Meet The Team: The Trim Shop
November 16, 2020
Our trim shop is not only incredibly unique but it is also relatively new! The trim shop, as a functioning entity has only really existed
trim shop
TR6’s New Trim
November 13, 2020
The trim shop has made the centre console for the radio. This entails measuring each section, cutting out those sections from the leather, and then
MGB Blaze Orange’s New Trimming
November 13, 2020
Our trim experts have been focusing on making sure our new competition car, the 1972 MGB Blaze Orange Roadster, is all up to scratch. The
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
Custom Trim
November 6, 2020
Whether it’s a specific design or a certain fit, we can make it. All of the work done in the trim shop is made by
Suited And Booted
November 2, 2020
Our 1960 Jensen 541R has had another round of interior fittings measured up, made, and installed by our talented team in the Trim Shop. This time
Strap Yourself In!
October 23, 2020
Our 1972 MGB Roadster has had a quick pit-stop in the trim shop this week. Kath has been taking care of the front seats as
Trim Shop Storage Space
October 22, 2020
Our in-house trim shop had some light building works taking place this week. Keen to keep our assortment of leather, carpet and vinyl in pristine
Jaguar E-Type Series One Racecar – Interior
June 8, 2020
Our jaguar E-Type Racecar has been in the Trim shop visiting Kath and Brian last week. They have been fitting the bold orange carpets into
Jensen 541R Interior Restoration
February 7, 2020
Kath has been hard at work on our Jensen interiors. For the convertible roof she has tackled the following stages Dismantled the headlining Marked out
1959 Morris J Type Completed Seats
January 15, 2020
Kath has done a fabulous job trimming the black leather Morris J type seats. She’s perfectly matched the design of the old seat to a
Meet The Team: The Trim Shop
November 16, 2020
Our trim shop is not only incredibly unique but it is also relatively new! The trim shop, as a functioning entity has only really existed since this year. Although we’ve had a trim specialist before, we never had a specific team and workshop dedicated to it until 2020! Both Kath and Brian have joined the Bridge Classic Car family this year and have been invaluable.
It’s rare to have an in-house trim shop at a classic car restoration workshop as many companies prefer to outsource, which comes with its own problems and communications. We, however, are very lucky to have ours in-house which not only saves time and miscommunications but also means everything is made to fit and can be fitted and tested immediately. This makes for swifter restorations and ultimately a better workflow. Anything that’s needed can be made and modified as needed.
Meet Kath
Vibrant and talented, Kath is one of our Trim Shop Trio.
Kath describes herself as arty and crafty, with always having a creative background. Kath holds a selection of qualifications from Interior Design to Spatial Design and history in painting and decorating as well as previous car trim work. Kath then joined the team in January 2020.
“I’ve always enjoyed making things and being creative. I like being hands-on.”
Kath loves VW’s and has always had a soft spot for them. She’s done up her own VW campervan before but currently owns a beautiful red VW Beetle which is her pride and joy.
Kath says she enjoys working in an in-house trim shop rather than outsourcing it as she did before, as you get more of a personal connection with the projects, “You’re never doing the same thing twice!” Kath tells us, “I love everything here, it’s so satisfying learning where everything fits and seeing it being installed.”
Meet Brian
Brian was the second Trim Shop specialist to join Bridge Classic Cars who started in March 2020.
Brian originally started working on Micralite planes but later moved to trim work and interior car design. Brian also worked with Kath at their previous workplace outsourcing interior trim, so made the perfect team when they both moved to Bridge Classic Cars!
Brian has always worked with interior trim and really enjoys being a part of the team.
“It’s great to see cars go from parts to being roadworthy. You have such a big part in keeping these old cars going.”
Brian says he’s always loved hot hatches but currently has a new mini but has his sights set on buying an original mini to do up too. “Working with cars like these, at some point you want to get your own!” Brian tells us.
Meet Rosie
The third and final member of the Trim Shop is Cockerpoo puppy, Rosie!
As an invaluable member of the team, Rosie offers morale and team spirit for not only the trim shop but for the whole of the Bridge Classic Cars team!
Rosie is now 9 months old as she was born on Valentine’s day. She certainly has a talent for spreading the love!
Rosie’s favourite part about being in the trim shop is getting visits from other members of the Bridge team who frequently give her cuddles and attention, she’s a real team player!
TR6’s New Trim
November 13, 2020
The trim shop has made the centre console for the radio. This entails measuring each section, cutting out those sections from the leather, and then from those pieces, creating a gaiter for the gear stick and an outer shell for the radio console.
The next step was to make and fit the carpets which includes bolting them down and adding deadening to the tunnel.
The speaker panel was next to be made and fitted. As well as the leather, the speaker panels also needed foam padding adding to it.
Once again, the trim shop has done an amazing job fitting the new interior to the TR6. With the seats added back in, it’s looking really smart!
MGB Blaze Orange’s New Trimming
November 13, 2020
Our trim experts have been focusing on making sure our new competition car, the 1972 MGB Blaze Orange Roadster, is all up to scratch. The latest fine detail that’s been tweaked is the trimmings in the boot.
Firstly Kath made a tool bag by marking out the pieces on the leather, sewing Velcro on, sewing the two pieces together, and finally, turning them over.
The next task was to make the boot carpet. This was done by cutting out the pattern from the material, binding the edges, and fitting it.
After all this is done, it leaves the MGB with a neat interior, reader for anything the world has to throw at it, or in it.
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:
Custom Trim
November 6, 2020
Whether it’s a specific design or a certain fit, we can make it. All of the work done in the trim shop is made by hand and designed perfectly for your motor.
One of our clients is making the hard choice between these 4 designs for the interior of their 1982 Porsche 911.
Suited And Booted
November 2, 2020
Our 1960 Jensen 541R has had another round of interior fittings measured up, made, and installed by our talented team in the Trim Shop. This time it’s the Jensens boot that’s been fitted.
Each piece of the boot carpet has been measured by hand, stitched, and fitted in a bespoke pattern. No trim is ever the same.
Strap Yourself In!
October 23, 2020
Our 1972 MGB Roadster has had a quick pit-stop in the trim shop this week. Kath has been taking care of the front seats as the base webbing straps were in a pretty bad state.
“All the old webbing straps were falling apart” Kath describes. “So I’ve taken off the seat clips to get to the webbing hooks. I then made new webbing straps and attached those to the base frame”.
Once the new straps were attached, Kath could then pull the cover back over and clip it into place. The seats are now ready to get fitted back into the our little MGB. Lovely work Kath!
Trim Shop Storage Space
October 22, 2020
Our in-house trim shop had some light building works taking place this week. Keen to keep our assortment of leather, carpet and vinyl in pristine condition, we’ve had a trim shelving unit built especially. Ready when needed to create our custom-made interiors.
We’re sure it won’t be long until these shelves are packed full of all the fabric and foam the trim shop need. Now they have their own special storage, it just means we can buy more fabric right?!
We pride ourselves at Bridge on being super clean and tidy. We down-tools early at the end of every working day, and carry out a full deep clean of the workshop.
Having everything spotless, tidy and easy to find, makes us more efficient. It also provides a great place for our classic car experts to do their very best work.
Jaguar E-Type Series One Racecar – Interior
June 8, 2020
Our jaguar E-Type Racecar has been in the Trim shop visiting Kath and Brian last week.
They have been fitting the bold orange carpets into the veheicle.
They firstly started making paper floor mats in the floor pan as a template when cutting the carpet. The carpet then gets test-fitted and adjusted to fit perfectly if needed. This process was used for the front carpet mats, rear underseat, rear ramp area and the boot…
When all the carpet pieces are cut to size, they are ready to bind. Binding is the process of wrapping leather around the carpets, creating a piped edge. Kath has sewn the leather onto the front of the carpet, before folding the edge over to sew down the inner edge. This helps the carpets to sit perfectly in place and stops the fabric from fraying.
The cross-members were then also trimmed with carpet, following the exact same process before being glued down to the vehicles tub.
Next up, sound deadening is installed and stuck into place before being bonded to the carpet. We’ve now trimmed most of our E-Type’s interior. The next major phase will be to begin re-installing seats and switchgear.
Great work, Brian and Kath!
Jensen 541R Interior Restoration
February 7, 2020
Kath has been hard at work on our Jensen interiors. For the convertible roof she has tackled the following stages
- Dismantled the headlining
- Marked out new material patterns onto the new fabric
- Cut out and numbered the fabric pieces
- Measured out a strips of calico for the convertible loops
- Cleaned metal bars
- Sewn headlining back together
- Inserted metal bars
Kath has also begun stripping down the Jensen seats. They actually sit on a fibreglass base that attaches to the car. The seats are currently still being prepared to be reupholstered.
1959 Morris J Type Completed Seats
January 15, 2020
Kath has done a fabulous job trimming the black leather Morris J type seats. She’s perfectly matched the design of the old seat to a better than factory finish. Great work, Kath!
