Keep the driprails ON! I bought a '56 Plymouth stationwagon where the PO shaved the driprails, and it really looked like crap when it was done. I had them put back ON when I had the bodywork and paint prep done. Looked FAR better with the driprails ON the car.
Keep em on ,you dont want to have a great lookin chopped Merc without driprails.The rooflines just dont flow unless they have driprails.Survey says.... Keep em on.
This poor old 40 sedan looked like a refrigerator being painted white and sans drip rails,,, We did a little round stock repair,, And the finished look, To me they just look better with a drip rail. HRP
It seems to me those who have shaved their drip rails, wouldn't ever drive their cars in the rain anyways. I like the look of the drip rails on cars.
This poor old 49 white slab could sure have used some driprails. Sent from my DROID device using the TJJ mobile app
I chopped my 49 Merc ( into a hardtop) and adding drip rails. using 57 Buick rails that will be chromed. enjoy--TwoChops
I like them on, when they are shaved especially on any color other than very dark colors, my eye goes straight to the door line on the roof area. If your doing a hardtop it looks good without them. The gutters help break up the area between the roof and sides...its all preference...
Mike since yours are diced pretty good using the 1/4 round rod like HRP said works well and gives it a very smooth look.
Hey, If you're goin' with the drip rails or the round rod mudded over edition, be sure and get the after market chrome emblem that say's " StreetRod ''! These look real ''sexy'' with radials, ''splash graphics'' and a tweed interior " The ice cream truck in his neighborhood plays Helter-Skelter"
Well the drip rails on my 48 have been shaved since 1980. I did it because I liked the look when I chopped it. That said, you really find out why they are called "drip rails" the first time you drive the vehicle in the rain. Well those of us who drive our rigs when it rains and don't lock them in the hermetically sealed garage when we see clouds forming in the sky. As far as it "looking right" that is in the eye of the beholder and we all see things a bit different and so be it. It would be a boring world if we all did everything exactly the same.
I wish the ice cream trucks around here played the beatles.. Yes I like drip rails. keep them. Model A's look the worst without them!
Also Mike, i believe there is a "to do things correctly 50's checklist" that you have to adhere too, to look "correct" 1. shave door handles 2. chop top 3. shave gutters 4. blah 5. blah blah 6. blah blah blah My pop did a bunch of lead and metal work to his buddy's 50 coupe back in the 50's. it wasnt chopped but the gutters were leaded up and the seams filled.. This is one of those back and forth discussions....guys who like the way they were all done back then, or not.. But hey, im just a young wipper snapper, i really dont know shit....
I figured Jeff would jump in on this one,haha,with his "SHAVE THE GUTTERS OR DIE!!!!!" stand. I personally don't care for shaved gutters....but,I must admit,some of my favorite Mercs have the gutters removed. Now....do I think they look better without the gutters? NO! Do I think they would look better WITH the gutters? NO! Each car is different. Hirohata,Sam Barris Merc,Jeffsleds Merc...would they look better with the gutters? Nope. It's kinda like the old "What's the best Mercury?" question. Everybody has their preference.
I say....if you want to shave them,shave them. If you want to leave them on,leave them on. It's NOT a deal breaker. Unless,a poor job is done shaving.
Very few cars can get away with it. My 2 cents only. You should shave your eyebrows off if your going to do it so everything matches when your cruisin.
Listen if you don't want them shave them, but I think everyone of those cars would have looked better with them on.
I shaved them off my 46 Merc when I cut the top. I dont like the look of the car without anything there so I am adding a piece of 1/2 round for a body line.
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