30/31 Model A roadster w/chopped W/S and top

OK. I took a lot of ribbing at Bonneville about my "uncle Daniel" looking Model A highboy. It was called everything from "granny smith to "hey is that from the Great American Race".

So, I've located an extra windshield and a set of top bows. Now I need pictures of chop top roadsters to see how much and what style of top etc.

I'm also attaching a picture of my car and if one of you photo chop experts could do a chop, I might get some ideas.

Thanks.

 

Whacked about 3 in. off the top.

That is a fantastic roadster ya got there. Sure wish it was mine. I keep telling the kids I'm going to be building one.
I'll get there.

 

Izzat a Lebaron-Bonney top?

If you go for a chop, you can probably remove the hide-em strip, pull the tacks and raise the vertical back curtain/window etc. up.
Part of it would depend on where your window is and the size of the window, but you could pull it off.

Keep in mind that if you chop it 3" - which looks good in Lowcab's photoshop above - the rear curtain/window do not have to come down the full 3".
A touch more wedge shape to the top roof area would be ok.


Now that I dug out a pic of the roadster from the rear, it looks like you'd need an upholstery shop to cut down the rear window cloth area at the bottom.
Once that was done - centering the window in the now shorter rear curtain - pulling the rear curtain up over the rear bow and re-tacking would be easy.

If your top is held on with carpet tacks, get the copper ones from Lebaron-Bonney or get some aluminum ones from the local hardware store.

You don't want blued carpet tacks cuz after a while they rust.

 

Dad added a top to his '30 this year after having some cancer removed from his ears.

An extra challenge was fitting the top to the custom windshield.
Mike

 

i cant steal these pictures so its a follow directions post here

go to www.ahrf.com
then "media" in the bar..."photo gallery"

click "hot rods" then "roadsters"
then go to picture #232 and #235

its a kinda neat looking windsheild on a 30/31 layed back really hard

sorry this is so confusing
Zach

 

One more.

Our pal Doug Wozak was also at Bonneville sporting a chopped top on his '30 roadster.

 

heres mine but its not a 30/31...i kinda like the top though
Zach

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=24154&d=1081777273

 

Well, if I had a roadster that looked that good they could poke fun of me all they wanted to. I guess I'm just not cool enough to know the difference, but it looks good to me just like it is, sort of really old original rod style.

 

[So, I've located an extra windshield and a set of top bows. Now I need pictures of chop top roadsters to see how much and what style of top etc.
Thanks.[/QUOTE]

If you can wait about a week(?) and I can borrow a camera, I will send you pics of mine. '31 with 3" chopped bows and a forward rake. I used a LB top like you have but just ordered a new rear curtain so I could move the rear window.

You CAN use your existing top, bows and irons. I have the dimensions of the pieces removed. Or slice and dice the new ones to fit you. You will have to heat and recurve the short irons for the #2 bow to lower it (optional). Depends on how much headroom you need/want.

Should have it tacked on this weekend. Not moving very fast due to surgery last week. I do have it ready to go back together, though.

 

You're finally catching on Paul...hahaha!

I was talking to a couple of the RB guys at Ty-Rods and we laughing about the mods to your roadster at Bonneville and now where it's going.
I can't wait to see what you end up doing, it's going to look awsome not that it already doesn't!

 

Whats there to pick on about that car??

 

Paul, just leave it like this:

 

A little tall but super nice none the less.

 

Dennis, I would, except I live in the northeast and I drive in any weather. Sometimes is nice to have a top and side curtains when the rain is sideways.

 

That's much better. Still looks a little tall i the rear. Thanks for the effort.

 

Yes, it is a LB top. If I can find another set of bows( I have a good lead on a W/S and bows) I will have a whole new top done. If all works out I'll be selling my complete top, W/S and side curtains.
Your tips on how to correct the rear window are just what I need to know. Thanks.

 

I'm in the process of having **** ground off of my ears now. Too many years in old roadsters and converts.

 

Zach, That's a great sight. It's going in my favorites. Lots of good ideas there. Thanks for posting.

 

I've wanted to drop the top for several years. I always need a good winter project. Last year it was my T5, this year it's the top. Thanks.

 

IMHO, the top bow above your head always looks too tall even with the top chopped. Some of the best chops I have seen had the ends of this bow shortened thereby "sectioning" the fabric area or what would be the rood crown if it was a hardtop car.

 

If you can wait about a week(?) and I can borrow a camera, I will send you pics of mine. '31 with 3" chopped bows and a forward rake. I used a LB top like you have but just ordered a new rear curtain so I could move the rear window.

You CAN use your existing top, bows and irons. I have the dimensions of the pieces removed. Or slice and dice the new ones to fit you. You will have to heat and recurve the short irons for the #2 bow to lower it (optional). Depends on how much headroom you need/want.

Should have it tacked on this weekend. Not moving very fast due to surgery last week. I do have it ready to go back together, though.[/QUOTE]


I have plenty of time to wait for the pics. I'm not even looking at the top and W/S until early November. I'm very interested it your info on lowering the top. Thanks for the offer.

 

Yeah, They were relentless about getting my car "looking the part". It was fun watching the transformation. Still getting mixed reviews from some of my friends, but my grandson really likes it this way. Esp the number. Never thought I'd do that.........

 

heres a better shot of mine...if you happen to like this style i can get more pictures...again..i know its not a 30/31 and i didnt make it so i cant tell how much chop or anything...but to me it looks like ones ive seen in old books from the 40's...such as on the left side of the cover of "hot rod memories" by don montgomery

Zach

 

Zach, that's pretty much what I want. I like the way the side comes up to the door, eliminating the 1/4 window. More pic please. Thanks.

 

no problem...now that i may have figured out photobucket
the only thing i dont care for is how much it overhangs the windsheild...seems like it catches alot of innecissary air

 

That looks JUST like a car I see around here. It's got a tan top and no hood. It sure looks spindley (sp?) Just a few inch drop in front and back and loose the ugly stock top and it'd look 1000x better.

 

Sorry for the ****py photoshop but I think you get the idea, racked and chopped.

 

NOW WE'RE TALKING!!!

 

Paul, I tried, but I think I went too far.