We may soon be welcoming this 1987 TVR 350i in for some trim work. The client who contacted us is currently in the process of purchasing this beautiful TVR. We look forward to hearing more about this possible project.
The following is what the client has enquired about:
The work continues on our gorgeous TR6. Its recently received a new spare tire which is kept safely beneath a wooden door flap in the floor of the boot. When closed, the TR6’s boot looks neat and spacious.
Our Trim shop expert Kath has refurbished the steering wheel cover as well. This entails taking off the old one and marking out sections for the new cover. Once marked out, the two sides are sewn together and it is stretched over the wheel. The centre seam is levelled up with the centre. The two sides are then hand stitched together in a criss-cross stitch, pulling the thread tight at the stitch progresses.
When Kath reaches the end of the fabric, the thread is knotted and finished off. The centre cover was then attended to. This entailed cleaning the centre cap and re-glueing all the loose vinyl and sticking the centre back in place.
Once finished, the centre cover is wiped over, cap attached to the wheel with small fasteners and its ready to fit in the car.
Our electric specialist, Adam, has also been attending to the TR6 by re-wiring and fitting the radio. Now this beautiful Triumph is both ready for any road trip and its playlist.
Our 1960 Black Jensen 541R has had its new boot door trim fitted by our talented trim shop team!
As ever, the process to get this boot trim fitted included careful measuring out of the material, binding the edges and glueing into place. This is all done by hand, making each installation bespoke.
The Jensen has also received new bolts for its bumper as the old components were not fitted nor attached as they should be. The easier resolution to this problem was to replace the fixtures to allow the bump to it tighter to the body.
Our trim shop expert, Kath, has been busy making multiple covers for the magenta Triumph TR6. The hood and tonneau now have covers that have been created out of black vinyl. Velcro has been sewn on and all the individual parts are then sewn together. Kath has also made a bag for the jack which followed a similar pattern to the tool bag.
Our trim shop is not only incredibly unique but it is also relatively new! The trim shop, as a functioning entity has only really existed since this year. Although we’ve had a trim specialist before, we never had a specific team and workshop dedicated to it until 2020! Both Kath and Brian have joined the Bridge Classic Car family this year and have been invaluable.
It’s rare to have an in-house trim shop at a classic car restoration workshop as many companies prefer to outsource, which comes with its own problems and communications. We, however, are very lucky to have ours in-house which not only saves time and miscommunications but also means everything is made to fit and can be fitted and tested immediately. This makes for swifter restorations and ultimately a better workflow. Anything that’s needed can be made and modified as needed.
Vibrant and talented, Kath is one of our Trim Shop Trio.
Kath describes herself as arty and crafty, with always having a creative background. Kath holds a selection of qualifications from Interior Design to Spatial Design and history in painting and decorating as well as previous car trim work. Kath then joined the team in January 2020.
“I’ve always enjoyed making things and being creative. I like being hands-on.”
Kath loves VW’s and has always had a soft spot for them. She’s done up her own VW campervan before but currently owns a beautiful red VW Beetle which is her pride and joy.
Kath says she enjoys working in an in-house trim shop rather than outsourcing it as she did before, as you get more of a personal connection with the projects, “You’re never doing the same thing twice!” Kath tells us, “I love everything here, it’s so satisfying learning where everything fits and seeing it being installed.”
Brian was the second Trim Shop specialist to join Bridge Classic Cars who started in March 2020.
Brian originally started working on Micralite planes but later moved to trim work and interior car design. Brian also worked with Kath at their previous workplace outsourcing interior trim, so made the perfect team when they both moved to Bridge Classic Cars!
Brian has always worked with interior trim and really enjoys being a part of the team.
“It’s great to see cars go from parts to being roadworthy. You have such a big part in keeping these old cars going.”
Brian says he’s always loved hot hatches but currently has a new mini but has his sights set on buying an original mini to do up too. “Working with cars like these, at some point you want to get your own!” Brian tells us.
The third and final member of the Trim Shop is Cockerpoo puppy, Rosie!
As an invaluable member of the team, Rosie offers morale and team spirit for not only the trim shop but for the whole of the Bridge Classic Cars team!
Rosie is now 9 months old as she was born on Valentine’s day. She certainly has a talent for spreading the love!
Rosie’s favourite part about being in the trim shop is getting visits from other members of the Bridge team who frequently give her cuddles and attention, she’s a real team player!
November 16, 2020 11:49 am
The trim shop has made the centre console for the radio. This entails measuring each section, cutting out those sections from the leather, and then from those pieces, creating a gaiter for the gear stick and an outer shell for the radio console.
The next step was to make and fit the carpets which includes bolting them down and adding deadening to the tunnel.
The speaker panel was next to be made and fitted. As well as the leather, the speaker panels also needed foam padding adding to it.
Once again, the trim shop has done an amazing job fitting the new interior to the TR6. With the seats added back in, it’s looking really smart!
Our trim experts have been focusing on making sure our new competition car, the 1972 MGB Blaze Orange Roadster, is all up to scratch. The latest fine detail that’s been tweaked is the trimmings in the boot.
Firstly Kath made a tool bag by marking out the pieces on the leather, sewing Velcro on, sewing the two pieces together, and finally, turning them over.
The next task was to make the boot carpet. This was done by cutting out the pattern from the material, binding the edges, and fitting it.
After all this is done, it leaves the MGB with a neat interior, reader for anything the world has to throw at it, or in it.
Our super-star trim shop duo Kath and Brian continue work on the exciting 1973 Triumph TR6.
Now all the interior leather seat covers and panels are complete, they’re ready to be fitted into the car.
The team have also added the bespoke biscuit leather door panels. Now they’re fitted in place, the final additions are added like door handles and window crank.
It’s so exciting seeing a colour combination coming together, what do you think to this colour scheme?
September 15, 2020 10:24 am Leave your thoughts
Brian and Kath have both been working on the rear bench seat of our ’39 Riley Merlin Nine.
They have superbly trimmed the rear seats in matching blue leather. The seats just need to be sat in a few times for them to shine in a similar way to the front seats.
There was some leftover leather, so Kath has also made a brilliant tool pouch which fits perfectly into the boot storage space.
Continue reading below for the full process.
Lovely work, Brian and Kath.
The first job was to re-foam the front seats for additional padding. Brian stripped down the seats and added extra foam toppers to pad out the old foam.Brian then glued new leather to the wheel arch top panels. He then added new new wadding to the wheel arch panel and stapled new covers onto the panel.
After stripping out the rear bench seats Brian has added new foam toppers onto the original Riley rear base foam. He then glued the rear base covers made by Kath onto the foam.
Brian has then added chrome fasteners to the cover which will allow it to be clipped into place. He has then fitted the base back into the vehicle before we moved onto repeating the process on the swab.
Kath handled the sewing and stitching parts of the build. With some of the loft over leather Kath has made this lovely little tool bag as an added surprise for the customer.
Our Triumph TR6 Hardtop restoration is now almost complete. We just need to fit the glass now, and it’s ready to go. A collaboration between our Paint and Trim Shops, this is now looking immaculate. Great work team.
In the Trim Shop, Kath has fitted the main headliner and trimmed around the b posts. She’s and re-covered the three boarded sections for the inside rear window. She’s installed the front edge rubbers and cleaned up the old rear rubber. The final stage will be to fit glass and then it’s ready to be used on the owners TR6.
Kath, Bridge Classic Cars’ trimmer has created this lovely new Gearstick surround. The VX220’s owner wanted to repair the damaged gaiter so brought it to our trim shop. Great work, Kath!
Kath has done a fabulous job trimming the black leather Morris J type seats. She’s perfectly matched the design of the old seat to a better than factory finish. Great work, Kath!
