I was wondering if anyone has ever put a 53/54 hardtop roof on the earlier 49-52 chevy hardtop. I have always thought it was a better looking roof. Can not remember seeing one but maybe someone on here has. anyone in the NW have a rust bucket 53/54 that wants to sell the roof off of it. might consider trying it on my 51.
never seen that one done, but have considered doing a tri-5 roof on my 53. thought that one might look pretty cool.
I wanted to do just that but couldn't find a top anywhere,(that I could afford) when I chopped my 52. Wish I could have I think the roof line is so much better and makes the car look lighter. Wish someone would do it I would like to see it.
try the photoshop thread. would be interested to see. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=300531&highlight=photoshop
wayfare, always keeping my brain in motion. never sure until I start the cut. putting a roof on saves me from pulling the body off the frame. Also just curious on what it would look like in real life here is a photoshop version of my car with different roofs, the last being a 53/54 chevy roof
I'm thinking you would need the roof and the complete rear window surround and even the beltline molding bump. I'd be suprised if you could use the 51 beltline molding with the 53-4 back window. I saw a 49-52 Fleetline with 53-54 hardtop side windows once, never seen what you are speaking of. probably end up being way more work than what it would first appear to be.
thought would be to slice it in just above the factory rear 51 window (which is still in the picture above). leaving a few inches of factory roof metal around the edge. biggest would be the qtr glass and enlarging the track area to accept the new glass.
I think the last picture looks awesome except maybe reworking the rear window so it's not sooo sharp. BWAAHHA the cat. I just noticed!
The trick is going to be getting the back glass to fit. What if you cut the roof a couple inches in front of the '51 back glass, and then just replace the rear seat windows, and the angle of the C-pillar and forward with the '53 roof. The down side would be a 3 piece rear window... but I think it seems to fit the car a bit better. The one piece '53 glass looks sort of big.
its food for thought, just never seen it and thought it looked good in concept. I have always like the roof line of the 53/54 hardtops alot more than the 51/52s
Yo Ken....when I first read this thread I thought..."nah, that doesnt' sound good to me." but after looking at the photo shopped picture, it looks outrageous! Gotta do it. I'll bet the basic body tub of a 53-54 is the same as your 51-52 bel air and I'd be very surprised to find this job is a tough one.
I gotta agree it looks pretty cool. A nice change up to chopping the stock roof. I gotta wonder though how about an 1 1/2 more and maybe a fleetline rear window? Too much? Too little ? or just plain wrong approach? I dunno but it has my wheels turning!
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