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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.

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.

All Gone Through – Cataloguing Parts Off the 1987 Mercedes 500SL

January 21, 2022

Bridge Classic Cars in-house restoration team have been busy assessing and cataloguing the next round of parts from the 1987 Mercedes 500SL restoration project.

Tamas, has been going through each individual part to check its part number and operation/condition for when the car comes back in for final assembly. This is a crucial part of any restoration project so that replacements can be sourced or pieces can be sent off for refurbishment.

Expect to see a lot more on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page very soon.

Helping Hand – Drawings for the 1905 Riley 9hp

January 21, 2022

Bridge Classic Cars have the absolute honour of restoring one of 3 1905 Riley 9hp’s left. And for that, we’ve managed to get some plans.

These appear to be copies of the original drawings made for the car. These are crucial for our lead restoration technician Dave to work from. They give our team chassis measurements and tolerances of several key pieces of the car. As with all our restorations, we do try and keep the originality of the car but we ensure the car is safe first and foremost.

With these original schematics, Dave can begin to measure the chassis and components to make sure they are safe but also meet the original specifications.

It is truly an honour to work on such a rare and unique car as our 1905 Riley 9hp.

Small Details – Post Test Checks on the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster

January 21, 2022

Bridge Classic Cars in-house restoration technicians, Jon and Scott, have been working on some minor repairs and revisions to Fern Grey after its tests.

Fern Grey is of course the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster we have been building in our Suffolk HQ. After the tests, Jon and Scott noticed some issues with a couple of interior/dash lights which were solved by removing the cover plate and rerouting some of the elaborate wiring with a few pins needing to be recrimped and shielded.

Along with that, Jon has made a new fuel return pipe for the car as he found the original was not returning correctly to the fuel tank. So, with all of the underside jobs finished on Fern Grey Jon could begin to fit the shields to the underside of this one-off E Type.

Now, with everything buttoned up on Fern Grey, our technicians can begin retesting and rechecking the car before its road tests begin.

Remade Touches – Making New Mats for Alfa Romeo Spyder

January 21, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim shop have turned their craft and skill onto the Alfa Romeo Spyder with this perfectly tailored set of mats made for the driver and passenger footwell on the classic Italian convertible.

Brian made a very tight-fitting template for the car which includes working around the floor-mounted pedals sets. This was then transferred onto a high-quality carpet swatch we have for the car and cut to fit the template.

After, this was then bound around any exposed edges to stop them from fraying over time. These mats look absolutely phenomenal inside the car and are a handsome addition to such a stunning 1970s icon.

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.

Strip Down – Disassembling a 1969 Bentley T1

January 21, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars body team have been working alongside our workshop technicians to get the 1969 Bentley T1 stripped down and ready to be taken back to bare metal.

The technicians have meticulously gone through every aspect of the car and carefully labelled and catalogued each piece that has come off the car.

All of this is so that the body team can begin to strip down the whole car and inspect it before it goes in for its full respray.

Moving Forward – Update on the Alfa Romeo 1750 Spyder

January 20, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars in-house restoration team have been working on fitting the new parts into the Alfa Romeo 1750 Spyder that is currently in the workshop.

Along with finding an issue with the heater box and fan, Mauro also noted down the washer pump wasn’t working and the fan shroud had been cracked.

Mauro has been working on working getting replacement parts that have been ordered onto the classic Italian convertible. This next step is a move in the right direction to be able to safely and reliably test the car and make sure everything works correctly.

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.

Catches and Hinges – Fitting up the Bonnet Hardware on the 1973 Jaguar E Type Roadster

January 20, 2022

Our in-house restoration technicians, Jon and Scott, have been preparing the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.

They have been fitting up the refurbished and new hardware to the firewall and the front frame of the E Type ready for when the gorgeous one-piece bonnet of Fern Grey is fitted. Before then, our technicians want to test run the V12 and all of its systems whilst they have easy access to the engine bay for any adjustments or changes to be made.

Soon, you will see a big move ahead with the E Type here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page.

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.

Preflight Checks – Final Trim and Bolt Check on the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster

January 19, 2022

Bridge Classic Cars in-house restoration technicians Jon and Scott have been going through Fern Grey, the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster, to bolt check every component and to fit the final pieces of trim before its engine/road tests begin shortly.

Scott and Jon got the windscreen pillar trims in place but before then, fitted the all-important VIN plate to the pillar. With these in place, our technicians could then start from the front of the car and work their way back.

Scott and Jon also fitted the new driveshaft covers at the back of Fern Grey while also securing the split pins through the shock absorber bolts after making sure they were correctly tightened. The nut and bolt check is crucial before the vehicle is moved under its own power, so the technicians went round twice to make sure everything was done up tight.

Soon, you’ll see the testing of Fern Grey begin by our in-house team so keep a look out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more updates.

Hot and Cold – Inspecting and Repairing the Heater Box on the Alfa Romeo 1750 Spyder

January 19, 2022

Mauro, one of the Bridge Classic Cars in-house restoration technicians, has been busy getting to the bottom of a leak from the heater box of the Alfa Romeo Spyder.

Mauro has gone through the whole system and found some very corroded pipework and fittings which is believed to be the source of the issue. Along with that, the fan for the heater box doesn’t appear to be working. So, with new parts on order, the workshop has moved on to checking other systems in the gorgeous Italian convertible.

Expect to see much more on the Alfa Romeo Spyder on the Bridge Classic Cars News Page very soon.

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