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Classic Jensen 541

Sandblasting, Repairs, And Painting

December 12, 2022

Our team of classic car technicians continue to work on our 1959 Jensen 541R.

Lydia has been stripping the old foam, leather, and vinyl off various interior pieces and prepping some of the metal work for repainting by sandblasting and sanding to remove rust, old paint, and glue.

While Lydia was working on the interior of our 541R, Al was continuing his work on the fibreglass bonnet. After his previous repairs on the underside of the bonnet, he cleaned the underside ready for the rest of his work to be completed. Once he had done this, he continued with his repairs. Al found some previous repair work that had been completed at some point in the car’s past. These repairs did not meet Al’s high standards so, despite making his repair work more challenging, he repaired the bonnet in full, including re-doing the previous bad repairs.

Mauro has also been working on our 1959 Jensen 541R. He has been refurbishing multiple components of this rare classic car. Alongside his refurbishing work, Mauro also painted the chassis too.

As work continues on our 541R, we look forward to seeing progress continue to be made as it moves through its restoration journey here at Bridge Classic Cars.

Finishing Touches – Finishing The Seat Pockets and Rear Seat Bases on the 1958 Jensen 541R

September 9, 2022

The trim shop at the Bridge Classic Cars HQ have been working on more parts of the 1958 Jensen 541R.

The team have been working on finishing up the amazing fluted rear seat bases. Each line of the fluting has been carefully stitched by hand by Lydia closely following the original as a reference. The covers are now finished and stretched around the bases.

After that, Lydia could work on getting the handmade seat pockets attached onto the back of the front seats before trimming the hoop base and fitted it to the underside of the seat back.

Stripped Back – Stripping the Subframe of the 1955 Jensen 541 ‘Number 8’

September 6, 2022

The subframe for the 1955 Jensen 541 ‘Number 8’ has been delivered back to the Bridge Classic Cars Pettistree workshop.

The subframe has been checked over and all areas in need of repair have been noted by the workshop for our amazing fabrication shop to carry out getting the piece back to full strength and squareness.

Fresh Finish – Freshly Blasted Parts from the 1959 Jensen 541 ‘Hepburn’ in Gloss Black

September 5, 2022

The freshly blasted parts for the 1959 Jensen 541R ‘Hepburn’ have returned to our Suffolk HQ for the team to get into perfect condition for its restoration.

The freshly stripped parts were meticulously cleaned to get rid of any residual blasting material before they were refinished in hard-wearing gloss black.

The parts were then left to sure completely before carefully being packaged and put into storage to awaiting the cars reassembly.

Trimmed – Trimming the Glovebox of the 1958 Jensen 541R

August 30, 2022

The original glovebox on the 1958 Jensen 541R has been completely stripped back in order to be retrimmed by the Bridge Classic Cars team.

The original piece was carefully taken apart by the team to assess its condition. After inspecting, the team had to remake the wooden pieces for the glovebox before then retrimming it black vinyl ready to go back on the car when the time comes.

On Top – Painting the Roof of the 1958 Jensen 541R

August 22, 2022

The 1958 Jensen 541R has been in the body shop to be perfected and prepared in preparation for the careful painting of its roof.

The team firstly covered the area in polyfan, which was then sanded back to double check for any low or high spots and then it was taken into the paint booth, reprimed and then the most important part of this particular stage.

The team then set about painting the large, curved roof in special Lobelia Blue, its original colour according to the Jensen records. The team laid down layer after layer of the deep, rich blue across the roof and scuttle panel of the classic GT car.

Headed Off – The 1959 Jensen 541R Off to Blasting

August 12, 2022

The 1959 Jensen 541R ‘Hepburn’ has been completely stripped back to a bare shell by the Bridge Classic Cars workshop as part of its restoration and to prepare it for blasting.

The bodyshell has been loaded onto a rotisserie for media blasting so that every part of the frame and body can be got to and exposed with the carefully selected blast media. The bodyshell was then loaded onto one of our trailers to be transported to a local trusted specialist to carry out the job.

Once complete, it will come back and be inspected and assessed by the restoration departments.

Finesse – Sanding the 1958 Jensen 541R

August 5, 2022

The paint and body team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on the 1958 Jensen 541R in preparation for the colour stage of its work with us.

The team have been sanding and finessing each individual panel in the pursuit of absolute perfection we aim to achieve on all of our restoration projects. Chris, one of our paint and body technicians, has been using varying sandpapers and abrasives to get into every shape and curve across the body of the classic GT car.

Stripped Back – Stripping Back the Dashboard on the 1958 Jensen 541R

August 5, 2022

The trim team at Bridge Classic Cars have worked on stripping down and refurbishing the dashboard of the 1958 Jensen 541R.

Everything from the instrument cluster to the wooden structures has been completely stripped back to their core components to be inspected, refurbished and reassembled as part of the car’s aesthetic restoration. Any metal pieces were completely stripped and cleaned down before being sprayed in hardwearing black.

Fine Touch – Working on the 1956 Jensen 541

August 5, 2022

The 1956 Jensen 541 has been worked on in the Bridge Classic Workshop at our Suffolk HQ to have several parts on the car adjusted and refined.

Our technician Rob first fabricated the new handbrake bracket/mount. This was bent up and shaped before the original piece was cut off the frame and the new piece welded on after having its hole and mounts put in.

Then it was time to move to the outside of the car and finesse the one-piece fibreglass bonnet. Rob has worked on adjusting the panel in every axis possible to get the unit to sit properly on the car. Once roughly in shape, Rob made new strengthening brackets which mount inside the fibreglass clamshell.

The final piece was to adjust and finesse the flange on the gearbox tunnel to perfectly meet up with the large single-piece gearbox cover that mounts up to the firewall.

Getting Ready – Preparing to Remove the Engine on the 1959 Jensen 541R

August 3, 2022

The engine from the 1959 Jensen 541R is due to come out of the frame any day now as part of the restoration of the car by Bridge Classic Cars.

For this, the team have been preparing all the surrounding areas to make sure the engine cannot get hung up or caught on anything on its way out of the classic GT car.

Onto the Next Stage – Filler and Primer on the 1958 Jensen 541R

July 25, 2022

The 1958 Jensen 541R has had its filler work completed by the Bridge Classic Cars paint and body team. Chris, one of our paint and body specialist, has been carefully perfecting the body lines and curves of the classic Jensen with minimal filler work.

Each panel and piece was worked on by the team in the absolute pursuit of perfection. From electrical sanders to the finest of sandpaper, the team have made the body of the 1950s GT car superb.

Then, it was time to get all the panels and the body into our in-house spray booth.

The classic Jensen was then taken into the paint booth to have the 2nd round of its primer laid down. First was the normal primer before then having its body and all the panels finished in Polyfan.

The team will then inspect and assess the body before moving on to the next stage of the cars aesthetic work.

Update – Progress on the 1956 Jensen 541

July 22, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars workshop have made great progress on the 1956 Jensen 541.

Our technician, Rob, has been working on the front end of the classic Jensen. To begin with, he fully welded in the suspension towers onto the new chassis. This is a crucial stage as it also acts as a tie-in for the front wing braces and forms part of the core support.

Next, Rob could fit the new wheel arches and begin to make the new brackets now that the towers were firmly in place, and accurate measurements could be taken to ensure the inner arches/wings sat squarely in the car and to the frame.

With all of these pieces firmly in place, Rob could begin to test fit the lower part of the front wing. This could then be adjusted for the right fitment and alignment to the body to act as one of the datum points with the fibreglass front end is fitted.

Stripped – Tearing Down the Seats of the 1958 Jensen 541R

July 19, 2022

The trim shop at Bridge Classic Cars have begun work on stripping back the rear seats of the 1958 Jensen 541R in with our team for paint and trim work.

Lydia, one of our trimmers, has carefully unpicked the covers to expose the foam core underneath. All of these pieces are being used for reference as part of the work, so are carefully organised and stored for the time being.

Once the covers had been taken off, Lydia could then begin piecing together and shaping out the new foam which will make up the core of the new rear seat of the 541R.

Inside the Workshop – 1958 Jensen 541R in Primer

July 13, 2022

Check out the latest video from Bridge Classic Cars! We go into the paint booth as the team get primer on the 1958 Jensen 541R.

This is the first stage of getting the fibreglass-bodied GT car in perfect condition before its Ice Blue Metallic paintwork.

Crossing Over – New Door Skin and More Roof Framework on the 1956 Jensen 541

July 13, 2022

The 1956 Jensen 541 has had some new parts and pieces fitted during its build-up in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop at our Suffolk HQ.#

The team have test fit a new door skin to the frame to make sure everything lines up and fits as it should before then fitting the door to the frame to check for any interference from the door to the bodywork or the various pieces of the framework on the classic 1950s GT car.

Once the door had been checked, Rob, could begin working on the roof frame on the other side of the car. This was offered up and any adjustments needed to make sure it had a correct tight fit up to the roof panel while still being squared and aligned to the other side of the car.

Stronger Together – Roof and A Post Brackets for the 1956 Jensen 541

July 12, 2022

The workshop team have made new strengthening brackets for the roof and A-Pillar of the 1956 Jensen 541 which is in for restoration.

Rob, one of our restoration technicians, has handmade the brackets which are done specifically for each area of the car to tie the various pieces together. After shaping and test fitting, the A-Pillar support could be welded into the car and then the rear roof bracket was welded into the frame after being bolted to the roof.

All of this is part of the process of getting the classic Jensen body into perfect alignment before it is handed over to our in-house body and paint team.

Smallest of Changes – Adjusting the Body Framework on the 1956 Jensen 541

July 6, 2022

The workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars have worked on the fine alterations to the framework of the 1956 Jensen 541 in for restoration at our Suffolk HQ.

The team have test fit the rear fibreglass clamshell and with that, they could make small changes to the framework which gives the body panels structure and helps to align them. These were carefully cut, trimmed and reframed to get each section of the rear bodywork line up just right onto the new chassis.

Nostalgia – 1955 Jensen 541 ”Number 8” and Its Former Life

July 5, 2022

Our 1955 Jensen 541 ”Number 8” has an amazing history. Through reference materials and historical documents, EX9090 is believed to be only the 8th Jensen 541 to be built by the factory. Through the years, it had been worked on, changed, rebuilt, and modified until it was a shadow of its former self.

We found the car in Lincolnshire as a parts car. Missing was the 4-litre straight-six it would have originally been supplied with, replaced with a Jaguar straight-six of the same time. The seats also appeared to be out of another car and its bright red paintwork had flaked, cracked and weathered. We know this from these photos we were sent of the car in what appears to be the early to mid-1990s from the background objects referenced.

But it wasn’t always this way. The other photos we were sent across are of another Jensen 541 which is in a matching colour scheme to how our 1955 Jensen 541 was originally delivered.

After checking documents and reference sources, we too believe that this is how the car was originally supplied in 1955. As part of its eventual restoration commission, this car will be put back to all original specifications, as seen in the photographs, and reunited with the 4-litre straight-six, a hallmark of the character of the car.

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Remove & Rebuild – Teardown, Refurb and Refoam of the 1958 Jensen 541R Seats

July 5, 2022

The trim team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on refurbishing the front seats of the 1958 Jensen 541R which is in at our Suffolk workshops from Holland.

The interior of the car has been put in the hands of our trimmer Lydia who has been working on stripping down the original seat ahead of not only its rebuild but its new colour.

To begin with, the team have separated the front and back of the fibreglass bucket seat in order to begin removing the original black coverings which have been put to one side as use for references in the new templates. Then, the team could begin separating the foam from the bases.

Once completed stripped down to its base components, the team could sand back the pieces and anything that needed to be repainted could be done properly.

After that, Lydia could work on setting the new foam pieces into place before beginning to refine and contour them into the correct shape and form for the new blue coverings which the team will make specifically for the car.

Fine Adjustments – Adjusting the Framework of the 1956 Jensen 541

July 4, 2022

The workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars has been making the fine adjustments to the inner framework of the 1956 Jensen 541 in with us at our Suffolk HQ for restoration.

Rob, one of our technicians, has carefully had the fibreglass body panels placed around the framework and on top of the chassis of the classic Jensen to check for any adjustments needed to get the bodywork fit and square on the 541. Bit by bit, he has made adjustments to the steel pieces to allow the body to sit correctly on top of the chassis.

Not only was this for the rear clamshell but for the all-important fibreglass roof and windscreen panel.

Inside Work – Stripping The Interior of the 1959 Jensen 541R

July 4, 2022

The in-house trim team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working with our workshop to carefully and completely remove the interior from the 1959 Jensen 541R as part of its restoration journey.

Brian, one of our trimmers, has removed everything from the inside of the 541R. All of these pieces will be stored to use as a template and if anything can be reused or refurbished for the car. Everything from the headliner to the seat runners have been taken out of the car for the team to carefully look through and assess.

Teardown – Stripping Down the 1959 Jensen 541R

July 1, 2022

The workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars have begun the process of carefully stripping down the 1959 Jensen 541R ahead of its restoration beginning.

The workshop team have worked alongside our trimmers to remove everything from both the inside and outside of the classic GT car. Even under the front clamshell, the wiring and various hoses have been removed in preparation for the 4 litre straight-six engine to be pulled out.

Once this is complete, the team can begin to remove the bodywork from the frame to assess and inspect the running gear move thoroughly.

To see some more detailed shots from our workshop on the teardown of the 1959 Jensen 541R, check them out below:

Perfect Lines – Bodywork on the 1958 Jensen 541R

July 1, 2022

The body shop at Bridge Classic Cars have been refining the bodywork on the 1958 Jensen 541 after its fibreglass repairs have cured.

The team use a specialist fibreglass filler to perfect the lines on the classic 1950s GT car and make sure that everything is just right for the car. The team will only use filler where absolutely necessary and the vast majority will be completely sanded from the body.

This is the first step into the team getting the car ready for its Ice Blue respray.

Progress – Framework Fit on the 1956 Jensen 541 Chassis

July 1, 2022

The workshop at Bridge Classic Cars is working on the chassis of the 1956 Jensen 541 currently in for its full restoration by us here in Suffolk.

Recently the team have been working on adjusting and refining the brand new chassis for the classic GT car. Now with the majority of the reinforcements and adjustments in place, the team can begin to fit up the various framework pieces which create the substructure for the body.

A network of cross-linked metal channels combine to create the skeleton of the car. The team had to make sure the chassis was perfect before this could be done to ensure the framework sits exactly where it should do at this key stage.

This Just In – 1955 Jensen 541 Arrives at the Bridge Classic Cars Workshop

July 1, 2022

The 1955 Jensen 541, which records show is the 8th car ever built, has arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ.

The team recently picked up the classic Jensen from its previous owner in Lincolnshire before being bought home to Suffolk for our team to inspect. As soon as it came out of our enclosed trailer, the workshop technicians began to roughly reassemble the car’s panels back onto the framework before it was loaded back up and taken to our secure storage facility, The Hangar, to await its commission.

Keep a look out here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page very soon for more updates on this very early 1955 Jensen 541.

In the Cracks – Fibreglass Repairs on the 1958 Jensen 541R

June 29, 2022

After being stripped down and inspected, the body of the 1958 Jensen 541R has been checked over and had the start of its fibreglass repairs in the Bridge Classic Cars bodyshop.

The team have gone over the entire body to inspect any visible cracks or defects in the body before sanding back certain known and suspect areas to find any piece of the composite body which will require attention. In some areas, simply a small build-up material is needed to strengthen or flatten out a particular place.

Once the matting was laid down onto the panels and then resined, it is left to cure and harden before being sanded down.

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