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New Arrival – 1954 Jaguar XK120

February 23, 2022

The latest arrival into The Hangar, the Bridge Classic Cars secure storage facility is this legendary 1954 Jaguar XK120.

This car was acquired by ourselves due to the owner, unfortunately, passing away and therefore the project has been left incomplete. Tom and Brian went to pick up the car, the spare chassis and the numerous spare parts which had been sourced for the car by its previous owner.

This 1954 Jaguar XK120 will soon be up for sale on the new Bridge Classic Cars MyClassics website.

Road Legal – The 1966 Jaguar MkII is Now Registered

February 16, 2022

Some of you may remember the 1966 Jaguar 3.8 MkII which was part of a consignment of cars that we received from South Africa. Well, it has now gone through the process is fully registered in the UK!

The classic Jaguar now sports its very own black and silver pressed number plates. So, with all the paperwork complete and the iconic classic plates in hand, our workshop fitted them onto the big Jag and we couldn’t help but take some photos of this legendary car. The MkII was a firm favourite with racers, the gentry, the police and the bank robbers.

We’re very lucky to have another one of these beautiful 4 door Jaguar saloons in our building once again. But, keep an eye out for what’s happening next on this amazing car…

Breathing Easy – Fitting the New Mangolite Air Filter to the 1970 Jaguar E Type Series 2 Coupe

February 15, 2022

The team at Bridge Classic Cars always like to see a familiar face. Just like this, the 1970 Jaguar E Type Series 2 Coupe which we did some work on last year.

This visit is for our workshop team to fit a new Mangoletsi air filter to the classic Jaguar. Now that the car could breathe a bit better, we had booked the car in with our friends over at Hangar 111 to get the E Type on their Rolling Road.

With the car safely strapped down, the team at Hangar 111 could work on getting the carburettors of the E Type perfectly set for the car.

Ignition – Fitting Electronic Ignition to the 1973 Jaguar E Type Coupe

February 14, 2022

The technicians at Bridge Classic Cars have been getting through the list of jobs to get done on the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Coupe.

The next job on the list was to fit a new electronic ignition into the 1970s GT car.

Removing the old system out of the car was done carefully while making note of each component, its condition and any wiring. With that out of the car, Jon could then get the new electronic ignition fitted.

A new distributor, coil, amplifier and resistor were fitted into the car and wired up under the bonnet of the E Type. He then ran all of the HT leads from each plug to the correct point on the distributor to get it in the right firing order. Then, after its first start and warm-up, Jon could set the timing and lock that in.

Upgrade – Upgrading the Suspension on the 1973 Jaguar E Type Coupe

February 11, 2022

The owner of the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series 3 Coupe noted the ride had become hard and uncomfortable. We have some experience of getting E Types to comfortable and riding well which involves some suspension upgrades.

Much like with our 1973 E Type Roadster, we have fitted the Coupe with a set of adjustable Gaz shock absorbers with road springs. Our technician Jon has been working on completing the installation of the new parts into the front and rear of the E Type.

The reason for the adjustable GAZ dampers is so that the dynamics of the car can be set to exactly what the customer finds comfortable. An upgrade like this completely transforms a classic car and is becoming more and more popular for owners who get out and really use their classics.

Diagnostics – Testing the Heater Valve on the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Coupe

February 11, 2022

Our restoration technician, Jon, has been working on trying to get the heater valve on the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Coupe.

After finally being able to free off the valve, he discovered that this still didn’t fix the issue of the heater being on constantly. For this, Jon has advised that this component be replaced. All other parts of the heating system are working as they should be except the heater valve.

There’s more to come on the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Coupe very soon.

Brackets – Preparing the Hardtop Brackets for the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster

February 11, 2022

The brackets which hold down the hardtop of the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster have been in the Bridge Classic Cars paint shop.

With the hardtop recently test fit onto the car, the restoration technicians needed the brackets to be finished for the car in order to finish the installation.

Once these have hardened and cured, they will go onto the car and fix to the hardtop and the body.

First Fit – Test Fitting the Removable Hardtop on the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster

February 10, 2022

The restoration teams at Bridge Classic Cars have been working together for the first test fitting of the removable hardtop on Fern Grey. The bespoke 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster being built at our Suffolk HQ.

The hardtop has been completely restored by the team here at Bridge Classic Cars and gone through by every department. Brian, our head trimmer, worked alongside our other restoration technicians to get all the trims, seals and hardware onto the roof. Then, gingerly slip it over the back over the car and down into place.

This has to be done so that Brian can check to make sure all of the brackets and fittings line up perfectly between the body and the roof.

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

February 9, 2022

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

February 9, 2022

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.

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

February 4, 2022

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Special Project – New Seat Covers for a Jaguar C Type

January 19, 2022

Our extremely talented in-house trimmer, Lydia, has been working on a very special project. A set of new seat covers for a Jaguar C Type.

Lydia has been making these covers from scratch in the Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim shop and used the original covers to make the best fitting replacements. Lydia has taken her time to try and match the original style of the seats and finished them in a stunning dark green leather.

This is a project we are doing for a friend of Bridge Classic Cars but it’s always amazing to see what our master trimmers do in the trim shop.

The Small Touches – Polishing the Rear Valance of the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster

January 17, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars in-house restoration team have been getting together all the final touches on the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster, Fern Grey.

One of the final pieces to finish off the rear end is the new valance cover. Our technician, Jon, spent hours getting the finish just right on the piece which is somewhat of a centre-piece for the back of the bespoke E Type.

With the valance fitted and the other brightwork in place, the rear end of Fern Grey is near enough complete.

Ready for Brightwork – Ready for Chrome on the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster

January 13, 2022

The team at Bridge Classic Cars have begun work on the stunning bonnet of the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster we have built for a client. With all of the weatherstripping installed into the headlight surrounds, they can now begin with the final brightwork.

All of the chrome for Fern Grey was sent off to a specialist, Wyatt Polishing, for refurbishment and polishing to make sure it looked as good as the rest of the incredible car. Now Paul, one of our in-house technicians, will start the meticulous task of getting the chrome back onto the headlights ready for when the bonnet is finally installed onto the car in the coming weeks.

Expect to see a lot more on the progress of the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster here on the Bridge Classic Cars newspage.

Extra Touches – Creating New Bags for the 1974 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster

January 12, 2022

Lydia, one of our incredible trimmers here at Bridge Classic Cars, has been busy handmaking the extra pieces for Fern Grey. Fern Grey is of course the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster that our in-house restoration teams have been working on rebuilding from the ground up for a client of ours.

Lydia began by remaking the original tool wrap that was supplied originally with the car. It had seen better days and was not befitting of such a creation as the mighty Fern Grey. So, using the original as a template, Lydia remade the piece by hand to fit the same fit and finish as the car it will belong to.

Then, with the E Types new tonneau cover completed, Lydia began to hand make the bag which the cover folds into to be stowed away. Much like the tool wrap, Lydia has made it to the same extraordinary standards as the rest of the car.

Final Fitment – Fitting the Exhaust to the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster

January 12, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars in-house restoration technicians have finished up the custom-made exhaust on the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster that we refer to as Fern Grey.

Paul has been working on getting the new exhaust safe and secure underneath the iconic sports car. From the exhaust collector to the stunning, bright double-tipped outlet which perfectly follows the line of the bottom of Fern Grey.

With the new exhaust fitted underneath the E Type, our in-house restoration technicians can move forward wit the final assembly of this stunning classic Jaguar.

Coated – Exhaust for the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster

January 11, 2022

The 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster, Fern Grey, is getting closer to completion by the day. Recently our in-house restoration technicians have been working on completing the exhaust for this amazing project.

Our technician Paul has been working on cleaning, preparing and coating the exhausts for the 5 litre V12 that sits at the heart of this E Type. Paul carefully cleaned and prepared the original headers for the car before applying several coats of glossy black exhaust paint. This paint is specific for the use on exhausts as it can withstand incredible high temperatures and the environment.

Paul also worked on cleaning and painting the exhaust brackets for Fern Grey to match the rest of the immaculate underside of the car.

Way out Back – Replacing the Rear Pinion Seal on the 1954 Jaguar MkVII

January 11, 2022

Dave, one of our most experienced technicians here at Bridge Classic Cars has been working on replacing the rear pinion seal of the 1954 Jaguar MkVII.

We noted the seal was leaking during an inspection and with the newly refurbished gearbox soon to be back in the car, Dave took this opportunity to get the rear pinion seal into the rear end before the gearbox is fitted and the driver shaft installed.

Keep a look out on the Bridge Classic Cars newspage for more updates soon on the 1954 Jaguar MkVII.

Finishing Touches – 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster

January 7, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars in-house have been finishing the final pieces for the interior of Fern Grey, the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster before it goes into the main workshop for final assembly.

Brian, our head trimmer, has got the cars handmade seats back into the car to complete that part of the interior and they look absolutely fantastic. This car is intended to be a true GT car so they are comfortable and well-padded to add to that sense of comfort while covering huge distances.

Next, Brian began fitting up the Hardura padding underneath the dashboard. Hardura is a vinyl wrapped sound deadening material used in place where it is remained exposed and is also close to the original style material used on the car.

Then, for the final piece Brian fitted the chrome stalks from the old sun visors onto the new pieces. These were then fitted up into the car and really finish of the dash and windshield surround.

Lifting the Cover – Tonneau Cover for the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster

January 6, 2022

Our head trimmer here at Bridge Classic Cars, Brian, has been perfectly tailoring a tonneau cover to protect the interior of Fearn Grey. The 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster we have been restoring in-house.

Brian has masterfully created the new cover entirely from scratch using his wealth of knowledge and experience to produce a tight, elegant fit on the cover. Just like every piece on Fearn Grey, our restorations teams have tailored everything around the car and for the lucky owner of this stunning roadster.

There are a couple more jobs to do in our trim shop on the E Type and then it will be going into the workshop for the team to begin final assembly.

Chasing a Noise – Fixing a Few Issues on the 1968 Jaguar MkII 2.4

January 4, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars in-house restoration technicians have been working on getting to the bottom of some noises that have been noted by the owner of this 1968 Jaguar MkII 2.4.

After looking into the issue, our senior technician Dave found several components that could cause the sound. The biggest one was that there was a pin missing and perished rubber isolators from the gearbox mount which can allow the vibrations and movement of the gearbox to transfer through the chassis and into the cabin and present as a sound. Along with that, Dave also noted that the exhausts would move occasionally and when they touched each other would also cause noise.

Whilst under the car, Dave also noted that the Universal Joints had become severely worn. For that, the prop shaft had to be removed in order to replace the joints. Whilst out of the car, Dave also cleaned up the splines and assembly to make sure everything was in good condition before reinstalling back into the car.

Raising the Roof – Fitting the Soft Top to the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series 3 Roadster

January 4, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars trim shop have been incredibly busy just before Christmas. One of the jobs that has been done was fitting the foldable soft top into Fearn Grey, the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series 3 Roadster.

Brian, our head trimmer, has been carefully pulling and stretching the new material into place and securing it to the spars on the hood to make sure that the fit and finish on the soft top is perfect with no creases or loose spots. Once it was in place, Brian could then focus on testing the mechanism worked flawlessly up and down without binding up or damaging the new soft top material in any way.

Along with the completely refurbished hard top, Fearn Grey is looking absolutely sensational! and the interior is definitely a massive part of that process.

Bits and Pieces – Continuing on the Interior of the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster

December 17, 2021

Brian in the Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim shop has been continuing on his highly skilled work on the interior of Fern Grey, the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster.

Brian has been working on test and final fitting the various small trim pieces onto the car. One of the big jobs is making sure the recently finished dash and windscreen trim to fit and flow correctly across the front of the interior of this stunning sports car. With the pieces in their final place, Brian could begin working his way towards the back of the car.

Brian also worked on the soft top where it meets the windscreen trims to ensure all of the trims for the soft top also worked alongside the various windscreen pieces. Any adjustments or refinements could be completed piece by piece to get the best fit for every different aspect of the interior.

Then, in the rear of Fern Grey, Brian began to get the new rear panels into place and make sure they perfectly fit around the hinges and mechanism for the soft top while up, but also when it is folded down into place.

As you can see, its full steam ahead on Fern Grey in the trim shop! And it is looking fantastic.

Laying Down – Fitting the Sound Deadening and Carpet to the 1968 Jaguar MkII 2.4

December 17, 2021

While the seats were removed from the 1968 Jaguar MkII 2.4 which is in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, our in-house trim expert, Brian, could begin work on retrimming the floors and installing the sound deadening into the floor of this classic Jaguar.

Previously, Brian had stripped out the floors of the car in our trim shop in preparation for the welding repairs needed. Now, Brian could begin his work getting the inside of the car looking as good as the outside. Using original style sound deadening, Brian laid the material into all of the areas that can be affected or are known for transmitting sound into the cabin. Using a series of specialist trim tools, Brian managed to neatly secure the sound deadening into the car. This, allowed Brian to carry on to the next phase of the interior in the 1968 MkII 2.4.

Next up, was getting the carpet panels in the least accessible places throughout the interior. Trimming the rear seat edges, driveshaft tunnel and seat cross members in the stunning, vibrant red which was closely matched to the original pieces. Brian also hand trimmed the gearbox tunnel as well. Using the original pieces as a template to work from but would trim and adjust the pieces to ensure the best fit and finish once all of the accompanying trim has been fitted.

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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