Chopped 40 Ford custom

[RIXprints]

This has been a labor of love. The walls in my hobby room have learned a few new words during this project.

[falcon wagon]

nice start

[espo]

Like the suicide doors as well. I remember reading an article in Hot Rod long ago about someone chopping the top on a full size '40 and he remarked about how difficult it was to get the proportions to look right since there are so many different lines around the window and their shapes. 

[Zippi]

Looking good there Richard.  I'm liking the suicide doors. 

[wrenchr]

Yes looking sharp!!

[RIXprints]

Most choppers will make the cuts, spread the roof and fill the center section. I have a book on the art if chopping and it mentioned keeping the roof in one piece and moving it forward giving the trunk a longer look. That's what I did.

[NOBLNG]

Nice start on it Richard. Definitely not an easy chop!👍

[RIXprints]

If you have the chance to find a copy of 'the book' on chopping, please grab one.

[RIXprints]

It's coming together. I haven't decided on colors yet. I'll drop in a flattie with a Franzel blower on it.

[RIXprints]

It was particularly tough to open the doors after the chop.

[Spex84]

Looking good!! The decisions to lean the A pillars, lengthen the trunk, and mold the headlight bezels into the fenders are adding up into a very tasty custom!

My only attempt at both chopping a '40 and opening the doors resulted in a pile of scrap parts, haha.It's tricky business for sure. I think I pinned the A pillars four or five times after accidentally breaking them repeatedly.I'd love to take another stab at it, but I think any custom '40 I attempt will have the doors molded shut!

[slusher]

Great looking Chop!

[Ferbz]

Looking good so far! 39-40 ford coupe tops are not easy to chop! And opening the doors on a chopped top is an exercise not for the faint of heart 🙃 I've chopped three 40 Ford coupes so far and I still feel like I can't get the top to flow the way I want lol On my last chop, I leaned the windshield back a tiny bit, and leaned the rear window forward:

[bill-e-boy]

On 3/25/2025 at 4:41 AM, RIXprints said:

It was particularly tough to open the doors after the chop.

A good start to your project. It is not easy to open the doors on a 40 Coupe and then fight the battle to keep it all together. And you chopped the top to boot.