aston martin db2/4

Carburettor Removal

Classic car technician Steve had to remove the carburettors from our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 recently as he noticed that one of the sliders was

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Aston Electrics

Workshop Manager John has been working on the electrics of our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4. He has been checking all of the wiring and switches

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DB2 Engine

It has been a little while since our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 has had its engine fitted. However, that has now changed thanks to classic

Read More »

Raw Form – Our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 Back from Blasting

Our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 has arrived back at our Suffolk HQ following its appointment with the media blasters.

The body was carefully removed from the chassis of the 1950’s GT previously by our workshop technicians and carefully transported to a local blasting company to carefully remove the Claret paint as well as exposing any areas which will need attention by the team here at the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshops.

The body arrived back at our workshops earlier this week and was taken straight into our in-house fabrication shop for our expert team of fabricators to work on getting this rare and unique GT car back into better than new shape.

The team have begun to get the body onto the framing jig to get it ready for the delicate and highly-skilled work of repairing the areas affected by 71 years of being used and stored.

The Strip Down Makes Big Progress

The mechanical strip out of our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 has started at the rear of the car. The tailgate, lights, spare wheel carrier and fuel tank have all been removed. Classic car technician James actually found some of the original black paint on the car too!

The dashboard and clocks have also been stripped out ready for refurbishment. James made sure that the wiring was labelled for reference and pictures were taken to aid in reassembly later on.

Brian and Lydia have also been working on the interior of our rare Aston. They removed the old covers from the front seats before going on to remove the foam and runners as well. The seats from this vehicle were in fairly bad condition and did not want to come apart easily. Lydia ended up grinding away a lot of the screw heads to be able to remove the seat back from the base. She then cleaned up the interior dash cubby boxes and the door pockets too.

Brian removed the metal runners from the base of the seats, and the base foams. He then removed the carpet from the back of the squab seat, removed the old cover & foams, removed all side wood sections, removed frames, and cut out new side wood sections & new backboards.

Perhaps the most obvious change to our DB2/4 is that the body has now been removed. This is a big step in the strip down and the whole team is excited to see this beautiful car continue to make progress.

Double Aston Martin Day For Brian

…and they say men can’t multitask! Brian’s day has been spent on 1953 Aston Martin’s today. He started off sorting out all interior parts, labelling up, bagging up all of the small parts of the Aston martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe.

Swiftly followed by work on our other 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4. He’s a little further forward with the interior of this one as he fits new clips to the door panels, cutting out foam, gluing the foam to boards, trimming the foam to size, cutting and gluing the leather to the door panels, gluing and trimming onto the back of the boards as well as turning the leather around the pocket holes.

Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe Stripdown

Brian has begun work on stripping down our 1955 Aston Martin Drophead Couple. He has removed the rear boot panels, the rear seat base and door panels. The cappings and door pockets have been taken out and the sill carpets. The carpets under the dash, the dash top panels and window surround panels are all now out.

The project will be a big part of our diary for 2024 but heading up to Christmas we have a few weeks to really get started on the strip down.

Aston Martin DB2/4 Interior Work

Cutting and gluing the leather to the front side window surround panels. Trimming onto the back of the panels, cutting and gluing leather onto the front window surround panels. Trimming onto the back panels, filing out the holes for the door panel brackets, fitting the door panel brackets.

Cutting and gluing leather to the door pockets and pocket side panels, screwing side panels to the pockets, gluing leather to the rear window surround panels.

Aston Martin 2/4 Interior taking shape

To begin with, Lydia has made a mock-up panel to test the measurements for the tuck and roll flutes. This requires precise measurement and calculation to ensure that the flutes end up at the correct width. If they do not, then the panel will not fit! Tuck and roll requires the correct measurements on both a cotton underlayer and the leather upper layer. Each flute is then filled with foam after it has been sewn up, thus encapsulating the foam into the channel. Lydia has not tried this method of tuck and roll before, but found it to be quite effective, and it ensures that the seat retains its original look. Next was the shaping of the panel to make it fit the seat. She used a combination of the original pieces and her judgement to determine the size and shaping of the panel, then cut it down to size. As we are working with the original foam, which is in fairly good condition, it didn’t require much deviation from the original pattern piece. Lydia then worked her way through laminating all of the other pieces onto scrim foam, adding her point marks, and sewing them on. After many attempts at trying the covers on and altering them, Lydia is happy with the fit, so she begun to staple them and glue the flies to the foam.

Carburettor Removal

Classic car technician Steve had to remove the carburettors from our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 recently as he noticed that one of the sliders was sticky and the paint was starting to flake.

The removed carbs will now be rebuilt to make sure they are in the condition we expect them to be when the finished car drives out of the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.

A DB2/4 Throwback

We have been given some photos of our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 from earlier on in its life.

Even in the black and white pictures, it’s clear to see that this is (and has always been) a beautiful car that perfectly displays the style, elegance, and luxury that Aston Martin has long been known for.

It is going to be an extremely exciting process to see our DB2/4 return to its former glory over the coming months.

Taking A Closer Look At Our DB2/4

A 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 has recently joined our personal collection. While this is exciting enough, this car appears to be extra special, as there are strong indications that this could actually be the 10th example ever built by the renowned British automotive brand.

The 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 holds a significant place in automotive history, embodying the spirit of craftsmanship and innovation that has defined Aston Martin for generations. This rare car showcases the evolution of automotive engineering in the 1950s, with its distinctive design and pioneering features.

Classic car technician Tom has been taking a closer look at this special DB2/4 to begin the investigation into what plan can be created for its future.

An Exciting Addition To Our Collection

We have recently added an extremely exciting classic car to the Bridge Classic Cars collection. Director, Gordon has purchased our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 and it is beautiful.

There has been a DB2/4 in the workshop for a while as we have been restoring it for a customer. However, this new addition is currently in our personal collection. First impressions show that the car is in great condition, although there is obviously some work to be done.

As a full inspection of the car is underway, we look forward to seeing what the future holds for our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4.

Aston Electrics

Workshop Manager John has been working on the electrics of our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4.

He has been checking all of the wiring and switches to make sure everything is working as it should. As it stands, only the wipers are working but John will no doubt get everything up and running very soon.

Once John has completed his work, all the switches will be in the same position when on/off and the issue of no power going to the dash will be resolved too.

DB2 Engine

It has been a little while since our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 has had its engine fitted. However, that has now changed thanks to classic car technician Scott putting it back into the car.

This is a big step in the restoration of this very rare Aston. With only 451 made, it’s important to us and our customer that we bring this early Aston Martin back to life.

Everyone here at Bridge Classic Cars is looking forward to seeing the progress continue on this special project.

Fitting Interior Pieces

Our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 has been in the hands of classic car technician Brian. He has been working on the metal trims for the tailgate. These were trial fitted so they could be adjusted and the fit checked.

Brian went on to cut the leather for the inside of the tailgate before glueing the leather to the top of it and trimming it to the correct shape. The process was repeated for the bottom of the tailgate. The top trim plates were drilled and screwed into position – these will be removed later on to be covered in leather.

The metal struts in the kick panel area were the next focus of Brian’s attention. He glued leather around these which gave them a much more pleasing look and style.

More Interior Work And Engine Progress

Classic car technician Brian has been doing some more work on the interior of our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark 1.

His work started by cutting out a new top panel for the rear base seat. This was trial fitted in the car before Brian then went on to fit the front rail trim panel to the front edge of the seat base. The top panel was then glued and screwed to the base seat.

Once the base seat was in the car, Brian moved on to cutting the strips of leather to go around the inside of the boot opening. These were then glued into place.

Brian also fitted the rear side panels as well as the rear floor panels.

The carpets were the next focus of Brian’s attention. He glued calico material to the back of the carpets and marked where the carpets will go on the panels inside the car. The carpet was glued to the rear side panels as well as to the bottom edge and side of the interior wheel arch panel. Brian repeated this on both sides of the vehicle.

After the carpets, Brian fitted the metal channels to the boot floor panels and fitted rubber strips to them.

The boot floor panels were put in place and the middle metal channel was fitted to join the two panels together. Brian went on to fit all of the metal access covers to the boot floor.

Cover panels for the rear base seat to cover the bolts were next to be made before the rear squab was fitted in the car.

After the carpets and boot floor panels had been fitted, Brian turned his attention to the passenger side dash tray.

With all of this interior work ongoing, the rebuild of the engine for our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark 1 is also making good progress.

The cam timing is now being sorted so it won’t be too much longer before the engine will be ready to go back into this rare classic car.

Engine Rebuild And Interior Work

The engine of our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 MK1 is in the process of being rebuilt. Everything has been progressing well with the rebuild and the engine is now ready for final assembly.

As well as the engine being rebuilt, classic car technician Brian has been working on the interior of this classic car. He removed the old foam and glue from the headliner and sanded it smooth. He then used the old headliner as a pattern for cutting out 3mm foam and material for the new headliner.

The rear headliner material was glued in place and trimmed to shape. The front headliner material was also glued and trimmed.

Brian went on to fit the covered centre trim bar before glueing the leather to the rear quarter section of the car. He also cut slots out of the leather for the seat catches.

The front and side headliner trim panels were fitted, as were the rear and rear side headliner trim panels.

Our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 MK1 is an eye-catching vehicle in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop and it is great to see it continue to make progress through its restoration journey with us.

Hooking Up – Beginning to Wire Up the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1

The workshop at Bridge Classic Cars have begun working on wiring up the beautiful 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1 in at our Suffolk HQ for full restoration.

Scott, one of our restoration technicians, has been working his way through the classic DB2 to get it to the stage where the team can begin to fit up the new harness and looms into the classic GT car.

Scott has been wiring up the various relays and lights throughout the car, and at the same time fitting the beautifully finished chromework onto the car. As well as that, Scott has been routing the harness through the dashboard and car all the way to the rear lights.

This project is moving along quickly so keep an eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page very soon for more updates.

Refined Process – Final Primer and Raptorguard on the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 MkI

The paint and body team at Bridge Classic Cars have got the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 MkI into the in-house paint booth for some of the final stages before colour begins.

The team sanded down the body and bonnet for the final time before it was prepared and pushed into the paint booth. There, the team laid down the final coat of primer onto the car before the colour is laid down onto the panels of the classic Aston Martin.

After the primer had settled and cured, the team brought the bonnet of the DB2/4 back into the paint booth to prepare and begin work on the underside. The team reprimed the underside before applying the hardwearing and durable Raptorguard to the bonnet of the DB2/4.

All in the Preparation – Primer and Filler Work on the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 MkI

The paint and body team have worked on getting the body and bonnet of the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1 as close to perfect as possible in the build-up of the car going into paint.

The car is being completely restored by the Bridge Classic Cars in-house restoration teams. The paint and body team have worked on several rounds of primer and minimal filler work in order to get the rare Aston Martin into the best condition aesthetically.

The process involves priming, sanding, filler work, more sanding and then back in for primer again to build low areas of the panelwork which sit on top of the delicate framework beneath the Aston Martin.

With this process done, the team can continue on the process of getting the car ready for paint.

Just Like New – Replated Trims for the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1

The trim pieces and parts for the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1 have been replaced as part of the classic sports cars restoration by Bridge Classic Cars.

Each piece has been carefully inspected and any repairs performed on them before being cleaned and then going through the process of being re-plated to make sure they’re at the same standard and finish as the rest of the car done by our restoration workshop.

First Fit – Checking the Bonnet on the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1

The bonnet of the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 currently in with Bridge Classic Cars for restoration has finally been reunited with the body of the 1950s sports car.

The bonnet has been placed onto the body before it is adjusted and fitted. This is to make sure all the amazing work Alan has done on the single-piece clamshell goes with the work Chris has done on the body. But, the results look fantastic. Both the body and the bonnet are completely uniform and evenly shaped which will allow our in-house paint team to get the colour laid just perfectly for this car when the time comes.

Going Back Together – Reassembling the Front Suspension of the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4

Scott, one of our amazing in-house restoration technicians here at Bridge Classic Cars, has been skillfully and carefully putting the front suspension of the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1 back together for the next phase of its restoration.

Scott began by getting the front hubs of the classic sports car built on the bench. With this, the knuckle had to be reworked to accept the new pin but apart from that everything slotted together perfectly. Piece by piece, Scott put every component together until both assemblies were ready to go back onto the car.

Then, Scott positioned each assembly in place to be connected up to the steering box. Along with that, he fitted the springs into place and connected up the torsion arms.

This is all in preparation for the next phase of the 1955 DB2/4 Mk1 Restoration which you will all see very soon here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page.

Top to Bottom – Priming the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Bonnet

The Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint shop have been busy continuing work on the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1 we have at our Suffolk HQ for restoration.

Alan, one of our incredible in-house paint experts, has been working on the underside of the bonnet for the DB2/4. This part of the bonnet has had the same treatment as the top of the piece. Alan has carefully sanded, filled and resanded every square inch of the bonnet included the wheel arches to make sure the piece has the best foundation for the primer.

Like the top, it had a layer of epoxy primer followed by a polyester primer laid on top of the beautiful front clamshell.

This piece of the DB2/4 is a piece of art in its own right and we cannot wait to see the bonnet laid onto the body which is being worked on by our restoration technicians in our workshop.

Good as New – 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1 Gauges Back from Refurb

The gauges for the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1 currently undergoing restoration at Bridge Classic Cars have returned from being refurbished.

We sent the dials and units off to a specialist refurbisher and the results look absolutely incredible. Along with being restored, they have all been perfectly calibrated to a very small tolerance. It’s beautiful to see the craft and skill that our trusted specialist partners put into pieces.

The gauges will eventually go into the dashboard of the classic Aston Martin which is being finished to the same very high, very process standard.

Expect to see more on the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1 here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page very soon.

Primer and Ready – 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1 Bonnet in Primer

The Bridge Classic Cars incredible in-house paint team have been working hard to get the bonnet of the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1 into each stage of primer.

Our in-house painter Alan has been working on the one-piece front clamshell of the DB2/4, perfecting every line and surface on the panel getting it ready for the first stage before it is painted.

The first stage is a normal epoxy primer which is a standard primer used on most projects. But, over the top, the DB2/4 Bonnet is then covered in a Polyester primer.

After the primer has properly cured, Alan can then begin the next stage before the final colour is shot on the panel. So, expect to see more updates on the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1 restoration here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page very soon.

The Next Level – Continuing Work on the Bonnet of the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1

Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint team have been working on the bonnet of the stunning 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1 currently in with ourselves for restoration.

Alan, one of our incredible Paint team, has been working on getting every surface of the bonnet as perfect as possible. And that is literally every single surface, including the wheel arches and the underside of the bonnet.

The work put into the classic Aston Martin is reflected in every single panel and piece on this gorgeous sports car. Alan has worked meticulously on every surface of the single-piece panel to make sure that once painted, it is all works together.

Closing In on Perfection – Working on the Bonnet of the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1

The Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint team have been hell-bent on achieving perfection for the bonnet of the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1 that is in with ourselves for full restoration.

Alan, one of our incredibly talented painters and bodywork specialists, has spent hours perfecting every line and curve on the single-piece clamshell that makes up the whole front end of the classic Aston Martin.

This piece is crucial because it is one single piece and has no adjustment as you would do with a front end made of several pieces. So, each of the body lines and curves must sit perfectly with the rest of the body which is in our workshop with Scott, one of our restoration technicians.

So, Alan has been meticulous working on sections to get them perfect.

Fresh and Clean – Painting the Hubs for the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1

The Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint team have just finished working on the hubs for the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1.

Chris, our head painter, has delivered the freshly refinished hubs for the Aston Martin to Scott, our restoration technician, in our workshop for when final assembly calls for the hubs to be fitted up to the car.

Finished in a stunning satin black, the hubs look better than new!

Held in Suspense – Refitting the Front Suspension to the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1

Work on the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 continues with Bridge Classic Cars as our in-house restoration technician Scott begins to put together the front suspension of the DB2 back into its freshly powdercoated frame.

Scott has been carefully refitting the newly refurbished pieces into the DB2 so as not to mar either the frame of the piece itself. Scott has taken the time to even test fit mounting bolts before installation to see whether the powdercoating will need to be taken down to allow the bolt to neatly and securely go into its allotted place.

With so many newly refurbished parts, Scott has methodically worked through the front end of the car so as not to have to remove any components to install others around it. The first piece, is the stunning cast steering rack.

There will be more very soon on the progress of the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1 here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page.

Protected – Lacquering Parts for the 1955 Aston Martin 2/4 Mk1

The Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint booth has been busy working on several projects that we currently have in. One of those is some of the components from the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4.

After the pieces have come back from their various cleaning treatments, our paint shop has finished them all in matte lacquer in order to protect them from any moisture or contaminants. Once the lacquer had completely cured, they could then safely be handled and given over to our restoration technicians to put back on the car during its assembly.