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classic car repairs

Behind The Scenes – Shooting the 1959 MGA Twin Cam

February 1, 2022

It was a cold and damp January morning as the 1959 MGA Twin Cam fired into life outside the Bridge Classic Cars hangar. As the 1600cc 4 cylinder thumped away to warm up, the Bridge Classic Cars team got ready to capture just how beautiful this little sports car really was.

As Freddie got his camera gear ready to film, Nick gave Hayley the rundown on the car. The engine was snappy and responsive and this car had disc brakes all around. That was the only thing that our presenter needed to know because it was about as perfect as an MGA Twin Cam can be.

Hayley got in the bright blue, low slung sports car. And with a simple push forward on the gearstick, it slipped straight into 1st. The car began rolling down the runway towards our filming location with the camera car in hot pursuit. The now 62-year-old ex-race car wanted to stretch its legs…

Once the convoy had reached the outskirts of the airbase, the team went through the plan. All the while, the B series engine sat there idling perfectly. Throughout the whole time, it never missed a beat. It put the biggest smile on Hayley’s face despite the sub-zero temperature.

From every angle, the car looked fast. It had grace, it had presence and it had a purpose. The dark, black, all business interior just went further to compliment the stunning pale blue exterior in the mid-winter sun.

And best of all? You could win this very car. Just head over to the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website for your chance to be part of the next chapter in our 1959 MGA Twin Cam’s story.

www.bridgeclassiccarscompetitions.co.uk

A New Look – Wheels for the 2005 Aston Martin DB9 Refinished

January 31, 2022

The wheels for the 2005 Aston Martin DB9 have come back from refurbished by the guys over at WheelWorx.

The wheels for the DB9, which belongs to our Director Craig, have made their way back to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop to be fitted by WheelWorx master tech, Jamie. The wheels have been finished in a smoke grey, high shine finish to add a new look to the overall feel of this stunning Aston Martin GT car. Bridge Classic Cars have worked closely with the guys at WheelWorx for many years on projects that require wheel refurbishment or refinishing.

Now that the wheels are back onto the car, the DB9 will be cleaned and put away into storage until better weather.

Arch Repairs – Fixing the Rust Issues on the 1987 Daimler Double Six

January 31, 2022

The arches of the 1987 Daimler Double Six are in need of some TLC. So, with the car in the hands of our in-house fabrication team, Monty has begun the process of getting them back to better than new.

Monty carefully removed any affected sections from the sills all the way up the inner wheel arch, making sure to remove material in such a way it could be templated from.

With these sections cut out, Monty began making the replacement pieces by hand to ensure a tight, safe fit to the luxury Daimler.

Then, inch by inch he welded the new sections into the car and ground them down so once the car is painted, you will never know they are there.

Featured – 1967 Austin Mini 850 in the Ipswich Star

January 31, 2022

It’s always a lovely sight to see our previous projects out in the world. An example of this is the 1967 Austin Mini 850 owned by our friend Simon Benton.

This Mini was aesthetically restored by Bridge Classic Cars last year in preparation for its all-electric conversion done by Team C Racing and Electric Classic Cars. The car arrived at our workshop as a shell, then our in-house paint and body team got to work getting this wonderful classic Mini back to better than new condition before its date with the workshop in Wales for the conversion.

You can see more on this project in the upcoming Discovery Channel series about the car.

To read the full article, click the link below.

Ipswich Star: Classic Electric Mini Article

Begin Again – Remaking the Seats for the 1955 Jensen 541

January 31, 2022

A while ago, we said goodbye to the beautiful Jensen 541. It was sold as a project to its very lucky new owner who plans on restoring the car.

Well, now the interior is back in the Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim shop. Brian is making a brand new rear seat for the car while
Lydia is busy stripping down the original bucket seats to assess the fibreglass mouldings for any cracks or damage.

Either way, it’s always nice to see a car (or parts) find their way back into our workshop here in Suffolk.

Behind The Scenes – 1964 Triumph TR4 & 1976 Mercedes 350SL Live Draw

January 28, 2022

Last night, 27th January 2022, Bridge Classic Cars welcomed the first-ever live studio audience to one of our Bridge Classic Cars Competitions live draws.

This time, it was the 1964 Triumph TR4 and 1976 Mercedes 350SL which would be finding their way to their new lucky owners.

Close friends, clients and previous winners were all invited to the event which took place in the new home of Bridge Classic Cars Competitions, the as-yet-unnamed extension. Being January, the evenings are cold but thanks to Carmello Coffee we all managed to keep warm and fed while everyone looked around some of our cars in both the extension and the workshop.

Then, as the clock struck 7 pm, it was time to go live to all our followers. Hayley and Craig, with Freddie behind the camera, took everyone on a tour around our current lineup and a few sneak peeks at what is coming in the future with Bridge Classic Cars Competitions. Hayley then had a chat with our friend Simon Benton, owner of the all-electric Mini which will soon be appearing on the Discovery Channel, about the background on the car and its connection to Bridge Classic Cars.

Next was the bit everyone was waiting for. Finding out who was about to get a phone call that would make their dreams come true.

First, was the draw of the 1976 Mercedes 350SL. As Hayley put the numbers into the random number generator, you could feel the air filled with excitement. Then, as the numbers whirred round in a flash, they stopped on number 3461. That, belong to Zhuman Zamiri.

Then we decided to find out who the new owner of the stunning 1964 Triumph TR4 would be. As Hayley put the new set of numbers into the number generators, we wished everyone luck. Then, with one click of a button. The future of the TR4 was sealed. Stuart Brown was now the proud new owner of the beautiful ’60s sports car with ticket 3338.

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.

Systems Check – Check Over of the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster

January 27, 2022

The Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster ‘Fern Grey’ is getting closer to beginning its road tests here at Bridge Classic Cars.

Scott, our in-house restoration technician in charge of the build of Fern Grey, has begun going through and completing his electrics and wiring checks on the one of a kind E Type. Scott has also been going through and fitting all the necessary covers and shields under the bonnet of the E Type.

After Scott has completed all of these tests and checks on the Roadster, it will then begin its series of road tests and inspections to make sure the car is 100% ready for handover to its very lucky owner.

Cleaned Up – Preparing the Engine Bay of the 1969 Mercedes 280SL Pagoda

January 27, 2022

The Mercedes 280SL Pagoda is an iconic piece of design and automotive history. Effortlessly stylish and has cultural importance within the car world. This particular 1969 Mercedes 280SL Pagoda is in with Bridge Classic Cars for an engine rebuild which is nearing completion. But, we want the heart and soul of this beauty to be as clean and crisp as the rest of the car.

So, the team at Viper Auto Valet came over to our Suffolk workshop to clean up the engine bay of this classic Mercedes. Colin from Viper has been methodically going through each part of the bay to make sure it is clean of any oil, grease or any other containments. Using specialist treatments, he is working on completely rejuvenating and thoroughly cleaning up this area for when the engine is finished.

With this step in progress, we can’t wait to share with you the results of the treatment. Keep a lookout on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more updates on the 1969 Mercedes 2680SL Pagoda very soon.

Taking Care – Teardown of the Blaze Orange MGB GT

January 27, 2022

The in-house restoration team at Bridge Classic Cars have been busy carefully dismantling this beautiful Blaze Orange MGB GT.

Mauro, has been put in charge of removing all the trim, glass and panels from the MGB GT for it to be inspected by our other in-house teams to find out what the future holds for this iconic fastback.

Expect to see more on this bright orange sports car soon on the Bridge Classic Cars news page.

Pulled into Place – Finishing the Armrests and Doorcaps on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL

January 27, 2022

Brian is our lead in-house trimmer at Bridge Classic Cars. From our Suffolk HQ, Brian and Lydia create handmade, bespoke interiors for our customer’s restoration projects which are well and truly world-class.

Today on Brian’s table is the armrest covers of the 1987 Mercedes R107 500SL. Lydia and Brian have worked together to create these pieces for the ’80s luxury convertible. The covers were hand-cut and sewn for the best fit possible around the original armrests themselves. Tailored perfectly to suit each component. Brian, using his years of skill and craft, carefully stretched and moved the leather around every curve to get it laying just right. Then, with the minimal amount of heat possible, he began working the leather into place across the adhesive behind it.

After both the covers were finished with their bright new chromework, Brian could begin work on the next stage of the interior of the R107. The door caps, these pieces were carefully stripped back to their core and assessed by Brian to see if they were reusable. They were actually in fantastic shape!

Going Back Together – Reassembling the Front Suspension of the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4

January 27, 2022

Scott, one of our amazing in-house restoration technicians here at Bridge Classic Cars, has been skillfully and carefully putting the front suspension of the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1 back together for the next phase of its restoration.

Scott began by getting the front hubs of the classic sports car built on the bench. With this, the knuckle had to be reworked to accept the new pin but apart from that everything slotted together perfectly. Piece by piece, Scott put every component together until both assemblies were ready to go back onto the car.

Then, Scott positioned each assembly in place to be connected up to the steering box. Along with that, he fitted the springs into place and connected up the torsion arms.

This is all in preparation for the next phase of the 1955 DB2/4 Mk1 Restoration which you will all see very soon here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page.

Piece by Piece – Reassembling the 1977 MGB Roadster

January 27, 2022

The 1977 MGB Roadster that is currently in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop at our Suffolk HQ is piece by piece being reassembled.

Our technicians Jon and Paul have been carefully piecing back together this wonderful 1970s convertible.

Jon has been working on repairing the bumpers which had heavy surface corrosion. For that, he stripped back all of the loose rust on the piece and applied several coats of neutralising agent to the rust to help it from corroding any further. With the bumper braces sorted, Jon had them painted back and refit the rubber surrounds which give the MGB’s of this era their distinctive look.

Then, Jon and Paul began refitting components to the front and rear of the MGB. At the rear, the bumpers, lights and fuel tank have all been carefully secured into place on the car. While Paul was sorting out the wiring inside the car (under the dash, the rear speakers etc), Jon was working on getting the front bumper into place and secured to the car.

For this, Jon has made a series of special brackets to better support the nose of the MGB. These also help to align the front bumper and have it sit perfectly on the car. Whilst the bumper was being adjusted, Jon fit the grilles and headlights into the car, to have everything in place for when he began to wire the car.

The wiring was done and neatly secured out of sight but also in a safe and easily accessible place.

It’s all moving ahead on this wondef

One More Step – Number Plate Lights on the Alfa Romeo Spyder

January 26, 2022

Mauro, one of the in-house restoration technicians here at Bridge Classic Cars, has been working on the Alfa Romeo Spyder we have in our workshop.

As part of the list of work needed, Mauro began looking into the rear number plate lights. Apart from being severely discoloured, the didn’t really work. So, a set of replacements were ordered.

Now that these have arrived into stock with us here at Bridge Classic Cars, Mauro can begin fitting them to the car. These were exact replacements so it was simply a case of removing the old ones and fitting the new ones in their places then plugging them in.

With these lights in, Mauro began to test them and all the other lighting systems and everything worked perfectly on this stunning classic Italian convertible.

Handmade – Armrest Covers for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL

January 26, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim shop has recently been making several new interior pieces for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL currently in for restoration.

Lydia, has taken the hand-cut pieces which Brian had previously made for the armrest covers and began to stitch to the pieces to cover to create the new covers which will be stretched and secured onto the armrests of the classic Mercedes convertible.

Keep a lookout on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more updates on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL restoration.

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.

Unpleasant Find – Rust Inside the Bumpers of the 1977 MGB Roadster

January 26, 2022

With the reassembly of the 1977 MGB Roadster going on in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, our technician Jon has been working on refitting the bumpers to the car.

Whilst refitting the bumpers, Jon made a rather unpleasant discovery. We were aware of some corrosion in the back of the bumpers but that had been treated and neutralised. However, when Jon took the bumpers apart during refit to try and best align them on the car, the backside of the bracket/support was covered in rust. The extent of the rust was something we were not aware of.

With this, the team have decided to repair the bumpers. The rust itself is thick surface rust mainly so the team will strip them all back and prepare them for reassembly.

Expect to see more on the process of repairing the bumpers very soon on the Bridge Classic Cars News Page.

Going Together – Preparing Parts and Fitting the Gearbox for the Engine of the 1969 Mercedes 280SL Pagoda

January 26, 2022

The 1969 Mercedes 280SL Pagoda might just be one of the most beautiful cars we’ve had in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop at our Suffolk HQ. But, we want to hear it run and drive.

So, our in-house restoration technician Jon has been working on getting all the parts ready for the car and fitting up the automatic gearbox.

Jon has carefully inspected and refinished most of the reusable metal hoses for the 280SL so that each individual piece looks as good as the day it was new. He also dismantled many of the air and oil boxes/cans so they could be taken into our in-house paint shop and refinished.

Once all the pieces were back on Jon’s bench, he began to reassemble them ready for the engine installation into the car. But before then, a big piece of the puzzle had to be put in.

Jon and Paul prepped the engine to be mated to its automatic gearbox. This has been rebuilt and refinished so it looks as good as the newly built engine. Once the technicians had got the gearbox secured to the back of the engine block with all the internals correctly fitted up and spaced, Jon then began to test fit the various pipes and wires that go to and from the gearbox to make sure everything was present and correct before the next phase begins…

Good as New – 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1 Gauges Back from Refurb

January 25, 2022

The gauges for the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1 currently undergoing restoration at Bridge Classic Cars have returned from being refurbished.

We sent the dials and units off to a specialist refurbisher and the results look absolutely incredible. Along with being restored, they have all been perfectly calibrated to a very small tolerance. It’s beautiful to see the craft and skill that our trusted specialist partners put into pieces.

The gauges will eventually go into the dashboard of the classic Aston Martin which is being finished to the same very high, very process standard.

Expect to see more on the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1 here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page very soon.

Winners Circle – Lyle Taking Delivery of the 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 Tribute

January 25, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars Competitions team have delivered another dream classic to its new and excited owner.

Lyall Logan won our 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 Tribute back in December with the winning ticket 6128. The car has recently finished having its last few bits and pieces done by our technicians at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop in Suffolk and this morning was delivered right to Lyle’s door.

The whole family came out to see the car. Lyall has wanted a classic Mustang since he was a boy so to make this dream car come true for someone is really special.

We wish Lyall and the family many happy miles and years cruising in this iconic convertible.

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.

Setting an Example – The Incredible History File on the 1974 MGB GT

January 25, 2022

Bridge Classic Cars sometimes have the unique opportunity to look deep inside the stories of the cars that come into our Suffolk workshop.

This extensive and fastidious history file belongs to the 1974 MGB GT currently in our workshop. The file tells the story of the last 33 years of this amazing sports cars life.

It details annual mileages, expenditure, engineers inspections, MOT certificates, parts invoices, bills of sale, you name it.

Such diligent record keeping is a beautiful thing to see on a classic car. Carefully documenting previous bodywork and paint done to the car in the mid-1990s, down to assessments by some of the most reputable MGB specialists in the country to make sure the car was properly cared for.

It also features a timeline of every piece of work carried out from 1989 to 2021 in chronological order. It is truly amazing!

Carrying On – Inspection and Cataloguing Parts from the 1987 Mercedes 500SL

January 25, 2022

Tamas, one of our amazing in-house restoration technicians here at Bridge Classic Cars, has been inspecting and cataloguing the parts and pieces from the 1987 Mercedes 500SL restoration project we are currently carrying out.

Each individual piece has been carefully inspected and noted down on a manifest to identify if anything is missing and what condition each part is in. This is a very important part of any restoration project we undertake here so if anything is needed to be ordered or sent away for refurbishment it can be done in time for the cars final assembly.

Tamas has gone through hundreds and hundreds of parts for this car, each of them has been individually wrapped and then put away into our parts department for safe keeping.

All the Details – Continuing to Reassemble the 1977 MGB Roadster

January 25, 2022

Mauro, one of our restoration technicians here at Bridge Classic Cars, has been hard at work reassembling the 1977 MGB Roadster we have in for restoration in preparation for the next phase of the project.

Mauro has been fitting all of the trims and windows to the car since the paintwork is now fully cured and hardened. This really makes the little sportscar come alive!

As with this being new paint, our team take their time and carefully manoeuvre the trims into place as to not cause any damage to the beautiful dark blue roadster. Some of the pieces have been refurbished but those that couldn’t be have been replaced with the highest quality pieces we have sourced.

The windows were thoroughly cleaned and all mechanisms liberally greased to ensure they work flawlessly when needed and all the trim pieces have new clips and hardware to create a good, tight fit to the body of the car.

Mauro is systematically working through each part of the car to complete each section before moving on to the next.

Also, the team fitted the windscreen to the car as a finishing touch!

Expect to see more on the beautiful 1977 MGB Roadster soon, here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page.

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.

From Scratch – Trimming the Armrests on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL

January 24, 2022

The in-house Trim Shop at Bridge Classic Cars can create just about anything. This time, our lead trimmer Brian has been trimming the armrests for the 1987 Mercedes R107 500SL.

Beginning with the original piece, Brian hand-made a template for the new pieces which would find their way onto the armrest of the handsome R107.

Carefully careful traced his patterns onto the same stunning red leather that the rest of the car has been trimmed in. Then, with millimetre precision, Brian cut out the templates ready for when they will be stitched and finished by hand.

Expect to see much more on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page.

Given the Chance – 1965 Fiat 850

January 24, 2022

Bridge Classic Cars have been given the opportunity to acquire this beautiful 1965 Fiat 850 from its current owner.

At the moment, we are looking into the history of the car and researching this particular model of classic Fiat as it isn’t something we regularly come into contact with.

You never know, you might see this amazing little classic Fiat very soon here 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.

The State of Things – Wiring Repairs on the 1968 MGC

January 21, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars in-house restoration team have been working on the 1968 MGC that arrived at our Pettistree workshop at our Suffolk HQ.

Our in-house technician Paul has been going through the incredible sports car and found some damage to the wiring harness. So, Paul has been methodically repairing the affected wires and carefully reshielding them after testing them thoroughly.

With this done, Paul can begin checking the other systems on the MGC.

Bridge Classic Cars are award winning Classic Car Restoration and Maintenance specialists. Your pride and joy is in safe hands with our expert Classic Car Technicians. Take a look at our awards here.

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