classic jaguar

Jaguar MKVII Painted

Our stunning 1954 Jaguar MKVII has been full painted and the panels have been smoothed and flattened. The rest of the body now needs to

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Jaguar MKI Arrival

This stunning 1959 Jaguar MKI arrived today for some restorative work with us. Before we know what needs to be done, we will carry out

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The Nifty 150

The exciting restoration project continues on our 1958 Jaguar XK150. This week the interior has been with our expert trim shop who have been working

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The Big-Cat Burglar

Car accidents happen, and they’re upsetting. But nothing breaks our little classic-car-loving hearts more than when someone purposefully damages someones pride and joy. This gorgeous

Read More »

Jaguar MKVII Painted

Our stunning 1954 Jaguar MKVII has been full painted and the panels have been smoothed and flattened. The rest of the body now needs to be flattened and shaped before it goes back into the workshop to have its chrome and trim fitted back in as well as the mechanics.

1973 Beverly Hills E-Type Restoration Begins

Dismantling the car:

After having sourced this vehicle last year, it’s been sat in storage whilst we’ve worked on two other classics belonging to the same client. Now it’s time for this Californian dream to be restored. With a big re-design coming it’s way, the first step is to dismantle the E-Type. By removing the chrome, trim and lights, our technicians can start working on parts of the car.

Pressure test:

The compression test also came back positive, with all the readings as they should. A compression test gives you an indication of the health of your engine, its valves, valve seats, piston rings and whether these parts are wearing evenly.

The tests should show the compressions at 110-115 psi. The test shows how much volume of air and fuel goes into the combustion chamber. If there’s not enough, for example, if only 80 psi were passing through, it would give you an indication of a serious fault in the valves. If the valves aren’t seating correctly, the air and fuel can seep out of the cylinders and lead to more serious faults.

Jaguar MKI Arrival

This stunning 1959 Jaguar MKI arrived today for some restorative work with us. Before we know what needs to be done, we will carry out a thorough assessment to understand where we need to focus the TLC.

Stay tuned for updates!

The MKI jaguar was an influential pioneer in the luxurious motors market as it spearheaded the way for other sophisticated yet practical saloons to follow. It was compact, good to drive and relatively quick for the contemporary market of the 1950’s.

1970 E-Type Engine Additions

Mauro has been continuing his work on our 1970 Green Jaguar E-Type Series 2 4.2 edition. He has recently replaced the Rocker cover gaskets due to an oil leak and has fitted some high performance Silicone spark leads.

60 Years In The Making: Jaguar Mark Their E-Type Anniversary With A Limited Edition Tribute

Today marks the 60th anniversary of Jaguar’s iconic E-Type, known for its long linear styling and irresistible British charm which became synonymous with the sixties. To celebrate this anniversary, Jaguar is releasing six limited-edition matching pairs of restored 3.8 E-Types. Inspired by the iconic 9600HP and 77RW examples that featured in Geneva’s 1961 Launch.

The limited-edition 9600HP E-types will be finished in a timeless Flat Out Grey paintwork with Smooth Black leather interior as well as unique 1961 tribute details. The six 77RW E-Types will come in a classy Drop Everything Green styled with Suede Green leather interior and will also come with 1961 tribute details.

All models will come with limited editions 60th details such as a commemorative 60 logo on the bonnet badge, fuel cap, chassis plate and tachometer clock face which has been designed in conjunctions with Julian Thomson, the Jaguar Design Director.

Along with the limited edition badge, these 60th anniversary E-Types also come with bespoke designed and engraved centre consoles by artist King nerd to celebrate the grandeur of road trips taken by Jaguar test driver Norman Dewis and PR man Bob Berry who are to thank for E-Types 1961 launch.

“Sixty years after its unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1961, the talented team at Jaguar Classic are releasing the ultimate birthday present to the E-type: The E-type 60 Collection. The attention to detail demonstrates how this project has been a labour of love for our designers, engineers, craftspeople and partners. Exquisite detailing combined with enhanced usability ensure these E-types will be coveted and enjoyed for decades to come by their discerning owners, starting with a once-in-a-lifetime Coventry to Geneva pilgrimage for our six customers and their guests in Summer 2022.”

DAN PINK – DIRECTOR OF JAGUAR CLASSIC

Each limited edition motor features a specially developed close ration five speed manual gearbox with a 3.8 litre in-line six cylinder Jaguar XK engine.

In the summer of 2022, the 6 customers and their guests till take part in a once in a lifetime Coventry to Geneva road trip experience to parade the new motors.

Jaguar MKVII Shrinking, Shaping and Smoothing

James and James have been working on shrinking and re-shaping the panels for our 1954 Jaguar MKVII however they’ve taken to doing it the traditional way. Using heat, a hammer and cool air, they can effectively reshape anything they need to in a precise and neat manner. By heating up the metal, it balloons and softens the surface, allowing James to hammer it into shape and then use cool air to set it.

James is focusing on making the outside layer of the rear quarter panel, which is made by hand and hammered into place.

After finishing the re-shaping, James could then start with applying the lead primer and then the Tallow Medium and Nealetin, all of which are applied using heat. The tallow medium, traditionally made from goose fat, is heated up and melted so it resembles a spreadable ‘goo’ that can then be worked into shape to provide a flat finish.

We did some filming with James in the workshop where he explained to us what’s going on with the Jaguar in the fabrication bay. Here’s some behind the scenes.

Jaguar MK VII Hides Hidden Time Capsule

Every now and then, these classic cars surprise with hidden treasures. Whether its personalised dashes, objects stashed down the side of seats or a pair of driving gloves in the glove box, its always a pleasant discovery. On this occasion, we found two embedded tool kits in the door cards of our 1954 Jaguar MK VII, containing original and well-used tools, including a grease gun, bulbs and brake fluid. The two hidden tool kits seem like time capsules to 1954. We had worked hard to loosen the bolts and catches to unlock the tool kit and we’re now glad we did!

The job in hand for the two James’ in our fabrication bay was to strip down the doors to bare metal, taking off all the fixtures and sand down the sides. With a lot of rust visible, we’ve applied a filler primer that tackles rust and prevents it from spreading.

The doors first had to come off before they could be dismantled and stripped.

Jaguar MKVII revival

Kath has been working on repairing the seat squabs on our 1954 Jaguar MKVII. She has repaired the rear seat squab as the vinyl had started to come away from the squab. She applied contact adhesive and stuck it back down in place, making sure that the vinyl was sticking neatly around the edges. Kath also had to rip underneath the seat to fit a piece of calico on to the material to stop it from getting any worse.

Ady has also been carrying out a thorough engine service which includes replacing the spark plugs and spark plug leads as well as the oil filter, oil and a new water hose.

Something Old, Something New, Something Blue

Our 1970 Jaguar E-Type V12 is back in the workshop after its hiatus at Bentwaters whilst we waited for the chrome bumper to come back. Mauro has dedicated his morning to carefully applying the chrome bumper, making sure it fits and it’s perfectly cleaned.

The next step is to run the E-Type through a general service and send it back home!

Along with the bumper, we also received other chrome parts back for our Jaguar such as the front grill surround which Mauro has also fitted.

Mauro has also installed the steering rack tie rod ends which had been replaced as well as a new clutch slave cylinder.

Jaguar MKVII Brake Repair

Paul has taken a look at our 1954 Jaguar MKVII and made sure all the brakes are stripped down and ready to be overhauled. The rear brake pipes have been removed and replaced with new components.

Jaguar MKVII Chrome Removal

Our team has begun removing the chrome on the 1954 Jaguar MKVII in preparation for bodywork and paint. For the majority of the chrome, its a realtivily simple removal, for example, the pieces on the windows are easy to remove however some are more difficult and need extra components removed to get to the chrome.

Following the fuel tank renovation, Ady has fitted the oil sump back underneath the car.

Jaguar MKVII Receives TLC

Ady, our engine specialist has been working hard to restore our Jaguar MKVII.

He’s repaired the fuel tank plugs and filters by adding new seals. The fourth image shows the fuel tank plug and filter being screwed into the fuel tank after being repaired. The final image shows the fuel tank sender unit being removed, so Ady could fit a new gasket.

Trim Completion For The Jaguar XK150

Our side of the trim work has been completed for the 1958 Jaguar XK150. Our job was to only fit the fabric to metal pieces as the customer is restoring the majority of the car himself. Although we previously made the seats, the customer is fitting them himself. Our trim team have done yet another fantastic job to restore the interior in this iconic classic, with the finished product looking spectacular.

The foot pedal carpet did not fit properly so Kath made a new template and cut out new set. She found that her new design glued and fitted in a lot neater. The front tunnel section was also completed by adding some deadening as well as the trim however it originally didnt fit right as it came up too big, so Kath had to pack out tunnel with some extra foam. The trim team cut some millboard out to go over the inspection chamber and screwed it in place. They found that the tunnel was a funny shape so had to modify the design and add some extra foam until the cover fit perfectly. Kath then fit the next part of tunnel by trimming around hand brake gaiter and gluing it all into position to clamp in place.

Jaguar XK150 Carpet Progress

Our stunning Jaguar XK150 partial trim restoration is progressing well as the trim shop finish the boot carpet and continue with the other sections inside the made body.

The pre-existing carpet pieces are carefully glued in bit by bit, making sure that each section fits well and sticks.

The process included glueing the hardheaded sections into boot sides, which, once glued in, left room for the boot floor mat to be fitted. Brian then glued the vinyl around the edges of the rear seat and around the hatch to the boot. He made the millboard panel for the hatch and glued the hardheaded sections to the billboard.

Jaguar MKVII Renovation Begins

The stripping process has begun for our Jaguar however the preparation procedure itself isn’t a quick job. There are lots of parts that need our attention before it sees the paint shop.

Ady has been working to restore the fuel tanks. Our 1954 Jaguar MKVII has two fuel tanks rather than the standard one however one of the fuel tanks is suffering from severe rust which we are beginning to tackle.

The chrome has also been removed and the parts ordered to fix the engine leak issue. Once these bits have been fixed, this Jaguar can get ready for paint.

Tom has been attending to the wiring in the front of the Jaguar, especially the front headlights which he’s been removing.

Iconic Jaguar In For Restoration

This iconic 1958 Jaguar XK150 is known as the grandfather of classic cars, the epitome of class and the ever chased after classics. With only 6,713 ever produced, it lay claim to the greatest post-war sports car ever made. Known for its superb performance, its true testament to great British engineering.

Its currently with us for a partial trim restoration.

Valuations, Proposals and New Finds

We often get approached with enquiries about valuing, buying and selling cars as well as our usual restoration services. Some end up in business and others go their separate ways. We’ve had quite a few leads come in recently, its all business as usual at Bridge!

1970 Jaguar 420G

We’ve been approached by an individual who enquired about us completing restoration on this lovely classic Jaguar. We’ve responded approving his enquiry so watch this space to see if this lovely Jaguar comes in soon!

1972 Alfa Romeo Spider Series 2

We’re delighted to be welcoming in this 1971 Alfa Romeo Spider Series 2 through our doors tomorrow. This Spider will be up for sale soon so keep your eyes peeled for a beautiful pristine orange Spider Series 2 appearing on the market soon!

1936 Ford Model Y

We had an enquiry from an individual about restoring their beautiful 1936 Ford Model Y, which we approved. We’re currently waiting to hear back about the next steps on this Ford. Watch this space!

Jaguar MKVII’s Quick Start

Our engine specialist Ady has rewired the Jaguar MKVII allowing it to run. This has been done by running the battery wire to the coil as there is a break in the loom meaning there’s no feed to the coil.

1954 Jaguar MKVII Arrives

We’ve had this 1954 Jaguar MKVII arrive in need of a re-wire and re-spray in order for it to leave feeling and looking brand new! Currently stored up at our hanger, this lovely Jaguar will be coming into the workshop soon.

Exciting new arrivals to Bridge Classic Cars

Some new arrivals into the workshops recently; firstly our 1995 Jaguar XJ6 Auto competition car.

Last month we handed the keys of our 1998 Jaguar XJR Supercharged to Sam Holmes of Cheshire after he was the lucky winner of one of our most popular competitions to date!

Feedback from you all suggested you loved the idea of a modern classic that would not only increase in value as the marque becomes rarer but would also sit perfectly outside your home to be used as an everyday vehicle.

So, with that in mind, we will soon have available the little sister to our XJR, our absolutely stunning Jaguar XJ6 auto.

When we say stunning, we really do mean stunning. Having recently undergone a full respray to the value of £4000, the car has been loved and cherished by its previous owner. Sure it comes with a few imperfections, as you would expect from a car that’s 25 years old but only the uber critical amongst us would be offended by this! With it’s immaculate cloth and leather interior, unmarked original Jaguar hubcaps (yes hubcaps), the fact that it is the basic model means its packed with it’s original character.

As we all know, these Jaguar’s were built to a very high standard and feel every bit a quality heritage British performance car. The ride quality of our XJ6 is outstanding. This car floats along the road with elegance and poise. This beautiful modern classic is ready to be enjoyed by a new owner.

Currently MOT’d until April 2021 but will come with a full 12 month MOT, the car has covered just 74,957 and a service book full of Jaguar main dealer and Jaguar specialist service stamps.

Next up, our 1979 Daimler 4.2 Sovereign XJ6 Series III Automatic has arrived from our good friends at TurnTwo Classics

This lovely Daimler has been with its last owner since 1988, some 32 years.

In that time the car has been cherished and loved and only used occasionally and today has covered just 82,000 miles from new.

Good Series III XJ’s are now becoming very rare and collectible, this car is a very early example coming from the first year of production. A very solid car with a strong chassis and little signs of any rust or rot that is still driving lovely today.

The car specification is still as it was in 1979 with the original radio cassette still in place and operating. The car comes complete with its original owners handbook and a few bills and invoices for works carried out and two sets of keys.

Now tax and mot exempt however a fresh MOT has been acquired prior to to arrival in our workshops. Thank you to TurnTwo Classics for doing this.

She’s My E-Type On Paper

Our stunning 1972 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 is with us again for a range of repairs, fixes and upgrades.

To start with, the car’s not running. Therefore, our engine experts have her up on the ramp ready for closer inspection.

Dave, one of most experienced classic car technicians is changing the ignition. Once this is completed the engine should be able to be fired up. This will enable the team to start with various other fixes.

Tom, one of our specialist classic car technicians has repaired a couple of the cars more minor niggles. “There was a problem with the handbrake light” Tom explains. “We managed to tweak the switch and have sorted that out.”

Tom’s also investigated an issue with the accelerator panel and the windscreen washers. Both of which should now be rectified.

A new chrome rear bumper has also been fitted by Tom and Paul this week. The bumper was supplied by the customer and expertly fitted by our specialist technicians.

The car also has an oil leak. Tom has cleaned under the car, to give our engine expert Ady a better look at where the oils coming from. ” I suspect it’s coming from a washer between the engine and the oil relief valve” Ady’s told us.

We won’t know whether the fixes are successful until we get her engine back up and running. We have every confidence in our classic car experts. Let’s get this beautiful little sports car back on the road soon!

The Nifty 150

The exciting restoration project continues on our 1958 Jaguar XK150. This week the interior has been with our expert trim shop who have been working on the seats, and other interior panels.

Brian starts by cutting the foam to the right size for the front seat squab frame. “I then mark where the cover needs to sit” Brian explains “gluing the cover into position, sticking the calico flap in place”.

Brian adds extra foam bolstering, to give the seat it’s comfortable shape. He then pulls the second calico flap over the frame and pulls the cover into position.

Brian then begins gluing and stapling the top and side of the cover onto the frame. “I’ve glued the bottom edge of the outer side of the frame” he explains “gluing the outer flap, then tucking in the piping and gluing the inner flap”.

Brian then staples the inner edge and bottom flap neatly into place, carefully hiding the glue and staples from view.

The back of the chairs is next up, where Brian tacks the fabric to the back of the frame. “I’ve made the side and top panels out of mill board” he tells us “finishing them off by covering them with vinyl”.

He then screwed the top and side panels into place.

Some other interior panels have also has Brian’s magic touch. Including the boot hinge cover, the transmission inspection plate and the petrol pipe cover. All hand crafted and finished in a matching vinyl.

All these sections and the seats are now ready to be fitted back into the car. How sharp does this interior work look?

Jag Takes Centre Stage!

We’ve continued interior trim work on our 1967 Jaguar E-Type race car this week. Brian and Kath, our trim shop experts, have been making parts for the centre console.

“I made the base for the Jags chubby box out of ply wood” explains Brian. “I started by cutting all the separate sections, gluing them into position. Then screwing the finished box into the centre console.”

The leather was then marked out and cut to shape around the box. Foam’s been added around the edge to give the box a nicer shape. “I fitted the leather around” describes Brian, “then glued neatly around the edges.”

Kath’s been working on our race car too. She’s been making the pattern for the gaiter surround. “I mark out the pattern then transfer this to the leather” Kath tells us. “I then stick the edges neatly in place, cut out the centre and stitch the surround to tie in with the rest of the design.”

Kath’s then fitted the surround around the gaiter and added the gear knob she made earlier.

Brian’s then fixed the finished box into the centre console and covered the screws with a matching carpet panel. Now both parts are looking right at home in the race car.

That’s some awesome team work Kath and Brian – great job trim shop!

The Big-Cat Burglar

Car accidents happen, and they’re upsetting. But nothing breaks our little classic-car-loving hearts more than when someone purposefully damages someones pride and joy.

This gorgeous 1967 Jaguar MKII came to us after having been broken into.

The car’s been left in a very sorry state. The back seat’s been ripped apart, in what we suspect was the thief’s attempt to get into the boot and steal its contents.

But, with no access to the boot from the backseat and having sustained no major external damage, this little Jag has had a fairly lucky escape.

We’ll be pleased to see her interior put right and send her on her merry way.

So be careful you cat-burglars, this is a Jaguar that might bite back!

Two Jaguars Let Loose in The Workshop

Two beautiful classic Jaguars have arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars Workshop today. Both very different cars, but both undeniably special examples.

Firstly we have the 1963 Jaguar SS100. In for a couple of minor repairs highlighted by a MOT test. This lovely classic has already received a new steering boot and a new air filter. To fit within the SS100’s engine bay, Paul has modified the filter slightly to perfectly fit. Superb work, Paul!

The 2nd Jaguar of the day is this rare XJRS TWR. Featuring a Jaguar 6.0l V12 Engine, this big cat certainly can roar.

The XJRS is in the workshop for a general health check, as well as investigating some unwanted noises coming from the underside of the car.

The TWR in this Jaguar’s name stands for Tom Walkinshaw Racing. TWR were a race team and engineering firm founded in 1976 by touring car racer Tom Walkinshaw.

TWR became associated with Jaguar in 1982. Partnering with the successful entry of the Jaguar XJS into the European Touring Car Championship.

TWR and Jaguar formed JaguarSport initially to build tuned versions of Jaguar road-cars, such as this gorgeous XJRS. They also produced upgraded versions of the XJ220 and XJR-15 sports cars at a new facility at Bloxham. By 1994, JaguarSport had been liquidated, with the Bloxham factory being overhauled for production of Aston Martin automobiles.

Take a look at the full galleries below of these stunning Jaguars.

Jaguar XK150 Chairs in Trim

Our Jaguar XK150 is in the trim shop this week having it’s seats re-upholstered and new foam fitted.

Our clever classic car technician Brian has been building the seats. “I added the backseats foam to the wooden boards” he describes “then pulled the cover over tight, stapled it into place and cut off the excess.”

Next up, Brian moved onto the central armrest. “I glued the cover to the armrest board” he explains “ensuring I’ve lined up the flutes centrally.” Brian’s left some flaps of material loose so once it’s fitted into the car they can be glued to secure the armrest in place.

He’s then done something similar with the base of the seat, gluing foam to the wood and securing the cover over the top. He’s marked a centre line on the cover and foam to ensure they line up, then glued the flap under the bolster.

“I then pulled the cover round tightly” Brian tells us “again stapling in place a very neatly trimming off any excess leather.”

And there they are! Some gorgeous grey leather seat for the Jaguar XK150, all ready to seat their first passengers.