Inside – Working on the Interior of the 1958 Jensen 541R
September 9, 2022
With the paint shop now finished with the 1958 Jensen 541R, the Bridge Classic Cars trim team can begin working on the interior of the
Classic Jensen 541 specialist
Inspection – Checking the Blasted Subframe from the 1959 Jensen 541R ‘Hepburn’
August 30, 2022
As part of the restoration of the 1959 Jensen 541R ‘Hepburn’, several key pieces along with the body and chassis have been blasted by a
Teardown Begins – Beginning to Teardown the Trim on the 1955 Jensen 541 ‘Number 8’
August 25, 2022
As part of the inspection on the 1955 Jensen 541 ‘Number 8’ by the Bridge Classic Cars team, the workshop have begun to tear down
Close Contact – Retrimming and Stripping Interior Pieces of the 1958 Jensen 541R
August 17, 2022
The trim shop at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on more of the interior pieces of the 1958 Jensen 541R in at our Suffolk
Final Stage – The 1958 Jensen 541R in Final Primer
August 10, 2022
The 1958 Jensen 541R has been in the Bridge Classic Cars paint booth to have its final stage of primer laid down onto the bodyshell.
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
Fitted – Mount, Panels and Hinges Fitted to the 1956 Jensen 541
August 2, 2022
The restoration workshop at the Bridge Classic Cars HQ have been working on getting the various mounts, brackets and hinges into place on the 1956
Masked Up – Bodyshell of the 1958 Jensen 541R Ready for Primer
July 7, 2022
The bodyshell of the 1958 Jensen 541R has been moved into the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint booth. The team carefully cleaned off any dust,
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 Through reference materials and historical documents, EX9090 is believed to be only the 8th Jensen
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
Fine Adjustments – Bracing the 1956 Jensen 541 Chassis
June 29, 2022
The workshop at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on the fine adjustments to the chassis of the 1956 Jensen 541 in for restoration. The
Empty – Draining the Fuel Tank on the 1960 Jensen 541S ‘’Peony Red’’
June 28, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars workshop team have been looking at the 1960 Jensen 541S as part of an investigation into a running issue on the
Progress – Continuing Work on the Interior of the 1955 Jensen 541
May 18, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars interior team have been making progress on the interior of the 1955 Jensen 541. Each part of the interior of the
Key Features – Work on the 1959 Jensen 541R
May 17, 2022
The workshop restoration team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on completing several jobs on the beautiful 1959 Jensen 541R in with us. The
Piece by Piece – Trim Panels on the 1956 Jensen 541
May 4, 2022
The trim shop at Bridge Classic Cars has been working on building and finishing some of the interior trim pieces for the 1956 Jensen 541.
Good as New – Paint Repairs on the 1958 Jensen 541R Navy
April 28, 2022
The 1958 Jensen 541R Navy has been in the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint shop for some paint repairs following the hinge adjustments to the
Changes – Working on the Bonnet and Suspension of the 1958 Jensen 541R ”Navy”
April 25, 2022
The restoration technicians in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop at our Suffolk HQ have begun works on the 1958 Jensen 541R known to us as
Gone Through – Inspecting the 1958 Jensen 541R
April 21, 2022
The 1958 Jensen 541R ”Navy” has been into the Bridge Classic Cars workshop for our team to inspect and report back on a few bits
Inside – Working on the Interior of the 1958 Jensen 541R
September 9, 2022
With the paint shop now finished with the 1958 Jensen 541R, the Bridge Classic Cars trim team can begin working on the interior of the car insitu.
To begin with, the trim shop have made new wooden bases for the front seats of the classic 541R which have been made specifically to fit each individual seat perfectly. Along with that, the team could make the new rear window trim rib, which was cut and refined by hand to ensure the best possible fit of the arch by the rear window of the classic GT car.
The trim shop then used the old door cards to begin templating for the new handmade pieces for the aesthetic rework of the 541R. Brian has carefully refined each door card to fit tightly into the door while also leaving enough room for the material which will wrap around the fibreglass panel.
Then finally he could make the kick panels. These were template and then transferred to ply wood.
Inspection – Checking the Blasted Subframe from the 1959 Jensen 541R ‘Hepburn’
August 30, 2022
As part of the restoration of the 1959 Jensen 541R ‘Hepburn’, several key pieces along with the body and chassis have been blasted by a local specialist.
Our workshop team can now more thoroughly inspect each of the pieces which make up the front subframe. Inspecting the welds and bends but also assessing all the mounting points and brackets.
The subframe will be stripped down further and then any repairs needed carried out.
Teardown Begins – Beginning to Teardown the Trim on the 1955 Jensen 541 ‘Number 8’
August 25, 2022
As part of the inspection on the 1955 Jensen 541 ‘Number 8’ by the Bridge Classic Cars team, the workshop have begun to tear down all the trims, doors and windows for the car.
This is to check the function and condition of each individual piece which will be put together in their report.
Close Contact – Retrimming and Stripping Interior Pieces of the 1958 Jensen 541R
August 17, 2022
The trim shop at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on more of the interior pieces of the 1958 Jensen 541R in at our Suffolk HQ.
To begin with, our trim Lydia has retrimmed some of the interior trim panels in new leather to go towards the elegant and stylish final finish on the car. All of these pieces have been specially tailored and glued tight onto the panels to get the right fit and finish for the car.
Next, Lydia began by stripping back the original glovebox on the car to be prepared and readied to be refinished to the rest of the interior.
Final Stage – The 1958 Jensen 541R in Final Primer
August 10, 2022
The 1958 Jensen 541R has been in the Bridge Classic Cars paint booth to have its final stage of primer laid down onto the bodyshell.
The team have been working hard to prepare the bodywork of the classic GT car. Every surface has been carefully sanded, worked and primed several times over to make sure everything is perfect.
Then the final glass-like primer could be sprayed onto the bodyshell and left to cure properly in our in-house oven.
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.
Fitted – Mount, Panels and Hinges Fitted to the 1956 Jensen 541
August 2, 2022
The restoration workshop at the Bridge Classic Cars HQ have been working on getting the various mounts, brackets and hinges into place on the 1956 Jensen 541.
To begin with, our technician Rob made new arch filler panels which bridge the gap between the frame and the fibreglass body, blending the two together for strength and alignment.
Then, he could turn his attention to the various hinges around the classic GT car. At the front, Rob made a new strengthening bracket which sits behind the fibreglass for the bonnet hinges. The brackets are welded into the firewall and chassis for rigidity and to take the load of the one-piece clamshell bonnet.
At the rear, the workshop team mounted the boot hinges in place and use the boot lid for mock-up to adjust the placement of hinges to make sure the panel fitment is just right for the car.
Masked Up – Bodyshell of the 1958 Jensen 541R Ready for Primer
July 7, 2022
The bodyshell of the 1958 Jensen 541R has been moved into the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint booth.
The team carefully cleaned off any dust, debris or dirt from the classic GT before it was then masked up and cleaned down once more in preparation for the team to begin laying the epoxy primer on the fibreglass shell.
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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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.
Fine Adjustments – Bracing the 1956 Jensen 541 Chassis
June 29, 2022
The workshop at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on the fine adjustments to the chassis of the 1956 Jensen 541 in for restoration.
The team are beginning to weld in the necessary braces and panels as the sides and roof structure begin to be put onto the brand-new frame. For a job such as this, the team are having to make sure that each dimension and axis of the chassis is square when it is welded in. Carefully, the team have moved around the frame to allow for this and gently push and pull certain places in order to bring them into line before welding them in permanently to tie the whole piece together.
Empty – Draining the Fuel Tank on the 1960 Jensen 541S ‘’Peony Red’’
June 28, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars workshop team have been looking at the 1960 Jensen 541S as part of an investigation into a running issue on the classic GT car.
The team have decided to drain the fuel tank on the classic Jensen to both inspect the fuel and the tank itself as part of the diagnostics. For this, the team use a small electric fuel pump to siphon the fuel out of the tank to be stored in transparent containers for visual inspection of sediment or dirt.
Then, the team can begin the visual inspection of the fuel tank itself to check for debris or dirt in different areas. At the same time, they will begin to inspect the carburettor for any build-up of dirt and debris. After looking into the bowls of the carburettor, they found some small deposits of sediment at the base of the bowls but not an amount which could cause the issue.
The team will continue to inspect and investigate the root cause of the running issue on the 1960 Jensen 541S.
Progress – Continuing Work on the Interior of the 1955 Jensen 541
May 18, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars interior team have been making progress on the interior of the 1955 Jensen 541.
Each part of the interior of the car has been entirely made by hand by our trimmers. The team have taken each individual pieces from the kick-boards to the seat bases and turned their skill to not only the strip down but also the evaluation and rebuild. The team carefully strip everything back to their core components before any need repairs are made or wether they will need to be entirely remade for the classic Jensen.
The finish that the Bridge Classic Cars interior trim team can achieve is because of this care and skill from the earliest stages to the final product.
Key Features – Work on the 1959 Jensen 541R
May 17, 2022
The workshop restoration team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on completing several jobs on the beautiful 1959 Jensen 541R in with us.
The first job that need completing was to get the moveable front grille working again. The front grille of the 541R is moveable to vary the airflow into the radiator of the car. This whole mechanism is cable operated and needed to be replaced and tensioned in order to get the system working exactly as it should.
Next, the team turned their attention inside the classic 541R. The team had been tasked with replacing the seat belt mounts in the car. These are a vital safety feature of any car so their mounts must be secure, stable and flat in order to have the belts fixed properly into place. Each of the mounts was removed from the car and replaced by the team. The key mounts go through the gearbox tunnel of the classic Jensen, which were cut out and replaced then painted in rust proofing.
Piece by Piece – Trim Panels on the 1956 Jensen 541
May 4, 2022
The trim shop at Bridge Classic Cars has been working on building and finishing some of the interior trim pieces for the 1956 Jensen 541.
Lydia, one of our in-house trimmers, had worked on the ceiling pad and window surrounds as part of the restoration of the classic Jensen. These have been specially made, padded and trimmed to match the rest of the interior being made specifically for this 1956 Jensen 541.
Each piece of the Jensen is bespoke to the car to ensure the best fit and finish for all of our interiors as no two cars are the same. So, these pieces will be safely wrapped and catalogued to be put into storage for the reassembly of the car.
Good as New – Paint Repairs on the 1958 Jensen 541R Navy
April 28, 2022
The 1958 Jensen 541R Navy has been in the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint shop for some paint repairs following the hinge adjustments to the classic Jensen by the restoration workshop.
The hinge had fallen out of adjustment and caused some paint damage to the edges of the bonnet and driver’s door. Not a problem for the paint team.
After carefully colour matching the existing Navy Blue paintwork, the team then began to sand and prepare the area meticulously to get the area perfectly flat and into shape before primering could start.
After primer, the area was sanded down once more before being cleaned and masked off and the whole car was taken into our in-house spray booth for the colour to be laid down. After several coats of matched Navy Blue, the area could be clear coated and polished ready for the car to be finished by the restoration workshop.
Changes – Working on the Bonnet and Suspension of the 1958 Jensen 541R ”Navy”
April 25, 2022
The restoration technicians in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop at our Suffolk HQ have begun works on the 1958 Jensen 541R known to us as ‘Navy’.
The team began by carrying out several jobs on the rear axle of the classic Jensen. The rear axle strap required a repair to be carried out on it and along with that, repositioning of the brake pipe to a safe location on the rear axle.
The team then began working on preparing the front suspension to be stripped so the team can replace the perished bushes in the upper arms, making sure the front suspension is the best condition possible.
One issue that was noted by the owner of Navy, was that the one-piece fibreglass bonnet was interfering with the driver’s door when opened. The team began the process of adjusting the hinge in order to get the correct spacing and alignment for the panel and not contact the edge of the door.
Gone Through – Inspecting the 1958 Jensen 541R
April 21, 2022
The 1958 Jensen 541R ”Navy” has been into the Bridge Classic Cars workshop for our team to inspect and report back on a few bits and pieces for its owner.
First off, the team have noticed a small oil leak coming from the front of the classic Jensen. Looking closer, our technicians Paul believes that this slight weap is coming from the front oil seal on the engine.
Next, Paul looked at a strong smell of fuel from the engine bay and found there to be a leak coming from the carburettors.
Also as part of the inspection of the classic Jensen, it was noted that the rubber bushes which form an important part of the suspension, have been to degraded. These are rubber and exposed to the elements so they do perish over time.
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