Chop My '54 Ford?

I am toying with the idea of chopping my '54 Ford. Haven't seen too many done well and was wondering if anyone has any pics or ideas about where to begin. Any info, as usual, would be greatly appreciated.

 

Hard top or post? If it's a hard top, leave it!

 

Oh yeah, it is a post car. Hell, if it were a hardtop, I would most definitely leave it the "F" alone, believe me.

 

guys found out how hard and out of proportion the 52-56 fords were to chop..so there will only be a few examples.

 

The glass makes it a challenge. In my opinion one of the hardest cars to chop right.

 

Ahhh, so I would have to lose the back glass...I wonder what the back glass on this fine example came came off of.

 

looks 50 fordish

 

Some tips. If you can source a convertible windshield, use that as it is 2 inches shorter than a Sedan's windshield.

For the back window, look at 49-50 Mopars, maybe upside down?

I haven't chopped my 54 Ford but this is the plan I was going to go with. Also, think about removing .5 inches off of the crown to get another sneaky fat area out of there.

Good luck, these cars don't chop easy, but that isn't to say it can't be done.

 

my first attempt:

 

ouch.

 

Here's a local car. Sorry about the dark pic.

 

my first attempt: and Here's a local car.

Ouch again. (So well stated, Tank!) These brings to mind the adage "It's better to do nothing than to do something really badly." Yeah, that's it.

 

Bring it by Jasone, we'll look at it together!!! It's a running car right?? Got a pic?

 

Some links with images of chopped 52-54 Fords:

Food for thought:
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252183
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=118057
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=109403
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=58288
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93370
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28612

 

hey ian! you want a real challenge? chop a 52 four door... i know where you can find one...

 

I would bypass the chop and go with a nice shave and slam. And with a two tone paint job, these cars can look very dramatic.

 

Agree with lazer5000,nice shave and bring it down to the weeds and some killer paint.

 

This ones for sale on craigslist

 

Heres another pic of a chopped 54...I say chop it!

 

The 54 Gary Howard did for Jimmie Vaughan is one of the sharpest out there. They can be chopped beautifully but require mad skills and an expert eye.

 

One of the best i've seen is robert lomas 53. Recently i got to check out a 54 with a chevy rear glass, not sure on the year, but seemed to flow right.

 

I have this pics of 2 swedish Fords



The pic is taken in Power Meet in Nossebro 2006



And this is taken in Power Meet in Hässleholm 2006


/Stefan

 

The 54 Tulsa Time Mercury chopped in issue 8 of Hop Up shows how subtlety makes a difference pages 44 - 49.

http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/featuredvehicles/0808rc_1954_mercury_monterey/index.html

 

Wisht I had a side view of this one. Looks nice- Move kid! Doing the same, making the call in the morning. The person that is doing my chop is an asskickr and a perfectionist. I'm particular, so it not being done right isn't an option. Plus, I get to do all the grunt work- yes!

 

Here are profile pics of that car SlmLrd.

It uses a 49-51 rear backlite, if I remember correctly.

 

Thanks for all the info. With the good examples given, I'll be able to figure out what I am going to do. Gonna roll it by Ian's next week to brainstorm. Here's a pic of how it sits now. Couldn't find a good side shot on my computer though.

 

Keep us informed of what you decide. I'm still really on the fence about chopping mine. I like the way mine sits and drives now, and I LOVE chopped cars, but the body lines of these damn years.......Desertdroog, that one looks pretty good, one of the best ones yet.

The guy that will be doing mine (if I decide it's what I want to do) helped with this one years ago, so he's done one before and knows all about the year.

 

That Jimmy Vaughn one shows how a little restraint can work wonders. A couple of inches out will improve the lines while still making people think it came that way from the factory.

But, if you want people to know it is chopped, it looks like a shoebox rear window is the way to go. To me the heavy rear pillars seem to make it look older, but that green one, and SlmLrd's opic above definitely have a nice flow to them.

 

I was looking at the square chopped one and to play the snobs advocate Id say looks like just enough chop but the side windows look funny. too much meat around the glass inside of the molding? too long? not shaped swoopy?

Looking at the other chopped car at the car show what doesn't look like it belongs from the front is there's this beautifully curved hood and roof but a windshield topline that's straight as Olive Oyle. It'd be a bitch to do anything about changing that but... a well designed visor matching the shape of the roof and hood would hide the top of the windshield perfectly and be period.

The chopped down back window looks odd. Replacing the back glass looks fine but I'm almost certain you could retain the wraparound backglass without trimming it or recessing it into the package tray.

move the back glass and it's frame foreward some, keep the angle and height as is so it still looks right at the trunk and it should meet the high portion of the roof skin before the roof skin turns down as it goes back.
You'd have to totally redesign the side windows to match the contour of the back glass.
I can see it like that
Post up or send me some pics straight on from the back and side and I'll draw it for ya with the cut lines

 

My old friend Eric Maaske's 54 Ford (RIP)...