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e type specialist

Progress on the 1962 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Coupe

May 30, 2024

Our technician Jon has been making progress on the resurrection of the 1962 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Coupe.

The next stage of the cars journey back onto the open road begins with Jon fitting a new rear brake master cylinder. Having the old unit and new unit next to each other, the positions are slightly different from the original to the new unit, so Jon had to make up new brake lines from the master cylinder to the the join in the offside front floor area. Then, he could fit the new flexi hoses to the front and rear of the car before bleeding the entire system. However, the front of the system bled without issue but the rear we were unable to bleed at this point.

Carrying on with recommissioning the hydraulic system in the car, Jon began work on the clutch. This involved removing the old clutch slave cylinder from the classic Jaguar and the pipework. After fitting up the new system and pipes, he could fill up the circuit and begin to bleed them after securing down the new brake pipes at the same time and then cleaning down/tidying up the work area.

Next up, Jon blew out all of the fuel lines and pipework to make sure that any dust or debris from the workshop wasn’t sat in the lines while the car has been on the ramp before securing them all down to the car.

This is when he could turn his attention to the steering of the car. The steering column support in the lower part of the bulkhead was excessively moving (see video) even after Jon had drilled out the lower universal joint and replacement the worn bolt which connects the two pieces with a new nyloc piece, which improved the movement but was still not clamping fully on the piece. So, he removed the upper part of the steering column first to upgrade the component with new elastin bushes and then begin to refit the piece, however the column still moved excessively in Jon’s professional opinion. The bulkhead column support was then put on order to be refitted into the car.

Whilst the steering column was out of the car, Jon could drain the coolant and remove the radiator from the car after the cars initial fire up and testing, to remove the offside steering rack mount and the lower steering column mount from the engine bay, and fully drill out the universal joint better to clean down all the surfaces and refinish it in a new hard wearing coat of black paint.

With the new bulkhead support on order, Jon turned his attention back to the hydraulics of the car. After topping off all the fluid reservoirs, Jon along with the help of our workshop manager John managed to complete bleed each individual system.

After that, Jon began to put petrol in the new fuel tank for the first time in order to check for leaks in the tank – all was ok. He also swapped over the fuse for the fuel pump to a more suitable and durable unit for the needs of the system. After that, he connected up the battery in order to get fuel pressure from the engine on turn over to prime the system all the way to the pre-filter sight bowl. Then, he disconnected the battery.

Finally, Jon moved onwards to getting the carburettors ready to accept the fresh fuel now in the new fuel tank. He carefully tightened down and inspected all connections from the filter to the carburettors before connecting the battery back up again and the turning on the ignition to prime the fuel system and test. Jon found there was a slight leak from the sight glass under the higher pressure and from the number 1 carburettor. This was found to be an issue with the washers used in the connection to carburettor 1 and fitted a new rubber seal to the sight glass sediment bowl. After that, all of the leaks were sorted and he could the refit and secure the boot floor and all necessary trims.

New Arrival – 1962 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Coupe

May 1, 2024

We’ve just had several new arrivals at the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ, one of them is this truly stunning 1962 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Coupe.

This one has a funny connection to us! We recently were at H & H Auctions for there most recent auction and actually saw this car. As it went across the block, it had been bought by an enthusiast overseas. Well, the very next day when the team got in the office – the owner had contacted us to recommission the car ready for road use.

It’s always a pleasure to work on these automotive icons, and we’ve recently been doing a lot of them but thankfully with our world class restoration teams – we’ll have this early back on the road in no time!

Covered Up – Finishing the Hood Cover on the 1973 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 Roadster

April 25, 2022

The trim team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on completing the last few jobs to do with the interior of the 1973 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 Roadster, Fern Grey.

The trim team have completed the handcrafted hood cover made specifically for Fern Grey. The team have hand-finished the piece by putting in the stud fasteners to the material to it can be held down tightly to the body of the classic Jaguar.

With this piece finished and put onto the car, the workshop team can continue with the final tests of the one-off E-type.

Suns Out – Some of Our Projects Waiting to Go Home

April 25, 2022

With the weather being perfect last week, we thought we would snap some photos of a handful of classic cars lounging in the sun. Some waiting for collection, some just arrived.

Our restoration workshops at the Bridge Classic Cars HQ are always busy. A constant stream of cars coming in for our team to work on or going back to their owners to be enjoyed so as Nick walked past the eclectic row of cars lining the side of our workshop, he thought he’d grab a few photos to show them off.

Out & About – 1972 Jaguar E-Type Used in a Wedding

April 13, 2022

This stunning 1972 Jaguar E-Type, which was restored and recommissioned by the Bridge Classic Cars team, took pride of place on a very special day recently.

The car, which belongs to our friend Ben, was used in a special wedding recently and what a perfect choice of classic car to be used for such an occasion. The car, which was rebuilt and recommissioned by the restoration teams here at our Suffolk HQ, looked absolutely magnificent as it always does.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Out & About – Charlotte’s New York Car Spotting at MoMA

December 15, 2021

Charlotte, our Bridge Classic Cars Competitions presenter, has been off on holiday but she’ll always manage to find something cool and classic for us back home. This time, she found a familiar friend in the Big Apple.

Whilst in New York, Charlotte went to MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) and one of the exhibitions was to do with AutoMania and what better way to sum that up than with a gorgeous early E Type Droptop. A car we here at Bridge Classic Cars have an undeniable soft spot for and definitely deserves its place in a museum dedicated to modern works of art.

Hope you had an amazing time Charlotte! but you’ll all be able to see her tomorrow night for the live draw of the Mustang and the Mercedes 250SE. There is still time to get your tickets!

Click the link below for your chance to win your very own dream classic.

www.bridgeclassiccarscompetitions.co.uk

The Next Phase – Dash and Hood Pieces for the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster

December 9, 2021

Brian, Kath and Lydia have been working on the next phase of the interior for the 1973 Jaguar E Type Roadster that Bridge Classic Cars calls Fern Grey. Now that the windscreen has been fitted and cured, it’s time to start getting the trim, dash and hood in place.

Using the original dash panels and A-Pillar trims, Brian stripped apart the panels ready to be recovered. The original foam for these pieces was in remarkably good condition so they were refreshed and reused. The trimming in the rich black leather however is all brand new. Brian selected a hide that compliments the rest of the interior but also matches closely what would have originally been used on the E Type’s to trim the pieces with.

Each of the panels and trims was hand-cut and finished by the Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim team to ensure the best fit. Including the dash pad which now that the windscreen is safely in place could be secured to the top of the dash after test fitting multiple times.

With all of the dash and trim around the windscreen fitted, Brian and the team began to work on getting the foldable hood mechanism in place. Checking the mounting points for the front and back of the hood, Brian began the task of gently manipulating the mounts to ensure the best possible fit as well as making sure each of the spars sat level and true. Thankfully after some skilled moving, the hood sat perfectly inside the gorgeous roadster.

Touch Points – More Progress on the Interior of the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster

December 6, 2021

Brian, one of our incredible in-house trim experts here at Bridge Classic Cars, has been hard at work getting the interior of the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster.

Brian and the trim team are going full force at the interior of the E Type we know as Fern Grey in preparation for its completion. Brian began by lining and fitting the new boot liner to the Roadster.

The boot of the E Type is actually rather large. This is due to its design as being a long-distance grand tourer. Carrying 2 people in as much comfort, luxury and speed as was possible was the name of the game when it came to the E Type’s original design brief. Throughout its development, that always remained the same. Brian, finished the boot of Fern Grey in a beautiful soft camel colour to compliment the smooth green of the bodywork.

Next, Brian and the trim team got to work on the convertible hood for the E Type. This is being entirely built from scratch around Fern Grey. Using original templates, Brian has managed to recreate the padding for the top rail where it will meet the elegant, wrapping windshield of the E Type.

Whilst working on his next piece of the puzzle, Brian has wrapped the transmission tunnel in the vibrant green carpeting that is found throughout the entire car from front to back. Hand edged in leather that matches the exterior, this gives another level of sophistication and style to Fern Grey that helps to compliment all the small details.

Small details such as the cubby/armrest. Brian has worked really hard on getting the fit and finish of the armrest cubby to such a level it almost deserves a story of its own. The entire assembly was handmade by Brian to ensure the best fit and the best surface on which to wrap the green leather. Neat, precise cuts in every opening allow for a brand new feel to this and the trims to fit tight and close to the cubby.

Expect to see much more on Fern Grey in the coming weeks here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page.

It’s Whats on the Inside – Beginning Install of the Interior on the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster

December 1, 2021

The 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster which we know as Fern Grey has officially been moved over to the the trim shop! A massive milestone in the build, which means now Brian, Kath and Lydia can began work on getting the handmade interior into this stunning E Type.

To begin with, Brian started to mark out and prepare the sound deadening panels for the car. This will be a crucial part of the interior as not only will it help with the final fit and finish of each of the handmade pieces, but will also be key for a pleasant driving experience for its owner. So, Brian used his years of experience and reference photos to place the sound deadening panels in just the right place which should mean all the piece go into the car perfectly but it has less intrusive cabin noise.

With the sound deadening now secured into the car, Brian could turn his attention to the doors. Brian and the Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim team have custom made these absolutely stunning green door cards to match the rest of the interior accent colours. These are two piece door panels with an upper cap and a lower door card but were created specifically for this car. The door cards needed to be secured into place for Brian to do the last piece for passenger side doors. The all important sill cap.

The sill cap for Fern Grey is much like the rest of the car, entirely bespoke to the project. Wanting to continue to the elegance and comfort all the way from the centre of the car out, Brian wrapped the sills in upholstery foam to give them a totally new look and feel. Like they had become an extension of the dash/seats/consoles. Then, wrapped in a colour matched vinyl the sills look absolutely sensational and there’s still so much more to come!

Expect to see quite a few more updates in the coming weeks on Fern Grey here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page.

Moving Forward – The 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster Gets Closer to the End

November 19, 2021

Our in-house restoration technicians have been hard at work on Fern Grey, the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster, which is being built and restored in-house by Bridge Classic Cars here in Suffolk.

Whilst John, our workshop manager, has been working on getting all of the wiring on the E Type preparing it for its first fire up. Our other technician Paul has been working alongside Scott to begin to fit the brightwork and body trim back onto this stunning Fern Grey Jaguar.

One of the big bits of the update is that the fuel tank is now in the car and wired/plumbed up also in preparation for the first fire up of that newly built 5 litre V12.

Expect to see a lot more very soon as parts of Fern Grey are in multiple departments here at Bridge Classic Cars currently so keep an eye here on the Bridge Classic Cars blog.

Tight Fit – Replacing the Rubber Seals on the Hardtop and Fixing the Centre Console of the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster

November 18, 2021

Whilst Fern Grey, the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster, is being mechanically finished in our workshop. The interior is being worked on by our amazing in-house trim experts over in the trim shop.

Brian has been fitting brand new seals to the removable hardtop that has been completely retrimmed and repainted to match the car. These seals are vital to keeping the water out of this stunning roadster when the hardtop is on the car. All new seals have been carefully fixed into the necessary channels to ensure a good tight fit between the body and the hardtop by Brian.

Whilst the trim shop was working on the interior for Fern Grey, Brian also began to repair the centre console before it is retrimmed to match the car. A large crack in the material was found and repaired by the team, making sure to smooth out the surface perfectly so that when it is trimmed in its leather covering, you won’t ever know it is there.

Looking Closer – Diagnostics on the 1968 Jaguar E Type 4.2

October 26, 2021

Bridge Classic Cars have the 1968 Jaguar E Type back in the workshop this week to have a look into a few issues the customer has noted with the car.

First up is some electrical issues. The customer reported an issue with the headlights which our technician Paul has looked into and found there was an issue with the fuse box. For this, a replacement is needed to make sure the issue is fully resolved and many happy nighttime miles can be done in this gorgeous dark green icon. We recently fitted an immobiliser to the car on its last visit with us. This has also been a concern to the customer so our team have relocated the system to be easier to access and have less interference from surrounding systems, ensuring the car is safe and reliable.

With winter approaching and the temperature starting to drop, the heater in a classic is even more important. The customer raised a concern about the heater not working so our technicians began to diagnose this for our customer. After all the related cables and pipework had been inspected and found to be in good working order, the heater valve itself was inspected. After thorough inspection by the team here at Bridge Classic Cars, it was found that the E Type requires a replacement Heater Valve.

Next was to inspect a slight leak from the top of the engine. The long-legged straight-six, hidden under that timeless bonnet was gone over by the team and each port and seal was checked. Upon inspection, Paul had noticed that the cam cover at the top of the engine had signs of a leak. With this narrowed down as the source of the issue, a new one is required to ensure the 4.2-litre straight-six remains in good health.

Jaguar E-Type Racecar: Restoration Update

January 30, 2020

Our Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Racecar has been over to Demand Engineering for a full stainless steel exhaust. We elected to go for a side exit exhaust to suit the ethos behind this lightweight race-car build.

Tom has also fitted lightweight perspex glass to the rear windscreen, whilst strengthened glass is fitted to the windscreen.