classic daimler specialist suffolk

Update – Refitting the 1987 Daimler Double Six

The trim shop at Bridge Classic Cars has been working on getting some of the key trim pieces back into the 1987 Daimler Double Six while removing some smaller pieces to be refinished by the team.

To begin with, Brian fit the new bonnet insulation under the hood of the classic Daimler. This is a noise and heat protector which is cut to shape and rollered on to get the best contact and fit into the recesses under the bonnet.

From there, the team could get the headliner and sunroof for the car finished off. The edges of the opening were finished and glued back neatly into place before the necessary pieces of trim were fitted.

Finally, the team moved to the centre console of the classic Daimler in order to remove switchgear and fittings from the car. This was to then completely remove the weathered panel’s wooden veneer which is being worked on by the team as part of the restoration of the car.

Going Back Together – Refitting the Bumpers and Adjusting the Sunroof of the 1987 Daimler Doube Six

The workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars are working on refitting and adjusting various parts to the 1987 Daimler Double Six as part of its restoration with us.

The team have worked on getting the sunroof of the classic Daimler back into the car following the adjustments needed to the rails and to fit a new seal for its final installation back into the car.

Then, the team could turn their attention to the rear bumper of the Double Six. The bumpers have been stripped down and cleaned up including the brackets which were carefully ground back and then refurbished to be reused on the car as they were in good condition after removing the surface rust. The only new pieces needed for this part of the restoration were the bumper inserts which were sourced and fitted to the car.

Under the Surface – Stripping the Doors of the 1986 Daimler DS420

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.

Deep Dive – Stripping Back the 1986 Daimler DS420

The paint and body team at Bridge Classic Cars have been stripping the 1986 Daimler DS420 further in preparation for its restoration. Previously the team had noticed a few areas of corrosion which required further exploration to ensure the whole car could be completely assessed.

Once the team had begun to dive deeper into the classic Daimler limo, a lot of the history of the car had become evident. The team had found years of repairs/quick fixes across the body of the car, especially lower down in the car mainly the sills and quarter panels. Both of these had excessive amounts of body filler in them which the team had to sand through in order to inspect the bare metal that lay behind it.

However, upon inspecting the higher parts of the car it is in relatively good shape with only a few small areas requiring the attention of the fabrication team.

Inspection – Assessing the 1986 Daimler DS420

The 1986 Daimler DS420, which arrived recently at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop from America, has been up on the ramp for our teams to begin inspecting and assessing the classic limousine.

As part of its inspection, the team will build up a report on the overall condition of the vehicle along with any areas which need further assessment and a plan for repair or refurbishment. This time, the team were focusing on the underside of the classic Daimler to make sure it was structurally sound and safe before any further work is carried out.

The team turned their attention to suspension pickups and mounts, sections of frame, substructure mounts as well as the all-important body shell sills.

Prepared – Readying the 1987 Daimler Double Six for Colour

The paint and body team have been working to get the 1987 Daimler Double Six ready for the first coats of dark blue paint to be laid on the panels of the classic saloon car.

To begin, the Bridge Classic Cars in-house team painted the bonnet and boot lid of the classic Daimler. Once these had begun to dry, they were moved into the preparation area to fully cure while the body and wings were moved into the booth.

Then the team could begin to mask up the car ready to lay down the first coats of colour onto the body of the Double Six…

First Colour – First Coats of Colour on the 1987 Daimler Double Six

The paint and body team at Bridge Classic Cars have had the 1987 Daimler Double Six in our in-house paint booth for the first layers of colour to be laid down.

The team have begun the process of colour by first painting the inner sides of panels, doors and also inside the door jams and inner arches of the classic Daimler. Each of these pieces has gone through the same process as the rest of the car in the run up to this huge milestone in the restoration.

Once this stage of paint has cured and hardened, the car will taken out and remasked ahead of its full repaint.

Build Up – The 1987 Daimler Double Six in High Build Primer

The paint and body teams at Bridge Classic Cars have been busy preparing the body and panels of the 1987 Daimler Double Six for the final stages of high build primer.

The classic Daimler, which is in with our restoration teams, has been worked on extensively by our paint and body team to get the classic saloon in to perfect condition before the first layers of paint. The body shop have meticulously sanded down, cleaned and prepared each individual part at every stage of its journey into the in-house paint booth.

This step, which is one of the final stages before colour, is the use of high build primer on all panels and in all visible areas or areas which have been worked own by the body and fabrication teams including the inside of the door jams and the all important in arches. With the high build primer now on the car, it will be taken back out of the oven to be inspected and any adjustments made before the next stage begins.

Final Coat – 1987 Daimler Double Six in Epoxy Primer

The 1987 Daimler Double Six has been back into the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint booth to have one of the final stages of primer laid down on the classic 4 door saloon.

The paint and body teams have worked their magic on getting the classic Daimler into the best shape it possibly can be before it was taken into our booth/oven for the last stages before colour is put on. The team made sure that each individual panel was fair and straight before meticulously cleaning down every surface and blowing off any dust or fibres which may have been on the body. The final stages of primer are the most crucial as it is what the colour will lay directly onto so the bodywork and the primer needed to be absolutely perfect.

We’re excited to show you the next phase with the Daimler very soon, so keep an eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more updates.

All in the Details – Preparing the 1987 Daimler Double Six

The paint and body team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on preparing the 1987 Daimler Double Six for paintwork to begin.

The body team have been carefully and meticulously sanding and working each panel ahead of its appointment with our in-house paint booth.

While the team were working on each individual panel to get them perfect, they also welded up and finished off some of the small pinholes to get that flawless finish when it comes time to paint.

Each of the welds then had minimal filler work carried out just to flatten any low points caused by the finishing work.

Covered – Retrimming the Window Trim, Headliner and Sunroof of the 1987 Daimler Double Six

The sunroof, headliner and window trim from the 1987 Daimler Double Six are in the Bridge Classic Cars trim shop to be recovered in matching beige material.

Brian has been working on getting each individual piece cut out and perfectly retrimmed after being carefully stripped back and prepared for this stage. Each individual piece has been hand-worked to give the best fit and finish for the classic Daimler.

Top Work – Rust Repairs to the Sunroof of the 1987 Daimler Double Six

The fabrication team in the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop at our Suffolk HQ are hard at work repairing the rust issues in the sunroof of the 1987 Daimler Double Six.

Monty has been working his way methodically through the entirety of the classic Daimler. This time he has turned his attention to the sunroof and sunroof opening of the car, which is showing some noticeable signs of corrosion both on the interior and exterior of the car. Firstly, the sunroof panel was removed and stripped back to best assess the piece.

With everything cleaned back, the level of corrosion could be seen and assessed. Monty began handmaking the various patch panels and pieces needed for both the roof panel and the sunroof rails. With all of these pieces carefully templated and made, the process of welding them into the car could begin.

Because of the tolerances in the sunroof mechanism, the welding process has to be precise and accurate as to not warp any of the pieces with the heat generated by welding.

Top End – Retrimming the Window and Sunroof Pieces from the 1987 Daimler Double Six

Several pieces from the interior of the 1987 Daimler Double Six have been transferred to the in-house trim shop at Bridge Classic Cars.

The trim team have been carefully deconstructing and stripping back the various pieces of trim and panels from the roof of the classic Daimler. The sunroof of the car was removed in order to be inspected and assessed before it will be retrimmed by the team.

Next, the headliner of the car was stripped back and the foam sanded to be readied for the new headliner for the car fitted very soon.

Finally, the trim team carefully took apart the rear window trim and after cleaning up the surface retrimmed it in brand new foam strips.

Sealed – The Boot Floor of the 1987 Daimler Double Six Seam Sealed

After the repairs to the boot floor of the 1987 Daimler Double Six – The Bridge Classic Cars teams have been working to make sure everything is sealed up tight.

The body team at Bridge Classic Cars have been underneath the and in the boot of the classic Daimler to seal any joints between the panels which make up the boot floor. This is crucial for the longevity of not just our repairs on the car but the longevity of the whole car itself.