The bonnet on this 1984 Jaguar XJ is currently in with the Bridge Classic Cars paint and body teams to look into a rust issue on both the bonnet and the boot.
First off, the depth that the rust extends to needs to be assessed by the teams and a plan made. Currently, our expert painter Matt believes a lot of it can be cleaned up but some parts may need more attention.
Look out for more updates on the XJ on our news page very soon!
The Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim team have worked their magic yet again. This time recovering the rear seat doors on the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series 3 Roadster.
Kath, one of the trim experts, carefully deconstructed the original panels not only to find out how they were originally made but to try and save as much of the original piece if possible. Kath managed to even save the original hardware and hinges for the piece.
After refinishing the wooden cores of the panels, Kath could then start to get the new coverings fit just right for such a hand-made sportscar. After this, it was time to put the body-coloured piping onto the new material.
After the pieces had been perfectly readied to go into the car it was time to get the original hardware Kath had removed looking just as good. Kath carefully prepped each piece for a new coat of paint to go along with the rest of the panel in terms of the finish and quality.
Expect to see more of this incredible, one-off E Type on our News Page very soon.
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.
September 30, 2021 10:51 amPublished by Craig Ranson
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.
September 28, 2021 1:48 pmPublished by Craig Ranson
One of the most recognisable parts of a Jaguar E Type is its long, elegant bonnet. It is also one of the most beautiful shapes of any car. That is certainly true with our Fern Grey 1973 Jaguar E Type Series 3 Roadster.
After the bonnet had come back from being painted and finished by our in-house paint team here at Bridge Classic Cars, the ultra-rare colour looks absolutely phenomenal. Then once Matt and Chris in the paint team were happy with the finish and high sheen of the bonnet, it was handed over to our restoration technician Scott.
Scott has been part of this project all the way through its work. He knows the car probably better than anyone due to the number of hours he has put into this single car.
Carefully, Scott began the process of putting in the grilles. Along with those was the indicators, being gentle not to mar any of the stunning work Matt and Chris have done.
The headlights complete that famous E Type look. All hand-wired by Scott to make sure the cabling runs for the harnesses fitted perfectly and worked without issue.
September 28, 2021 7:23 amPublished by Craig Ranson
Scott has been hard at work on the one-off 1973 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 Roadster that is being built here at Bridge Classic Cars.
This marks a milestone in the cars journey. Since this is a bespoke E Type project for a very special client, it has had a very bespoke suspension set up. But, to make sure everything fits and works as it should, the car needed to be down on the floor. This meant fitting up its wheels and starting the suspension set up.
Once this unique E type was down on the ground Scott could begin work on adjustment to the set-up. This is not the final set-up as we still need to have everything in the car before its complete suspension can truly begin. But, Scott wanted to check there would be no interference from any components as they cycled and as they rotated.
Success. Everything fitted just as Scott had hoped and as intended like any of the Bridge Classic Car Projects.
Next up for Fern Grey, is getting started on the wiring…
September 27, 2021 7:46 amPublished by Craig Ranson
This 1984 Jaguar XJ has recently had a respray done on it by another Bodyshop.
It will be coming in soon to us here at Bridge Classic Cars to have a look at the Bonnet and Decklid. Our in-house paint and bodywork teams will assess the components and then work out a plan to get this stunning old Jag back to top condition.
Keep a lookout on our News Page for more updates on the 1984 Jaguar XJ.
September 24, 2021 2:38 pmPublished by Craig Ranson
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.
September 23, 2021 7:17 amPublished by Craig Ranson
The long, elegant and graceful lines of an E Type bonnet are best highlighted in a flattering colour.
This is very true for our incredible 1973 Jaguar E Type Series 3 Roadster that has been finished in a very rare Fern Grey. Our in-house paint team worked hard to make sure every surface on this vast and prominent part were perfect before even the first coat of primer was laid down.
The bonnet of an E type is such an important and recognisable part of the cars overall character. It couldn’t be anything less than perfect for this particular build.
Matt and Chris worked their magic in our paint booth, getting the right shade to match this very special car.
Next up for Fern Grey, getting it fitted to the rest of the car that Scott, our technician, has worked so hard on.
September 17, 2021 2:37 pmPublished by Craig Ranson
Just arrived here at Bridge Classic Cars in Suffolk is this incredible 1964 Daimler 2.5 V8 Automatic for us to get to the bottom of a couple of issues.
Firstly, the owner has noticed a slight leak coming from the automatic gearbox fitted behind the V8 of this gorgeous green classic. This will be thoroughly investigated. All of this by our in-house team of restoration technicians to get to the bottom of the issue for the owner.
Along with the leak, the owner has commented on some interference to the updated radio installed in the car when first turning on the vehicle. This will also be tracked down by our incredible technicians and sorted.
All of the work will be done to the highest standard so the lucky owner of this beauty can enjoy many more miles with her.
September 10, 2021 10:45 amPublished by Craig Ranson
Dave has installed these original UV lights under the dash of the 1954 Jaguar MK VII. The blue/purple looking lightbulbs are called black lights and the white numbers and markings on the dials will be painted in a substance such as radium (but we’re not 100% sure on whether it is radium). So then, in the dark with the lights on, the dials will glow. Most cars have backlights, so this is a really lovely feature of the vehicle.
September 3, 2021 11:47 amPublished by Craig Ranson
You may have heard about Jaguar re-producing the 1953 Le Mans-Winning Jaguar C-Type. It’s been a conversation in the classic car world for several months now and this weekend, the first one will be out in the public eye for everyone to see.
There will only be a small number of the cars produced and they’ll come with a pretty high price tag…
Most of the design and build will be like the original, however, there will be a few changes due to modern-day safety standards. The new C-Types will be made of a thicker gauge metal because the originals were made so thin they could practically fall apart after racing. As well as that, there will be a built-in removable roll hoop, a safety lining in the fuel tank, a fire extinguisher and a smaller steering wheel than the original, to make it easier for the driver to control. Harnesses will also be able to be securely mounted thanks to a new rear cross member.
We’re extremely familiar with E-Types now, having had so many in our workshop, we’re looking forward to seeing how the new C-Type looks.
September 3, 2021 8:36 amPublished by Nick Skinner
Ady has found a problem with the Jaguar clutch release bearings that are able to be bought these days. There’s a design fault with them that means they’re not working correctly on the engine rebuilds. So somehow he’s got to figure out a way of getting around this problem, or trying to find a different design.
Unfortunately, this can be a common problem when parts are re-manufactured for classic cars. They’re often not built to last as well as they originally were or they simply don’t fit right.
September 2, 2021 2:26 pmPublished by Craig Ranson
John has been investigating the wiring on the 1968 Jaguar E-Type Series 1.5 4.2. It’s clear to see that it has been tinkered about with before and unfortunately, the wiring is questionable.
Because of this incorrect work on it, John has put in a new alternator and a new regulator because the alternator wasn’t charging before. He also found that the ignition switch is incorrectly wired, which meant that the amp meter burnt out as a consequence. He’s tested the ignition switch and found that there was a pair of twelve volts wired together that were causing damage to the amp meter.
September 2, 2021 1:49 pmPublished by Craig Ranson
Scott has been continuing his work on the 1973 Jaguar E-Type Series 3. This time around he’s been fitting up the front frame onto the body shell, rebuilding the front suspension and brakes and fitting them, with all new bushings and ball joints, fitting the front hubs with new wheel bearings, fitting the steering rack, fitting front shocks, fitting easy-bleed (to make bleeding the rear brakes easier), fitted left and right front to rear wiring loom/harnesses, fitted the front torsion bars, fitted the fuel lines under the car, new rear axle mounting/hub stops and fitted the rear axle.
September 2, 2021 1:14 pmPublished by Craig Ranson
You may have seen the blog post from last week about the fuel line problems that Dave discovered on the 1971 Jaguar XJ6. If not, here’s a link straight to it. Here are some more photos and another video to show just how bad the problem turned out to be.
Dave has been investigating the 1971 Jaguar XJ6 because it wasn’t running very well. He found that the carburettor tubes weren’t the same height as each other, and there was a new one and an old one. This is all why the carburettors couldn’t be set up. So a kit was purchased with all new ones in, the same height as each other. The choke had to be modified because the car had been changed to a manual choke in the past, whereas it’s meant to be an automatic one. Dave installed a better return spring for this. He put the car back together but the car still wasn’t right… It would only run for a limited time and it started to run badly again. After another investigation, he found that it wasn’t getting enough fuel in fast enough. It was soon realised that there was dirt in the offside fuel tank, which could be found without even getting into it properly. This car has got twin fuel tanks and both were the same. Dave has drained the fuel out of both of them, remarking that it smelt like rum! Not quite right then… There’s a video at the end of this post showing him at the start of draining the offside fuel tank.
Last week we welcomed back this lovely 1963 Jaguar SS100. It’s a replica made by a former business, Suffolk Sports Cars, which sadly are no more. It was reported that there was a weeping coming from the front of the car. Paul set to investigating the leak and quickly diagnosed the problem, the suspension shocks were where the weeping was coming from. They’ve now been replaced and this gorgeous classic is road-ready once more.
On Friday, the newly-built engine was plunged into the bay of the 1979 Arrow Ferrari Daytona, using a heavy duty crane, with Scott and Ady levering the engine in with the chains. The car originally came to us with an over-heated engine, so wasn’t running. Fortunately, it came with a spare Jaguar V12 engine. The old, blown one was stripped apart and any useful parts were left to be used in the re-building. Scott’s now been re-connecting everything back in the engine bay now it’s in.
Tamas has been working on the 1968 Jaguar E-Type Series 1.5 4.2 after it failed the MOT the other day. He’s put a new water pump on, put the alternator on, fitted a mobilised on the radio panel, there was a rubber tube that was leaking underneath and the thread got damaged that was attached to it, so those were replaced and the rear handbrake was adjusted.
Lydia has been taking the flaking paint off the engine block for the 1963 Jaguar Mk II 3.4. It’s going to get re-painted, so a smooth surface is required. The block was cleaned several times first to get grease and dirt off. She used an air gun, to begin with, to blow off as much as possible, then a mini air sander for the worst bits that were on a flat surface, and sanded the curved flaking areas by hand. Once all the sanding was done, the engine block got blown again with an air gun to remove debris and then cleaned over a few times. Lydia finally masked up any areas that aren’t getting painted. It’s now ready to go in the spray booth!
Matt has finished sanding and polishing the lacquer on the 1973 Jaguar E-Type Roadster Series 3 body shell, so it’s now been transported over to the workshop, where work can begin on putting everything back together in it.
Both the Jaguar E-Types pictured had their MOT’s done yesterday. The gold 1971 Jaguar E-Type V12 Series 3 is currently with us for storage at our Bentwaters hangar. The green 1968 Jaguar E-Type Series 1.5 4.2 came to us for MOT preparation. If you are looking for storage for your classic vehicle or need it prepared for its MOT, please don’t hesitate to contact us!
New into the workshop is this 1976 Jaguar XJ6. It’s got issues with its carburettors, meaning the engine isn’t running right. Ady will be in charge of looking over this one for us, being our engine expert.
The 1968 Jaguar E-type Series 1.5 4.2, unfortunately, failed on its MOT test this week. The front brake piston and rear brakes weren’t working so it’s come back into the workshop to have these problems fixed.
Matt has been sanding and polishing the lacquer of the 1973 Jaguar E-Type Roadster Series 3 body shell after it got painted last week. This process will give the car its final finish.
Chris has recently put a layer of black protective coating on the underneath of the 1954 Jaguar MK VII. This does exactly what it says on the tin, helps protect the underneath of the car from the elements of the road.
New in the workshop is this 1999 Jaguar XJR. It’s come in for a valet, for an assessment to be carried out to get it through an MOT, a full service to be carried out with fluids being changed as well and there’s a knocking on the back of the vehicle which needs investigating.
Matt’s been continuing his transformation work on the 1973 Jaguar E-Type Series 3. The outside of the body has now been painted Fern Grey to match the inside! There are photos and a small write-up of the inside and the newly painted front frame in yesterday’s blog post, which you can access by clicking here.
There are other parts that are now in the line-up to be painted, so watch this space!
Lydia has also continued sanding down the primer on parts for the E-Type. This time, the door hinges. They were gone over with 500-grade soft pads, grey scotch after and cleaned off with panel wipe.
Lydia has continued sanding down the primer on various parts for the 1973 Jaguar E-Type Roadster Series 3. This time it was the gearbox cover, boot hinges and door rubber channels. The gearbox cover had 320 soft grade on the front/face, 180 soft grade underneath and grey scotch pad all over afterwards. The boot hinges had 500 soft grade and then grey scotch pad. The door rubber channels also had 500 soft grade and grey scotch. They were then all cleaned off with panel wipe to get rid of sanding and paint dust.
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