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

YES! 00 MACK and I had the same thought. Rod Rice's Astorian by the Alexander Brothers. Below is a scan from the January 1983 issue of Custom Rodder.

Remember that the reason to chop a custom car is to make it flow and improve the lines, not look like an elephant sat on it!

Check out how the Alexander Brothers dropped the lid but kept the body in proportion by using a thin stainless trim piece which echoed the stock front fender body line. Under that was a light paint highlight (by Jack Florence, I believe, who also did the rear of the car) which visually sectioned the body. And the lakes pipe looks like it grew there.

Dave

 

Back in the 80's, Cal Tanaka whacked a 55 sedan that was more hot rod than custom. It looked really good. It got some magazine coverage a couple of times. Once all yellow and once flames over black. The Cal lic plate read FABLES.

 

I wouldn't chop it, but I don't think the tri-fives are right for customs. The very best look is the often copied American Graffiti look.

 

Thats the stupidest reason I've ever heard to chop a car...

 

I'd say no, since it's a sedan (post). If it was a hardtop, then maybe - I've seen some chopped hardtops that looked bad***, but never a sedan - always looks too "smashed flat" to me, with that post in there...'Cause I don't think the sedan tops had as much arch to them as the hardtops.....

 

id have to say no! i love chop tops but some cars just dont look right chopped and i think the tri 5's are some of those that look good unchopped!!

 

If I had the skill and help to do it, I'd chop it. There are a couple zillion tri-five Chevies out there, but the one that I always remember is a '57 chopped about 5", all black, tubbed, with limo-tint windows. That ****er looked mean!

 

I kinda liked it !!!!

 

I think any Tri-5 chopped looks wierd... not cool at all. It just doesn't flow, which is the purpose of the chop in the first place. Unless you take some out of the body... then you are talking a m***ive project. Also... if you think of a resale point of view... later on down the road.... it would be a hard car to sell if it looks like hell. I've seen people p*** on a sedan delivery cause they radiused the rear wheels. The sheet metal is hard to find.

 

No...

 

don't chop it

 

Chop it, a couple more of the Hoskin car Randy posted

 

I would say chopp it because everyone has on unchopped. Just like my A coupe everyone wants me to chopp it but I wont because everyone chopps there A's I prefer mine stock. I t aint everyday you see a 55-57 chopped. I say do it. But you better take plenty of pics,

 

true, most of them look wierd, but that is because the owners just "chop" them...they don't go the extra mile to make it flow right..sedans have a bit of a hump in the middle of the roof...the rear has to be lowered more than the front to solve that ussue...which also make for ALOT more work in the backlite area. mine retains the original back window, but it is moved foward about 7 inches and sunken...i am also in the process of making my own c-pillars(changing the slope)..i am also hardtopping it but not by welding the doortops on..the roofs have a good bit of loft to them, so welding the doortops on make the roof look like a bubble. by re-working the upper jambs, it will look and work correctly. if someone wanted to chop their sedan, i would go for the hardtop winshield and just take out 2 inches..basically just "shrinking" the top a bit. i think it would look great....if done correctly.

btw, the sheetmetal for these cars is NOT hard to find.

 

Don't Chop!

 

Original stuff is... repop stuff from what I heard isnt' very good. Almost no sheet metal made for the 56. Alot more for 57 but less for 55.

 

Hammer that SOB.
I might not go too extreme with it. Say about 3" out of the A pillers then lay the back in with whatever it takes to make it right. I'm thinking more out of the back than the front. but its just opinion on my part.

 

aftermarket sheetmetal for any car isn't all that great...i've never NOT had to re-shape replacement panels....lol....

 

Dont do it ,you'll ruin it....

 

4 in the front and 5 in the back Chop it!