Body and Paintwork

‘Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt’
The wise words of Leonardo Da Vinci and the philosophy of our team at Bridge Classic Cars.
However beautiful a car can be restored; all the hours of perfection and the finest of detail can soon be overlooked by the finish of the paintwork.
Our exceptional team prepare and paint ‘in-house’ within our state-of-the-art facilities. From minor imperfections of scuffs and scratches to full restoration paint projects.
Located within our Pettistree workshops, our body preparation facilities host our large spray booth oven which is a revolutionary design concept from the UK’s leading spray booth manufacturer Dalby.
As part of our paint mixing facilities we offer a unique vehicle colour matching service.
Quite often car colours are mixed using the original factory colour codes. This is not always ideal for a number of reasons:
- Colours fade due to weather conditions and time.
- As with everything, paints have developed over time and slightly different finishes can often be seen.
- Different paint suppliers have slightly different tones and therefore matching is often finalised using your eye.
The Colour Matching Camera
Automatchic Vision is a revolutionary digital system that allows bodyshops to precisely measure and match the existing colour on any area of a vehicle.
The advanced system consists of two key elements: Automatchic Vision – the latest generation of AkzoNobel’s hand-held device that digitally analyses colour; and Automatchic Smart Search – colour retrieval software that provides the optimum matching colour formula.
The compact Automatchic Vision device uses the latest digital technology to guarantee precise, reliable measurements of colour, including curved parts of a vehicle that are traditionally difficult to read.



LATEST PROJECT NEWS

Austin Healey 3000 Repairs
Jonn conducted an initial inspection and performed a rod test on our 1959 Austin Healey 3000 before returning the vehicle to the workshop for a full appraisal. He greased all lubrication points and drained the differential oil, which had emulsified

Replacement Switches
Steve has replaced the old, burnt-out ignition switch of our Wolseley Hornet. The amp gauge was also replaced before an investigation into why the fuel wasn’t working took place. The issue was that the float rod needed tightening and adjusting.

350SL Progress
Lots of progress has been made on our 1978 Mercedes 350SL. After the sub frame repairs were made and various components were painted in satin black, the restoration of the bodywork can now begin.