1947 Bradford Restoration

[Chris Spencer]

I have a 1947 Bradford Utility (6 light) in for body & paint restoration - it was rescued by Tim Brown after lying forlorn in a damp garage for over 35 years - it's fairly sound and arrived with me direct from a mechanical referb

Although the roof has seen better days

[Chris Spencer]

[Chris Spencer]

And I think the headlining may require a little attention

Rear doors & panels removed

Spare wheel carrier requires replacement

[Chris Spencer]

Rear corner panels will go again but require fabrication work to upper & lower edges to remove the rust perforated metal

Roof laths will require replacement but the cross rails are good with the exception of one

Roof side radius panels will require a fair bit of work to make them go again

[Chris Spencer]

Made a start on the radius roof panels

[Chris Spencer]

More to follow has I progress the restoration but yet another Jowett found & saved

[Chris Spencer]

The front windscreen aperture panel is in a mess

I cut the panel at the bottom of the windscreen pillars and then drilled out the rusty screws securing the panel to the ash frame - then eased the panel off the frame

[Chris Spencer]

I braced the panel up with a couple of lengths of angle iron before commencing the repairs

Then started by replacing the windscreen aperture edges to the pillars first

The aperture edge was welded to the existing panel once the rust effected edge was removed and a new return edge was spotwelded to the new steel (replicating the same process that Jowett employed when assembling the van from new)

The old / rusted section that was removed can be seen alongside

[Chris Spencer]

Once I had completed the aperture repairs to the pillars I utilised the same process as previously outlined to replace the top edge of the aperture

Still the edge of the panel along the adjoining roof line and the sides of the windscreen pillars to undertake yet

[Alastair Gregg]

Keep up the good work Chris

Your customer is very keen to get the finished vehicle "on his fleet"

Not me folks

[NoelStokoe]

This is impressive stuff Chris - Well done!

[ian Howell]

Fantastic job Chris - we watch in wonder and awe!

Just a point (NOT a criticism!), I notice that there are / were two wipers fitted. I thought this only applied to de Luxe models, which then had a chrome radiatiro surround.

Is the second wiper a later - possibly separately driven - addition or have I misunderstood the spec. of these vehicles?

As always with Jowetts, you can never be sure . . .

[richard turner]

I think this is a Bradford utility rather than a utility delux. Similar vehicle on an auction site 12 months or so ago complete with the same steering wheel. Possibly you could up-spec your Bradford utility as you wished.
Having completed similar repairs to my Bradford window surround some years ago my only comment is that I would have left spot-welding in the reinforcing holding flange until after the screen had been trial fitted. I would have then marked the settled position of the rubber and spot welded in the return to suit. As it was and after the car was painted etc I had a hideous task getting the screen in. I think the scuttle may move during the fitting process and the new rubbers may be slightly larger than the originals. Only my view, and I remain in total admiration of the skill and craftsmanship of Chris Spencer.
Rich

[Chris Spencer]

Update + lots more happening - Paul Beaumont managed to source me a tatty but usable rear roof panel

which got cleaned up & selectively repaired

[Chris Spencer]

Two of the timber roof rails were dead

So with a piece of ash to hand I machined down the replacements and managed to salvage the original radius ends

Repaired rails fitted along with new roof laths