I have always felt a chop is the ultimate custom. But for the same $ and time you can do so much more to make it a sweet ride. Chops come with a lot of issues , windows, lowering seating, etc. Damn nice little ride whatever you do. I would do the lowering and other cool stuff first. ?The orig. side trim is so cool it would be a same to see it gone. Rock on!! ~Sololobo~
I say don't chop look at my 53...throw some wide whites and skirts on it...They didn't change the rear window much...an that rounded window makes for a technical chop...just my opinion
The 55 Crown Vic used the same windshield as the 56 hardtop. here's a 55 with a 1 1/2 inch chop that I cut down for Russ Meeks. that is about 3 1/2 inches lower that a 56 post car
that car is sweet and reminds of something I forgot back in 1966 I was 5 years old and my neighbor had a nice blue 56 crown victoria with hydraulics,shaved handles etc..that brought back memories..thanks (didn't mean to hijack your thread)
Not everything has to be chopped! These cars have great lines form the factory, and don't need much but a little altitude adjustment. Go back and read Ryans blog on the J.J. from a couple days ago about the egoless car. Besides if you abolutely have to cut something up, be a man and section it.
I chopped one in the 90s, that I regret. The windshield is a compound radius so it is not as easy as just cutting the curved glass. Of course I didn't know then what I know now.
Don't chop it. While it may be true that that year does look a bit better with a slightly lower roofline, you have the wrong body style to do it. The hardtops lend themselves much better to chopping, and only subtly. A chop on that car also would need to be executed perfect otherwise it will look awful. With the high sedan profile, the back needs to be reshaped to get a proper flow, otherwise, the roof just comes straight down and the car looks squashed and disproportionate. Not to mention that with all that curved glass, you can only get about a 2" drop in the front before the glass will no longer fit at the corners, and Lexan becomes your only cost effective option. Frankly, it's not worth it. The car looks too cool as it is. That shouldn't stop you from making other modifications though. Merc wagon tail lights, continental kits, shrouded lakes, all kinds of headlight treatment from 55 chevy, Olds, 57 Chevy, different grill treatments, de soto, plymouth, tube... that car is a blank canvas
I agree. That w/s is gonna be hard to cut, you'd almost have to make the cut at the bottom, as the top has that compound curve or roll. As far as chop and section, wow, easy to say that but what a ton of work. I'd clean it up, lower it some more, flawless bodywork on what's there, and shiney paint. Nice lines as is. Like a tri 5 Chev, hard to chop one and have it look better, not squashed.
I say chop it. This is a picture of my dad's friend's old car. They sunk the rear window to do the chop.
The above two posted vehicles are the exact reason why you SHOUDN'T cut that car. From that angle, the red and white hardtop looks squashed, and the second one... well, I don't even need to go there
Here is the one that was done at my shop before it was gold. it was just sectioned for a while. than phill decided to chop it. There are some posts on here someware on the section because we did it in one weekend. I would chop it but dont over chop it. Scott
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