Inch Perfect – Handmaking Rear Sills on the 1986 Daimler DS420
August 17, 2022
The 1986 Daimler DS420, which is currently in the Bridge Classic Cars fabrication shop, has had its rear sills and parts of the floors made
classic car fabrication
Under the Surface – Stripping the Doors of the 1986 Daimler DS420
June 20, 2022
The doors on the 1986 Daimler DS420 have been stripped back by the paint and body team in preparation to be handed over to the
Key Pieces – Repairs on the 1969 Morris Minor Convertible
April 13, 2022
The 1969 Morris Minor Convertible has been in the Bridge Classic Cars fabrication shop to have the necessary repairs carried out to the body and
Honda Integra’s New Wheel Arch
July 2, 2021
Pricey has been continuing his work on our 1998 Honda Integra. He’s currently making up a new rear wheel arch and shaping up the arch.
VW Body Building
February 17, 2021
James has dedicated the majority of his time to resurrecting our 1991 VW T4 Transporter which has been suffering from corrosion damage and rust. The
Meet The Team: Chris
February 9, 2021
Chris is our classic car painter and fabricator. Whilst you can find him fabricating bodywork and smoothing down our cars ready to paint, you’re more
Spot Welding Progress On The VW T4
February 8, 2021
James has been continuing his work with the VW T4 Transporter Campervan. He’s currently tackling the corrosion in the wheel arch by fabricating new elements.
Smoothing Things Over With The Daytona
February 8, 2021
Now that the Daytona has been primed and prepared in the paint shop, Scott has taken it back into the fabrication bay to continue smoothing
T4 To Be Rust T-Total
February 2, 2021
James has just begun disassembling the VW T4 Transporter Campervan ready for its bodywork and paint. This includes taking off the bull bars, the glass,
VW T4 In For Some TLC
January 29, 2021
This iconic modern classic has come in for some TLC. As a 1991 VW Transporter T4, this model is often used as a camper conversion,
Final Bits Before Paint On The Jensen
January 29, 2021
Our Peony Red Jensen is getting closer to actually be Peony Red. This classic Jensen has been sat in parts for a while as we
To Chrome Or Not To Chrome
January 28, 2021
The process of restoring a car is rarely linear, but that’s all part of the car’s journey. The plan for the 1957 Jensen 541R was
Ferrari Fabrication
January 26, 2021
Scott has continued with the fabrication and bodywork on the Daytona. This mostly includes going over the entire shell with filler to make sure all
The Return Of The Riley
December 16, 2020
This 1953 Riley RMS has come in to the workshop for some alignment issues. We’ve had this beautiful Pistachio and Cream dual-toned Riley in before,
Lada Corrections
December 16, 2020
Our 1984 Lada 1200 has just come out of the fabrication bay where it has undergone some TLC to address its corrosion issues. The sills,
Inch Perfect – Handmaking Rear Sills on the 1986 Daimler DS420
August 17, 2022
The 1986 Daimler DS420, which is currently in the Bridge Classic Cars fabrication shop, has had its rear sills and parts of the floors made from scratch.
The bottom of the classic Daimler has areas of heavy corrosion which must be addressed and repaired by the team. For this, our fabricator Monty has made up and hand-shaped these pieces specifically for the car. With carefully bending and working the material to get into shape while also adding the beading to give the metal strength when welded into the body.
Each piece was spot welded into the car to avoid warping which can cause the subsequent pieces to fit incorrectly into the car.
The team will continue to get the classic DS420 back into new metal in the areas needed.
Under the Surface – Stripping the Doors of the 1986 Daimler DS420
June 20, 2022
The doors on the 1986 Daimler DS420 have been stripped back by the paint and body team in preparation to be handed over to the Bridge Classic Cars fabrication team.
The doors had to be stripped back in certain areas in order for the team to assess the corrosion in each piece and come up with a repair plan for the doors.
There are a few areas which will need significant repairs by the fabrication team so keep an eye on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more updates very soon.
Key Pieces – Repairs on the 1969 Morris Minor Convertible
April 13, 2022
The 1969 Morris Minor Convertible has been in the Bridge Classic Cars fabrication shop to have the necessary repairs carried out to the body and parts of the structure beneath the car.
The fabrication shop has been meticulous but also sympathetic to the process in order to make the car not only aesthetical right but structurally sound and secure for our body teams to work from to refine and perfect the beautiful shape of a classic Morris Minor.
Multiple areas of corrosion in key locations were discovered and repaired using the best methods possible and only sympathetically focusing on those specific areas which had been affected.
Honda Integra’s New Wheel Arch
July 2, 2021
Pricey has been continuing his work on our 1998 Honda Integra. He’s currently making up a new rear wheel arch and shaping up the arch. When he removed the arch it revealed a rotten inner sill and inner arch which he has worked to improve.
VW Body Building
February 17, 2021
James has dedicated the majority of his time to resurrecting our 1991 VW T4 Transporter which has been suffering from corrosion damage and rust.
The latest development with the wheel arch has included adding a body filler primer over the repaired elements to fill in any dents or imperfections. The trick is to use as little as possible and after applying an amount, working over it with a spreader to take off the exess filler.
This putty-like primer allows for an even finish and prepares it to be painted. Working with the curves of the panel means James can get a more even and neat finish.
Meet The Team: Chris
February 9, 2021
Chris is our classic car painter and fabricator. Whilst you can find him fabricating bodywork and smoothing down our cars ready to paint, you’re more likely to find him suited up in the paint shop. He’s recently been working on turning the Peony Red Jensen, peony red, a long-awaited and much-anticipated metamorphosis.
Chris’ expertise in fabricating comes from experience when he worked at a friend’ father’s body shop. There he worked with a wide variety of cars all whilst learning on the job. It’s there he found his love for it, “I enjoy the hands-on aspect of it.”
Chris tells us he has a love both fabricating and painting but wants to learn a bit more about engines and electrics of cars, “I’d like to learn a bit more about the engines, I know a lot of the other bits but I’d be interested in learning more about the electrics and engines”.
In his spare time Chris enjoys spending quality time with his family and when the weather allows, playing cricket and golf. Chris’s dream car is either a 1967 Mustang or a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Hard Top Estate.
Spot Welding Progress On The VW T4
February 8, 2021
James has been continuing his work with the VW T4 Transporter Campervan. He’s currently tackling the corrosion in the wheel arch by fabricating new elements. James found that he struggled to get his spot welder into the smaller and more awkward parts of the wheel arch, so instead had to fabricate some bespoke patches.
Here you can see his welding and replacement parts. James will need to do the same on the other side next, and then move onto the wings to ensure that all of the corrosion has been address before it enters the paint bay. With properly engineered components, this beloved TR4 will be able to continue providing memorable adventures.
Smoothing Things Over With The Daytona
February 8, 2021
Now that the Daytona has been primed and prepared in the paint shop, Scott has taken it back into the fabrication bay to continue smoothing over the body. The primer allows for any imperfection in the lines of the body to be seen more clearly and can therefore be addressed easier. Scott can make sure that the body lines are straight by sanding it down using a block.
Heres some progress photos from inside the fabrication bay and the paintshop. Its exciting to see such a huge project progress so well.
T4 To Be Rust T-Total
February 2, 2021
James has just begun disassembling the VW T4 Transporter Campervan ready for its bodywork and paint. This includes taking off the bull bars, the glass, doors and side panels so that we can tackle the rust.
The inside of the front bumper and all the front supporting structures have been taken apart as well as the side panels and doors taken out to start in-depth work on busting that rust. As a result of the wing and rust removal, James has fabricated the missing areas and welded them in.
Once James had finished removing the rust, he welded new parts in place for each part, as seen below:
VW T4 In For Some TLC
January 29, 2021
This iconic modern classic has come in for some TLC. As a 1991 VW Transporter T4, this model is often used as a camper conversion, which is exactly what ours is. Using some innovative spatial design, this T4 makes the perfect portable camper whilst still being small enough to navigate those smaller roads. However, much like any well-loved classic, it needs some maintenance to its paintwork.
We’re aiming to correct the rust damage on the lower half as despite having been painted elsewhere recently, the corrosion has already returned. The wheel arch, sills and wings are also showing signs of rust, so it’s our job to correct this! We’ll be taking every measure to make sure the rust is kept away for years, not just 6 months. We’re going to be stripping the bodywork back, remove the rust and then paint the body in a dual-tone with white on top and grey covering the bottom half.
Final Bits Before Paint On The Jensen
January 29, 2021
Our Peony Red Jensen is getting closer to actually be Peony Red. This classic Jensen has been sat in parts for a while as we work through the rust but is now on the final steps before it can be painted.
James has been working on creating a door spring mechanism that allows the window glass to sit safely inside the panel.
Below are some process photos of James preparing the door and fitting the elements. He’s been working on the left-hand door to remove old rust metal and tidy up repairs as well as fabricate new sections to weld in place.
Chris, our painter, has been preparing some of the individual elements for paint as the door wing and sill is now ready for primer. Several parts have been primed in a guide coat well as the wheels having been rubbed down ready for paint
To Chrome Or Not To Chrome
January 28, 2021
The process of restoring a car is rarely linear, but that’s all part of the car’s journey. The plan for the 1957 Jensen 541R was to have original chrome pieces installed onto the side of the doors however our client decided that he didn’t want these pieces and to leave them off for now. We’ve welded the holes closed and will begin to paint over them. It’s crucial for us that our clients have the ability and freedom to pitch in ideas and change their minds, after all, these restorations are all bespoke for a reason!
Ferrari Fabrication
January 26, 2021
Scott has continued with the fabrication and bodywork on the Daytona. This mostly includes going over the entire shell with filler to make sure all surfaces are smoothed over and perfected to allow the layers of paint and primer to sit correctly on top.
We’ve also sent the chrome off to Tony at Wyatt Polishing and hope to have them back soon so we can begin fitting them after the body has been painted.
The Return Of The Riley
December 16, 2020
This 1953 Riley RMS has come in to the workshop for some alignment issues. We’ve had this beautiful Pistachio and Cream dual-toned Riley in before, so its nice to have it back to work on.
Lada Corrections
December 16, 2020
Our 1984 Lada 1200 has just come out of the fabrication bay where it has undergone some TLC to address its corrosion issues. The sills, floor and underside have been cleaned and an oil wax has been applied to preserve the bodywork. There are still a few more corrections to be done before its ready to go however it’s currently awaiting an exhaust repair.
Our Lada is currently awaiting a new exhaust which should arrive today. Once we have the correct parts, our technicians can start to replace the exhaust.
