Yep Ian, it is beautiful. Man how can I not agree about that one. You can easily see the look of the original Hard Top even though the rear glass has been changed. Ya got to love the Pontiac trim too. I obviously jumped the gun here. It was disturbing to think a Bel Air was being changed so drastically. Guess I'm partial. Time for me to stand down and let rexrogers do his thing. Dom
Good man! LOL!! Hey Dom, this 51 is honestly my second favorite 49 52 custom chevy ever, right behind Jesus Valencia's 49 hardtop . Both very elegant and timeless!!
I agree again! Jesus Valencias' 49 was another beautiful car. It's lines were perfect. The top flowed into the rear quarters like it was born that way. It's a shame he sold it. You know, you guys on the other coast have a touch when it comes to the customs. I am doing a 51 convertible right now. Believe it or not I have been looking to the winter, I must be nuts!, for some custom body mods to be done. It's been on my mind for a while. The trouble I have is finding a direction and going that way. There are so many outstanding kustoms out there. You want so much to use what they have used, yet you also want to be original. Drives a guy crazy! Dom
As a big fan of chopped chevys!And the owner of a 50 hardtop! I must say SEDANS should be cut and the HARDTOPS should be left alone. The style of the hardtop cant be beat!!
The 51 that Don lowe built is a removable hardtop and it really is a well built car. the ART OF THE HOT ROD book has some good photos of the car. If mermory serves mee i belive that it is a 3" chop? I am still working on my roof section choosing a rear window is the next move before finishing the top. Rex
uh oh... got so excited seeing the first pics, i posted before seeing the pics of the 3 piece rear window gone...NOOOOOO!...dont get me wrong, the chop is still done very well, but losing the rear window just made it lose its "Hardtop-ness"
It has been a while since i have worked on this car and thopught i should post an update the rear window take it or leave it the whole reason for the smaller back window is to allow the roof to be removable but not so small that you can't see out of you have to drive them. The rear glass is from a 41-48 ford and same with the tail lights the minus the roof work the car will be a fairly mild custom leaving alone alot of what Gm had intended just refine the points that are thier and not take away the cars origional heritage. Rex Rogers
The rear panel was beaded with the pulmax machine. a lot less time than it would have been to use a orgional Ford panel. Rex
what/how are you using to latch the top down bothe front and rear??? any detail shots ?? everything looks great!!!
very cool. I like the Ford window what is that grey machine along the left hand side of the picture showing the shape of the rear window before you cut it out??
Really dig it. Been wanting to do a hard top conv. on a 50 something chevy truck. The lines are just right on this car.
The front uses the 51 chevy convetiable header and latch. at the c pillars thier are two over center latches, and the very rear has two more latches from a 32 deck lid latch. I will take and post a pictures of the today. Yesterday I made the rest of the inner structer for the rear wind checked the glass fit. and finished bracing the quater panels and cleanning the top edge up. The machine in the back ground is a Rotex punch the max capacity is 16 gauge steel and will punch 1/8" to 2" holes a real time saver in the shop.
Made some head way on the 51, the rain gutters are back on and the top latch is complete need to finish the side glass Rex
i think the whole shootin match looks great. super cool. cant wait to see everything finished up regards
The Jalopy Journal
