Wanted:Hambers Opinion on Chopping a 55 Chevy...

If you want to waste a lot of time and money, go aheead and chop it. To each his own.

 

i vote to leave it alone.

do some cool and radical changes to the rest of the car. that people won't even notice it's not chopped.

**** Reynold's is a good example of a cool looking tri-5 chevy.

 

Hardtop-Maybe
Sedan-Nope
.00002 worth,
Larry T

 

I say chop it! I took 3" out of the roof on my 57 post and it was the easiest chop i have done. The A and B pillers come straight down then i split the metal in front of the trunk lid and moved the C piller forward 3". Mine wasn't a custom but you can still see what a 3" chop looks like.

 

Thats a tough call. Do some research and see how many have been done and what they look like. I do know 55's make great lookin Customs. Forget the G***er look.

 

Do It!!!!!!!.............

 

do NOT chop it.

The red one posted was a HARDTOP......a sedan will look like **** if it's chopped....

just slam it and be done with it.

 

You bring up a very good point,I looked at the photos of my car compared to the red barris car! mine has the post and I think I see what you mean,the vote is almost dead even at this point.

It most definetly will be slammed to the ground for sure!

Thanks for your input!

 

If you DO chop it, do some other ****....

Don't JUST chop it,
Me???


I'd chop it, as I have SEEN chevy posts chopped and they looked SAVAGE.

 

What he said...
It NEEDS to be chopped if you are building a radical custom, but if it's a "hotrod" don't **** with it.

By the way, a hardtop model has about a 2" lower roof and shorter windshield to begin with so if you only want that much chop.
Use a hardtop 'shield.
( I think I might have one too. I'll trade it for a '56 chevy pickup windshield)

 

HARD TOPS CAN LOOK COOL WITH THE RIGHT CHOP.

SEDANS JUST LOOK OUTA PROPORTION WITH ANY CHOP
UNLESS YOU---CHOP, SECTION, PANCAKE, SLAM, ETC.
and then YOU MIGHT AS WELL JUST BUY A '53 to '55 STUDEBAKER.

 

This is not a chevy but it is a choped 55 buick sedan I think looks pretty good although this is the only pic ive seen of it besides the other one with the sweet redneck with it my personal favorite.
http://www.autohobbypage.com/cgi-bin/_mopar.pl?/photo/contrib/law/law142.jpg

 

haha, thats the quote of the day

 

I say no!

 

Do what makes ya happy! March to the beat of your own drum, Leaders lead and others follow.

Joel

 

Whack the snot out of it. Piss off every tri-five resto guy out there. make it stand out, follow your instinct on how much to take out. my buddy whacked the **** outta a mid 60s cadi and a mid 60s continental. I think they had like 9 inch windshields. just m***ive chops. looked like a cartoon car, but *****in. one is in wisconsin now.

 

i vote nay...
It sounds like one of the quickest ways to turn an otherwise desirable car into a hard sell, should the need to get rid of it arise.
- a ton of extra work just to have something that doesn't look any better than it did originally.

 

i've been working on mine(56 sedan) off and on for a while now...mine is 3.5 up front and 5" in the back...the rear window is the issue, and the only one to consider. i am building completely new c-pillars for mine and also hardtopping it...a TOTAL roof re-construction....and yes, if you cut it this much, get ready to do lots of bodywork as well to babance out the car. my opinion? get the hardtop windshield and cut the roof to fit the gl***. i think it'll look great. hopefully i'll get some pics on here soon

 

I say no chop

 

You know what if it was mine I would be cutting on it right now.If for no other reason, just to piss people off.I dont really get hung up on lines and overall harmony.I chop cars for one reason,because im a non conformist.Nothing makes me happier than to have some smart*** at a gas station look at my 53' and try to convince me that I ruined it by chopping it.I'll tell ya its better than a bottle of ******! Good luck...

 

My general opinion of chopping these cars is DON'T DO IT. But if you have to do your homework first. Look at lots of examples and choose carefully. then execute the work with care, it would be a shame to ruin a good car, they are getting harder to find every day, especially in good condition.
There's so much you can do with wheels, tires, and stance on these that's why I steer away from chopping.

Frank

 

I say go for it, that red one looks awesome

 

If it was me...

I'd cut it till head room was an issue, and then leave the top flat to the body lines.

I've always liked that look! If the top is on the same line as the body, it can get REAL low without looking like a door stop!

 

Chop it, but give it some serious planning. 55's can make some killer customs, but there needs to be a plan, not just a chop.

 

its your car do what you want but theres a 55 2 d post in Duluth MN sitting under a tarp been there sence at least 85 thats when i saw it & saw again last summer was chopped in early 80s has never had gl*** put back in car is pretty neat 6 cil with 2 x4s header hotcam split for duals side pipes 4 speed 57 olds read w 413s was a fast car in 70s before they decided to chop it just make sure you can fallow through before you get that far i wantted to chop my last 55 but knew it was more then i could get done by my self

 

Wow!what alot of great feedback,advice and pictures THANK YOU! it is so cool to be able to get on the H.A.M.B and have so much knowledge literally at our finger tips!

Right now as it stands The chop vote is pretty close to a tie! so plans are to get the mechanicals all wrapped up and get it lowered (I mean Slammed!) and then we will take it from there,Hopefully by then I will figure out how to post photos so you can see the progress!

Thanks Again!

xtralow

 

I'd do it. But only 3" If it's a really nice car now, I'd think real hard about it first. But I'd probably whack it.

 

chop it and slam it, but then again it is your car and you have to live with it.

 

I was gonna tell you the same thing Dr.J said about the hardtop wisdshields being 2" lower..
If your looking for a subtle chop, thats a great idea..you won't have to cut a windshield, and if it ever breaks, you can buy another and it'll fit with no headaches..
All that being said.....i personally don't care for them chopped..
but it's your ride man, if thats what you wanna do...get to cuttin'.

Tony

 

Check out Bob Bunker's "Bunker's Beast" '55 Drag car. Chopped, sectioned, Green and on the ground. A street verison would be wicked. Esp. if you started w/a less than 'cherry body'. Mike Adam's did a '57 Nomad in the eame vain as Dr.J mentioned. Super sneaky and less involved.