Projects 1950 Ford coupe — sectioned custom

Nope... Especially with a mild chop, that splitting thing is not needed. It's actually not real complicated at all.
The 1st car I ever chopped was a '49 sedan, I did it 100% by myself in a 1 car garage and it turned out real well. I'm confident that you can pull it off when/if the time comes. I think a mild 2" +/- chop would be a good choice!

 

I didn’t really believe the comment about narrowing the roof. I thought he might clarify what he meant.

This thing will be built in stages. I have other priorities before the chop. It must be running and driving first. I need to be thinking engine choice. Right now I’m looking at a Mercury 410 FE. Keeping with the 1962 theme, it will be officially listed as a stroked 390 (which is the truth, but sounds cooler). One of the first custom cars I saw up close had a Pontiac V8. I like Ford engines in Fords, but maybe a different engine would have more flair.

 

It makes perfect sense if one wishes to keep things in proportion overall.

To assume I was suggesting only the roof be narrowed, though...

Good luck with the project, @Rand Man

 

Okay, so I should narrow the entire car right down the middle? Sounds good, I’ll get started on that. While I’m at it, I think I will shorten the wheelbase.

 

The guy I had lined up to finish the sectioning had to bow out due to health reasons. I am still looking for a fabricator near the exact middle of the United States

 

There are lots of good builders in Texas. Guys like Brian Bass, Mercury Charlie, young guys like Levi Green. That may not be considered the exact middle though?

 

I’m in the northwest corner of Arkansas. I would call that pretty much the center of the continental United States I have a few leads I like bass a lot. I will talk to him. He’s about six hours away from me and Kansas City is four hours from me. Tulsa is two hours from me, etc..

Yeah Moriarty, I happen to just notice that car for sale that car looks pretty good unchopped I have to admit the first section but unchopped shoebox (in a magazine) years ago, I thought “that looks a little odd”.

 

the guy that has a chop shop in southwest Missouri very reasonable prices also does other fab and body work .. I think he is\was a HAMB Vendor

 

Who?

 

Man that is sweet. I.M.O., a 2" chop would bring the proportions back. Either way it's a winner!

 

It would look good with a short set of fins, like my brother Jerry and some friends did, in the hobby shop at Miramar Naval base.

 

Yes, I have something planned for the fin area. I think I might need some professional help to illustrate that.

 

I love it, and especially the wheel covers
(which I have a set of For Sale, under parts )

 

somebody on here knows who I'm referring to, maybe one of the Stray Cats in Oklahoma

 

Simple is Better on any sectioned car, remember custom mods should accentuate what is already there. Very easy to overpower the sectioning by adding distractions, a Custom Should Flow!

 

49 Rattfink did the photo chop on this.

 

Rot n kustom added this Carson top. I like padded tops.

 

James D matched my colors more closely I’m liking this one.

 

Personally I like James' unchopped version best of the three. The side trim placement in James' version is much better as well IMO.
I am usually strongly in the chopped camp but there is just something about a sectioned and unchopped Shoebox that works.

 

Am I the only one that thinks the bumpers on the black coupe look “heavy” and the height should be cut down a bit. IMHO the proportion is off, otherwise a beautiful car.

 

Good point. It would be tricky to do, but taking a section out of the bumper would look really good!
Can someone do that in photo shop?

 

I see what you mean now those bumpers should be sectioned along with the body. You need to take out a certain percentage of metal out to keep the balance. I’ll be doing something like that. Good idea thanks.

 

The photoshop work is getting closer, with this mild chop. talking to couple of top pros and a local shop. Might have the local shop drop the engine and trans in there.

 

texasred,
I think you're talking about Kenny Baker, "the chopper". @choprods
https://akathechopper.tripod.com/Index-2.html

 

That last illustration is cheating on the roof. Looks a lot more rounded. Like a blend of sedan and coupe roofs.

 

I like the roof height and the angle . I had thought that I wanted my post vertical, but I see canted forward slightly, works. I’ll have to talk to a professional see if it could be done that way.