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
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
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
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
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
The next job to be done on the 1968 Jaguar MkII 2.4 by Bridge Classic Cars is to replace the steering coupler. This will help
The 1968 Jaguar MkII 2.4 has been in the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint shop where our paint expert Alan has worked his magic on
The windscreen of the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster is now in the car! This moment has been a long time coming. The
Jaguar. A legendary name in both performance and luxury. Just the name is enough to conjure images of elegant, long-legged coupes and saloons powered by
Bridge Classic Cars have been working on preparing the 1978 Jaguar MkII 2.4 to prepare it for the next phase of work to begin. Dave,
Jonn, one of the Bridge Classic Cars in-house restoration technicians, has been working on cleaning out the engine block of the 1971 Jaguar XJ6 currently
A while ago, you may remember that our in-house restoration technicians were looking into a misfire issue on the 1971 Jaguar XJ6 that is in
The 1954 Jaguar MkVII that was in with us for restoration is back in the workshop to look into a leak from under the car.
This 1963 Jaguar MkII 3.4 is back in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop after its recent overhaul to investigate an oil leak from underneath this
As with any classic car, you want to try and exercise a certain amount of reserve and caution when working on them. Try to be
The wealth of knowledge held in our workshop is incredible. Centuries almost of combined experience allow Bridge Classic Cars to look into a wide spectrum
With such a bespoke and unique car as the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series 3 Roadster currently in at Bridge Classic Cars, only a handmade
The replacement fuel tanks are now secured in their new home at the rear of the 1971 Jaguar XJ6 at Bridge Classic Cars. After much
The latest update in the story of our unique and one of a kind 1973 Jaguar E Type Roadster Series 3 is happening underneath. Our
We’ve been taking apart the rear axle on our green Jaguar E-Type Series 1 so that we can rebuild it back up to performance. Scott
We’ve worked on this Jaguar E-Type V12 before but this time it’s only in, in part. Ady has been taking the carburettors off it to
Our Jaguar E-type Roadster that’s in for a full restoration is currently sat in the paint shop in epoxy primer. Matt and Chris will then
This gorgeous 1972 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 V12 is in for a service. The client has just purchased the car and wants peace of mind
Scott has removed the rear axel on our 1968 Jaguar E-Type Series 1.5 to fit new brakes and started spot welding the seat mounts from
The body of our 1973 Jaguar Series 3 Roadster has made its way to our paint shop to start on the colour prep which includes
Ady has been working on our 1968 Jaguar E-Type Series 1.5 Coupe. He’s taken the clutch mater cylinder off, identified that the pipe on the
Our 1973 White Jaguar E-Type Series 3 Roadster is undergoing a double-whammy with both interior and exterior being worked on simultaneously. Brian has been assembling
This 1968 Jaguar E-Type Series 1.5 4.2 has come in for a re-commission and possible restoration. We’re evaluating the extent of the work as we
Our 1973 Jaguar E-type Series 3 Roadster is currently in the fabrication bay where James and Pricey are working on leading the body. This classic
The Jaguar E-Type Roadster Series 3 is back in the fabrication bay for some leading. The selection of photos below show inconsistencies in the front
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The next job to be done on the 1968 Jaguar MkII 2.4 by Bridge Classic Cars is to replace the steering coupler. This will help to tighten up the loose steering for its owner.
This job is being done by our master tech, Dave. Dave has a huge wealth of knowledge and experience working on classic cars so a job as delicate and crucial as this was given to him. Carefully, Dave began by removing the shaft from the coupler in order to gain access to the bushes and balls inside the steering box. As opposed to some MkII’s that we have worked on in the past, this MkII remains as a steering-box car.
After removing the original parts from the car, Dave began to check the new replacements would work with the car and were correct. Then, it was a case of getting everything back together and into the car. Dave took his time to make sure that every component cleared the steering box and its boot so it remained happy for many years to come.
After the job was complete, Dave manually checked that the box rotated as it should and also meshed together with as little play as possible thanks to the new parts.
There will be more updates soon as work continues on this stunning MkII 2.4.
The 1968 Jaguar MkII 2.4 has been in the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint shop where our paint expert Alan has worked his magic on the rear valance.
The valance had been coated with a thick black stone chip protection across the lower parts, so Alan pulled out his trusty DA sander and got to work. Carefully knocking back the stone chip, Alan exposed the paintwork underneath. Because of the thickness of the protection, Alan had to take it back quite a way. Once the area had been thoroughly cleaned down and smoothed out, Alan could begin his detailed and meticulous work.
Carefully, Alan applied the new stone chip to the area to protect the car from any possible marks or damage while it’s being enjoyed by its very lucky owner.
After the area around the new stone protection had been masked off, Alan carefully colour matched a small amount of paint to the rest of the car in order to seamlessly blend the new area into the existing rear panels and behind the rear bumper.
The windscreen of the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster is now in the car!
This moment has been a long time coming. The curving and elegant windscreen for the E Type is like a jewel in its crown. This completely bespoke Jaguar has been cherished by the in-house restoration teams at Bridge Classic Cars throughout its build so, having one of the final aesthetic pieces complete was a true milestone.
For windscreen removal and installs, we use a local specialist called Car Glass and Trim who we have worked with for many years. Their technicians came out to install the glass into Fern Grey with the same attention to detail and care as our very own technicians. With the windscreen and its seals in place, it was time to let the adhesives cure while Kath and Brian in the trim shop carry on fitting out the E Type.
Jaguar. A legendary name in both performance and luxury. Just the name is enough to conjure images of elegant, long-legged coupes and saloons powered by the now infamous XK straight-six engine. But, what is the story behind this incredible powerhouse which lived 1000 different lives?
Debuting in 1949, the XK straight-six came with a sizeable 3.4-litre displacement, it was the brainchild of four very important icons in the Jaguar world. Sir William Lyons, William Heynes, Walter Hassan and Claude Bailey. The introduction of this engine however stretches back nearly a decade before. During World War II when the company still went under the name SS Cars, the team were actively seeking and developing replacements for its engine lineup so, during its wartime efforts they worked on the new powerplants for its post-war cars. Jaguar had begun to produce and develop the engine just after the nightmares of war had begun to subside at the end of the 1940s. The cornerstone of these engines was to be higher output, higher quality and higher style, thus the XK Inline-Six was born.
The XK engines first saw service in 1947 with the 3.2-litre units (XJ 6 Cylinder) but during testing of the engines, it was found they severely lacked low-end torque, so the blocks were bored out to 3.4 litres (XK 6 Cylinder) and were destined to be the beating heart of one of the most beautiful cars ever made, the XK120 which broke cover at the 1948 London Motor Show. This would then see the engines fitted to the upcoming MkVII’s and countless other models over its production run.
The cast-iron engine blocks were not the lightest but were highly durable. The construction techniques developed for this engine would push other manufacturers to refine and develop new and improved engines to try and match the level that Jaguar was achieving. Jaguar fitted special vibration dampers to the crankshaft of the engine to absorb and limit the number of frequencies travelling through the crankshaft and ultimately the XK’s split case engine design.
In 1951, Jaguar began work on developing the idea of a smaller displacement but still useable version of XK straight-six. The results for the 2-litre engine were mixed and by 1954 the engine had grown to become a 2.4-litre unit. The engine itself was actually shorted than the bigger displacement engines but remained under the same name and architecture. These engines would be put forward to power the upcoming stylish and sleek saloon, the MkI. The road engines were entirely carburetted until 1978 (the first year of road engines being fuel injected for the US market) but would use a combination of two or three SU’s. Webers or Zenith carburettors except for the MkII 240 which had a set of downdraught Solex units.
From this, all the subsequent Jaguar XK straight-sixes were laid out. Short block engines would make up the smaller displacements such as the 2.4 and 2.8-litre engines and the longer, more torquey powerplants would go anywhere from 3.4 to 4.2 litres by the end of its production. Jaguar officially retired the XK 6-cylinder in 1992 replaced by the newly developed AJ6 platform it used alongside the faithful XK until the AJ6 was then also retired in 1996.
During this incredible engines lifetime, it would see all manner of changes and applications. From racing to agricultural work. Le Mans to Leicester and beyond. This incredible piece of not only industrial design but of engineering excellence and durability should be remembered and revered for the legend it surely is.
Long live the XK Straight-Six.
Bridge Classic Cars have been working on preparing the 1978 Jaguar MkII 2.4 to prepare it for the next phase of work to begin.
Dave, one of our most experienced in-house restoration technicians, has been working on removing the interior and other parts of the car to begin working through the mechanical jobs on this stunning MkII. Carefully, as each piece is removed from the car, it is then catalogued and safely stored for later during its rebuild.
For now, it’s carefully assess the areas of attention for the owner and coming up with a plan to deliver the best result.
Expect to see more on the 1968 Jaguar MkII 2.4 here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page very soon.
Jonn, one of the Bridge Classic Cars in-house restoration technicians, has been working on cleaning out the engine block of the 1971 Jaguar XJ6 currently in our workshop.
In the last update, Jonn had discovered the block of the straight-six packed with brown sludge.
Jonn has been working on thoroughly cleaning out every passage inside the engine as well as cleaning up the threads of the head studs. Jonn has methodically worked his way through the entire engine from front to back, cleaning and flushing through any remnants of the dirt.
With this complete, Jonn is confident that the engine block is now completely clear and ready for the next stage of the work to begin.
A while ago, you may remember that our in-house restoration technicians were looking into a misfire issue on the 1971 Jaguar XJ6 that is in at Bridge Classic Cars. It was discovered the head gasket has failed and damaged the cylinder head which was sent off to a specialist to be remachined.
With the return of the cylinder imminent, our in-house restoration technicians have been preparing the rest of the engine block to receive the head. After Jonn had begin to inspect the block for assessment, he discovered that most of the coolant galleys and water jackets were packed with thick, brown sludge..
Jonn has spent a considerable amount of time to carefully remove the blockages and the sludge. Using a series of tools and removing the core plugs to get better access to remove the debris, Jonn has managed to remove the majority of the sludge from the straight-six but the last few bits and pieces will need to be flushed out and then the passageways rechecked for any remnants.
Considering the level of blockage in the engine, Jonn has done a great job in making sure that when the cylinder head for the XJ6 is ready to be fitted back on that everything else will be at the same standard to ensure a happy and long life for this wonderful piece of British engineering.
The 1954 Jaguar MkVII that was in with us for restoration is back in the workshop to look into a leak from under the car.
Upon inspection by the Bridge Classic Cars restoration team, it was found to be an issue with a gearbox seal. This has been sent away to a specialist gearbox expert to have the proper rectified in order to the engine and gearbox back in the car as soon as possible.
Keep a look out on the News Page for more updates on the Jaguar MkVII
This 1963 Jaguar MkII 3.4 is back in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop after its recent overhaul to investigate an oil leak from underneath this impressive tourer.
Our workshop manager John and in-house engine builder are on hand to look into the issue and will advise on the next steps to take to resolve the issue.
Keep an eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more
As with any classic car, you want to try and exercise a certain amount of reserve and caution when working on them. Try to be sympathetic to their age and their condition. So, when the 1971 Jaguar XJ6 that we have had in at Bridge Classic Cars developed a misfire our in-house restoration team did everything they could before having to dive deep.
The XJ6 has had its fuel tanks replaced, new fuel lines and was tested by our technicians. Before the tanks were replaced this classic Jaguar had real trouble staying running. Now though, it will run for as long as there is fuel in it. However, now that it was running long enough, Dave noticed a misfire on the big straight-six.
Originally Dave thought it to be connected to the ignition system. It would arc out to the nearest metal point. We also discovered exposed wires in the connectors that join the condenser. Those were all then replaced along with the HT leads but to no avail. It had got marginally better but the misfire was still rather prominent.
With that, our in-house engine guru Ady was called in to take a look at the straight-six. The only thing left to do was to gently remove the cylinder head. Carefully and patiently, Ady eased the head from the block to expose the pistons but more importantly the head gasket. On the cylinder closest to the firewall, the gasket was in tatters. The XJ6 had blown a head gasket. Also, Ady had noticed coolant marks down the side of the block. Another sign that the gasket is not sitting correctly between the cylinder head and the engine block.
With that, it also damaged the chamber of the corresponding cylinder in the head. A large chunk of material is missing from between the leading edges of the valve. But, all may not be lost. The head is currently in the process of being stripped down and assessed so that a plan can be made to get this wonderful straight-six back in action.
Once the plan for the XJ6 engine has been confirmed, work will begin to get the car back to its former glory.
The wealth of knowledge held in our workshop is incredible. Centuries almost of combined experience allow Bridge Classic Cars to look into a wide spectrum of issues on classic cars.
Take for instance this 1971 Jaguar XJ6. Recently it had its fuel tanks replaced with us but during the setup, our in-house restoration team noticed that it had a pretty bad misfire. This needed to be looked into more in-depth. Dave, one of our most experienced technicians, began to dive deeper into the straight-six.
Dave had noted that the HT leads and the coil was arching to the closest metal object. So, with that and his experience he elected to replace the leads and the coil as the first port of call. However, after startup, the misfire was still prominent. At that point, it was decided to perform a compression test. 5 out of the 6 cylinders were all within spec. However, 1 of them was suspiciously low. With the classic cars, it can be a myriad of things that can cause this.
Dave then pulled the rocker cover off of the intake side of the engine to gain access to the rockers and more importantly the valves. With the help of our in-house engine builder Ady, Dave checked each of the valves for the correct lash. Originally they would have been between 10-14 thousandths of an inch but on Ady’s guidance, he is happy to see them between 8-10 thousandths with a vehicle of this age and mileage. All of the valves however fell within those guidelines. Nothing was noticeably out of place.
With that, Dave then found the leads had begun to arch again. This time through a set of pliers and straight to the cylinder head, which was worrying. So, Dave is going to rebuild the distributor with new points and condenser along with a completely new set of HT leads again.
Expect to see more of the progress of diagnosing the misfire on the 1971 Jaguar XJ6 at Bridge Classic Cars very soon on the News Page.
With such a bespoke and unique car as the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series 3 Roadster currently in at Bridge Classic Cars, only a handmade bespoke interior would suit.
Our master trim technician Kath has been working hard to get all the interior trim pieces for the E type stripped back to begin work on. Carefully she worked her way around each individual piece to preserve them for any templates that may need to be made for the car.
Some of the interior trim has metal components underneath the hides used originally. So, to make sure those pieces are in just as incredible shape as the body and chassis Kath worked on rust prevention for each piece and then finished in black.
Expect to see much more on Fern Grey very soon here on the blog.
The replacement fuel tanks are now secured in their new home at the rear of the 1971 Jaguar XJ6 at Bridge Classic Cars.
After much hard work and careful approach by our incredibly experienced technician Dave, the XJ6 can now start to be fitted back together. As you may have seen previously, Dave was working on converting a set of later style tanks to work on this earlier car. Some of the fittings and placement for a series of vents and inlets were in slightly different places over the production run of these wonderful cars.
As you can see from the photos, the tanks nestle up under the rear quarter panels in a very tight fit. Dave worked his magic gained from years of experience to ensure they were safely fitted and secured for the owner.
There’s more to come from the XJ6 so keep an eye out on the News Page of Bridge Classic Cars.
The latest update in the story of our unique and one of a kind 1973 Jaguar E Type Roadster Series 3 is happening underneath.
Our amazing technician Scott has been fitting up the rear arms to the E Type to work alongside its GAZ adjustable coil-overs. There has been lots of measuring, and checking of clearances to make sure that all the components underneath this Fern Grey one-of-a-kind E Type will work together and give the lucky owner a true confidence-inspiring driving experience.
Scott has worked extensively on this car. Spending his time to make sure that every system compliments the next and works seamlessly in terms of its dynamics.
Check in again soon for more updates on this unique Jaguar at Bridge Classic Cars.
We’ve been taking apart the rear axle on our green Jaguar E-Type Series 1 so that we can rebuild it back up to performance. Scott has been rebuilding the wheel bearings so that he can fit new ones.
We’ve worked on this Jaguar E-Type V12 before but this time it’s only in, in part. Ady has been taking the carburettors off it to be able to strip down, clean and assist.
Our Jaguar E-type Roadster that’s in for a full restoration is currently sat in the paint shop in epoxy primer. Matt and Chris will then need to shape up the body by applying filler to make sure the body is smooth and perfect without any dents.
This gorgeous 1972 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 V12 is in for a service. The client has just purchased the car and wants peace of mind that everything is in order. We’re due to check the oil levels, test drive it, supply and fit chrome strips to the top of the sill, secure wipe strips on the doors, fix the fuel gauge and asses the cooling fans as the engine runs hot.
Scott has removed the rear axel on our 1968 Jaguar E-Type Series 1.5 to fit new brakes and started spot welding the seat mounts from underneath which were showing signs of wear.
The body of our 1973 Jaguar Series 3 Roadster has made its way to our paint shop to start on the colour prep which includes coating it in epoxy primer. You can see the before and after video below.
Brian has also been fitting the second squab cover to the frame. He’s pulled the cover over the frame and stapled the front section to the bottom of the frame. Brian then stapled the rear flap to the bottom of the frame, fitted the brackets to the base of the seat, cut holes in the sides for the brackets to fit into and then bolting the squab to the base of the seat.
He then moved onto fitting the headrest stalk to the new headrest foam, fit the cover to the foam and stapled the cover to the headrest stalk. Brian then glued the vinyl to the headrest plates and screwed the headrest plates to the headrests.
Ady has been working on our 1968 Jaguar E-Type Series 1.5 Coupe. He’s taken the clutch mater cylinder off, identified that the pipe on the radiator needs re-soldering, the radiator needs reconditioning, the servo needs to be replaced, and both front callipers have been stripped, cleaned and put back on. Ady has also discovered the the near side rear calliper is leaking on the E-Type too.
The clutch slave cylinder and flexi pipe have been renewed, new fuel pump has been fitted and the carv fuel bowels have been cleaned out.
Our 1973 White Jaguar E-Type Series 3 Roadster is undergoing a double-whammy with both interior and exterior being worked on simultaneously. Brian has been assembling the seat bases by fitting the rubber diaphragms to the seat frames, marking out the foam and gluing it to the base, gluing the centre of the seat covers to the centre section foam pieces and then applying the cover. Brian then had to fit the seat belt switch and seat runners before finishing the bases.
Matt has been working on the bonnet so that its ready to have colour. The bonnet has been stripped down and covered in Epoxy and primer. Certain areas have been painted in the body colour ready for when the bonnet is bolted back together.
This 1968 Jaguar E-Type Series 1.5 4.2 has come in for a re-commission and possible restoration. We’re evaluating the extent of the work as we aim to first get it to MOT standard and work on enhanced reliability as the owners aim to take it around Europe.
We’re told its been sat in a barn for 4 years. Once it’s had a thorough clean and we’ve evicted the rodents, we’re sure it will look better.
Our 1973 Jaguar E-type Series 3 Roadster is currently in the fabrication bay where James and Pricey are working on leading the body. This classic is in fantastic shape with very little bodywork needing to be done. Pricey tells us “I’ve never seen one this good and I don’t think I ever will. It’s amazing.”
Thanks to the dry conditions of California, this E-Type has survived the test of time without collecting too much rust, something our engineers are certainly thankful for!
Some of the external and internal parts have gone to paint to where they’ve received a layer of primer so that they’re ready for colour.
The Jaguar E-Type Roadster Series 3 is back in the fabrication bay for some leading. The selection of photos below show inconsistencies in the front over-riders that need addressing to obtain symmetry and leading the spot-welded joints on the shell to ensure there is no cracking or sinking of fillers and paint later on.
We’ve also received the trim pack for our E-Type which is in a sophisticated muted green:
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