Subframe Reassembly
October 17, 2023
Classic car technician Jonn and workshop manager John have been working on our 1987 Mercedes 500SL. They have been reassembling the subframe before refitting it
1987 Mercedes 500SL
Back To It
October 6, 2023
Our 1987 Mercedes 500SL is back in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop and work has begun on it once again. Various tasks have already been
Cut Back – Polishing the Body and Painting Final Parts of the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
May 3, 2022
The paint and bodywork teams at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on the final processes of the 1987 Mercedes 500SL restoration. Alan, one of
Guarded – Raptorgaurding the Inner Wings and Bulkhead of the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
April 21, 2022
The inner wings and several pieces of the bulkhead from the 1987 Mercedes 500SL have been finished in thick durable Raptorguard by the Bridge Classic
Flawless Finish – Painting the Final Parts of the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
April 20, 2022
The final parts and panels for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL have been finished in the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint shop ready for reassembly on
Final Push – Priming the Last Panels for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
April 14, 2022
The final panels and trims for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL in for restoration have been prepared and primed by the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint
Final Finish – Painting the Doors and Quarter Panels of the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
April 11, 2022
The final panels for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL have been carefully and meticulously prepared by the paint and body team at Bridge Classic Cars. Alan,
Colour Matched – Painting the Bonnet on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
April 7, 2022
The bonnet of the 1987 Mercedes 500SL has been taken into the Bridge Classic Cars paint shop to be painted by our in-house paint team.
Piece by Piece – Painting the Bonnet and Boot on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
April 6, 2022
The bonnet and boot of the 1987 Mercedes 500SL have been into the Bridge Classic Cars paint shop to be finished in the matching Selenit
The Pursuit of Perfection – The 1987 Mercedes 500SL in Colour
April 1, 2022
The 1987 Mercedes 500SL has been moved from the preparation area at Bridge Classic Cars into the paint shop and then, into our in-house paint
Prepped and Ready – The 1987 Mercedes 500SL Masked and Ready for Paint
March 25, 2022
The 1987 Mercedes 500SL has had all its fabrication work completed by the fabrication team at Bridge Classic Cars and been moved into the paint
Getting to the Root – Fixing the Rust Areas on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
March 10, 2022
The 1987 Mercedes 500SL has been transferred from our body shop to the fabrication shop at the Bridge Classic Cars workshops. During the preparation of
Updates – Preparation and Discoveries on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
February 25, 2022
The 1987 Mercedes 500SL in the Bridge Classic Cars body shop having its engine prepared has turned up some new discoveries. Our body and paint
In the Booth – Priming the Panels on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
February 22, 2022
The rest of the panels from the 1987 Mercedes 500SL which is in with Bridge Classic Cars for restoration have been in the in-house spray
Preparations – Preparing and Inspecting Components for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
February 22, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars body team have been working on getting the parts and pieces from the doors of the 1987 Mercedes 500SL prepared and
Primed and Ready – The 1987 Mercedes 500SL in Primer
February 18, 2022
The stunning 1987 Mercedes 500SL which has been in the Bridge Classic Cars body shop getting prepared for its paint job has been transferred into
Closer and Closer – Final Pieces of Body Preparation on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
February 17, 2022
The final process to get the 1987 Mercedes 500SL restoration ready for its first coats of paint has been completed by the Bridge Classic Cars
One Step Closer – More Bodywork and Removing the Window Regulators on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
February 16, 2022
The body team at Bridge Classic Cars are continuing at full pace to get the 1987 Mercedes R107 500SL ready to head into the spray
Body Prep – Getting the 1987 Mercedes 500SL Ready for Paint
February 11, 2022
The 1987 Mercedes 500SL is in with the Bridge Classic Cars body shop to be prepared for its upcoming paintwork. Our technician Mauro has been
Reworking – Sanding and Preparing the Boot and Fuel Cap for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
February 9, 2022
The in-house paint and body team here at Bridge Classic Cars have begun work on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL. Mauro, one of our paint team,
Final Parts – Assessing Parts on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
February 8, 2022
The in-house restoration technicians at Bridge Classic Cars have been working through the final parts and pieces for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL restoration which is
In Paint – Parts of the 1987 Mercedes 500SL in the Paint Shop
January 28, 2022
The in-house paint shop at Bridge Classic Cars has always got something in the state of the art spray booth. This time, it’s some of
Pulled into Place – Finishing the Armrests and Doorcaps on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
January 27, 2022
Brian is our lead in-house trimmer at Bridge Classic Cars. From our Suffolk HQ, Brian and Lydia create handmade, bespoke interiors for our customer’s restoration
Handmade – Armrest Covers for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
January 26, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim shop has recently been making several new interior pieces for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL currently in for restoration. Lydia,
Carrying On – Inspection and Cataloguing Parts from the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
January 25, 2022
Tamas, one of our amazing in-house restoration technicians here at Bridge Classic Cars, has been inspecting and cataloguing the parts and pieces from the 1987
Making a Start – Body and Paintwork Begins on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
January 25, 2022
The stunning 1987 Mercedes 500SL that is in for restoration at Bridge Classic Cars for our director, Craig, has started its journey towards completion. The
From Scratch – Trimming the Armrests on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
January 24, 2022
The in-house Trim Shop at Bridge Classic Cars can create just about anything. This time, our lead trimmer Brian has been trimming the armrests for
All Gone Through – Cataloguing Parts Off the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
January 21, 2022
Bridge Classic Cars in-house restoration team have been busy assessing and cataloguing the next round of parts from the 1987 Mercedes 500SL restoration project. Tamas,
All in Order – Cleaning and Organising Parts from the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
January 13, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars in-house restoration team have been busy cleaning and cataloguing the parts for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL which is in with ourselves
Final Fitment – Door Cards on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
September 27, 2021
The art of interior trim is something our in-house trim experts have mastered over years of experience. A great example of this is the door
Subframe Reassembly
October 17, 2023
Classic car technician Jonn and workshop manager John have been working on our 1987 Mercedes 500SL.
They have been reassembling the subframe before refitting it to the car. They then moved on to connect and secure the steering.
Back To It
October 6, 2023
Our 1987 Mercedes 500SL is back in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop and work has begun on it once again.
Various tasks have already been completed such as replacing the bushes and ball joint on the front suspension. The car has been stripped back so work can continue on getting this classic Mercedes restored and back out on the road.
Cut Back – Polishing the Body and Painting Final Parts of the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
May 3, 2022
The paint and bodywork teams at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on the final processes of the 1987 Mercedes 500SL restoration.
Alan, one of our painters, has been working on cutting back the grey paintwork on the classic R107 in preparation for its polishing. This has to be done very carefully as to not damage the edges of the lacquer/clear coat on the car. A series of finer and finer wet sandpapers are used until the clearcoat is flat, uniform and flawless and then machine polished to a mirror polish.
Also, the team have painted the final pieces of trim on the car in the heavily durable black that other pieces of the car have been finished in.
Guarded – Raptorgaurding the Inner Wings and Bulkhead of the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
April 21, 2022
The inner wings and several pieces of the bulkhead from the 1987 Mercedes 500SL have been finished in thick durable Raptorguard by the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint shop.
Alan, one of our painters, has been working on completing this task as part of the final paint stages on the classic Mercedes R107. This stage involved coating several key areas of the car with a thick, durable Raptorguard. This particular product seals the surface from any form of moisture that can find its way inside the metal. So, the team have finished the inside of the front wings and several key parts of the bulkhead and heater matrix.
With this done and now curing, the team can soon begin reassembly of the classic Mercedes 500SL.
Flawless Finish – Painting the Final Parts of the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
April 20, 2022
The final parts and panels for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL have been finished in the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint shop ready for reassembly on the car.
The team have taken their time to make sure each individual piece has been properly prepared, cleaned and primed before being taken back into the booth to be finished in matching Selenit Grey to the rest of the classic 1980s Mercedes.
Part of the process involved also painting several key parts of the car in a deep black before being masked off and finished in the glossy grey.
Final Push – Priming the Last Panels for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
April 14, 2022
The final panels and trims for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL in for restoration have been prepared and primed by the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint shop.
Alan, one of our painters, has been carefully preparing each individual piece before carefully loading them onto the jigs in our in-house paint booth before laying down the first coats of epoxy primer. After these had flashed off and began to cure, Alan laid several coats of high-build primer for the body shop team to begin working on before they head back in to be finished in matching Dark Grey to the rest of the car.
Final Finish – Painting the Doors and Quarter Panels of the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
April 11, 2022
The final panels for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL have been carefully and meticulously prepared by the paint and body team at Bridge Classic Cars.
Alan, has worked on getting each panel individually prepared and then cleaned down before taking them into our in-house paint booth where they were to be finished in matching Selenit Grey to the rest of the car.
He laid down layer after layer of the deep, glossy grey to the doors and front quarter panels which marks the final major pieces of the 1987 500SL to be painted and the car will soon begin the rebuild of the car.
Colour Matched – Painting the Bonnet on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
April 7, 2022
The bonnet of the 1987 Mercedes 500SL has been taken into the Bridge Classic Cars paint shop to be painted by our in-house paint team.
The piece has been beautifully prepared and readied to go into the booth with our painter Alan to shoot the layers of Selenit Grey needed to complete the deep, glossy paintwork which has been done to the body of the classic Mercedes.
Piece by Piece – Painting the Bonnet and Boot on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
April 6, 2022
The bonnet and boot of the 1987 Mercedes 500SL have been into the Bridge Classic Cars paint shop to be finished in the matching Selenit Grey to the rest of the bodywork.
Alan has been carefully preparing and readying the panels before they went into the booth to get the perfect finish identical to the rest of the classic Mercedes.
The Pursuit of Perfection – The 1987 Mercedes 500SL in Colour
April 1, 2022
The 1987 Mercedes 500SL has been moved from the preparation area at Bridge Classic Cars into the paint shop and then, into our in-house paint booth/oven.
The paint and body team, along with the fabrication shop, have spent a lot of time getting the classic R107 ready for its date with the paint booth making sure each part, panel and piece was perfect before beginning the painting process.
The car is being finished in a classic Mercedes colour, Selenet Grey. Most notably seen on the classic 280SL Pagodas, it was chosen to compliment the beautiful burgundy red interior that the trim team have made for the car.
So, with the car ready it was time for Alan and Nick to go into the booth with the car and lay down the first coat onto the body of the SL. Starting with the engine bay.
Alan began under the transmission tunnel and worked his way up and across the firewall making sure every inch was covered to give each coat an even and flowing look. The inner wheel arches and front core support finished off the first stage. Then, Alan began to work getting the scuttle panel and windscreen surround shot in the dark, deep grey and worked his way back towards the boot on the classic Mercedes.
The rear quarter panels and rocker panels were coloured line by line. Each gently overlapping on the previous to give the consistent and uniform look needed to achieve the flawless finish that comes with Selenet Grey. But with the car having its first coat complete, it was time to let it settle and get the paint mixed for the next round.
The 2nd coat was done in the same order as the first. Alan making sure to get every exposed piece of bodywork coated properly for the uniform look. Again, it was all about consistency and movement in order to achieve the finish on the classic R107. And once the 2nd layer had flashed off, Alan waited for the prescribed time and then shot the 3rd coat to finish off the car.
With that, it was left in the ovens to completely cure and harden. Once it has completely hardened, it will be carefully transferred back to the preparation area in order for polishing and preparation for the next stage.
Prepped and Ready – The 1987 Mercedes 500SL Masked and Ready for Paint
March 25, 2022
The 1987 Mercedes 500SL has had all its fabrication work completed by the fabrication team at Bridge Classic Cars and been moved into the paint preparation area.
The car has had several crucial pieces of the car’s metalwork repaired by the fabrication shop. The paint and body team then worked on getting the car reprepared for the spray booth by sanding down the panels and masking the car ready for its date with the spray booth.
Getting to the Root – Fixing the Rust Areas on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
March 10, 2022
The 1987 Mercedes 500SL has been transferred from our body shop to the fabrication shop at the Bridge Classic Cars workshops.
During the preparation of the body for paint, our body shop noticed some areas of corrosion in some key places. These are being cut out and addressed by our fabricators so the classic Mercedes R107 is in perfect condition to go back into the body shop to have those areas prepared again for paint.
Updates – Preparation and Discoveries on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
February 25, 2022
The 1987 Mercedes 500SL in the Bridge Classic Cars body shop having its engine prepared has turned up some new discoveries.
Our body and paint technicians have been working on getting the engine bay of the classic Mercedes into the same shape as the outside of the car but upon further inspection during sanding, some areas have some rust issues and previous poor repairs.
These will need to be addressed before the rest of the engine bay is finished in primer ahead of its colour coat.
Alongside that our technician, Mauro, has removed several pieces of the suspension in order to get to the harder to reach areas of the classic Mercedes. This is is to make sure every area of the car is inspected, prepared and primered.
In the Booth – Priming the Panels on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
February 22, 2022
The rest of the panels from the 1987 Mercedes 500SL which is in with Bridge Classic Cars for restoration have been in the in-house spray booth to be finished in bright white primer.
Chris, one of our amazing painters, has been getting the first layers of finishing primer onto the pieces of the classic Mercedes. This is all being done in preparation for the car to be completely refinished in the Mercedes Pagoda colour, Selenit Grau.
It’s all moving quickly now on the restoration of this beautiful Mercedes R107 and we can’t wait to show you the next step!
Preparations – Preparing and Inspecting Components for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
February 22, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars body team have been working on getting the parts and pieces from the doors of the 1987 Mercedes 500SL prepared and catalogued before being painted and put into storage.
Mauro has been working on checking each of the components before then carefully disassembling and refurbishing anything that needed to be reworked before final assembly on the classic Mercedes.
Primed and Ready – The 1987 Mercedes 500SL in Primer
February 18, 2022
The stunning 1987 Mercedes 500SL which has been in the Bridge Classic Cars body shop getting prepared for its paint job has been transferred into the spray booth for the first layers of finish primer to be laid onto the iconic classic Mercedes.
Chris, one of our paint technicians, has taken the R107 into the booth and thanks to the hours of preparation on the body by our body team, flawlessly laid down the first in a long process of getting the car into its final colour of Selenit Grau.
Chris treats every coat of primer like it is a final layer of colour or clear and all the paintwork that comes out of the Bridge Classic Cars paint shop is held to the same exacting standards.
We’re excited to show you the next step in the restoration of the 1987 Mercedes 500SL very soon here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page.
Closer and Closer – Final Pieces of Body Preparation on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
February 17, 2022
The final process to get the 1987 Mercedes 500SL restoration ready for its first coats of paint has been completed by the Bridge Classic Cars body shop.
Mauro has been working on getting the last few pieces of the classic Mercedes ready for its date with the paint booth. Mauro has been meticulously going through the whole car piece by piece to make sure everything is in perfect shape before the first layers of final primer are laid onto the body and panels. This involved several hours of sanding in places with very limited access but needed to be done for the best finish possible.
Along with that, Mauro removed the final parts and pieces from the doors of the 500SL to be able to sand inside the doors so the paint shop can get the best finish possible inside and out.
We’re so excited to see the 1987 Mercedes 500SL finally go into the Bridge Classic Cars paint shop for the first steps of its paint process.
One Step Closer – More Bodywork and Removing the Window Regulators on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
February 16, 2022
The body team at Bridge Classic Cars are continuing at full pace to get the 1987 Mercedes R107 500SL ready to head into the spray booth.
Mauro has been working on getting every single surface of the iconic grand tourer into perfect shape for our painters to lay down the first coats of ”Selenit Grau”. That is the new chosen colour of the 500SL, originally available on the 280SL Pagodas in the 1960s.
The body team have also worked on getting the window regulators and all brackets, hinges, door strikers etc off of the car and catalogued. Not only for assessment but also to gain access to the inside of the doors to prep them for their new colour.
It’s all moving ahead with the 1987 Mercedes 500SL, and we’re excited to show you the next phase of the restoration on this classic Mercedes.
Body Prep – Getting the 1987 Mercedes 500SL Ready for Paint
February 11, 2022
The 1987 Mercedes 500SL is in with the Bridge Classic Cars body shop to be prepared for its upcoming paintwork.
Our technician Mauro has been working on getting the bodywork in the best order possible before it’s handed over to the paint team. He has been making sure that every panel is flat and smooth before the body goes in to be re-primed and then its full colour and clear coats are applied.
Things are moving quickly on the R107 500SL so make sure to check in on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for updates.
Reworking – Sanding and Preparing the Boot and Fuel Cap for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
February 9, 2022
The in-house paint and body team here at Bridge Classic Cars have begun work on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL.
Mauro, one of our paint team, has been getting some of the panels and pieces ready for paint. The team is working on getting the boot lid and fuel cap have been getting worked on to match it up to the rest of the car in terms of its body lines and panel match.
After this is done, it will all be cleaned down thoroughly and stored while the rest of the car is being worked on.
Final Parts – Assessing Parts on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
February 8, 2022
The in-house restoration technicians at Bridge Classic Cars have been working through the final parts and pieces for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL restoration which is in our Suffolk HQ workshop.
Tom, one of our in-house restoration technicians, has been going through parts for the 1987 Mercedes R107 500SL to check their condition and to make sure anything missing can be sourced ahead of time.
Each piece has been carefully photographed and noted for the car.
In Paint – Parts of the 1987 Mercedes 500SL in the Paint Shop
January 28, 2022
The in-house paint shop at Bridge Classic Cars has always got something in the state of the art spray booth. This time, it’s some of the parts for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL.
Alan, one of our paint experts, has been working on preparing the parts from the legendary German luxury convertible to go in front of his paint gun. He made sure to clean each part thoroughly and ensure they had all been dried and warmed before beginning laying the first coats onto the pieces.
Expect much more on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL very soon here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page,
Pulled into Place – Finishing the Armrests and Doorcaps on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
January 27, 2022
Brian is our lead in-house trimmer at Bridge Classic Cars. From our Suffolk HQ, Brian and Lydia create handmade, bespoke interiors for our customer’s restoration projects which are well and truly world-class.
Today on Brian’s table is the armrest covers of the 1987 Mercedes R107 500SL. Lydia and Brian have worked together to create these pieces for the ’80s luxury convertible. The covers were hand-cut and sewn for the best fit possible around the original armrests themselves. Tailored perfectly to suit each component. Brian, using his years of skill and craft, carefully stretched and moved the leather around every curve to get it laying just right. Then, with the minimal amount of heat possible, he began working the leather into place across the adhesive behind it.
After both the covers were finished with their bright new chromework, Brian could begin work on the next stage of the interior of the R107. The door caps, these pieces were carefully stripped back to their core and assessed by Brian to see if they were reusable. They were actually in fantastic shape!
Handmade – Armrest Covers for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
January 26, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim shop has recently been making several new interior pieces for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL currently in for restoration.
Lydia, has taken the hand-cut pieces which Brian had previously made for the armrest covers and began to stitch to the pieces to cover to create the new covers which will be stretched and secured onto the armrests of the classic Mercedes convertible.
Keep a lookout on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more updates on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL restoration.
Carrying On – Inspection and Cataloguing Parts from the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
January 25, 2022
Tamas, one of our amazing in-house restoration technicians here at Bridge Classic Cars, has been inspecting and cataloguing the parts and pieces from the 1987 Mercedes 500SL restoration project we are currently carrying out.
Each individual piece has been carefully inspected and noted down on a manifest to identify if anything is missing and what condition each part is in. This is a very important part of any restoration project we undertake here so if anything is needed to be ordered or sent away for refurbishment it can be done in time for the cars final assembly.
Tamas has gone through hundreds and hundreds of parts for this car, each of them has been individually wrapped and then put away into our parts department for safe keeping.
Making a Start – Body and Paintwork Begins on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
January 25, 2022
The stunning 1987 Mercedes 500SL that is in for restoration at Bridge Classic Cars for our director, Craig, has started its journey towards completion.
The bodywork and paintwork are the next jobs on the list to get started on which has been entrusted to Garry. He will get the body of the R107 prepared and ready for the first coats of colour to be laid across this beautiful 1980s Mercedes.
Expect to see lots more on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL very soon on the Bridge Classic Cars news page.
From Scratch – Trimming the Armrests on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
January 24, 2022
The in-house Trim Shop at Bridge Classic Cars can create just about anything. This time, our lead trimmer Brian has been trimming the armrests for the 1987 Mercedes R107 500SL.
Beginning with the original piece, Brian hand-made a template for the new pieces which would find their way onto the armrest of the handsome R107.
Carefully careful traced his patterns onto the same stunning red leather that the rest of the car has been trimmed in. Then, with millimetre precision, Brian cut out the templates ready for when they will be stitched and finished by hand.
Expect to see much more on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page.
All Gone Through – Cataloguing Parts Off the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
January 21, 2022
Bridge Classic Cars in-house restoration team have been busy assessing and cataloguing the next round of parts from the 1987 Mercedes 500SL restoration project.
Tamas, has been going through each individual part to check its part number and operation/condition for when the car comes back in for final assembly. This is a crucial part of any restoration project so that replacements can be sourced or pieces can be sent off for refurbishment.
Expect to see a lot more on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page very soon.
All in Order – Cleaning and Organising Parts from the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
January 13, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars in-house restoration team have been busy cleaning and cataloguing the parts for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL which is in with ourselves for restoration. Our in-house restoration technician Tamas has been meticulously going through every component which was removed from the car to evaluate and note its condition and part number if needed.
Some of these pieces will be sent out to specialists for refurbishment or refinishing but others will have particular treatments and processes done to them in-house.
To see all of the parts our technician has gone through, see the gallery below!
Final Fitment – Door Cards on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
September 27, 2021
The art of interior trim is something our in-house trim experts have mastered over years of experience.
A great example of this is the door cards on our 1987 Mercedes 500SL. These are all being entirely made in-house in our trim shop. The fit and finish of our interior pieces is world class thanks to our amazing team.
The door cards themselves were fabricated from scratch in order to best match the originals ensuring an extremely close fit to the same standards as they would have left the Mercedes trim shop in 1987, if not even better.
All of the associated trim pieces for the doors are also being retrimmed with the same level of care and attention to detail as the rest of the car which is currently under going full restoration here at Bridge Classic Cars.
Keep a look out on our News Page for more updates on the masterpiece of German engineering.
