I'm with Rikster. Chop it! Leave the drip rails, though. Like you said, it's not like you're starting with a cherry. Make it what you want it to be.
Rikster The Donn Lowe pic in bare metal at the top of your post looks sweet. Did he section it also or did he raise the fenders up on the body? Great flow. Thanks, Nick
Guys, he's got a PICKUP.....! Jalopy, get out the Sawsall and hack away. Just mark EVERYTHING with tape and trace cut lines, but if you're a body guy, you know this. Chris
If you can get your hands on a copy of the July 2000 Street Rod Builder magazine, there's a pretty lengthy article with lotsa pics of the chop my dad did on a 39 standard. I normally don't care for most chops on these bodies, but I think that one turned out nice. It does seem to work better on 39s and 40 standards. If you're running 40 deluxe front sheet metal, it really doesn't work so well aesthetically.
He never did say what his 40 was(coupe,sedan or truck). He is selling a 40 cab on here. Here is the link. This has been a great thread regardless. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=450972
Lynne, is that something you had? Looks like your neighborhood- (Lynne used to own Verne's '40 when it was raked, with big n littles, stock roof and DeLuxe nose, in black primer with orange rims.)
Keith, My friend Jim Hamlin bought this '40 in the early 70's but didn't keep it long. Don't know what happened to it...L.B. This is in Wilmington where he lived at that time...
Those are great photos... thanks for showing them Here is another nice side view of Vern's 1940 Ford Coupe.... With CHOP.. and looking GOOD!
There was another all time great one that belongs up there with Lowes and Walkers done by a guy named Pete Mariott about 25 years ago from Michigan.
I say no! Very few guys have pulled it of where it looks right and coups look Sooo right the way are straight from Henry.
This is a tough one...I guess I am on the "it is okay if done RIGHT" side of things. Below you will see my old 40 that was chopped in the sixties and which was rebuilt by a father/son team in Knoxville. I loved the damn thing, but some guy just "had to have it" and kept pestering me, so I let it go. Ran like a raped ape which was a ball, but I must admit that it had one helluva blind spot! I have a 40 deluxe coupe survivor that I just acquired and love it unchopped. Good luck! Ebert
Ebert - Saw your '40 in a magazine probably ten years ago. Definitely one of my favorite hot rods. One of the few that can make me think about hot rods the way I did before I "knew too much".
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