Check out post #29 on Ryans post this morning "Take that Mrs Lauren"..you might like a good chop on a 39-40 cpe after seeing Doug Rices coupe....
No way would i chop the forty its beautiful as yet,a classic ride with custom lines right out of the factory...as for EL Matador thats a horrible custom,its what not to do to a 40.
I have to agree....Vern Hammond has one of the nicest chopped 40's around...I hope mine comes out this nice.
His is nice but there's so much bondo on those rear quarter panels to make it so. That's the hard part about chopping is getting those to line up without making a mess. TP
Never seen a nicely chopped 40, Vern Hammond's ride comes close. The car looks better unchopped. Good luck deciding.
cut it up, it's yours and if you don't like it when it's done get in line at Bob Drakes. His new 40 Ford Coupe body is coming out in the fall. check it out on his web site.
You have big cajones wanting to chop a 40 Ford coupe. What's wrong with the way Henry designed it? Just kidding...looks like one of the hardest cars to chop and get everything correct with all the curvatures. Certainly not like a nice straight Model A that's for sure. However, if you decide to do it you must promise to do a "How to" thread complete with pics and instructions. I think a lot of us would be all over that. Whichever way you go, it's a 40 Ford and they don't make 'em anymore so be care and good luck with it!
Another no vote on the chop. I don't mean no I mean HELL NO!!!! There have been more '39-'40 coupes ruined by abortion top chops that Bob Drake wouldn't of had to go to the trouble to make a steel repo if they hadn't been done. Slam the chassis if you must but keep the sawzall away from that beautiful sheet metal....................PLEASE!!! Frank
PLEASE.... chop! 1940 Ford Coupes can look very good with a Chopped top. Especially as a wonderful full custom. I'm not sure if the chopped top treatment will work so well on a Hot Rodded 1940 Ford. But if you want a nice taildragging custom... you have to cut that top. Its only metal, and there are plenty of un-chopped 1940 coupes out there for everybody on here that hates them... so don't let them spoil it for you. Donn Lowe is working on this masterpiece.... Who said 1940 Ford dont looked good chopped? Verne Hammond... Some older samples
If you want a chopped 40, I say go for it. I've had this as my desktop since I got my 40. I hadn't seen any other shots until Zibo posted some he took. Lose the moon tank and the bumpers and it's exactly what I want. It's not like I'm cutting up a perfect car.
Damn, I want one for my next build. You have to stay conservative when deciding on how much to whack it. El Matador in '93 (compliments of Kustomrama)
They look best with the drip rails intact. Look at Vern's and zibo's - compare those against the others posted by Rikster, and you'll see what I mean.
Don Lowe's cutting one? Looks great but I know Don could cut a stagecoach and make it look...perfect. He's my hero...love visiting his shop when I go home to visit friends/relatives in Oregon. I love what he and "House" can do with a 36 ford 3 window chop...so damn perfect!
Just happened on this old thread. Here are a couple pictures of a 40 Coupe I chopped a few years back. 2 1/2 inch consertive cut almost goes un-noticed. If anybody would like to see how/where this was cut,measurements,etc,I have all that info.
Hi my name is Jack federico, I have a beautiful 1940 ford resto mod and I'm thinking about chopping it. I would appreciate any pointers etc,, here's a pic of the car,, I've also "morphed" it to see what it might look like chopped, I have many more photos I could send you. My e-mail address is jackfed@yahoo.com. Thanks.
I agree with Rik... Custom: chop it. (but PLEASE do it right!!!) Hot rod: don't chop it. Verne's is the best I've seen. I think some have the 1/4 windows too short, I love the Doug Rice car, but I've always thought those windows were too short. Yes, there's a lot of fugly '40 chops... but you can fuck up anything-
I agree. Never seen a chopped, unsectioned '40 that wouldnt have looked better if it had been left alone. The only way to carry it off is if you also section it.JMHO.
I hate visably leaned back A pillars and faux rain gutter on customs. If a chooped 40 coupe has a rain gutter at all, stock configuration sweeping back to the trunk over a nice long 1/4 window is the ticket.
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