classic car repairs

Final Pieces – Fitting The Hood, Brackets and Sill Plates to the 1977 MGB Roadster

As the aesthetic restoration of the 1977 MGB Roadster in the Bridge Classic Workshop at our Suffolk HQ gets closer to completion, the in-house trim team have been finishing off the final parts and pieces for the car.

Brian, our lead trimmer, has been working on getting the original hood fitted back to the car at the customer’s request. Not only did that involve stretching and fitting the hood over the newly refurbished hood frame but also replacing the rear screen with a brand new high-quality replacement we had sourced for the project.

With the hood now stretched over the frame, Brian could begin making sure all the associated clips and brackets for securing it to the car were in the correct place and correctly fitted to the car. Installing convertible hoods is somewhat of an art form but with Brians years of experience, he can stretch and refit an original hood to make it look as good as new.

One of the final pieces on the car that needed to be completed was the decorative sill plates. These highly polished pieces were riveted to the sills, as they were originally, to finish off the amazing work that Brian and Lydia in our Bridge Classic Cars trim shop have done on the car.

The Smallest of Details – Refurbishing 1956 Jensen 541 Parts

Our in-house restoration team at Bridge Classic Cars put the same level of skill and finish for even the smallest parts of our restoration projects. Applying the same high standards to things such as nuts and bolts as we do to a complete car.

Take for example these pieces for the 1956 Jensen 541 which is in with ourselves for full restoration. When people say a full ”Nut and Bolt” restoration, this is what Bridge Classic Cars means. Jonn, one of our amazing technicians, spent a considerable amount of time getting the nuts and bolts for the suspension components, pedal box etc all in the best condition.

Jonn, cleaned off the years of corrosion on each piece. Regreased every joint and either cleaned or rethreaded any bolts. Meticulously working his way through each piece part by part.

That is how Bridge Classic Cars does a restoration.

The Root of the Issue – Wiring and Heater Valve Issue on the 1973 Jaguar E Type V12

The 1973 Jaguar E Type V12 has been welcomed back into the Bridge Classic Cars workshop recently for our in-house restoration technicians to have a look into a couple of issues and a complete pre-MOT check.

Jonn, one of our amazing technicians, has been working on the car. There were some issues with some wiring under the dashboard. This is to do with the stop light switch, so Jonn cleaned up the wiring and tidied it all away.

Jonn has now begun to look into an issue with the heater system on the V12 E Type. The heater is constantly on in the car for some reason so Jonn is currently looking into the heater valve and all the relevant components to narrow down where exactly the issue is so it can be rectified.

On the Edge – Fitting the Sill Chromework to the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster

The 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster, which we here at Bridge Classic Cars have come to know as Fern Grey, has had the last few bits of trim fitted to the car on the door sills.

Jonn, has been working on getting these onto the car. To begin with, the pieces were dry fitted and offered up to the car to make sure everything around them was correct. Once the techs had got everything ready, the sill chrome was officially and permanently put onto the stunning one-off E Type.

A Rare Find – Finding the Original Radiator for our 1905 Riley 9hp

Sometimes there is such a thing as fate. Thanks to the incredible work of Hilary Mackay at Beech Auctions, one of the most important pieces of the puzzle for the 1905 Riley 9hp is back on its way to rejoining the car.

During a house clearance, Hilary came across an old radiator tucked away. Thanks to her exceptional knowledge of vintage and antique objects, she identified it to be pre-1920s. With the Riley mark on the radiator shell, she looked online to see about pre-1920s Riley’s and came across our project. Seeing as how there are only 3 9hp’s left in existence, it was deduced that this could in fact be our missing radiator.

With that, Bridge Classic Cars had to get hold of it.

Now with it on its way to our Pettistree Workshop, we cannot thank Hilary enough for her help and tracking us down to let us know this rare find and even rarer opportunity.

Featured – 1967 Austin Mini 850 on Petrol Ped YouTube Channel

The amazing 1967 Austin Mini 850 which was converted to all-electric not only will be premiering on Discovery Channels Vintage Voltage on Thursday but it will soon be appearing on YouTube!

The car, which Bridge Classic Cars helped the project by handling the paint and bodywork for, was driven by our friends Simon and Petrol Ped to showcase this incredible project to everyone online.

Keep a lookout on the Petrol Ped YouTube channel for this exciting video.

Tanked – Removing the Fuel Tank of the 1978 MGB GT

The final pieces for the restoration of the 1978 MGB GT are out of the car! Our in-house restoration teams have worked on getting the entire car stripped down to a bare shell over the past couple of weeks.

One of the last bits to be removed is some of the most crucial. After our technician Paul removed the fuel pump and fuel lines from the car, Mauro took over the task of getting the fuel tank and filler out of the car. Although this had been completely drained, we always remove the fuel tanks of cars that require any bodywork doing to them for safety reasons.

With this all removed, the team can now get the beautiful bright orange sports car around to our in-house body shop for them to begin working on the car.

Getting Ready for Work – Sanding and Stripping Down the 1969 Bentley T1

The Bridge Classic Cars paint and body team have been working on the 1969 Bentley T1 before it heads into our restoration workshop for some body repairs.

The Bentley has been completely taken apart by the in-house teams and while the body is going into the workshop, other panels and pieces will be kept in the paint shop and prepared for their repaint. The paint and body team have also been carefully preparing the interior of the car for the workshop team like moving back carpets etc which will be close to the cutting and welding areas.

The paint and body team have turned their attentions to the doors and rear decklid to get them in the best shape possible in preparation for the body returning.

Reworking – Sanding and Preparing the Boot and Fuel Cap for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL

The in-house paint and body team here at Bridge Classic Cars have begun work on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL.

Mauro, one of our paint team, has been getting some of the panels and pieces ready for paint. The team is working on getting the boot lid and fuel cap have been getting worked on to match it up to the rest of the car in terms of its body lines and panel match.

After this is done, it will all be cleaned down thoroughly and stored while the rest of the car is being worked on.

Fit and Trim – New Woodkit and Seats in the 1977 MGB Roadster

The Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim team have been working on getting the final pieces finished in the interior of the 1977 MGB Roadster which is with us for aesthetic restoration.

Brian, our head trimmer, has been working on getting the brand new wood kit into the dash and centre console of the classic convertible. Each piece has to be carefully test-fitted and trimmed to fit perfectly into the recesses before it is evenly glued down into the car.

With all of the wood pieces now in the car and setting up, Brian could turn his attention to getting the seats into the finished interior. The recovered seats and refurbished frames were gently placed into the car and if any adjustment needed to be made, the whole seat was lifted in the car and moved to avoid any snags or marking of the interior.

Parts and Pieces – Making New Pieces for the 1987 Daimler Double Six

The in-house Bridge Classic Cars fabrication team have been working on the rust repairs to the 1987 Daimler Double Six.

Monty, one of our amazingly talented fabricators, has been hand-making patch pieces for the front end of the Daimler.

Monty began work by replacing a section of the windscreen frame which had corroded. Using the original piece as a template, Monty hand-formed the replacement piece and refined it perfectly to get the patch the perfect shape and size to fit in the windscreen.

After that, Monty turned his attention and skill to the front wings of the Double Six. The wings needed multiple repairs to them, both on the inside and the outside.

Monty has had to remake several brackets and pieces for the car. These pieces have to be precisely bent and shaped to allow the wings to fit back onto the car while also allowing the panel to be adjusted. After this, Monty began to work on the headlights of the 1980s luxury saloon.

Nearly the entire headlight surround had to be cut out of the car but this gave Monty the opportunity to hand-make a replacement piece and have the best fit and finish on the whole piece. The welds were then carefully ground down and some small adjustments made to the piece.

This Just In – 1954 MG TF

The latest arrival into the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ is this stunning 1954 MG TF.

The classic MG will soon go into the workshop for our in-house restoration teams to inspect, assess and report on the car. It will go through each of the teams individually for them to cast their expert eye over the car.

Keep a look out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more updates on the car very soon.

Featured – A Couple of our Previous Ford Escort RS2000’s on Facebook

Bridge Classic Cars have a history with the fabled Ford Escort RS2000. We have restored a couple of these amazing Fast Fords for customers and a pair of them have popped up on an enthusiast Facebook page.

The orange 1977 Ford Escort RS2000 featured in the first image was restored by our in-house team. And the white car is also a 1977 Ford Escort RS2000 which was sold at Auction by ourselves but cared for the car for its new owner. The top car in the 2nd photo is that 1977 RS2000 outside the turnstiles at the home of Ipswich Town Football Club, Portman Road.

Final Parts – Assessing Parts on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL

The in-house restoration technicians at Bridge Classic Cars have been working through the final parts and pieces for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL restoration which is in our Suffolk HQ workshop.

Tom, one of our in-house restoration technicians, has been going through parts for the 1987 Mercedes R107 500SL to check their condition and to make sure anything missing can be sourced ahead of time.

Each piece has been carefully photographed and noted for the car.

Coming Together – Fitting the New Rear Screen into the Original Hood of the 1977 MGB Roadster

The Bridge Classic Cars trim shop have put a new rear screen into the original convertible hood for the 1977 MGB Roadster.

The use of the original hood was a request from the owner. But, the rear screen was very deteriorated and split in places. So, the trim shop replaced the rear screen and stitched it into the existing material.

With this now in place, the hood can be fitted onto the car.

Building Update – New Trim Shop

The Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim shop has moved!

The in-house trim shop at our Suffolk HQ has moved to the first floor of our restoration workshop. This is to give Brian and Lydia, our incredible in-house trim experts, better access to the workshop and a more open-plan workspace.

The new trim shop location is also because the previous location of the trim department is now the new paint preparation area for our in-house paint and body department.

Capping it Off – Fitting the Door Cards and Door Caps to the 1977 MGB Roadster

The 1977 MGB Roadster which is in the in-house Bridge Classic Cars trim shop has been under the care of our master trimmer, Brian.

Brian has been finishing off the doors of the MGB Roadster as part of its interior refit. Brian carefully put the in-door webbing into the doors, which helps with sound deadening, and then began the process of fitting up the door cards into the 1970s roadster.

With the door cards firmly in place and looking phenomenal in the car, Brian could then attach the door caps to finish off the work on the doors that has been done by our incredible in-house trim team.

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

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.

Behind the Scenes – Photoshoot with the 1975 MGB GT

Every car has a story. Some have been places, some of them have done incredible things but some, have just been adored by their owners. That’s the case with this 1974 MGB GT.

This car had been owned by its previous owner for the better part of 30 years. Through meticulous record-keeping on the car, you can see its story with them. So, with that in mind, Freddie decided to give this car a special kind of photoshoot.

The early morning light at the airbase where we is something else. It comes up low behind the ridgeline and breaks across the frosty ground. Only the sound of deer in the trees keeps you company in the early hours of the dawn light. That is where we find out MGB, parked on a fighter jet turning pad.

Freddie had got the car out from our secure storage facility, the hangar, as the first rays of light came above the horizon. You have to move quickly around here to get the light. So, Freddie made sure everything was warmed up and happy before pulling away from the hangar doors. MGB’s are some of the most practical and user-friendly classics around, but this one is definitely one of the easiest ones we have driven.

Once he had moved the car into its position and the light had just broken onto the curves of the car, the shoot began.

This Just In – 1952 MG TD

Bridge Classic Cars have welcomed the newest arrival to our workshop here in Suffolk. This beautiful 1952 MG TD, finished in glossy black with a contrasting green interior.

The car has come in to be assessed by our in-house restoration teams to find out what if anything this incredible little sportscar needs to be back in top shape for its future.

Keep a lookout here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more on this wonderful 1952 MG TD.

Step One – Getting the 1965 Porsche 912 Back to Bare Metal

The wonderful 1965 Porsche 912 is currently in with Bridge Classic Cars for paint and bodywork, so it has been moved into our state of the art in-house paint shop for our technicians to begin working on it.

Alan, one of our amazing in-house paint experts, has stripped the iconic Porsche back to bare metal to begin the process of making the body perfect. Carefully and methodically, Alan has worked his way through the entire car to get rid of any old paint on the body.

We’re excited to bring you the next stages in the project of this 1965 Porsche 912 from Bridge Classic Cars.

New Shoes – Fresh Tyres on the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster

The Bridge Classic Cars team have managed to source a set of tyres for the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III known as Fern Grey.

Fern Grey will soon begin road tests and with that, we felt it needed a new set of tyres. At the request of the owner, we have sourced the closest we can get to the original tyres as possible but with a modern compound. Originally the tyres would have had a 215 section tyre but these tyres are a 205 section from Pirelli.

With tyres mounted thanks to Tyre Assist, our in-house restoration technicians can now move forward on the checklist before road testing this incredible one of a kind E Type.

Start Over – Repairing the Rust on the 1969 Bentley T1

The 1969 Bentley T1 is currently in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop for our in-house restoration technician, Dave, to begin work on the rust repairs of this classic Bentley.

The state of the body on the Bentley wasn’t in the best shape once our in-house paint and body team took the car all the back to bare metal. Evidence of poor repairs and work done to the car which did not have the best interest or, the longevity of the car in mind.

So, it’s time to sort the T1 out properly. Dave is one of our most experienced technicians and fabricators. He is beginning by sorting out the front sills for the Bentley. These are crucial for the strength and rigidity of the car which our team can then work off of when tackling other areas.

With this process started in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, keep a look out on the News Page for more updates soon on the 1969 Bentley T1 restoration.

Inch Perfect – Fitting Carpets and Panels to the 1977 MGB Roadster

Brian, our master in-house trimmer here at Bridge Classic Cars, has been working on the next phase of the interior of the 1977 MGB Roadster.

The rear was the first port of call for Brian on the journey of getting the interior complete. The rear bulkhead panels and carpet had to be put in place before moving forward. Brian had to retrim a few of the pieces from the carpet kit as they were oversized, the fit and finish on the Roadster has to be 100% right which is the standard of all Bridge Classic Cars interiors.

Brian also had to fabricate and modify some panels to take into account the rear speakers. Carefully, Brian made a template for the speaker grille and cut it out of black perforated steel which will sit behind the quarter panels, now with their hand-cut and finished openings for the speakers.

With the rear bulkhead trimmed, Brian could then start fitting the base panels which have been trimmed in match black carpet. Then the flooring could be laid and glued down into the classic 1970s roadster. Each piece was first offered up by Brian and if the fit wasn’t right, using his huge experience and skill, it could be trimmed to get the perfect fit for the car.

The work is progressing quickly on the 1977 MGB Roadster in with Bridge Classic Cars so keep an eye out here on the News Page for more updates on this fantastic little sports car.

Safe and Sound – Engine for the 1969 Mercedes 280SL Pagoda Installed

The 1969 Mercedes 280SL Pagoda in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop at our Suffolk HQ has hit a milestone! The engine and gearbox are now safely and securely in the car.

Jon and Paul have been working on the car for the past few days preparing everything for this moment. Carefully, the engine and gearbox were lowered into the nose of this iconic Mercedes sports car. The technicians lowered it inch by inch into the car, checking all the way that it wouldn’t snag or catch on anything. Thanks to the hard work and diligence of our technician Jon in prepping the engine bay, it all went in without a hitch.

With the engine and gearbox firmly in place by our in-house team, Jon could begin getting the wiring and the rest of the pipework all in place and ready to go. Then, the team begin the slow and important task of getting fluids into the new engine for its first start up very soon.

Nearly There – Preparing the Engine of the 1969 Mercedes 280SL Pagoda for Installation

Our in-house technicians here at Bridge Classic Cars have been methodically working through the beautiful straight-six and gearbox of the 1969 Mercedes 280SL to get it ready to go back in the car.

Jon and Paul, our two in-house restoration technicians have painstakingly rerun every hose and wire that belongs to the engine and gearbox before it goes back into the engine bay of this iconic convertible. Using reference photos and catalogues made at the beginning of the project, the technicians were able to retrace each and every step to make sure that nothing has been missed off the engine.

Now with this complete and the gearbox attached to the back of the block, the guys will prepare the engine bay for the installation in the next couple of days. Ensuring that no hoses or metal lines are in the way which could be damaged during the installation.

Keep your eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for updates very soon on the 1969 Mercedes 280SL Pagoda.

First Layer – Fitting Sound Deadening to the 1977 MGB Roadster

The 1977 MGB Roadster which is currently in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop for restoration has begun the first phase of its interior installation.

The classic 1970s has been handed over to our in-house head trimmer Brian, to begin work on the new interior of the car. The first step is to fit the new cabin sound deadening kit into the car. With Brian’s many years of experience in automotive trim work, he knows the best steps to take into making sure that all the panels fit perfectly from the very first layer being laid into the car.

Using the best quality sound deadening material, Brian began at the rear of the car. Panel by panel he worked his way from the rear of seats all the way to the very edge of the toeboards under the dash.

With these crucial pieces in place, Brian could then begin getting the beautiful black carpet pieces into the corners of the car and covering the transmission tunnel.

This is the first step in getting the brand new interior of the 1977 MGB Roadster back in by our in-house restoration team.

What’s the Story – The Life and Times of our 1959 MGA Twin Cam

Bridge Classic Cars Competitions thought you might like to know a bit of the back story on our 1959 MGA Twin Cam that is currently live and waiting to be won!The 1959 MGA Twin Cam ”XLE 40” was first owned by the son of world famous composer, Annunzio Paolo Mantovani. Kenneth had ordered the car in the late 1950s and in the period it had been used in several sprints and races to some success. In 1963, Mantovani put the car up for sale in order to fund his new car, an Austin Healy 3000. He later went on to say that he preferred the handling of the MGA Twin Cam to the big Austin Healey.

After Mantovani owned the car, it was then in the care of Jo Krygier of Birmingham who owned and ran the car until 1965. At this point, the owner decided the car need a refresh. This is where the story of XLE 40, our 1959 MGA Twin Cam really begins.

About 3/4 of the way through XLE 40’s refresh in the mid-1960s, it was bought by Roger Andreason. For those who are into classic and vintage motorsport, you will know that Roger Andreason was the managing director of Chevron Cars from 1983. But before then, he used to club race. With this, his 1959 MGA Twin Cam ”XLE 40”.Roger set about creating a serious club racer out of XLE 40. Gathering all manner of hard to find spares and pieces to finish off its mechanical refresh. From there, it was to the track.

A newspaper clipping included in the cars history file from 1968 says:”On lap four they [race leaders] were joined by Roger Andreason in his twin-cam M.G.A. By completely mastering the tricky double apex of Camp Corner, Andreason managed to get a classical fast exit from the bend each time round, which brought him closer to, and then by the side of his opponents.”

But it wasn’t just here in England the car was raced during its 50-year life through Roger and then his son Chris. There are stories of XLE 40 racing in Europe and in Florida. A true racer at heart, the MGA Twin Cam was the perfect car for the job.

After its life of racing and the unfortunate and sad passing of Roger, his son Chris commissioned the car to be restored back to its original condition which is how you see the car today. Only its beautifully louvred bonnet gives any hint to its competition past. The restoration of the car was handled by a team from the original TVR factory who painstakingly worked the car back to its original specs. The only things not standard is the front grille (which is the same grille it wore throughout its racing career)and the rear lights.

Bridge Classic Cars Competitions want to give one lucky winner the chance to own this incredible piece of history. A beautiful and mechanically exceptional example of the MGA Twin Cam but add on to that the history and the story which is engrained into the very metal of its being.

Could you be the next chapter of this car’s amazing story? Head over to the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions and enter now for your chance to become part of the history of XLE 40. The 1959 MGA Twin Cam.

http://www.bridgeclassiccarscompetitions.co.uk/…/mga…/

Beneath the Surface – Stripping Back the 1969 Bentley T1

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.

This Just In – 1965 Porsche 912

This morning, Bridge Classic Cars collected its latest project. A beautiful 1965 Porsche 912 will be heading into our Suffolk HQ to be assessed and worked on by our in-house restoration teams.

Tom and Nick headed to the Suffolk/Essex borders to collect the car in our enclosed transporter for its journey back to the workshop. The sun was sharp and bright which only added to the beauty of the car as it sat dormant in the shed. So, it was the perfect opportunity to show you the care and attention we give to every car that Bridge Classic Cars transports and to take you behind the scenes of a make and model we are seeing more and more of.

This car is being worked on by ourselves on behalf of our friend Garry and noted Porsche specialist Howard Watts. We’re excited to play our role in the project of getting the 912 to look its absolute best for the project.

The car was carefully moved out and into position behind the transporter before inch-by-inch moving forward into its temporary shelter.

Once the 912 arrived back at our Pettistree workshop, it was unloaded ready for its inspection by our paint and body team. From there, it will be worked on, perfected and then finished in a stunning dark red.

We cannot wait to show you the progress that the in-house team at Bridge Classic Cars makes on the 1965 Porsche 912. So, make sure you keep a lookout here on our News Page and also on our Social Media pages.