classic bristol 405 restoration

On The Cards – Teardown on the Rear Door Cards of the 1954 Bristol 405

The trim team at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop have begun work on stripping down the rear door cards of the 1954 Bristol 405 in for restoration.

The team began by carefully removing the coverings to use as a reference for the new ones which will be made at our Suffolk HQ by the trim shop. The team could then inspect any pieces or part which may be able to be refurbished or reused before measuring and checking each of the components that make up the door card.

Everything was then catalogued and the original coverings put into storage to be used at a later date for reference.

Resting Place – Remaking the 1954 Bristol 405 Armrest

Our in-house trim team at Bridge Classic Cars have worked meticulously on remaking the armrest of the 1954 Bristol 405 which is in for restoration.

The team completely stripped the old piece down to its base parts in order to assess and refurbish any pieces that require attention. The original wooden bases were cleaned up and reused while the foams were completely remade from scratch and shaped to fit.

New Lease of Life – Refurbishing Rear Seat Parts on the 1954 Bristol 405

The interior trim team have worked on refurbishing and refinishing several key parts of the rear seats for the 1954 Bristol 405 currently in with Bridge Classic Cars.

Lydia, one of our trim team, has carefully stripped back the parts to bare metal to fully assess and inspect each individual piece before then preparing them to be refinished in hard-wear durable black paint.

With these pieces now curing, the team can carry on with the retrim of the rear squab seat in the classic Bristol.

Delicate Work – Teardown of the Rear Seat Bases on the 1954 Bristol 405

The trim team at Bridge Classic Cars are continuing their work on the interior of the 1954 Bristol 405 which is in for restoration by the team at our Suffolk HQ.

The trim team have been carefully dismantling the interior of the classic Bristol in order to inspect and assess its condition and a plan for its restoration.

Once the team had stripped back the entire piece, they could see the condition of the framework underneath and support brackets. While the wooden frames will need attention, the metal brackets were in good enough shape for the team to sandblast and paint them in gloss black to renew them for the project. The foam will also be replaced along with the coverings which are being catalogued and stored for reference later in the project.

Deeper Dive – Inspecting the Front Seats of the 1954 Bristol 405

The interior team at Bridge Classic Cars have been inspecting the condition of the front seats from the 1954 Bristol 405 that is in for restoration.

Each seat is broken down to its base parts and each bolt and hinge is inspected along with the various materials found inside the covers to learn more about their shape and form. The team methodically go through the seats inch by inch making note which parts of them will need to be refurbished or replacements handmade by the team.

Inspection – Inspecting the Carburettors on the 1954 Bristol 405

The workshop at Bridge Classic Cars has begun to inspect the carburettors on the original straight-six destined to be reunited with the 1954 Bristol 405.

Our restoration technicians have been testing the carburettors are clear and all springs and rotating pieces move smoothly, as well as inspecting some of the internals before they’re completely taken apart and inspected further on the workbench.

A Piece of the Puzzle – The 1954 Bristol 405’s Original Engine Returns

The Bridge Classic Cars workshop in Pettistree have received a very important shipment today. Not only is it important for the technicians in the restoration of the 1954 Bristol 405, but its important for the car itself.

The team at Bridge Classic Cars have managed to track down the car’s original engine. That’s right, this is the correct engine for the classic Bristol. The car is currently fitted with the engine from a Triumph TR6, but as part of the restoration of the car, its original heart will be put back into the 1950s GT car to live out the rest of its years with.

We’re excited to show you more on the 1954 Bristol 405 project very soon but for now, we get to marvel at the glorious Bristol straight-six.