What is the best chop for a Model A Ford coupe?

[30FordNerd]

There are a lot of Model A Fords out there with good chop tops on them. I like them when you need to stand in front of one for a while and say to your self ''is it chopped or not?''. So my question to you guys is, what is the best chop for a Model A Ford coupe?

Here are three great examples of a Model A chop top below.

[3quarter32]

I really like the 1st car in the second picture best, but car #2 is probably the most reasonable. I never was very reasonable when it came to chopping.

[oneyellowtub]

Unchopped to too cool. But your 1st car pictured to pure hot rod with the chop. Less is more IMHO.

[theHIGHLANDER]

3" is just about perfect. Your 1st pic is a 4" and clearly the max for any Model A cpe chop IMO. The quarter window needs the flat vertical rear line to look right. The car on the left in your 2nd pic looks like it fell on it's roof. Too much for anything but a full comp car, but again, this is my personal opinion. Your results may vary, tax and title extra, no purchase necessary, see your retailer for details, void where prohibited...

[porknbeaner]

Originally Posted by 30FordNerd

There is a lot of Model A Fords out there with good chop tops on them. I like them when you need to stand in front of one for a while and say to your self (is it chopped or not). So my question to you guys is. What is the best chop for a Model A Ford coupe.

Here are three great examples of a Model A chop.

Don't know about the cars in question but I like an A chopped 4" as a rule. I have seen some that are really hammered that I liked but 4" does it for me for my own personal type of a car.

[gasheat]

I think the best thing for you to do is take a ride in a chopped car. Cartoonish chops look great standing out of the car. Sitting in the car is a different. Hope you are not too tall for the chop you want.

[31Vicky with a hemi]

If I had one wish , it would be to state a chop by what's left instead of what's been removed.

The two cars together have a lot more work done than just a chop..
The green grenade has a wedge section added thru the doors making them taller (added at the bottom). The other is a Bass built car and the entire windshield area was reworked and a lot of other things changed. Comparing those two against a chop only will not make you happy.

[31Vicky with a hemi]

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...t=golden+ratio


http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...n+ratio&page=2

See post 36 for a visual of the " golden ratio"
And then look for more on the next

[porknbeaner]

Originally Posted by 31Vicky with a hemi

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...t=golden+ratio


http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...n+ratio&page=2

See post 36 for a visual of the " golden ratio"
And then look for more on the next

So let me see if I understand. The 1.6 is below the belt line and the 1.0 is above the beltline correct? The car in the pic looked OK but where does this ratio come from? Not picking just curious.

[31Vicky with a hemi]

Originally Posted by porknbeaner

So let me see if I understand. The 1.6 is below the belt line and the 1.0 is above the beltline correct? The car in the pic looked OK but where does this ratio come from? Not picking just curious.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_ratio
Been around for a while (couple thousand years or so)

Everybody is different and likes different stuff, that's just visually appealing to most and mathematical duplicate every time.

[Speedon]

If you want to stand infront of a Model A Coupe and ask, "is this chopped?" Then chop it 3".

Mine is chopped 3 3/4" and I really like it. IMHO the car has good proportions.

4" chop is very common and looks great as well, but you will know right away that it's been chopped.

Anything past 4" and you will need to make pie cuts. (no big deal just keep that in mind).

Also, once you start chopping it, the center of the windshield start to disasapear in a hurry because they have an arch to em'. As stated above, ride in a few that have been chopped to different lenghts. Chopped Model A's look sweet!

[scrap metal 48]

Remember that the front and rear windows are the same height on 28-31's but 28/29 side windows are an inch taller than 30/31's.. A 4" chop looks different from the sides between 28/29 and a 30/31.. So take that into account when doing your chop.....

[Dave50]

If you like a mean chop this isnt to bad

[porknbeaner]

I guess the search function isn't working I was looking for a pic of kevinlee's coupe, if you like a radical chop than his coupe is one to lust after.

OK foubnd it. I guess it throws the ratio in the dirt and kicks it around a bit but if you can't dig this there is jusy something wrong with you.

[117harv]

Here it is P&B.

[porknbeaner]

Originally Posted by 117harv

Here it is P&B.

Yep found it look at my edit. Gawd I love that car.

[117harv]

I like heavy chops, but the 1/4 window needs to be shaped right to pull it off. As someone on here once said "how long is a piece of rope"? Perfect chop? it all depends on who owns the car.

[HOTRODPRIMER]

I would think it has a lot to do with your height,,in my case I'm 6'4" and have had a chopped coupe and a chopped 39 Ford Convertible,,

There was plenty of head room in the 39 and not so much in the coupe,,if you are height challenged I say go for the max,,6" but if your tall I suggest a minimal chop if any.JMHO,, HRP

[Bluedot]

I bought a '30 body already chopped 4", because I've always liked the look. But...I'd never sat in one before. Now that my project is 80% together and I can sit in it, I'm concerned about driving visibility. I'm short (5'6"), so headroom isn't a problem. But seeing other traffic in my immediate vicinity might be a little limited. Maybe it just takes some getting used to.
POINT: Be sure to sit in an A with a chop close to what you're considering before you begin cutting. Might change your mind.

[porknbeaner]

Originally Posted by Bluedot

I bought a '30 body already chopped 4", because I've always liked the look. But...I'd never sat in one before. Now that my project is 80% together and I can sit in it, I'm concerned about driving visibility. I'm short (5'6"), so headroom isn't a problem. But seeing other traffic in my immediate vicinity might be a little limited. Maybe it just takes some getting used to.
POINT: Be sure to sit in an A with a chop close to what you're considering before you begin cutting. Might change your mind.

Bluedot you and HRP both raise good points. It is hard to see out of a chopepd vehicle and if you are tall a chopped vehicle can pose a problem as well. I am not really tall myself (5'10 maybe) but I am pretty long waisted like in I gte my sht-irts from the big and tall shop long waised so sitting in a seriously chopped vehicle for me like HRP involves sitting on the floor. That becomes more of a problem with age, truct me. Maybe that is where the term Gentleman's Chop comes from, as in older gentleman.

Looks wise I still like 4" off the top on an A coupe. I don't know why I have looked at lots of them and 4" just seems to do it for me.