Customs What is the 'perfect' '35-'36 3-window chop?

I've been studying these for a looong time and come up with several favorites. There are so many variations on the theme - in fact there are probably no two exactly alike.

















Pics of your favourites are very welcome, especially if you can provide details of how much front and rear, and any other specifics of the process.

The Hollywood Hot Rods Ruby Deluxe is definitely a standout, although a bit too radical for my personal taste, but probably my two favourite chop profiles would have to be the Cole Foster build for Kirk Hammett...






And more recently, the Mike Bello '36...





The irony of my attraction to these ones is the fact that the last two started out as 5-windows, and the Ruby Deluxe used a whole bunch of sedan pieces to get that roofline!

I've almost got it figured out how to achieve the same look, starting with a 3-window roof, but any info from those in the know would sure help to put my mind at rest before making that first incision.

Everyone's gonna' have their own personal taste , some will obviously prefer the more traditional style chop over the more swoopy 'Zephyr' profile, but it would be great to see any and all Ford '35/'36 3 window chops, ideally with details, to be able to compare the different looks achievable.

Let's get into it!

Bear

 

In my opinion, only cars that look awkward stock are are good candidates for a chop. Shoebox Ford tudor sedans are in that group; '36 three windows are not.

 

For me, jack caloris is my favorite, getting ready to chop mine

 

All those pictures are great. 5-6 three windows look bitchin chopped,five windows not at all. At least in my opinion.

 

I love this one. This is what I want to base mine on when I get to it.

 

I like the look of Jack Calori's chop; it retains both some of the distinctive door window shape along with the rear slope of the turret. Seems to me that, while neat in their own right, most of the "modern" ones go too far in reshaping everything.

 

The chop is only part of it.. What they do with stance, tire and wheel combo along with other mods are to me equally important...

 

Personally, I like a more subtle chop over a radical one on most cars. This '36 I built has a 2 1/2" chop all around......

 

All the cars pictured are drop-dead gorgeous, every one of them. Beautiful.

 

A 36 3-window can be two different styles of car. Either nose down or tail down. The chop should match the rake. The straight chops seem to produce a slightly forward slant, more evident when the lid is lowered than at stock height. But if the car is going to be tail down, I think the chop needs a bit more removed from the rear. Not enough to make the back of the roof lower than the front, but enough to level the window. Like the Calori coupe.

 

My first 'complete' car was a '36 three window. My close buds were chopping their cars, (brothers Pat & Mike Donahue) so I naturally followed suit.
I was 13, so "more was cooler"...5" out of the front, 6" out of the rear. Looked great, until I fitted the door tops...OOPS! Windshield frame told the same story. Lesson learned...

 

This was one I owned in the late '70's and I was told that it was done by Gene Windfield. It was chopped 3 1/2 ".

 

Here is mine with a 3 1/2 in. chop.

 

Well this stage in your build should produce some sleepless nights..................................

 

These cars never used to be on my radar until I got old.
I have included these cars in the list of my favorite Fords (32-36)
Not quite as pretty as a 33-34, but damn close!
Don't get me wrong 29-40 are all nice.
It's a fender thing, I like hot rods fenderless.
35 & up really don't lend themselves to this.
I could learn to like fenders.

 

1935/36 chopped 3 windows are my new favorite Fords...

 

Those are all nice cars. I personally don't think they are a car that "needs" to be chopped.

 

zero inches chop

 

Henry got it right - why mess with it

 

Manuel Reyes' 1936:

 

Get it running, live with the stock top look for a season and than ask yourself if you need a chop.
I changed my mind, Sancho that's perfect!

 

To quote an elegant troubadour from the movie 'Rebel without a Cause'
"Well, we have to do something, Man..." -Buzz Gunderson

 

I know what you're saying. Any modification should be an improvement to the look of a car, and sadly sometimes they're not. I've got used to the look of my '36 sitting there at stock height, and there is not a lot wrong with the original profile, but then every time I see a nicely chopped one, I go all weak at the knees!

 

That epitomizes the traditional '36 chop. Does anyone know exactly how much was taken out of the lid? It almost looks to me like they have taken a whisker more out of the rear pillars as the 'taper' doesn't seem so pronounced in the side window. Sometimes that can be all about camera angle tho'.
Very similar in appearance to Manuel Reyes' recently finished coupe which was chopped by a couple of other Kiwis, Geoff Mitford-Taylor and Steve Morrow at GMT Huntington Beach.
I believe that one was cut 3 inches all around?

Bear

 

I'm not sure Henry was a hot rodder and hot rodders chop tops.. I will agree 35/36's look good either way...

 

Roadsters are so much easier to chop and they need it as opposed to the coupes.....................

 

And if you f*%k it up you've still got a roadster. I guess if you f*%k up a 3-window you could end up with a roadster too....

Bear

 

They look best unchopped .

 

I have no dog in this fight but looking at the photos I will say less is more in my opinion. They are beautiful cars.

 

I am laying sleepless going over this topic as well. To chop or not.
The Norwegian Blacksmith 36 is great too. Did not start as a 3W. Eastbay speed and custom are chopping a 3W right now. Looks great as well. Although I keep coming back to the subtle chop by Donn Lowe on 50Frauds old 36. This subtle chop is what I am going to aim for in case I proceed.

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