UK Merc : Roof chop options

Hey guy's

Im wondering if some of you metal and merc guys can help. i recently bought a 51 merc over here in the uk, over the last few weeks ive managed to get it on the road, so now i wanna turn my efforts into the roof chop,
Now this merc has been in the uk for around 20 years and was chopped when it first got here, the chap that chopped it done and good job, but seeings everyones taste is different i'd like to change it a little.

Heres the car as it sit's





Right now i want to change the rear screen, The orginal 51 screen seems to pinch the bodywork. i was thinking about using a 49-50 screen



also im not too keen on the shape of the rear 1/4 windows, i prefer a more rounded shape at the back rather that it going into a point ( not sure if that makes sense, hopefully you will know what i mean )



Now i know its a pretty serious chop, but i think it might not look as extreme once i lower the ride height, If anyones good with photoshop i'd love it see it a little lower with the rear windows reworked, Do you think its worth re chopping and raising the roof line?

Now guys what are you thought's and do you think its possible to turn it around

 

I think it will look better with a Ford shoebox 49-51 rear window

like this



Thats from shoebox that i are chopping

/Stefan

 

I agree with Stefan T the smaller rear window would look better, and would allso give you some room to change the shape of the rear side windows. They look out of proportion, they could be a bit bigger in the rear.
dam nice car good luck

 

Thanks for the reply guys, i have been thinking about going for a smaller rear screen like the shoebox, i see a merc with a 41 chevy rear screen which i liked, does a shoebox screen fit the merc's curves?

Heres a pic of another merc with a similar chop but better looking rear 1/4 windows.

 

Yes replace the rear window with a shoebox rear. Lowering the rear of the car would help as would some fender skirts. The rear quarter gl*** is going to be pain to change. It looks like they made them so small so that they didn't have to decrown the roof.

 

I'd be curious if guys like Matt and other veteran builders think OP should source another roof to use, or whether OP can work this roof.

 

That does hit the not as attractive as it could be ****on.

Your skills or someone else's doing the work. Without someone with the eye and talent of Ian Berkley it might not change for the better and just be changed.

Finding a doner two door Merc to get the quarter window trip and back corner of the quarter window to round out the back end of the window might be real challenge.
New gl*** for the quarter windows is just making patterns and handing your gl*** man a hand full of cash so that isn't a problem.
The rear screen and metal around it could come out of a four door as often happens here in the states.

 

Along with the 1/4 and back gl*** change, I'd add drip rails. Lack of the rails just ruins the look of that car for me.

 

Lowering the rear end will help---a little

 

Yes a shoebox rear window with a little metal fabing will realy help you out with that radical chop. You can also move the back window back at the same time to shorten the sail pannel simulare to this 51

 

i would start with another roof, if you could that one has been worked quite abit to lay that flat. the 1/4 window even looks to be flatened out. how tall is your windshield? looks to be a 5"+ chop. not sure how hard it is to source a top over there, even a 4 door would work with a little more work on the 1/4 windows. this 51 is one im working on right now that we swapped out the 51 for a 49/50 rear window. its 4" front and 4.5" rear, anymore than 4.5" out of the back with the 51's rear window and you have to start getting creative with the metal or the gl*** for that matter. the marroon one is chopped 5". if you swapped in a 49/50 rear it might look a little funny, your package tray area would get even longer unless you added some metal and slid the rear window back.

 

Im thinking about adding drip rails, mainly for the looks but also to keep the uk weather out, i read somewhere on here about using 1/4 inch rod ? as for the rear 1/4's i cut gl*** for a living so thats no probs, do you think its possible to cut the top of the rear 1/4 window, reshape it then reweld into place?

 

The person that made the chop on that car sure did a ton of work (it looks like some good quality work as well). I agree with the drip rail comment, it just does not look right without this. The drip rail ties in the flow and lines of the roof. With all the rain over there (and I can speak to this as I was born and raised to the ripe old age of five in a small town called Selby, England) why would anyone want to remove it? I'd leave the roof as it is, get some skirts on it and drive the hell out of it! Otherwise, get a complete 49/50 roof and start over. Regards, Rhys (I know, Welsh name, don't ask).

 

i think i have seen 46-48 chevy rear windows in one they are smaller then thr shoe box ford. still look great.

 

drip rails add a nice breakup line to the top. your best bet would probably be to use a shoebox rear like EXK's merc. once you get the roof and rear window flow right you could fab up the 1/4 window openings to flow with the roof line. this merc is one that i put the 1/4" rod on.

 

Hi guys just measured front screen there is a 10.5 inches of gl*** so and rear 1/4 gl*** about 6 inches any idea how much its chopped?

 

6" on the front more in the rear

 

Driprails and belt-line stainless. Put those back on and you will see a m***ive improvement. Trust me.

 

Wow that drip rail really makes the difference, i think thats a definate yes for drip rails, as for the rear 1/4 windows i think you are right, once the rear screen is done i could then shape then to suit the flow of the roof,

The problem is getting a roof in the uk, i expect it will cost a small fortune!

 

You definitely need to lower the car first before you start any serious surgery.This is a quick one just to show this Merc's potential.The lowering will completely change the look of the car.Almost looks like gl***guy's now.Almost.

 

i take it, its not possible to use someones off cuts from another chopped merc and raise the roof?

i ***ume by beltline trim the upper trim in this photo just below the window openings?

also anyone know what trim is used on the middle of the body?

 

wow looks loads better, not perfect but a hell load better!

 

you dont need to change a thing. just sell it to me.

 

ha ha, ive only had it 5 minutes,

 

Hey Doug get in line mate .............LOL.

 

Come on paul, your a sheet metal man, what are your thoughts?

 

It's a pretty serious chop,and styles have changed a little over the years...what's good vs.not so good..I remember going to a lot of the KKOA shows back in the 80s,and looking at how MANY different ways Mercs were chopped.My first one was done with only the instructions from the Street Rodder article from the 70s (the drawings to illustrate the steps,not done on an actual car).I saw one Merc that looked like mine at one of the Des Moines shows...just one..talked to the guy,he'd done it exactly like I had...and dealt with all the issues not mentioned in that "how-to",just like me.
They don't all have to look exactly the same.
I like it lowered with skirts and driprails...other than that,drive the hell out of it.
If the basic bodywork is OK on your car,the last thing I'd do is cut it up.It's a serious chop,enjoy it.

 

thats 51gringos old merc here on the hamb, forget what the stainless is at the moment. hes had a few inquires about it.

 

My thoughts are, get a smaller rear screen sourced and maybe the surrounding metalwork,( I agree that the original 51 screen has too much of a curve too it and doesn't flow as well as it could when its laid down, gives the appearance of a bubble effect), get the fenderskirts while your at it, the drip rails are pretty easy work, I made mine for the dodge from 1/8 steel and they were a piece of cake. They can be fitted after the screen and shaped to suit the curves that you are left with. Fitting those alone will transform the look.The rear 1/4 windows are lacking in height, they also have the appearance of looking to long but that may just be in comparison the how tall they are and to how far the rear screen comes round at the moment. If you are going to do the rear screen then changing the 1/4 lights will all be part and parcel of that job.

The photoshop of it lowered with skirts really transforms it, and thats without any bodywork. Maybe mocking up some driprails on there would transform it again and then the 1/4s may look ok. That only then leaves the rear screen, oh and that AWFUL fuel cap .....lol.

I think like has been posted already to get it lowered some more, definately at the rear. Get the skirts on, sort out a grill and then just drive it around for this season and get some fun out off it. then when you have all the bits then you can start sorting the roofline. Its not going to be a five minute job getting it right, and its pointless trying to rush it.

Besides my workshop is chocka full with my junk at the moment, and that merc won't fit in yours

Paul.

 

The bodywork on Dales merc is as good as they get really, no rust pretty much no filler (bondo), apart from the roof obviously, and its real straight (it would and has taken straight gloss paint well). I'm with you on the drive the hell out off it bit though, its what it was built for ...Fun.

Paul.