Have this really nice 49 Merc in for a soft and subtile chop. My client whant something that could have been on the sales brochures when it was new.No shaved trim or handles and no frenched lights. It will appear as a stock car only a little lower in the profile. For references I had Rik Hoving to make his magic photo shop work. This is the rendering Rik made.2″ in front and 3″ in rear just behind the quarter window vertical me***urement. The object.
This is why I love customs,you don't always have to do a radical change. If all you do is chop the top, then it's enough. Great job and good luck with the rest of the build. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I like it, but it looks to me like it's more than 2' and 3". I wouldn't argue with Rik's artistic skills, though, so 2 and 3 it is.
Yea I think it will be cool too. Thanks. I agree with you. A well executed custom is about balance and harmony and not over done. Less is more. It might be the angle of the photo that fools the eye but it is 2 and 3. Stay tuned I think so .It´s the owners choice.
Kenneth31coupe... Very nice start...great idea to keep it simple ! When I was a kid, about 7 or 8, my Dad & I were driving somewhere and I saw a Merc that was just so beautiful, and I thought was a '50. My Dad said "No, son, that's a '49". And, I replied, "How can you tell the difference, they look alike ?" And, he gave me the answer that covers BOTH '49-'50 Mercs, AND, '49-'50 Fords: "Son, you can tell the difference instantly if you look at the Door Handles. The '49's pull out to let you in. The '50's have push ****ons." That was one of my first "easy car spotter" tricks I learned from my Personal Hero: my Dad. Jonnie www.legends.thewwbc.net
Thanks for your interest guys. We discussed and agreed on that the rear window should not be moved forward and the quarter windows should not be too short. So when I pulled things back together I cut out the B-pillar and the top bow of the quarter window in one piece. Moved it back wards to where the B-pillar lined up and then the drip rail landed about 7/16 of an inch forward from its stock position. The roof I layed on the A-pillars and then lowered it to where the door window is parallel.The rear window I lowered 5/8″ in back and leaned it forward to where it have a nice slope with the roof.By cutting a relief in the roof all the way forward to the B-pillar I can adjust the roof skin up and down a bit and can get a nice slope all the way from the B-pillar and backwards to the trunk area. Many of chopped Mercs have a hump a bit above the rear window and I think it´s because they don´t do this and only lays the roof and window together.At this moment I do not care about if there´s a dip between the roof and window , think it´s better to get the over all flow. The dip will be adressed later on. Here you can see the relief cut in the roof and the sunken rear window Here you can see the dip in this case about 1/4″. B-post and quarterwindow back again. A view from a distance out in the sun is a must.
If it ends up looking like the picture , it will be great. Sent from my QMV7A using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I made a new roof panel to cover the dip between roof and window frame. And new sailpanels all the way up towards the b-pillar.
Beautiful work! It is always refreshing to see somebody put so much thought and research into a car before they even start to tear into it.
Great work as usually! I like the concept of this project.The ******** restorers will be confused when its done!
Thanks to you all. Some more pics. Rear corner for the quarterwindow. Also have the top bowes for the doors done and rolled it outside for a final look before welding it all up again.
Looks very nice. I agree that hump in many Merc chops always upsets the smooth flow. Nice work to make the new panels and creating the smooth flow. Thanks for sharing the pics of the process.
Great Looking work if I was 20 years younger I would have Mine Choped but tis life & I will just Drive my Merc. and enjoy it.! Keep up the Great Work.! just my 3.5 cents or when the Cows Come Home.!
Thanx folks. Time for a new update. Roof is welded,grinded and smoothed and inside quarter windows are done.
Beautiful, wish I had the skills to chop my fleetline. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app