I know there alot of experienced choppers out there, and the question is how hard is it to chop a 55 chev hardtop. It seems the moldings would be the problem unless they have to be deleated, which isnt a problem for me. I need some input from you guys. Geno
55 hard tops are like 40 fords, just lower it and put reversed chrome wheels on it and it looks cool. There was one pictured in the back of one of the Barris books in red and it looked cool. Gl*** will be a problem but not huge. To my eye, the hard tops look low anyway.
I gotta' go w/ Gooch. If you want to chop something find a car that it will enhance the lines of...not take away from them.
[ QUOTE ] 55 hard tops are like 40 fords, just lower it and put reversed chrome wheels on it and it looks cool. [/ QUOTE ] Sure, follow the crowd...paint your car flat blak and throw on some red wheels...what ever happened to individuality? Chop it...I've seen enuff stock height 1955 Chevy hardtops with stock side trim! R-
I've seen a few chopped '55s over the years, they look ok if you chop it right (IE not too much off the top) they take well to being sectioned also (again not too severe). I saw one in a magazine in the last year or two that was way overdone, I didn't care for it but the guy who owned it loved it. Be yourself. Note both take a certain amount of finess to do. But they are doable. Just try and plan ahead as much as possible. The trim can be cut and tig welded. Like any round roof it's going to try and buckle on ya so you'll have to plan on makeing some relief cuts in it.
Never chopped a '55, but I always thought they looked mean with a 2" or 3" chop and radiused rear wheelwells. From what I've seen, the best chops were just done at the A-piller, with the rear window sunken into the rear deck and the tulip panel and trim m***aged/soldered to fit before it's re-chromed. Cool.
Do a lot of research first, maybe start choppin a model of one first. What to do with the back gl***? Sink or lean? three piece 57 olds works well on a full custom.Those damn pot metal vent windows, and the rechroming. Look closely at the flaps over the door gl*** and the way the quarter windows fit and operate. If yer lookin for a dechromed POS with no gl*** its easy. But a pro finished custom, its at the high end of of the scale. Thats just my two-bits.....OLDBEET
The easiest way to do a tri-five, "SEDAN", is to chop it 2", because, tri-five "HARDTOP" windshields and back gl***' are 2 " shorter than sedans,...ready made chopped gl***!
Here's my all time fave 55: Harry Hoskin's "The Cherry" See "Barris Kustoms of the 1950s" - page 90 2-1/2" chop / '56 Lincoln tailights / 55 Dodge side trim (looks like back gl*** was laid down too). Understated and beeeeautiful ya couldn't go wrong following the lead of this baby.
I agree also with Gooch it does look good lowered and reverse rims but that is how my last two were. I no it would be alot of work but to be different is the task. I just didnt want to cut the roof and then be with no gl*** or options for the trim. how is the back gl*** leaned? How much chop is too much etc. Cleatus that is a clean 55
When you chop a roof from the mid 50's that has vertical A pillars, the car usually ends up looking too bottom heavy. Then you'll need to section it. Then, it might just look weird, like it is in 3/4 scale or something. In my opinion.
Rudy Rodriguez had a blown g***er style 55. I went for a ride in it with him and I THREW UP IN MY MOUTH! tub the rear, drop it on the ground, pull out all the front sheet metal but leave the fender shells on. Put in a blown big block with 2 quads and run it without a hood. ......There, you just built the best hotrod you can out of a 55. If you want a custom, sell it and buy something else. like I said, the Barris car is cool enough but come on, if it looked that good you would see more of them. G***er or total pro street: thumbs up Custom: thumbs down
The Barris style 55 HT is cool- A little less chop would improve it.....Also the rear gl*** is NOT leaned on that car- The opening is shortened and if its real gl*** it has to be mounted in a tray and resealed at the belt line[or lexan if not]........Seriously the actual chop is not that difficult on the posts -OR- the hardtops of these 3 years. its the trim and finish work that is the Devil here. you must rebuild the frames around the rear quarter gl***es and of course the vent frames.......[and ALL THAT STAINLESS].....Also the flappers mentioned will move ahead of center and no longer line up with frt door gl*** frame tops at their back point......-something to consider...If asked my opinion on a chop for these -I'd say 2" chop-TOPS.
[ QUOTE ] Here's my all time fave 55: Harry Hoskin's "The Cherry" See "Barris Kustoms of the 1950s" - page 90 2-1/2" chop / '56 Lincoln tailights / 55 Dodge side trim (looks like back gl*** was laid down too). Understated and beeeeautiful ya couldn't go wrong following the lead of this baby. [/ QUOTE ] from what i recall reading this is sectioned a bit too. right?
[ QUOTE ] like I said, the Barris car is cool enough but come on, if it looked that good you would see more of them [/ QUOTE ] C'mon Gooch..the reason you don't see more of them is...knowbody has the cahones to chop one...... I'm all for the up in the air nosebleed look.....but take a risk.....make one look good in custom form..... Ron, I like that last pic you posted...I'm getting the itch to custom this 57 2dr post I just picked up recently...
rad****, the front of the barris car looks funny to me. the one with buick headlights looks funny too..... none of those cars look like "I gotta have em". Sorry, chopped tri 5's dont look good to me. God made a few cars to be hot rodded not customized
Gooch thats one good lookin nomad. My whole out look on this if i did chop was to chop, lower, possibly radius the rear wheel wells. And of course remove the front sheet metal (not fenders) put some ci under the hood and a dual tunnel, and hang on! not really make a custom. it is funny u mention chop and everyone thinks custom or low rider. whats up with that!
Absolutely I remember when Rod & Custom used to run a column called "Highboy of the Month"...and its WASN'T showcasing fenderless roadsters! I can remeber, as a kid, standing UNDER the front bumper of a '64 Impala straight axle car at Oakland...maybe not my first choice for a g***er, but hell yeah.... ...straight-axle that '55!
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