Tag Archive: classic aston martin

Aston Martin DB2/4 Seat Bases Rebuild

Yesterday and today, Lydia has been working on the rear seat of the Aston Martin DB2/4.

‘Chris has kindly painted the seat tray black for me, and stone chipped the underside, as this part actually forms the bottom of the car and is exposed to all the elements the road can throw at it. Firstly , I re-attached the foam that we removed, and this needed some remedial repairs as the top surface was uneven. Should I have left this, it would have shown through the new leather cover, and it would also have been possible to feel the imperfections beneath. I filled in the deepest dents with some thing scrim foam and then laid a complete piece on top before adding a layer of polyester wadding to ensure that the seats remained soft and comfortable. This also works well at hiding any last imperfections that may remain! Then, I applied the new leather piece which forms the part that the passengers sit on.’

The next part to complete was the backrests, which were a little more tricky. These have to have the fabric half fitted, then they get riveted to the seat tray, then the rest of the fabric is stretched up and over and glued to the seat tray.

Brian has already repaired the foam on these so Lydia added a layer of wadding to make them softer. The leather was cut in 2 parts and sewn together, then fitted to the seat with contact adhesive.

Using heat really helped to soften the leather and made it a lot easier to fit the covers on these.

The final piece is the board that rests on top. This is a simple piece of cardboard, with a thin layer of foam on , then covered in leather. Finally, a piece of piping is applied to the edge to close the gap between the board and the seat underneath.

December 6, 2023 12:29 pm Published by

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.

December 6, 2023 11:51 am Published by

Interior Panels

Brian and Lydia have continued their work on our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4.

Using the new plywood panels that Brian had cut out for her, Lydia covered them in leather at the top. The bottom part is a piece of carpet with bound edges, so she also cut and sewed this , then attached it to the panel with staples.

The wooden-shaped pieces are simply covered directly with leather, so Lydia cut the material out and glued it straight onto them.

Parts of the interior were painted black before Brian repaired the tailgate top trim panel as well as the headliner.

Lydia then covered the pre-made wooden panels in headlining fabric. Some panels required a small amount of padding, so she added some scrim foam to these before covering them in wool headlining material.

November 30, 2023 4:41 pm Published by

DB2 Centre Console And Rear Panels

Brian and Lydia have been working on our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4, specifically the centre console and rear panels.

Using the existing material from the original, Lydia remade the centre console to match the new leather choice. This involved cutting and making new piping, new top and side sections, and also covering the wooden base section. The paintwork underneath was looking a bit tatty, so Lydia cleaned this off and then re-sprayed it with a fresh coat of black.

As for the rear side panels, the old ones had all but disintegrated. Lydia cut new ones from plywood, checking the shape in the car as she went. Then she cut new fabric and binding for the cover, sewed this together, and glued the new piece to the board.

November 29, 2023 1:55 pm Published by

Getting Ready To Start

We currently have 3 Aston Martin DB2/4s in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. Out of all of them, our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark I is the furthest along its restoration journey.

In fact, it is coming to the end of its time in the workshop, and preparations have already begun to complete road tests and alike ready for it to go home to its owner very soon.

Before we can fire it up though, classic car technician Paul fitted a new starter motor as well as making and fitting a new main cable.

The video of our Aston Martin DB2/4 firing up for the first time is coming soon…

November 24, 2023 10:51 am Published by

Interior Work Begins

Brian has started work on our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe.

He has been making the centre console lid.

He did this by making the wood base, adding the wood edge sections, glueing this to the base section, making a new foam top section, cutting to shape, and fitting foam to the wood base.

November 16, 2023 11:00 am Published by

More Progress For Our DB2/4

The Bridge Classic Cars interior trim team of Brian and Lydia have continued their work on the interior of our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4.

Lydia carried on her previous work making the seat backs. She altered the shaping slightly to improve the fit, added piping where necessary and then attached the sides. Lydia then fitted the covers with staples, cutting out excess foam and leather where needed to ensure there was no extra bulk in corner areas.

To finish off the seat backs, Lydia stapled the piping on, shaped and bound the carpet, and then used small tacks to secure this on. Before binding the carpet, she skived the piece of leather she was using to ensure there was no extra bulk, and that the carpet would sit flat. Lydia had to move the position of the piping a few times to make sure that it sat close to the edge of the carpet, and that no staples were showing. The seats are now ready to fit into the car when it’s ready!

Brian repaired the damaged wood rail, cutting new leather & covering the rail.

November 16, 2023 9:46 am Published by

Refitting Our DB2 Grill

After the re-chromed grill of our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 arrived back at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, classic car technician Steve fitted it back onto the car.

As you can see, the already stunning classic looks even more impressive with its grill reinstated.

November 15, 2023 8:46 am Published by

Aston Martin Seats

Interior trimmer, Lydia has been working on the backrest part of the front seats of our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4. This was slightly more challenging than expected as they are much larger than the bases, and the flutes run all the way up the faces.

Lydia used her pattern from the bases for the flutes so that they all line up when put together. The hardest part of this was giving enough allowance for the leather to be able to turn under to cover the hinges, so she had to add a separate flute to allow for this. Once Lydia had worked this out, she sewed up the faces and then checked the shape on the seats.

November 14, 2023 3:00 pm Published by

Panel Piping

Interior Trimmer Lydia has made some additional piping to add to the rear panels of our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4, which will close up the gap between the panel and the roof. This improves the movement when you open the boot lid.

October 27, 2023 2:32 pm Published by

More Work On Our DB2/4

Interior trimmer Brian has been continuing his work on the 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4.

He sandblasted the metal frame legs on the front seat squab frames. He then glued 10mm of foam on top of the original front seat back foam before trimming it to size. The old covers from the rear seat base panels were removed and new foam was added on top of the original.

Brian then removed the centre console cover and sandblasted it before adding more foam to it. The tool tray was also cleaned up.

October 26, 2023 3:48 pm Published by

DB2/4 Boot Boards

Classic car technician Brian has been busy working on our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4.

After a lot of work went into stripping the interior of this rare classic, things continue to progress in its restoration journey in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.

Brian removed the boot boards from the car so he could clean up the metal strips. Once this was done, he cleaned up the metal trims and the rubber strips. These will be used later on in the restoration process.

A new dash tray backboard was made too and the interior light panel was cleaned up. Lydia also cleaned up the base of the seat with a heat gun and then thinners and a scotch brite pad were used to remove the black underseal.

October 23, 2023 10:32 am Published by

Work Continues

Work on the interior of our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 has continued as Brian and Lydia have made new boards for the kick panels, as well as removing the seat frames and the old covers from the dash top panels and dashboard trays.

Our DB2/4 is a very special car so it is great to see things progressing very well on it already.

October 19, 2023 3:46 pm Published by

More Interior Progress

Classic car technician Brian has continued his work on the interior of our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4.

He removed the covers and cleaned the old glue off the door pockets before removing the old leather from the rear side cappings.

The cover was then taken off the door panel and Brian made new sunvisor boards using the originals as patterns. The metal door panel locators were removed so they could be cleaned and used on the new panels.

October 17, 2023 3:43 pm Published by

Ignition Cable

Our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark 1 has been in the hands of classic car technician Steve.

Steve soldered the original ignition advance control cable end to the new inner cable as the original was broken and we were unable to source a new one.

Whilst also fitting the refurbished dials, it was noticed that a locating bracket stud was missing so this was replaced before fitting

October 13, 2023 2:30 pm Published by

Interior Repairs

Classic car technician Brian has been continuing his work on the interior of our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4.

He has made several repairs such as the front window surround panels and the front side window surround panels.

Brian also made new boot side panels by using the originals as patterns before he removed the sides of the door pockets so the old material could be removed.

October 13, 2023 1:57 pm Published by

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.

October 9, 2023 7:54 am Published by

On Its Way

We are very excited to have our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 2.9-litre Drophead Coupe soon to be arriving at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.

This is a fully intact example with matching numbers that requires a comprehensive restoration. This particular car, one of only a few ever produced in a right-hand drive (RHD) configuration, was originally delivered to Ireland and has remained there for its entire existence, until very recently.

It has actually been under the care of a single family for the past five decades and presents a rare chance to restore a rare and very special classic car.

October 2, 2023 3:29 pm Published by

Saying Dubai Bye

Our 1976 Aston Martin AMV8 recently sold at auction and is now on its way to its new owner.

The journey of our AMV8 started in America before heading over to us here at Bridge Classic Cars. Following its sale, its travels are not quite over just yet, as it is now being shipped over to join its owner’s collection in Dubai.

Seeing our 1976 Aston Martin AMV8 leave the workshop after being with us for quite some time was both exciting and slightly sad at the same time. We are very excited that the car will now be enjoyed as it should but we are also slightly sad that we will no longer be able to admire it every day.

We hope the new owner enjoys our beautiful AMV8.

August 21, 2023 11:12 am Published by

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.

August 15, 2023 2:56 pm Published by

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.

August 11, 2023 1:32 pm Published by

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.

August 10, 2023 8:18 am Published by

Our 1976 Aston Martin AMV8 is headed for auction!

Our 1976 Aston Martin AMV8 will soon be headed for auction through our friends over at Car & Classic.

Some of you may remember, this stunning left-hand drive example of the DB6 replacement came to us from the USA as a claret US spec car but over the course of the last 8 months has been transformed into the stylish and handsome GT car you see today, finished in Deep Carriage Green.

Recently, we took the car out to shoot the photos for its upcoming auction which you can see here!

Keep an eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for the announcement of when our 1976 Aston Martin AMV8 will be live on the Car & Classic website.

July 21, 2023 3:12 pm Published by

A Look Back On Our AMV8 Going Back Together

The restoration of our 1976 Aston Martin AMV8 has been making great progress lately with a lot of work coming together on this stunning classic car.

After its new coat of paint, the process of rebuilding the car began. Classic car technician Alan was part of this process. As Alan finished the paintwork on our AMV8, he started putting the chromework back on the car.

Alan also removed, painted, and re-fitted the air intake plenum to the engine. This made a big difference to the look of the engine bay and certainly has had a positive impact on the overall look of the classic Aston Martin.

Classic car technician Steve then got involved by fitting the stainless steel sill covers before checking, cleaning, and greasing the front and rear brakes. Steve also fitted a new battery and clamp.

Brian has also been working on the interior of our AMV8. He removed the old damaged cover from the lower dash panel before cutting out new vinyl for it. The old glue was cleaned off the metal panel and the new vinyl was glued in place. Brian re-fitted the air duct and re-covered the lower dash panel.

The old damaged vinyl was removed from the battery cover and a new one was made. Brian went on to make the leather straps that hold the jack onto the battery cover. After John had cleaned up the ashtray, Brian cut and glued new vinyl to the ashtray lid.

Continuing the rebuild of our 1976 Aston Martin AMV8, the front and rear glass was reinstalled. Steve also fabricated a new bracket for the front number plate. To show how skilled Steve is, the bracket he made was made simply by looking at an image online!

The wheels were removed and the replacements have arrived. Once a few more jobs have been completed on the car, these will be fitted and our AMV8 will be another step closer to being ready to drive out of the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.

July 5, 2023 9:21 am Published by

Going In The Right Direction

Bridge Classic Cars workshop manager John has been continuing his work on our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 as it gets closer and closer to leaving us and being returned to its owner.

The trafficators have been fitted up and installed and John has also fitted the under-bonnet light. Once everything was wired in, John tested it all to make sure everything was working as it should be.

July 3, 2023 8:01 am Published by

Small Jobs Make All The Difference

It may seem like a very small job but, workshop manager John has cleaned the ashtray of our 1976 Aston Martin AMV8.

As the interior of our classic Aston is coming together, making sure each part is looking its best will go a long way in making the finished car look incredible.

With this much attention to detail from the workshop team, our AMV8 will no doubt be an eye-catching example when it leaves us.

July 3, 2023 7:40 am Published by

DB2 Interior

Our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark I has been in the care of classic car technician Brian as he has been working on various parts of the interior.

He has fitted the door pockets, the front window surround panels, the lower A post panels, the dash tray top panels, the dash top panels, the rearview mirror, as well as various bits of trim.

Some of the chrome work has also been put in the car and Brian also made and fitted the sound deadening for the footwell area. This was glued in place before the carpet was fitted and the front seats were installed too.

June 27, 2023 10:19 am Published by

An Italian Celebration

On Friday night, Freddie and Molly attended an event at The Marquis. To celebrate the owner’s cars returning from this year’s Mille Miglia, there was Italian food, Italian cars, and plenty of fellow car enthusiasts to chat to.

We took our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark I with us and it looked perfectly at home next to some other very impressive vehicles.

Freddie and Molly had a great evening and would like to thank everyone at The Marquis who made them feel so welcome.

June 26, 2023 3:57 pm Published by

More DB2 Progress

Our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark I has been making very good progress through its restoration journey lately.

This has continued with classic car technician John wiring up the lights and fitting up the bonnet and boot. Once this was done, the car was actually taken to a car show being hosted by the owner of our DB2.

It was great to see this stunning classic car out of the workshop and back with its owner temporarily. We are looking forward to this being a permanent situation very soon once work is complete.

June 26, 2023 8:43 am Published by

A Bit More Paint

Our 1976 Aston Martin AMV8 has been back in the hands of classic car technician Alan as he fixed a couple of areas that needed a bit more attention to make sure the finished paintwork was exactly how he wanted it to be.

Now that our AMV8 has been finished in Deep Carriage Green, it will soon be moving on ready to be put back together by the workshop team here at Bridge Classic Cars.

June 19, 2023 7:36 am Published by