Wheels On The Road
January 12, 2021
Both the Morris Minor 1000 and the Peugeot 504 have had their road tests to check how they’re running.
Peugeot 504
Peugeot 504 Is All Done
January 6, 2021
We’re delighted to announce our beautiful 1972 Peugeot 504 is ready to finally leave us! We just need to do a few final road checks
Peugeot 504 Almost Ready To Go
December 24, 2020
We’re currently diagnosing an engine issue with our 1972 Peugeot 504. After going for its test drive, we discovered what we think to be an
Final Countdown For The 504
December 16, 2020
The 504 has had its final checks and tuning before its test run. These final tweaks are to ensure that the car is running smoothly
Workshop Walkaround
December 9, 2020
Grey Jensen gets furnished Our trim team has been fitting the rear centre section in place, cutting out sound deadening and glueing it to bodywork
Door panels for the 504
November 20, 2020
The door panels have been made up in the trim shop and fitted into the 504. It’s really satisfying to see everything come together with
Peugeot 504’s Interior Make Over
November 17, 2020
There’s been a lot going on with our Peugeot 504, especially in the trim shop. Our trim technician Brian has been working on applying new
Friday Snapshot
November 13, 2020
As ever, it’s been a busy week here at Bridge Classics. We’ve had new cars arrive like the Mini Clubman, we’ve had a new winner
Peugeot 504
November 6, 2020
Our trim experts have taken apart the 1972 Peugeot 504’s back seats in order to make the new ones. Kath, one of our trim experts
The Peugeot Has A New Heart
November 5, 2020
The 1972 Peugeot 504 has hit a ground-breaking moment in its restoration: it now has an engine! Our engine specialist has replaced all serviceable parts
Windows and Doors for the Peugeot 504
November 3, 2020
Scott and Brian have been tending to the Peugeot for its new trimmings and chrome installments. Scott has been working on the window and door
Peugeot Princess Zinn-derella
October 21, 2020
Our 1972 Peugeot 504 is having her Zinn Grey paint application completed this week by Darren in our in-house paint shop. A full restorative paint
Out With The Old!
October 21, 2020
Our trim shop team Kath and Brian have both been working hard on our 1972 Peugeot 504’s seats. “I started by marking out all the
It’s all ‘go’ on the Peugeot
October 13, 2020
Our Peugeot restoration has kicked up a gear or two in the last week. It’s being worked on both in the Paint and Trim shops.
Sitting Pretty Peugeot
October 8, 2020
Kath and Brian in our in-house trim shop have been busy with our 1972 Peugeot 504 seats. They’re in to be fully reupholstered, so Kath
Pro-Paint Peugeot
October 1, 2020
Our expert paint team have been stripping down our classic 1972 Peugeot 504 ready for primer and her first coat of paint. Darren, our classic
Visit to Paint & Trim
September 24, 2020
We popped into our in-house paint and trim shops this afternoon to check out what our classic car technicians are working on today. Darren, one
Peugeot Paint Prep
September 22, 2020
Darren in our specialist in-house paint shop has undergone the mammoth task of prepping the entire shell of our 1972 Peugeot 504 ready to continue
Peugeot 504 Bodywork Restoration Continues
March 18, 2020
Scott has been grinding out over 1/4 inch deep filler that’s covering very poor rust repairs. Where flat sheets of steel have been simply tack
Wheels On The Road
January 12, 2021
Both the Morris Minor 1000 and the Peugeot 504 have had their road tests to check how they’re running. They’re both currently being stored up at our hangar to keep them safe and out of the way now all their major refurbishments have been completed. Both ran their road tests fine with only a few minor teething problems.
Peugeot 504 Is All Done
January 6, 2021
We’re delighted to announce our beautiful 1972 Peugeot 504 is ready to finally leave us! We just need to do a few final road checks but it’s otherwise completed and will be returned to its owner very soon.
Peugeot 504 Almost Ready To Go
December 24, 2020
We’re currently diagnosing an engine issue with our 1972 Peugeot 504. After going for its test drive, we discovered what we think to be an injector pipe leak. With everything else completed, the final job to do is to repair this pipe by taking the components apart and remanufacture the part.
Last week the 504 also had some new headlights fitted by our electrical specialist Adam. After rewiring and installing the lights, the 504 is ready to tackle those dark winter mornings.
Final Countdown For The 504
December 16, 2020
The 504 has had its final checks and tuning before its test run. These final tweaks are to ensure that the car is running smoothly however it’s not uncommon for test drives to uncover more smaller issues. Fingers crossed it passes with flying colours!
Workshop Walkaround
December 9, 2020
Grey Jensen gets furnished
Our trim team has been fitting the rear centre section in place, cutting out sound deadening and glueing it to bodywork behind where seats go.
The rear squab section has also been fitted in place, the carpet has been cut to be placed in front of the rear seat base, the rear seat section has been fitted in place, and the leather has been glued to the seat subframes.
Sound deadening has been installed in the rear footwell & tunnel sides, passenger side, passenger side bulkhead, and the front footwells.
The door frames are also undergoing some modifications so that the window glass sits more comfortably. The doors will need to be taken apart and re-welded back together.
Peony Red Jensen
Our Peony Red 1960 Jensen 541s has had new door catch fixing plates installed. Our technicians have also made a cover to go over them to stop them from falling down into the sills of the car. They have then been welded into position.
TR6
The Triumph TR6 is on the road to recovery with the final tweaks being done. The engine levels have been checked as have the gearbox and rear axels. This stage is mostly a pre-drive service to make sure everything is in the right place and ready for the car to be driven for the first time. The battery holder needs to be installed and the engine to be tuned. Once these last details are done we can turn it on and see how it drives and address any teething problems that may arise.
Amphicar
The Amphicar is currently going through another in-depth stage of troubleshooting the electrics. Much like the TR6, our technicians’ are applying the final checks in preparation for starting the car up for the first time.
Peugeot 504
The Peugeot 504 is almost finished! The exhaust and break lines have been installed as well as the seat belts which have been added by our technician Scott.
Black Jensen
The black 1960 Jensen 541R has come out of paintwork recently to address the corrections made. All the chrome has now been re-installed so it’s looking shiny and new!
1984 Lada 1200
Our Lada is one of our most recent patients. We diagnosed it with rusting sills and floor, which is being addressed and corrected by one of our fabricators, Ant. These refurbishments are done through a series of stages that include welding and applying filler to resolve the ageing. Think of it like getting a dermatological facial!
1973 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 V12
Our blue jaguar e-type is awaiting its chrome bumper and new steering rack to be fitted. The sun roof has also been fixed. This included taking apart the faulty switch and cleaning the components and then insulating the terminal. Once fitted back together, the sun roof was back to working perfectly again.
Gold Jensen
Our gold and red 1962 Jensen 541S has had its oil changed and water purged from the engine by our engine specialist, Ady.
Austin 7 Nippy
Ady is also working on the Austin 7 Nippy engine which is currently at COLTEC to be assessed.
Nissan 300ZX
The exhaust has been reinstalled into our Nissan as well as the link pipe between the two exhaust manifolds.
Door panels for the 504
November 20, 2020
The door panels have been made up in the trim shop and fitted into the 504. It’s really satisfying to see everything come together with this project.
Fitting these door panels include measuring up the leather, allowing holes for the handles, buttons and window winders, adding in fluting and then fitting it all in place at the end.
The Peugeot has also had newly restored will installed from Wheelworx in Bury St Edmunds.
Peugeot 504’s Interior Make Over
November 17, 2020
There’s been a lot going on with our Peugeot 504, especially in the trim shop.
Our trim technician Brian has been working on applying new vinyl to the boot side panels which have been applied to the originals. The sills have been glued in place and new chrome pieces have been added to the door panels. Brian has also added deadening to the centre console around the gearbox.
Our other trim technician, Kath has also been working on the 504. Heres the before and after:
But all of that wasnt just at the click of a fingers! Here’s what happened:
- The centre console was created
- The mats were sized up to check they fit
- The section under the front and rear seat was carpeted
- Gear stick gaiter made and fitted
- Hand break gaiter made and fitted
- Sills made, fitted and edges bound.
- Holes made in the footwell mat for the pedals, the mat is then glued in place.
- Glue the centre console carpet and then the centre console is fitted.
- Carpets and panels were fitted
- The squab was then added back in and screwed into place
- The hood was repaired, patching the holes and refurbishing the studs.
- A tool bag was made and added to the boot.
The 504 has also received new refurbished window winder mechanisms.
Friday Snapshot
November 13, 2020
As ever, it’s been a busy week here at Bridge Classics. We’ve had new cars arrive like the Mini Clubman, we’ve had a new winner announced yesterday and lots of new developments with our current projects. Here’s what’s gone on throughout the week!
Peugeot 504
Our engine specialist Ady has been working on the 504’s engine by fitting the flywheel and couch before fitting it back into the Peugeot.
The Peugeot has also had a recent trim shop appointment, with new carpets being made and fitted by our expert, Brian.
1960 Black Jensen 514R
The Black Jensen has had new sills made and fitted to give the finishing touch to the bottom of its driver’s door.
1994 Nissan Micra Dot
The Nissan Micra has now been finished! The paintwork has been completed, bumps and scrapes were taken out and it’s pretty much ready to go again! This endearing little Micra would make the perfect first car for someone learning to drive!
1988 Nissan 300ZX
The Nissan 300ZX has come in recently and appears to have some rather severe rust issues on the lower door sills. Among other restorations, that rust and those holes will have to go! You can see the rest of the work here.
1963 Morris Minor 1000
One of our technicians, Scott has been working carefully on the Morris Minor’s dazzling red interior. The door cards, handles, and carpets have all been fitted.
1960 Lilac Jensen 541R
This Jensen actually belongs to Bridge’s director and founder, Gordon Ranson, and is now starting its restoration journey with us! There’s a lot to do but we can’t wait to see the final product!
One of our technicians Anthony has been working on the body, hand making a lot of the elements such as the boot floor.
Barn find Mercedes
Barn finds are like hidden treasures and we love them when they come in. Currently, we’ve got two prospective projects that need cleaning up and assessing before we know what needs to be done. We really hope we’ll be able to work on these two cars!
Over the Pond Austin Healey
This Austen Healey 100 BN1 is currently residing in America but could be ours soon! Keep an eye out on our website and social media pages for updates!
Craig’s new Gastron
When you work with classic cars all the time, sometimes you want to mix it up a bit. That’s exactly what our Director Craig has done! He’s recently acquired this 3 litre speed boat. Fingers crossed for nice weather soon then!
Red Jaguar E-Type
Another prospective project has been viewed recently and it’s a beautiful red e-type that needs some TLC!
Peugeot 504
November 6, 2020
Our trim experts have taken apart the 1972 Peugeot 504’s back seats in order to make the new ones.
Kath, one of our trim experts has unstitched the old seats and measured up the old parts onto new leather. Once this is done, the new parts are stitched together and flute lines added.
The flute lines need to be carefully added so that they line up with the ones on the back squab cover as seen here:
The Peugeot Has A New Heart
November 5, 2020
The 1972 Peugeot 504 has hit a ground-breaking moment in its restoration: it now has an engine!
Our engine specialist has replaced all serviceable parts such as spark plugs and belts, replaced any worn hoses and plummed the engine back into its rightful place.
The beating heart of this car is back in place after a successful engine surgery.
Windows and Doors for the Peugeot 504
November 3, 2020
Scott and Brian have been tending to the Peugeot for its new trimmings and chrome installments.
Scott has been working on the window and door mechanisms. He’s fitted new rubber for the window seal, tested and installed new window winder mechanisms as well as repairing and cleaning the window winder motors.
As well as new window winder motors, the doors have also had some TLC to make sure they lock and shut nicely.
Scott has fitted new door handles to accompany the new door locks, striker plates and door check straps. All of which have been cleaned, repaired, re-greased, and fitted.
The new striker plates allow for the doors to align and shut efficiently.
Brian has been tending to the latest interior instalments for the Peugeot.
The leather for the door panel arm rest has been glued to the metal section, trimmed and turned over to give a neat finish. The door handle slots had also been cut and measured.
The leather has been glued to the foam backing for the back seats and is ready for sewing. Lines have been marked on each piece to indicate where the stitching will sit.
The front door panels have been cut out of hardboard, holes drilled into them for the armrest and door handles.
When ready, the leather is applied and the edges are pulled around the side of each piece to ensure a neat finish. The leather is hog ringed to the frame as this guarantees that the leather will be held in place and allows for a tight application.
Below you can see the armrest door panel and part of the back seats being fitted together.
Peugeot Princess Zinn-derella
October 21, 2020
Our 1972 Peugeot 504 is having her Zinn Grey paint application completed this week by Darren in our in-house paint shop.
A full restorative paint job has many stages. Before the body sees any paint whatsoever, she’s had several visits to the body shop to sand the shell down. This includes filling any areas needing touching up and concentrating on any rust or other age or accidental damage.
If you’ve been following this project, you’ll notice the car hasn’t been returned to her original ‘off-white’. Instead, the customer has chosen the VW ‘Zinn Grey’ and is opting for a maroon leather interior. A very nice colour combination we think!
Out With The Old!
October 21, 2020
Our trim shop team Kath and Brian have both been working hard on our 1972 Peugeot 504’s seats.
“I started by marking out all the positions of the different parts” Kath explains. “I then unpicked all the seams, removed all the hog rings and marked out the seats pattern onto the new leather.”
Kath then began marking out the fluted panels and sewed them. She then piped around the edges and sewed a calico loop around too with a wire insert.
“I then piped around the edges of the skirt” Kath continues, “and clipped the sides of the main face.”
“I then sewed it all together” Kath explains. “I clipped the middle fluted panel in place and sewed that together with the skirt.” After sewing those parts together, Kath then sewed a calico loop around the edge with another wire insert.
Now the covers are made, our expert trim technician Brian can begin work fitting them to the seats. He’s ready to fit both the front and rear seats of the Peugeot.
“I pulled the cover around tight, gluing and clipping it in place” Brian tells us “clipping the bottom flap to keep it in position.” Brian’s then fitted the seats back board in place, securing it with screws along the bottom. Finally, adding pvc edge trim around the back squab, fitting the seat reclining mechanisms and painting the handle he’s fitted.
New interior gives a classic car such a new lease of life! And moving from a black leather to this sumptuous red leather will compliment the Zinn Grey exterior amazingly.
Next step is to get the body out of paint and start marrying this colour combination together!
It’s all ‘go’ on the Peugeot
October 13, 2020
Our Peugeot restoration has kicked up a gear or two in the last week. It’s being worked on both in the Paint and Trim shops.
The colour for our Peugeot’s fresh look has been decided, it’s being painted in the striking VW Zinn Grey. Paired with a beautiful red interior, we think this specification is going to look superb. Darren our Paint Shop Manager has been applying the colour coats to our Peugeot. He firstly painted the Engine bay and boot and has now masked those areas up to paint the external elements of the bodywork.
The paintwork looks sublime under the bright lights of the spray booth. superb work, Darren
Read on to take a look at Brian’s work on the 504 in the Trim Shop
Brian has been very busy bringing the 504’s seats back to life!
He’s firstly stripped down the old seats, taking off the old fabric, ready to re-trim in the brand new, red leather.
Brian has then stripped down and covered this flat interior panel, gluing down the excess material to the back of the panel.
Finally Brian has trimmed the top and bottom panels before riveting the two together to seamlessly meet. He’s added foam to the top of the panel before pulling the leather tight into place and gluing down.
Sitting Pretty Peugeot
October 8, 2020
Kath and Brian in our in-house trim shop have been busy with our 1972 Peugeot 504 seats. They’re in to be fully reupholstered, so Kath first has to take the pattern from the existing seats by stripping away all the fabric ensuring she keeps it intact.
“The back panel was riveted in” describes Kath, “so in removing this I have to be careful not to rip or stretch the old fabric as I’ll be using these segments as a pattern for the new covers.”
While separating all the different parts, Kath also has to remove all the hog rings she finds along the way. She’s also removed the plastic trim from around the adjustment handles and the base of the seat.
Pictures like these are incredibly useful to the team to know the shape they’re aiming for.
“I removed the spring clips that keep the base in place” Kath explains. “I’ve also marked out all the positions of the parts so I can easily position them back together.”
Now all the parts are marked and separated, it’s time to start matching them up to the new leather.
Kath’s then begun work with the new leather sections. She starts by marking out the lines in the fabric to match the existing seats. “I marked out the leather to make the fluted face” Kath explains, “then marked out the lines across the back.”
Kath then cut the foam and marked out the lines on that too. Then, it was ready to start sewing the flutes.
Kath then begun work on some smaller segments of the seats. “I marked out the side bands, skirt and piping” Kath describes “then mounted the side bands onto foam.”
Kath then seals around the edges and trims off any excess, clipping the leather together to hold in place before it’s stitched up.
These sections are then attached to the base of the seat. Both sides are sewn on, then the back flap is also sewn in place.
Next up, Kath is sorting out the back panel of the squab. “I unpick all the original stitching” she explains, “again to use the pattern as a guide”.
The new leather is then marked out, stuck round with its edges turned and glued. “I then sew around the edges and trimmed off the excess fabric” Kath tells us.
Kath then does the same for the back seat squab. Using the existing leather as a gauge for the seats pattern, marking out the segments in the new leather.
“I then unpicked the seat cover” explains Kath. All the separate parts can then be used to cut out the sections in the new leather.
The individual parts were then cut out of the new leather with lines marked out for the seat to match the existing design.
Kath then put pipe around the edges of both panels. ” I sewed a calico loop and piping around the edge” she explains “so I can attach this section to the back of the seat and keep it in place”.
Kath then made a start on the edges of the squab, putting piping around the edge of the side skirt and clipping it to the front section. The cover was then fitted to the foam squab ready for the fluted panels.
“I clipped the edges ready to be sewn together” Kath explains, “then sewed all the separate panels together and fitted it around it’s foam base”.
The skills of our in-house seamstress Kath never cease to amaze us! Just look how beautiful this finished red leather seats are.
Brian then takes Kath’s seat covers and started fitting them to their new frames. “I’ve fitted the front squab to the frame” Brian tells us, “holding the fluted sections with hog rings”.
Brian’s also made new webbing straps for each seat and fitted these to their frames. He’s added extra foam to help pad them out some more too.
Brian’s then pulled the cover over tightly around the back of the seat and clipped it into position. The backboard has then been fitted into place.
We can’t wait to see them back inside the car, and give them a test ‘sit-down’!
Pro-Paint Peugeot
October 1, 2020
Our expert paint team have been stripping down our classic 1972 Peugeot 504 ready for primer and her first coat of paint.
Darren, our classic car paint specialist stripped the car down to the bare metal and has primed the shell ready for that special ‘Zinn Grey’ to be added.
After the shell is prepared, there’s been a coating of primer added, which then has to be sanded back down before another coat is applied.
Once the primer stage was complete, Darren’s then been able to add the first coat of the customers chosen colour- Zinn grey.
There’s still further coats to add to make sure it’s perfect. But this colour is already popping and just you wait ’til you see it against the red interior!
Visit to Paint & Trim
September 24, 2020
We popped into our in-house paint and trim shops this afternoon to check out what our classic car technicians are working on today.
Darren, one of our specialist painters is sanding down the fuel tank on our 1972 Peugeot 504. “I’m stripping it right back to the bare metal” Darren explains “thereafter it’ll be ready for it’s protective coating.”
You can see in the background the shell of our Peugeot 504 that Darren’s been stripping and priming ready for her thorough paint job.
Over in the trim shop, Kath and Brian have been working on two separate cars. Both of which, interesting enough, aren’t physically with us, so it’s only their interiors we’re working with right now.
Kath’s unpicking the original interior of our white 1961 Jensen 541S. “I separate all the sections so I can use them as a pattern for the new seats.” Her owner has opted for a mushroom leather interior. So soon we’ll see Kath bringing the new seats to life!
Meanwhile Brian has been working on the seats for our Jaguar XK150. “I’m using the gun to evenly distribute the glue across the foam to make the fabric attach evenly.”
Whether it’s a full restoration on every part of the car or a repair or restoration on one singular part, we love being able to transform these beautiful classics into their owners vision.
Here at Bridge Classic Cars we carry out all our restorations in-house. We have a team of over twenty-plus technicians specialising in engines, mechanics, electrics, bodywork, paintwork and interior trim.
If you have a classic in need of some expert attention, give us a call to see where we can help – 01473 742038
Peugeot Paint Prep
September 22, 2020
Darren in our specialist in-house paint shop has undergone the mammoth task of prepping the entire shell of our 1972 Peugeot 504 ready to continue her restoration.
The car came into us for work on the bodywork, interior, brakes and chrome. Now that her engine is ticking over nicely and her rusty parts are fixed, the bodywork is next to undergo the transformation.
There were two main stages to this phase. “The inside needed to be blacked after the welding” Darren explains, “then I’ve prepped the entire body ready for sprayable filler.”
Darren also stripped the bonnet back to the bare metal, removing all the previous layers of paint. The next stage will be to add the primer.
The customer is opting for a VW ‘Zinn Grey’ for the paintwork and a red leather interior – what a combo!
Peugeot 504 Bodywork Restoration Continues
March 18, 2020
Scott has been grinding out over 1/4 inch deep filler that’s covering very poor rust repairs. Where flat sheets of steel have been simply tack welded over the rust it’s caused the rust to worsen.
Scott has cut out the pervious repairs and worked back further into the car until the solid metal. From there he’s fabricating repair sections and welded them in, repairing correctly any rotten sections along the way. Great Work, Scott.
