A Mini and Merc Maybe
February 23, 2021
This charming little Mini may be coming in soon to be recommissioned and assessed. Currently we’re at the enquiry stage but hope to see this
Morris Mini restoration
Eva’s Handbrake Gaiter
January 29, 2021
Kath has been making the handbrake gaiter for our 1961 Morris Mini Deluxe, ‘Eva’. Kath made this by measuring out a pattern against the old
Carpet Modifications On The Mini
January 27, 2021
Our trim shop are continuing to work with the 1961 Morris Mini Deluxe. Currently Kath is working to modify the main footwell carpet to allow
Morris Minor Front And Central
January 20, 2021
Our lovely 1963 Morris Minor 1000 passed its driving test with flying colours, as seen in the last update, however, there’s a final tweak we
New Year, New Respray
January 13, 2021
Our 1961 Morris Mini Deluxe, fondly named ‘Eva’s Mini’ has had some recent paintwork including a new respray on the bonnet. With new interior trim
Little Eva’s New Interior
December 21, 2020
Our 1961 Morris Mini Delux has had some extra refurbishments recently. It needed the carpet neatened and new footwell mats. Our trim shop made templates,
Morris Minor Is Full Steam Ahead
November 20, 2020
Kath has recently refurbished the sun visors in the Morris Minor 1000 as the old ones had deteriorated. This freshening up included drawing around the
Sky’s The Limit
November 17, 2020
Our Morris Minor 1000 has had its convertible roof repaired meaning the customer will now be able to enjoy the open sky or the comfort
The Deluxe’ Last Day
October 15, 2020
It’s our gorgeous 1961 Morris Mini Deluxe’ last day with us today. We have a load of work to do before tomorrow night, where she
Raising the Roof!
September 11, 2020
Brian in our trusty trim shop has been busy with our 1961 Morris Mini this week. “I laid the restored frame over the headliner material,”
The Mini’s A Headline Act
September 10, 2020
This week, the 1961 Morris Mini had her headliner stripped off by Brian in the trim shop. “I’ve stripped off all the old fabric,” explains
We’ve Got Front Row Seats For The Morris Mini
September 4, 2020
Following stripping the interior of the 1961 Morris Mini Deluxe, our trim shop extraordinaire Brian has been hard at work rebuilding this iconic beauty. With
Pull Up A Chair
August 29, 2020
Brian in the trim shop here at Bridge has started rebuilding the seats on our 1961 Morris Mini Deluxe. “I started by fitting new rubber
1967 Austin Mini 850 Arriving
February 10, 2020
We’ve got another Austin Mini in the Bridge Classic Cars Paint Shop. This Mini belongs to Team C Racing. The body will need to be
Morris Mini Heads Into The Paint Shop
February 7, 2020
Our Morris Mini Restoration has begun! This lovely little Morris is being restored to it’s original factory Cherry Red colour. Its now had its first
A Mini and Merc Maybe
February 23, 2021
This charming little Mini may be coming in soon to be recommissioned and assessed. Currently we’re at the enquiry stage but hope to see this little red motor come in soon!
And we have our 300 SL Mercedes with the usual bulkhead corrosion concerns. This could be another exciting project to come into our workshops in the coming months.
Eva’s Handbrake Gaiter
January 29, 2021
Kath has been making the handbrake gaiter for our 1961 Morris Mini Deluxe, ‘Eva’. Kath made this by measuring out a pattern against the old on and working new leather into a gaiter to mimic the old version.
Carpet Modifications On The Mini
January 27, 2021
Our trim shop are continuing to work with the 1961 Morris Mini Deluxe. Currently Kath is working to modify the main footwell carpet to allow for the headlight dip switch to sit comfortably in the trim. Kath has had to measure up hole and where it will sit on the carpet.
Morris Minor Front And Central
January 20, 2021
Our lovely 1963 Morris Minor 1000 passed its driving test with flying colours, as seen in the last update, however, there’s a final tweak we want to make to ensure the Morris is perfect. The steering wheel needs to be centralised, so we are going to send Tom over to our hanger where the Morris is being stored, to centralise the steering wheel.
New Year, New Respray
January 13, 2021
Our 1961 Morris Mini Deluxe, fondly named ‘Eva’s Mini’ has had some recent paintwork including a new respray on the bonnet. With new interior trim furnishings, the updated bodywork will make this little Mini look just like new!
Little Eva’s New Interior
December 21, 2020
Our 1961 Morris Mini Delux has had some extra refurbishments recently. It needed the carpet neatened and new footwell mats.
Our trim shop made templates, marked out the correct measurements on the carpet material, cut it out and marked out the binding, they then sewed on a heel mat to the footwell mats and fitted all the pieces in. The base carpets also needed regluing.
The finished work has left Little Eva looking very smart.
Morris Minor Is Full Steam Ahead
November 20, 2020
Kath has recently refurbished the sun visors in the Morris Minor 1000 as the old ones had deteriorated. This freshening up included drawing around the old visors, swing the edge and across the top and then carefully hand stitching around the metal rod. Once finished, it was ready for Scott to fit as seen below.
Scott, one of our other technicians has been doing a lot of work on the Morris Minor such as:
- Fitting the rear bumper
- Applying a new seal on the differential and putting the prop shaft back on
- Installing the gearbox tunnel
- Adding door cards and interior handles
- Fitting the carpet and rear seats
- Bolting the front passenger seat
- Installing new mirrors
- Adding a new exhaust
- Adding the wooden floor into the boot
Sky’s The Limit
November 17, 2020
Our Morris Minor 1000 has had its convertible roof repaired meaning the customer will now be able to enjoy the open sky or the comfort of a closed top.
Our specialist electrical engineer, Adam, has also been working on the Morris Minor with a fresh loom installation.
It’s great to see our iconic Morris Minor making such big improvements, all thanks to our talented team of technicians!
The Deluxe’ Last Day
October 15, 2020
It’s our gorgeous 1961 Morris Mini Deluxe’ last day with us today. We have a load of work to do before tomorrow night, where she will be presented as a birthday gift to Eva Ranson, wife of our Director; Gordon Ranson.
The Mini arrived at our Pettistree workshop this morning looking pretty bare! Although her engine was in, she still needed all her interior fitted, including carpets, door panels and seats.
Firstly, one of our engine technicians Ted completed some final tweaks to the Mini’s 800cc engine. The engines already been totally recommissioned, as well as stripped and repainted in that lovely green you can see in the picture.
Meanwhile, Brian in the trim shop is getting the first section of the headlining in. He’s then got the front lining in and has fitted the C Posts.
The front dash was then fitted with it’s fleck material. “I trimmed around the edge” explains Kath, another of our trim-shop experts. “Then, I’ve glued it all in place.”
Kath’s then fitted the upper section of the dash, she’s then bent it round and trimmed it to fit. “I then glued the ends around the door seal” she tells us “then reattached the door seal.”
The door panels were next on the list. They were tricky! Kath had to trim the board and cut some foam out along the side to be able to slide it in. She then inserted the little door fillet panels.
The rear door panel pockets were equally difficult. “The boards didn’t fit” Kath explains “so we had to trim down to get them to fit inside nicely.”
Kath then had to trim holes for the ashtrays – a fixture you never see anymore in modern cars!
She trimmed the holes for the lights and fitted them in place. Getting the rivet bracket into position then fitting the rest of the board.
The sun visors were the next feature to be fitted. First of all the brackets were screwed into place, then the custom made visors were attached.
All the underlay and carpet was yet to be fitted when our Mini arrived back with us this morning. Underlay was trimmed up and glued into position. Matching red carpet was then fitted under where the seats will go. Taking care to trim around the seat brackets where each of the front seats will go.
The final sections of carpet were then fitted into place, trimmed up and glued to hold their position.
The seats were then fitted into the front. Looking lovely!
Brian then added sound deadening to the back seat section, before attaching his custom-made back seat. He also added the rear squab and the parcel shelf behind it.
“I’ve then fitted the rear quarter panels” Brian explains “securing them with screws at the top”. Brian’s also glued the wheel arch covers into position.
Aside from the interior, the Mini’s working components also had to be reassembled. These parts arrived back with us this morning as individual bits. The team have spent the day reassembling the subframe, ready to get the wheels back on and get her back up and running!
My goodness! What a team effort to get our gorgeous little Mini ready for her big reveal. We hope Eva loves her ‘Little Eva’ as much as we do!
Happy Birthday!
Raising the Roof!
September 11, 2020
Brian in our trusty trim shop has been busy with our 1961 Morris Mini this week. “I laid the restored frame over the headliner material,” explains Brain, “cutting flaps at the edge and stapling around the crossbars.”
Brian then glued the corners, front and rear pulling the fabric tight to stick it to the frame.
“I’ve then trimmed off all the excess” says Brian, “then added the clips and it’s done!” Brian’s followed the same process for both the front and rear roof liners, both of which are now read to be fitted.
Seamless work Brian!
The Mini’s A Headline Act
September 10, 2020
This week, the 1961 Morris Mini had her headliner stripped off by Brian in the trim shop.
“I’ve stripped off all the old fabric,” explains Brian, “then cleaned up all the metal frame ready to have the new cover made and attached.”
This project is coming along nicely so far, we can’t wait to see the new fabrics.
We’ve Got Front Row Seats For The Morris Mini
September 4, 2020
Following stripping the interior of the 1961 Morris Mini Deluxe, our trim shop extraordinaire Brian has been hard at work rebuilding this iconic beauty.
With the chairs stripped right back to the bare metal, Brian’s rebuilt the chairs starting with new rubber straps fixed to the frame. “I used hessian to line the base and stop damage,” he describes. “Then I added foam to the base, with extra foam added to bolster the front of each chair.” This is the slight curve you can see in the pictures and add to not only the look of the seats but to their comfort too.
Brian then attached the leather covers across the foam, using clips around the base and hog rings to hold the fabric in place.
We’re already so in love with this colour combination. The options really are limitless when it comes to classic car restorations!
Pull Up A Chair
August 29, 2020
Brian in the trim shop here at Bridge has started rebuilding the seats on our 1961 Morris Mini Deluxe.
“I started by fitting new rubber straps” Brian explains, “then added foam around the bottom edge”.
“I added hessian to the base, glued foam on top and marked out the middle.”
The finished cover was then glued to the foam lining, along with the calico flap, then the bolster foam was glued on top with the cover pulled over everything nice and snugly.
Horse hair was then glued to the rear of the seat, pulled around the frame and fixed into place. Wadding was also added to the top and sides of the chair to add extra padding.
The back cover was then fitted over, pulling the flaps though to glue them to the frame then clipping the outer flap to the seat frame. “Any ends have then been turned underneath to make it neat” described Brian, “then simply glued and and clipped into place”.
The back seats on the 1961 Morris Mini also received some similar special treatment from Brian this week.
Brian fitted the foam around the back seat frame. Added calico, lining and the backseat foam and pieced it all together.
“I then marked where the cover sits,” explains Brian, “gluing the cover down centrally to the foam and finally gluing the calico flap down”.
A small piece of brown felt was added to the front of the foam, then a large piece of brown felt over the top then glued the foam over the top to make a front bolster.
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Brian then began work on the back seat Squab. “I glued the horse hair padding to the refurbished metal frame” Brian describes. “I then added scrim foam to pad the seat out further and trimmed it up to match the shape of the frame”
Brian then pushed the foam into Kath’s custom-made cover, glued the flaps around the side and the bottom of the seat then glued the cover to the metal.
We’re often completing full interior restoration on anything from our 1961 Morris Mini you see here, to Jensens, Triumphs and everything in between. For more information on our trim shop services get in touch today! – 01473 742038
1967 Austin Mini 850 Arriving
February 10, 2020
We’ve got another Austin Mini in the Bridge Classic Cars Paint Shop. This Mini belongs to Team C Racing. The body will need to be welded with new metal, shaped, prepared and then painted either Ocean Blue or Island Blue. We will then be sending it back to team C to continue the restoration.
Morris Mini Heads Into The Paint Shop
February 7, 2020
Our Morris Mini Restoration has begun! This lovely little Morris is being restored to it’s original factory Cherry Red colour.
Its now had its first coat of primer to keep the rust at bay. It will now head into the fabrication shop.
