of the iconic, enthusiast led sportscar as it comes to an end after 26 years. Alex got hold of the car by being issued ticket number 4970 after buying an entry that went straight to benefiting young people in Norfolk that have different abilities or backgrounds to get into sport.
On Tuesday, November 15th, the teams from Norwich City, The Community Sports Foundation and Bridge Classic Cars convened in the recently finished and redesigned Customer Experience Centre at Lotus Cars for Alex to meet his new sportscar for the first time.
However, Lotus had a very special day planned for Alex and his son Louis.
Lotus put together a full experience day for our very lucky competition winner. A guided tour around not only the factory and experience centre at Hethel but a tour of the collection at the fabled Classic Team Lotus stable located just down the road.
Gratefully, Lotus also included us here at Bridge along with representatives from Norwich City Football Club and the Community Sports Foundation to come along on the whole day. First up, the original Lotus building.
Lotus had begun work on the first building shortly after their move to Hethel in the mid-1960s. This now housed the engine preparation rooms, subframe assembly area and the body shop. Lotus takes great pride in their cars being for true enthusiasts, they create harmonious packages that work with the dynamics and personality of each of the cars that form their sportscar lineup.
Lotus were proud to show the winner Alex around the facility to demonstrate the level of engineering and care that goes into each individual car, including his very own 2021 Lotus Elise Sport 240 Final Edition.
The tour took Alex and Louis through the entire build process much like their Elise would have gone through earlier this year. Showing Alex every step of the process from the crate engines arriving all the way to the finished cars taking their all important laps on the track for sign off. Then it was over to the fabled Classic Team Lotus. Where a collection of some of the most important Lotus racing cars is stored and lovingly cared for by some of their original mechanics.
After that, Lotus and Norwich City had organised a very special afternoon for Alex. A lunch with Delia Smith. A key owner of Norwich City Football Club, of which Alex is lifelong fan. Then, it was downstairs to begin the handover process. Norwich had also brought in the chairman of Norwich City Community Sports Foundation Jake Humphrey to present Alex and Louis with a signed shirt and to say his appreciation for being involved in this amazing charity.
Then, to give Alex his certificate of authenticity to prove the provenance of the 2021 Final Edition Elise he had one was Lotus Cars MD, Matt Windle. Followed by Delia Smith handing over the keys to Alex’s new Hethel yellow sportscar. During all of this, two surprise guests appeared in the atrium. Formula One legend Jenson Button followed by mechanic and engineer extraordinaire Ant Anstead. They stopped to chat with Alex about the car and congratulate him on his win.
The day wasn’t over yet. To coach Alex on how to get the most out of his new Lotus was former Lotus Formula One Driver and long time Lotus driving coach Martin Donnelly, who took Alex out onto the Hethel test track in an identical Elise to put him through his paces.
We wish Alex all the best in the future with his very special Elise and a huge thank you to everyone who entered and helped raise a staggering amount of donations and awareness of the great work of the Community Sports Foundation.
It’s the special details on the Bridge Classic Cars restoration projects that make them bespoke to each of the owners. Take for example this storage cubby made by our incredible in-house trim team for the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster. It was completely built and upholstered by our in-house expert Brian to match the rest of the car.
Starting from scratch, Brian created the wooden shell for the storage box that is designed to specifically fit around the car without getting in the way of its owner while out enjoying their amazing Fern Grey roadster. Then after Brian had test fit the piece into the interior, he had the job of trimming this bespoke piece to match the rest of the interior.
Every single piece on the storage box is covered in the deep green leather that flows throughout this iconic sportscar.
It looks absolutely incredible and is a perfect piece to add a little bit extra to the driving experience.
Bridge Classic Cars take pride in that our in-house restoration technicians will go the extra mile to make sure that all of our restoration work is done to a world-class standard. Take, for example, these suspension components on the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 that is in at Bridge Classic Cars for complete restoration.
Our restoration technician Mauro has been carefully taking apart each of the suspension components down to their bare bones before these parts are sent off to be sandblasted. All though these could be simply cleaned up and repainted, this DB2/4 Mark 1 is having the full treatment that Bridge Classic Cars is known for. Piece by piece, Mauro took apart every component to be inspected for any damage or defect and then catalogued.
Every bearing or bushing was pressed out of the housings before it goes off to be stripped all the way back to bare metal.
Expect to see more on the DB2/4 Mark 1 very soon here on the Bridge Classic Cars blog.
Tamas and Paul have been hard at work putting the 1998 Honda Integra Type R back together after its recent bodywork here at Bridge Classic Cars.
The car is being put together in our workshop piece by piece to factory specification as part of its aesthetic overhaul. This wonderful example of 1990s Japanese engineering has been with us for some time and has grown in the hearts of many who have worked on it.
During it’s final assembly, every component and system will be thoroughly checked over to ensure everything on this DC2 Integra works exactly as it should.
Our in-house paint team at Bridge Classic Cars have been busy preparing and painting the new doors for our workshop extension!
These are being painted to match our existing doors and are brand new safety units to make sure not only do they look good but they also will meet the newest safety standards. With the stage that the new extension is at, these will be installed very soon.
James has been continuing with the bodywork of the 1951 Riley RMB that is in at Bridge Classic Cars for restoration. Our in-house fabrication team have had the rear wing of the Riley on the workbench to carry on with replacing the areas that needed attention.
Many of the flanges and construction have issues, whether it is rust or bad previous repairs, and needed to be entirely remade from scratch. James used the remaining original pieces to recreate them in the closest materials to the original and used original techniques to shape, move and mould the metal to where it needed to be.
James constantly test fitted pieces to the car to ensure they were fitting correctly and lined up with the original mounting points.
Brian has been working on the dashboard on the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster in preparation for the rest of the car being finished off in the workshop over the next few weeks.
Brian, one of our master in-house trim experts, has worked his magic on the dashboard of Fern Grey. Once the original covering had been carefully removed, Brian could then begin to prepare the surface for it’s new cover.
Fern Grey is a special car. Everything on the entire car (not just the interior) has been worked on by our in-house restoration teams. Brian completely recovered the dash in a new black leather piece. But, it’s not just the cover that Brian worked on. The Trim team also refurbished all the trim pieces, especially the air vents on the leading edge of the dash.
Carefully, Brian cut the new cover to accept the dash vents. Then, began to fit them up onto the panel. It looks absolutely sensational.
Whilst the interior for this amazing 1977 MGB Roadster is in with our extremely talented in-house trim shop here at Bridge Classic Cars, the body is in with our paint expert Kris at our in-house paint shop.
Kris has been working on making sure that all the panels and pieces have come off the car carefully and safely for them to be inspected and assessed by Kris experienced eye. From there, Kris could then begin working on the panels to make sure all of the metal beneath the cars dark blue paint was in good order to be worked on.
Thankfully, it was all in really good shape beneath the surface. From that, Kris could then begin to get the car in primer. After several coats, Kris could then begin to test fit the panels back onto the car to make sure before any paint touches the car. The reason for this is to make sure that any working of the panels hasn’t caused them to distort or change shape in any way.
Because of Kris’s experience and care, each panel worked perfectly. Now that the pieces are primed and they fit, it’s soon going to be time for Kris to begin applying his talents to adding colour to this beautiful sportscar.
As part of any vehicle that comes into Bridge Classic Cars for assessment, the number one priority is the safety of the vehicle. With older cars, this means checking vital chassis points for corrosion, damage or previous bad repairs. The first port of call is normally the sills.
These are the sills on our 1992 Toyota MR2. They’ve seen better days but aren’t in the worst condition that we’ve seen. These have been noted down on the vehicles assessment so our in-house restoration teams can come up with a plan of making this wonderful 1990s Japanese sportscar safe but also give peace of mind that everything has been gone through for it’s owner.
Our 1967 Austin Mini is ready to be the star of the show this weekend at the NEC in Birmingham. If you are heading to the show, swing by the Electric Classic Cars stand where you will see our collaborative Tesla Powered Mini, built in collaboration with Team C racing take pride of place. Painted by our in-house paint shop, this Mini is now powered by a Tesla motor. Love it or hate it, this Mini certainly grabs attention.
The Ford Escort Mk1 is an incredible car. But an Escort RS Mexico is another thing all together. This is 1975 Ford Escort RS Mexico Recreation. Think of it almost like an RS Mexico Plus…
This bright green flash made its way down the taxiway of the airbase with its upgraded 2 litre 4 cylinder singing along with all the balance and good grace you should wish from the infamous Pinto engine on a crisp, autumn morning for its date in front of Freddie’s lens. It was time for the customary Bridge Classic Cars Competitions photoshoot with the Escort.
Its stunning green went beyond bright. It was like a beacon amongst the dark asphalt on the ground of the the base. This car features every detail of an original RS Mexico down to everything, including the dials in the dash. Freddie beautifully captured the personality of this car with his photos. A fun and playful character but with a sharp, pinpoint undertone like the racer that inspired it and the countless racers that it inspired.
This amazing 1975 Ford Escort RS Mexico Recreation is currently up for grabs if you fancy being the next owner? All you do is click the link below and enter for your chance to win this incredible car.
The Jensen 541 interiors are special. Each one entirely handmade with the best materials, all crafted and fitted by hand as it would have traditionally been done back at the factory. Kath, our in-house trim expert here at Bridge Classic Cars, has been working on retrimming the front seats of the 1956 Jensen 541.
Those who have been following along will have seen the condition the seats originally came out of the car like. The foam and covering had all but rotted away to dust but the shells were in good condition and reusable. Kath and the trim team refurbished the shells and made brand newly fitted foams to sit inside the fibreglass buckets.
Now, it was time to trim them. On one of the original seat base was a tiny piece of the original leather. A dark, crimson red. This was the colour that was decided on, to be put back to original specification. Kath carefully matched the materials closest to the original colour to be sent to the owner for selection. Once that was decided on, Kath then began the process of getting the coverings cut to shape and fitted. Each piece was templated and the appropriate swatch of material was selected and cut for the job. Using adhesive, gentle heat and small stretching techniques Kath managed to get the covers in place.
The results are incredible. A wonderful testament to not only the skill and craftsmanship of our in-house trim team but to the timeless design of the 541.
Brian, one of our incredible in-house trim experts at Bridge Classic Cars, has been hard at work rebuilding and refitting the seats of the 1977 MGB Roadster that is currently in at Bridge Classic Cars for restoration.
The seat bases were checked and new rails fitted, to begin with. Then, it was time to begin the process of the new webbing and padding that allows for comfort and support whilst out enjoying these brilliant little sportscars. With the new padding in place, Brian could attach it to the seatbacks and the squab bases. Making sure that the foams for each part were uniform and smooth. Then, slowly and carefully the trim team stretches the dark blue coverings over each of the seats to finish them off.
Once the backs and the bases were bolted together, Brian could then start fitting the handles to the interior mechanisms so the seats would recline and move just live brand new. Then, the finishing touch. The stunning black headrests that complete these wonderfully retrimmed seats.
Our in-house restoration technician John has been hard at work getting the 1958 Triumph TR3A ready for its date across the auction block at this years Birmingham NEC Auction.
Upon inspection, it was found that the front main oil seal, sump gasket and the timing cover gaskets were weeping slightly and would need to be replaced. Methodically, John worked through each component carefully to gain access to the affected parts. The entire front valance and radiator needed to be removed due to their proximity to the crank pulley which needs to be removed.
Along with that, quite a bit of the car’s wiring needed to be disconnected in order to safely remove the front valance to gain access. This was also carefully logged and noted for the reinstallation of the components. John carefully catalogued and stored every fixing and bracket to ensure everything went back as it should.
With the front end of the car and the oil pan removed, John could now begin the task of assessing, cleaning and preparing the surfaces for their new gaskets and seals. A crucial process to ensure the best fit and seal for the new gaskets. With the new set of gaskets and seals in place, John refitted the covers and made sure the main oil seal was seated correctly and tight in the crank seal before beginning the process to get the whole car back together.
During that, John also rerouted some of the necessary cables and wires which had been worked on by a previous garage prior to us working on the car to ensure the safety and ease of maintenance were all correct as they should have been.
Once back together, the car was run up to temperature after refilling all the vital fluids such as coolant and oil to ensure that the engine was happy and the car would be in the best condition for its lucky new owner.
Brian is working on the inside of the 1970 Dodge Charger that is in the Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim shop.
Brian has been building up the seats ready to be fitted into the car, both front and rear. Brian built up the rear seats to get into the car to begin with so that each of the other pieces can be put into place. The rear bench seat splits into two pieces so the careful placement of the covers and fixings to make sure all of the patterns lay straight and true to each other.
Then it was time for the front seats. All the side trims for the front seats needed to be fitted in preparation for them to be fitted into the Chargers cabin. All of these pieces were carefully fitted by Brian as to not mark or scuff any of the plastic trims. Then, once all finished and present they were put into the interior of this amazing Muscle Car.
A crucial part of classic sportscars is it’s brightwork. An instantly recognisable symbol for elegance and style, chromework is the cornerstone of a finished classic.
So it’s time to send off all the pieces from our 1956 Jensen 541 that is currently undergoing restoration here at Bridge Classic Cars. These pieces will be sent off to a local specialist to be refinished, polished and cured before being bought back to our workshop and stored ready for when the car is in final assembly.
There will be more on this fantastic project here on the Bridge Classic Cars blog soon.
Bridge Classic Cars have been working on this 1973 MGB GT V8 that has been in our workshop for a while, and during its testing phase, an issue has been found.
After fitting up, plumbing, wiring and preparing the newly rebuilt V8, the MGB like all of our projects, began its testing phase. After being run up to a temperature several times, our technician John discovered an issue. As part of all engine tests, our technicians remove the oil filter to inspect the condition of the oil and therefore the internals of the engine itself.
Upon inspection, John discovered metal swarf around the inlet of the oil filter. From there, it was time to begin tearing down the engine to get more of a look at what the issue might be. Looking into the oil galleries throughout the block, John found more metal debris. Then, taking his time to carefully remove some of the main caps John discovered them to be quite considerably scored and grooved. Indicative of an oil issue to the crankshaft.
The next step is to take the engine out of the car and begin to take each component apart, inspect and report on each piece.
It’s not often we get to see more modern classics here in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. But, when we do they are iconic. Take for example this 1992 Toyota MR2 Automatic.
The car is in the process of being assessed and documented by our in-house restoration teams to determine what work will need to be done to make this example of peak 1990s Japanese engineering solid and reliable.
The MR2 is a wonderful mid-engined sportscar. Loved by many throughout the world for its handling, its dynamics and its ease to live with charm. This MR2 is fitted with an automatic gearbox as well as removable roof panels, which add to its everyday usability or weekend fun appeal.
Once the specific departments have looked at the car and issued their findings, expect to see more on this fantastic sportscar here on the Bridge Classic Cars blog.
Bridge Classic Cars have it’s latest Bridge Classic Cars Competitions car in the workshop before its draw tomorrow night.
The car is being checked over by our in-house restoration team as part of its delivery and MOT inspection. Our technicians are checking each system is functioning as it should and also that the crucial safety components needed for the MOT are being inspected and addressed if needs be.
There are still tickets available for this stunning 1980s icon! Just head over to Bridge Classic Cars Competitions by clicking the link below.
www.bridgeclassiccarscompetitions.co.uk/product/1984-bmw-635/
From our last post, you saw our in-house restoration technician Scott busy at work in the workshop at Bridge Classic Cars plumbing and wiring the freshly built 5 litre V12 that sits at the heart of this gorgeous E Type Roadster. While that has been going on in the workshop, one crucial piece has been in the trim shop under the talented eye of our expert trimmer Brian.
The hardtop. An important part of any Roadster has been carefully painted by our amazing in-house paint shop in glorious deep black. Then, it was time for Brian to work his magic. Slowly and methodically, Brian began to remove the old headlining to reveal the shell underneath. Some of the material was saved in order to create the templates for the new pieces that would be needed to completely restore the hardtop to a standard matching the car itself.
Brian worked through the hardtop piece by piece to ensure the best and finish possible on such a bespoke project as Fern Grey. Even taking care to form the new openings for the speakers that sit in the pillar behind the drivers and passengers headrests. Once the underlay had been put in and secured, Brian then got to work with the finish touches.
Using swatches of existing black material, Brian took the time to find not only a close colour match but also a complimenting texture to work with the hardtop shell but also the other interior pieces that are in dark green leather. It’s these details that truly make this build, one of a kind.
Preparing a classic car for winter is very important. And, at Bridge Classic Cars we know what it takes to keep your pride and joy safe. Take for example this 1970 Citroen DS21.
This stunning example of the DS has come into us to have the underside cleaned and treated as part of its winter preparation. For this, it isn’t a case of just laying on a thick coat of undersealer. It takes time, attention, care and an understanding of what each individual car requires.
To begin with, Tamas, evaluated the areas that would require cleaning back more than others. Then to protect the wonderful pale French blue paintwork, he covered the bodywork and delicate components with plastic coverings and specific paint tape as to not damage any part of the car. Then, using a variety of steel, brass and copper wire wheels he removed any contaminants/surface issues. After that was removed from the underside and arches of the car (which on the rear must be removed to take the wheel off) Tamas then cleaned down the surfaces thoroughly and carefully to give the chemical treatment in the undersealer the best conditions to work on.
Over many hours, Tamas patiently applied the undersealer to the bottom of the car. Allowing time between each coat for the chemicals in the spray to flash off and begin to cure. This is crucial in order to get the best coverage and more importantly the best protection for the car over the winter.
Then, the car was left to cure with specifically placed heat lamps to make sure that the treatment cured correctly and evenly on the car.
Brian, one of our in-house trim experts at Bridge Classic Cars, has been hard at work fabricating a new glovebox for the 1970 Dodge Charger.
Firstly, Brian created a mockup to use as a template and check the fitment of the piece within the dash itself. Making sure to note down all of the mounts and holes needed to secure it into place.
Then he transferred that onto felt covered hardback to make and bend the shapes needed for the glovebox. Once that was completed, it was riveted together and installed into its final position.
This, is the small but crucial touches our trim-shop are the best at.
The body for this 1977 MGB Roadster is currently in with Kris in our in-house body shop being worked on to make sure it looks absolutely exceptional when it’s all done. So, while Kris and the body and paint team are busy working on the car, the interior has been handed over to our amazing trim team.
Kath and Brian have been carefully taking apart the original seats from MGB Roadster in the Bridge Classic Cars trim shop. As you can see, the inner workings of the seat need a fair bit of work but that’s no trouble for our talented trim shop.
Piece by piece, Kath and Brian have been dismantling the seats to get them broken down all the way to the frames to assess if anything original can be used.
Keep an eye out here on the Bridge Classic Cars blog for more on the 1977 MGB Roadster.
Refinishing or recovering a steering wheel is no simple task. The right balance of tactile feel, smoothness, finish and contrast is something that only comes with skills, understanding and complete knowledge of your craft. And that, is why our in-house trim experts at Bridge Classic Cars are the best.
The original wooden wheel on the 1970 Dodge Charger currently in at Bridge Classic Cars for an interior refit had seen better days. It was discoloured, the original varnish has begun to flake away. This just wouldn’t have matched the incredible black and orange theme chosen by the customer. So, Kath recovered the wheel using that colour palette to create a stunning piece for the car.
Kath chose her materials to closely match the existing materials used throughout the iconic muscle car and tie it into the custom interior. Deep black leather with vibrant orange stitching.
Kath measured out the black leather and cut it to size. Allowing a snug but not overly stretched fitment to the wooden wheel underneath. Then, after being hemmed, Kath began to stitch in the piece to envelop the large wooden steering wheel. Something like this, being so intricate and restricted, can only be done by hand and this is where the skill of a true craftsperson shines. The final fit and delicate stitchwork just fit the car, with its custom one-off feel.
We have an incredible in-house trim team here at Bridge Classic Cars. They’ve been hard at work on the interior of the 1970 Dodge Charger that is currently in our trim shop.
Here, you can see the work Kath has done refinishing the centre console to match the exterior of the Bright Orange Mopar. Kath carefully removed the original veneers from the piece in order to create templates for the new Orange vinyl that adorns the giant centrepiece of the interior in a wonderful contrast against the rest of the black vinyl.
After cutting out the templates, Kath began to wrap the original pieces after test fitting. Once all in place, Kath cleaned up all of the accompanying brightwork to make the Orange stand out even more. Then, once all the adhesive had correctly cured and settled into place. Kath, test fit the new centre console with the seats just placed in the car.
I think we can all agree, it looks absolutely sensational.
Bridge Classic Cars are award winning Classic Car Restoration and Maintenance specialists. Your pride and joy is in safe hands with our expert Classic Car Technicians. Take a look at our awards here.
