My Account
My Account

classic car bodywork

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.

Guided – 1965 Porsche 912 Body and Bonnet in Primer

February 25, 2022

The 1965 Porsche 912 in the Bridge Classic Cars body shop has been moved into the paint shop to go through the next stage of primer work and sanding along with the bonnet.

Alan, has been working on the classic Porsche to get the body and all the panels into perfect shape before the car has its next stage of primer. Once the air-cooled Porsche had been moved into the paint booth, our technicians could lay down the first of several coats of polyester primer onto the body and the top of the bonnet.

After several more coats of both Polyester primer and Epoxy primer across the Porsche, it was then taken back out into the body shop to have its final sanding process started before the trip back into the paint booth for its journey into final colour and clear coat.

The Smallest Details – Repainting Parts for the 1956 Jensen 541

February 18, 2022

The paint team at Bridge Classic Cars have had some of the parts and pieces from the 1956 Jensen 541 in the paint booth.

With the restoration of the 1956 Jensen 541 moving ahead with the body panels and pieces being worked on by our paint and body teams, it was the turn of some of the parts to go into our in-house paint booth to be refinished in heavy-duty black and looking as good as new.

The pieces for this restoration will be going into the booth in various stages in preparation for the final assembly of the car but until then they will be wrapped up and put into storage after being catalogued.

Blackout – Refinishing Trim Pieces for the 1978 MGB GT

February 18, 2022

The paint team at Bridge Classic Cars have some of the trims and pieces from the 1978 MGB GT in the paint booth to be refinished.

Whilst the body of the MGB is having its metalwork completed, the paint team took the opportunity to refinish several of the trims and fixings in a new heavy-duty black finish for the classic sports car. This not only is aesthetic but also will help protect the pieces, which were taken back to bare metal, while they’re in storage until reassembly begins.

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.

Moving Forward – Fabrication Work on the 1978 MGB GT Begins

February 15, 2022

The metalwork on the 1978 Blaze Orange MGB GT has begun!

All of the new panels and pieces have arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop for the team to begin work on the classic 1970s sports car. Once all of the welding is complete on the car, it will then be turned over to our body shop to make sure every line and curve on the car is absolutely perfect.

There will be more updates on the 1978 Blaze Orange MGB GT very soon

Fresh Metal – Wing and Door Rust Repairs on the 1987 Daimler Double Six

February 14, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars fabrication team have been working on getting any and all signs of corrosion out of the 1987 Daimler Double Six currently in our Suffolk HQ workshop for restoration.

Monty, one of our fabricators, has been methodically going through the car to address any issues with a series of smaller sympathetic repairs where needed. One of these areas is the wings of the car and the bottoms of the doors.

He has gone through each panel to determine just how much material needs to be removed in order for it to be structurally sound and safe. Monty has made a series of patch panels for both the wings and the doors of the Daimler from scratch. Handforming each of the pieces until it was a tight fit and flowed with any curves or radiuses on the car.

With this step done, he will carry on through the car getting all the necessary areas completely sorted out.

The Next Phase – Masking Up and First Coat of Primer on the 1965 Porsche 912

February 7, 2022

The wonderful 1965 Porsche 912 that is in the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint and body shop at our Suffolk HQ has been being worked on by our amazing painter, Alan.

Alan has been working on getting the car prepared for the beginning of its bodywork journey. The first step was to get the car all the way back to bare metal, and now the team have begun the second phase of its story with Bridge Classic Cars. The car is now in epoxy primer.

The car needed to be put into primer before its bodywork begins as it’s used as a guide coat. The majority of this will actually be removed from the car. The paint and body team then use it to find any places where the bodyshell will need adjustment or tweaking to make the entire car work and flow in terms of its lines and curves.

After Alan has prepared the car for primer, he began the delicate work of masking up the car. This is just as important as the paint itself. Then, after cleaning down the bare metal, Alan began laying down the coats of primer.

We’re excited to show you the next chapter for the 1965 Porsche 912 with Bridge Classic Cars.

Beneath the Surface – Stripping Back the 1969 Bentley T1

February 1, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint and body team have been working on stripping down the 1969 Bentley T1. What they’ve found isn’t looking good.

The Bentley is showing signs of several repairs which did not have the cars best interest in mind. So, with this, Chris began diving deeper into the car to come up with a plan on how to best get this beautiful classic Bentley back into the best shape possible befitting a car of its standing.

Chris has meticulously and cautiously stripped back all of the paint on every single body panel to find every piece of sub-par previous work on the car. That way, moving forward the car can be repaired and restored correctly and last another 50+ years.

Whilst the body has been being worked on, Chris and Alan had some of the other panels and pieces for the Bentley inside the spray booth after perfecting them on the sanding tables. They are now shot in hard-wearing and durable modern epoxy primer.

Bridge Classic Cars ensure that during one of our restorations, the cars best interest is kept at the forefront of our work. So, keep a lookout here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more updates on the 1969 Bentley T1.

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

January 27, 2022

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.

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

January 26, 2022

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.

Final Details – Fitting the Bonnet and Wiring Changes to the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster

January 25, 2022

The team at Bridge Classic Cars are on the final stretch in getting the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster ready for road testing.

One of the biggest and most delicate jobs of the whole build was fitting the bonnet to this one-off E Type. Carefully (and using almost everyone in the workshop) the bonnet was gently lowered onto the nose of Fern Grey. Once in place, our technicians Jon and Scott could begin the task of firmly attaching all the necessary brackets and braces to secure the bonnet to the car. Along with our bodywork expert Chris, the team worked on getting the hinges and clips aligned so the bonnet sat perfectly on this beautiful car.

Along with the bonnet being fitted, the team went through the car to add some last-minute adjustments. A new passenger grab handle was made and fitted by Brian, our lead in-house trimmer, and the headlights have been removed and rewired for a new pair that feature sidelights incorporated into the unit themselves.

It’s all coming together on Fern Grey, so keep a look out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for updates on the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster.

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.

Hidden – Repairs to the Frame Rails of the 1987 Daimler Double Six

January 24, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars in-house fabrication team have been continuing work on the rust repairs to the frame of the 1987 Daimler Double Six currently in our Suffolk HQ.

Monty, one of our skilled and talented fabricators, has been working his way through the underside of the classic Daimler. This time, Monty has been repairing and fabricating the front core support cross-member.

This has a series of spot-welded panels and pieces that fix the whole piece into place. Monty carefully drilled out the spot-welds to release the piece from the car. After getting the cross member out of the car, Monty could begin templating the affected areas to create the new patch panels which would need to go into the car.

Monty used his craft and skill to create tight-fitting panels which would mean less cutting to non-damage areas of the car. Preserving as much as possible but also securing them in the safest and neatest way possible. The results, look fantastic.

Monty will continue working through the car making sure all the areas that need attention get the work they are needed to bring this stunning classic Daimler back to its former glory.

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

January 21, 2022

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.

Next Step – Disassembly and Paint Stripping the 1969 Bentley T1

January 21, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint shop has been busy getting the 1969 Bentley T1 in with us for its full repaint.

Chris and Alan have been working their way through the car to strip the panels and trims to get them ready for stripping.

The first panel to be stripped back to bare metal is the vast bonnet of the luxury icon. Chris and Alan have carefully pulled all the paint from the bonnet and then begun to sand the panel back to bare metal in order to assess if any adjustments will need to be made to the piece.

Each piece taken off the car is catalogued, assessed and carefully stored for when the car is reassembled after its repaint.

Coming Back Together – Reassembly on the 1977 MGB Roadster

January 21, 2022

The 1977 MGB Roadster currently in with Bridge Classic Cars has finished its time in our in-house paint shop and has now been moved into our restoration workshop to begin reassembly.

After previously assessing the condition of the trims when the car first came into us, they were bagged and catalogued for this stage of the car’s aesthetic restoration. Some of the trims and parts weren’t able to be refurbished or reused so high-quality replacements from trusted suppliers were sourced to make sure the Roadster looks and works perfectly. That includes cleaning and refinishing the fuel tank to match the standard of the rest of the car.

Our in-house restoration technician Mauro has been working alongside our other technician Paul to get the trims and pieces back onto the MGB before it goes into our in-house trim shop for its interior. Mauro and Paul will work methodically through the car to ensure every component and fitting is secure and neatly back onto the car.

Expect to see more in the very near future on the 1977 MGB Roadster in with Bridge Classic Cars.

On Its Way – 1969 Audi 70L

January 20, 2022

The latest addition to the Bridge Classic Cars stable is on its way to the Suffolk HQ from its current home in the South of England.

This wonderful RHD, very original example is currently on its way back to the workshop for our in-house restoration teams to begin its assessment.

Expect to see lots more on this amazing piece of Audi history 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

January 20, 2022

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.

Chasing Spot Welds – Rust Repairs on the Frame of the 1987 Daimler Double Six

January 20, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars in-house fabrication team have been hard at work sorting out some of the rust issues on the 1987 Daimler Double Six.

Monty, one of our incredible fabricators, has been working his way through the frame rails and underside on the Double Six to identify and drill out any spot-welded panels which need replacing. To do this, Monty has had to carefully clean back any areas to try and find the elusive spot welds.

Once Monty has identified an area that needs attention and using a specialist bit, drilled the spot welds out he can then begin the task of templating the patches and getting them to fit up tightly to the area. Then, once the fitment is just right, Monty can get the new pieces welded in inch by inch to ensure they remain flat and straight.

There will be more updates on the 1987 Daimler Double Six very soon on the Bridge Classic Cars news page.

A New Start – 1969 Bentley T1 in for Repaint

January 20, 2022

Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint and body technicians have begun the process of getting this beautiful 1969 Bentley T1 ready for paint.

The car will be entirely stripped down to bare metal with each component carefully catalogued and photographed, taking care and attention to preserve even the tiniest washer on the classic luxury icon. Chris and Alan, our in-house paint experts will then work on getting the bodywork of the car sanded back to assess the state of the metal and if any corrections will need to be made for the car is repainted in our state of the art paint booth.

Expect to see lots more very soon of the 1969 Bentley T1 in with Bridge Classic Cars.

The Small Touches – Polishing the Rear Valance of the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster

January 17, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars in-house restoration team have been getting together all the final touches on the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster, Fern Grey.

One of the final pieces to finish off the rear end is the new valance cover. Our technician, Jon, spent hours getting the finish just right on the piece which is somewhat of a centre-piece for the back of the bespoke E Type.

With the valance fitted and the other brightwork in place, the rear end of Fern Grey is near enough complete.

State of Play – Close Up on the Wings of the 1951 Riley RMB

January 14, 2022

Our master fabricator here at Bridge Classic Cars, Clinton, has sent through some close-up and detailed photos of the wings of the 1951 Riley RMB to illustrate the state of the panels before our teams begin working on them.

The level of corrosion and warpage on the original pieces is clear to see in the photos and takes a highly skilled and talented fabrication specialist to get the metal to be in the right shape and fitment. This is a photo of a single piece from the 1951 Riley RMB to highlight just how much work goes into each and every restoration that comes through the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop.

Next Floor Up – Repairing the Floor and Tunnel on the 1987 Daimler Double Six

January 14, 2022

Our in-house fabricator, Monty, is continuing his work on getting all of the affected metalwork out of the 1987 Daimler Double Six which is in with Bridge Classic Cars for restoration.

On this update, Monty has been working on a section of the passenger footwell and bottom of the gearbox tunnel. As you see from the first photo, it had become heavily pitted and corroded. So, Monty began the task of precisely removing it from the car in order to use it as a template for a series of replacement pieces he would need to make for the car.

After cutting the pieces out on the bench, Monty could then begin putting them into the car piece by piece to ensure the best fit with the most minimal amount of original material removed as possible but also ensuring it was strong and secure.

With this section of the 1987 Daimler Double Six completed, Monty can now move onto the next area of the car.

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

January 14, 2022

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.

Progression – Working on the Wings of the 1951 Riley RMB

January 14, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars in-house fabrication shop is working on the wings for the 1951 Riley RMB that we have in for restoration by our amazing teams.

The car is currently with our incredible fabricator Clinton, who has been working on repairing the wings for the classic Riley. He has carefully removed rusty or corroded sections of the wing of the Riley in order to repair them and thanks to his skill and talent, completely disappear into the existing metal.

The new pieces have been entirely hand-formed by Clinton in cour in-house fabrication shop for the Riley RMB using traditional techniques and practices. As you can see, the results are absolutely fantastic.

In Need of a Clean – Send 1905 Riley 9hp Parts for Rebrassing

January 13, 2022

The brass parts of the 1905 Riley 9HP are in need of a clean and refurb. So, these are being carefully catalogued and packaged to be sent off to a specialist to come back as good as new.

These parts are over 100 years old so special care is needed with the refurbishment of them. Bridge Classic Cars works closely with a series of trusted and well-respected specialists for jobs such as this to ensure the best long-lasting results on the parts that are sent away from us here.

Starting from New – Continuing Body Repairs on the 1987 Daimler Double Six

January 13, 2022

Our in-house fabrication shop at Bridge Classic Cars has been working its way through the rust issues on the 1987 Daimler Double Six.

Monty, one of our amazing fabricators, has carefully removed the affected areas on the sills of the luxury saloon. Monty has worked through the sills and replaced them with brand new metal which will perfectly match the original piece. The piece is as close to the original material thickness as to perfectly blend with the existing panel and when it comes to colour and bodywork, it is easier to paint match.

The work will continue on the 1987 Daimler Double Six so keep an eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars newspage.

In Colour – Painting the 1977 MGB Roadster

January 13, 2022

The first layers of colour are now on the body of the 1977 MGB Roadster in the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint shop.

Our head painter Chris has spent hours, along with our other painter Alan, getting the MGB Roadster’s body ready for its first coats of colour. It looks absolutely fantastic and these results only come with the extensive and meticulous prep work done by our in-house restoration teams. The colour sits nice and evenly across all the panels to give a beautiful uniform look on the 1970s convertible.

Next, Chris and Alan will prepare and begin the next stage of getting this 1977 MGB Roadster looking better than new.

© Bridge Classic Cars Holdings Ltd, T/ as Bridge Classic Cars. Registered in England and Wales with company number 5047706.