Chopped Top

Long before he became the legendary "Leadslinger" and the "Godfather of Hydraulics," Bill Hines was already pushing boundaries in Michigan in the early 1940s. Pictured here with his first custom, a 1941 Buick Convertible, Hines restyled the car sometime between 1941 and 1943, adding molded fenders, widened rocker panels, and a 2-inch chopped top. True to his forward-thinking nature, he even added a fin down the middle of the decklid—years ahead of its time. The bold styling choice wasn’t well received back then, and after enduring endless teasing, he replaced the trunk lid. But that early experiment in customization set the course for a career that would influence generations of builders. Hines' story began in Ecorse, Michigan, where he honed his skills before heading west to California, bringing his unique vision to the heart of the custom car movement. Photo courtesy of the Hines Family.

After serving in the Marine Corps during WWII, Lawrence Garrison moved to Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1947, bringing his passion for custom cars to the East Coast before hot rod and custom car magazines spread the movement. Based on a self-penned design, Larry transformed this 1940 Mercury into a sleek, low-slung masterpiece. He channeled the body, sectioned the hood, and chopped the windshield to achieve a streamlined European-inspired look. Full fadeaway fenders, nosed and decked bodywork, and push-button doors added to its elegance, while 1947 Buick bumpers and spun hubcaps gave it a distinctive flair. Larry built the car entirely himself, fabricating parts, stitching the Spanish leather interior, and even installing hydraulic window lifts. His Mercury wasn’t just a showstopper. It was a symbol of how custom culture was spreading across America. Luckily, the car has survived, and today it is currently located in Norway. Photo courtesy of Paul Garrison.

Benny Furtado's 1948 Ford Convertible. This early Gene Winfield custom showcases his emerging style before he became a household name. Built at Windy's Custom Shop, Gene's humble operation in a chicken coop behind his mother’s house at 1309 Figaro Avenue in Modesto, California, Furtado's Ford was one of his first customer builds. Benny, a dairyman, bought the car new and drove it stock for a year before bringing it to Gene for a chop in 1949. The roof was lowered, the rear fenders were molded, and a padded Carson-style top from Hall Upholstery completed the look. To drop it even further, Gene C-notched the frame, and later, a 1948 Cadillac grille was installed. This Ford stands as an early example of Winfield's craftsmanship before he became one of the most innovative and respected customizers of his era. Photo courtesy of Orvel "Speed" Reichert.

Marcia Campbell's 1949 Chevrolet Convertible of Los Angeles, California. In the male-dominated world of custom cars, Marcia Campbell was a rare and inspiring figure. Passionate about Customs, she drove her brand-new 1949 Chevrolet convertible straight from the dealership to Barris Kustoms for a full transformation. The result was a stunning example of late-1940s custom style, with leadwork, a chopped top, and a signature Padded Top by Gaylord. By the time her Chevy graced the cover of Motor Trend December 1950, Marcia had already moved on, trading the one-year-old custom for Carl Abajian's 1942 Ford coupe. The techniques perfected in the 1940s laid the foundation for the golden age of Kustoms in the 1950s. With radical designs, bolder ideas, and more builders pushing boundaries, the next decade would take the scene to new heights—but it all started with pioneers like Marcia and the craftsmen who turned molten lead into rolling works of art.

Joe Brienza's 1929 Ford Model A Coupe of West Islip, New York was built in 1954. The top on Joe's coupe was chopped 4 inches.

Henrik Forss' 1930 Ford Model A Coupe of Sacramento, California. Henrik's Coupe was originally built by Jorel Shockley at Shockley Customs. Henrik bought the hot rod in 2021, gave it a makeover, and turned it into the Hollywood Howler. When Henrik bought the coupe, the top had been chopped 4 1/4 inches.

Ralph Stone's 1931 Ford Model A Roadster, of San Antonio, Texas. Ralph was a member of the San Antonio Road Runners. His roadster was built in the early 1950s, and it was featured in Rod & Custom February 1954. By then, the windshield had been chopped.

Chris Casny's 1931 Ford Model A Coupe, of Hollywood, California was completed in 2010. The top on Chris' top was chopped 4".

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Joe Tully's 1931 Ford Model A Coupe of Dixon, Illinois. Tully was a member of the Blackhawk Rod and Custom club. He built the coupe in the 1950s, and the iteration seen here was raced at the The World Series of Drag Racing in Lawrence, Illinois in 1956. Joe's Coupe featured a 4 inch chopped top.

Norman Kopp's 1932 Chevrolet Coupe of Beloit, Wisconsin. Originally owned and built by Norman's brother, the first running completion was in 1958. The build was completed in 1961. Norman was a member of the Road Gents of Beloit car club. Norman's coupe was fully chopped and channeled.

Jim Papworth's 1932 Ford Roadster of Culver City, California. Jim was a member of the Culver City Screwdrivers, and the roadster, that he bought in 1947, was his first car.

Wayne Knudsen's 1932 Ford 3-Window Coupe of Toledo, Ohio. The chopped and channeled coupe is believed to have been built by Knudsen in the mid-late 1950s. It was later acquired by Warren Bookman, the organizer of the Toledo Auto Rama. Under Bookman's ownership, the car was prominently showcased at the Auto Rama, drawing significant attention and acclaim from attendees and automobile enthusiasts.

Bruce Olson's 1932 Ford 5-Window Coupe of Beach, North Dakota. The first version of Bruce's coupe was completed in 1955. This version was unchopped. Later on, Bruce took 2.5 inches out of the roof.

Conrad W. Jacobs' 1932 Ford 3-Window Coupe of Baltimore, Maryland was built around 1956-1958. The top on Conrad's coupe was chopped 3 inches.

Jon Grinager's 1932 Ford 3-Window Coupe of Farmington, Michigan. Grinager acquired the Coupe in 1956 during his sophomore year at Farmington High School. What began as a school shop project soon became a local hot rod masterpiece. Years later, the car lay dormant for three decades after a 1980s restoration attempt that ended in heartbreak. However, its legacy was rejuvenated by Jon's nephews, Tanner and Logan Kucharek, who had it restored and showcased at the 2022 Detroit Autorama, where it clinched three awards. Amidst its revival, whispers emerged of its alleged ties to the Alexander Brothers, an iconic Detroit customizing duo. The quest for this connection remains alive, seeking evidence to validate these legendary claims. The top was chopped 4 1/2 inches.

Sven Sandberg's 1932 Ford 5-Window coupe of Stockholm, Sweden. Sven started the build, known as the Glowing Coupe, in 1961. The first version was shown in 1965, featuring a 5 inch top chop.

Ron Price's 1933 Ford 3-Window Coupe of San Jose, California. Built in the early 1960s, the car made its debut in 1961 at the Grand National Roadster Show. A 3-inch chop and an 8-inch channeling gave the car an ultra-low silhouette.

Dave Willis' 1933 Ford 3-Window Coupe of Port Alberni, Bristish Columbia, Canada. Originally built by Gary Stermer of Vancouver in the 1950s, Dave purchased the coupe circa 1960. Dave spent two years of spare time turning the coupe into a showstopper. By 1978, the car had found its way to Atlanta, Georgia, where it was in the possession of Dutch Young. After buying it, Dutch chopped the top 3 inches.

Mike Young's 1933 Ford 5-Window Coupe of Austin, Texas. Lee Pratt turned Mike's coupe into a late 1950s early 1960s hot rod. The build was completed in 2016 featuring a 3 1/4 inch chopped top. According to Pratt, 5 windows, with the shorter doors and quarter windows, 3 1⁄4 inches is just the right amount.

Joe Brienza's 1934 Ford Convertible of West Islip, New York was completed in 1958. The top on Joe's convertible was chopped 4 1/2 inches.

Ron Maxwell's 1934 Ford 5-Window Coupe of Salt Lake City, Utah. The build was started in 1954, when Ron was 15 years old. The first iteration of the coupe was completed in 1955. Ron's coupe ran under flathead and later Cadillac power, competing in B/Altered at strips around Utah. In 2006, current owner Rob Montalbine decided to chop the top on the car 5 inches.

Gene Winfield's 1935 Ford Shop Truck of Modesto, California. The '35 was Gene's second shop truck, and when he got it, half of the kustomizing had been done by Rick Lefelt. After completing the build, he started showing it in 1960. The top was supposedly chopped 3 1/2 inches.

Charlie Grantham's 1935 Ford Pick Up of San Bernardino, California. Charlie was a member of the SCTA Road Runner car club, and he restyled the truck himself, chopping the top in the late 1940s.

Before becoming a world-famous artist, Vincent Lawrence Garrison was just a young car enthusiast growing up in San Diego, California. Born in Detroit in 1923, Larry’s family split their time between Michigan and California, but by the late 1930s, they had settled on the West Coast, right as custom cars were taking off. A skilled painter and designer, Larry worked for Coca-Cola painting billboards by hand while still in high school. In 1941, he put his artistic talents to use on his first custom, a sleek 1936 Ford Cabriolet. He gave it a 1939 Ford front end, shaved the running boards, and added a chopped and padded top. Finishing touches included fender skirts, flipper hubcaps, and ripple bumpers. Photo courtesy of Paul Garrison.

Ray Giovannoni's 1936 Ford Roadster of Washington, D.C. Ray's roadster was restyled by Bud Unger, and the build was completed around 1947/1948, featuring a chopped top.

Ed Park's 1936 Ford Convertible of Marshall, Missouri. Ed's '36 was originally restyled by Red Swanson of Portland, Oregon in 1944. R.I. Steere of Tacoma, Washington continued restyling it in the early 1950s, chopping the top 1 3/4 inches. Ed bought the car in 1959. After buying it, he parked it in his parent's chicken house until 1977. In 1977 he started a restoration that he completed in 1983. Since then the car has gone through a couple of iterations. Ed still owned the car in 2020. He had thousands of miles on the car since the restoration, and he was still working on it.

The top on Don Brady's 1936 Ford 3-Window Coupe, of San Francisco, California was chopped 3 inches.

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Allan Winward's 1936 Ford 5-Window Coupe of Salt Lake City, Utah. Built by Kipp, the build, known as "Miss Scarlet," was started in 2010 and completed in January of 2016. When Kipp chopped the top on the '36 he took 3 inches out of the A-pillars. The back of the roof was moved forward 3 inches before Kipp chopped it somewhere between 3.25 and 3.5 inches.

Jon Fisher's 1936 Ford 3-Window Coupe of Burbank, California. Jon is a member of the Burbank Choppers car club, and the coupe was restyled by Jon and Scott Guildner. Guildner chopped the top on the car for Fish. 3 1/4 inches were taken out of the A-pillars, while 3 3/4 inches were taken out in the back of the roof. The build was completed in 1996.

Ed Pink's 1936 Ford 5-Window coupe of Los Angeles, California. In 1949 Ed chopped the top on the Ford 5 inches and converted it into a dry lakes racer. He joined the Rusetta Timing Association, and became a member of the Coupes club.

George Barris' 1936 Ford Coupe of Roseville, California. This was George's first real custom. He bought the car from money he had earned while doing some odd jobs for Harry Westergard at Brown's Body Shop. George worked at the car between the staggering amount of school work, and working with Westergard. The build was completed in 1941, featuring a chopped top.

Alf Rasmussen's 1936 Ford of Bergen, Norway. Alf bought the chopped, channeled and sectioned car from a British or American pilot in Bergen in 1951 or 1952. The pilot had worked in the Independent Norwegian Brigade Group in Germany after WWII, and was now returning home to his girlfriend.

Glenn Johnson's 1937 Ford Coupe of Las Vegas, Nevada. The build was started in 1947, and completed it in 1951. Glenn chopped the top 4 inches up front, and 4 1/2 inches in the rear.

Gene McCrickard's 1937 Lincoln Zephyr of Detroit, Michigan. Restyled in 1953, the car was Gene's first custom and high school ride. The car was chopped about 4 inches.

Arto Riip's 1937 Studebaker Dictator Coupe of Lieto, Finland. Named "Miracle," the car was restyled by Lumo Automotive. It made its debut at the 10th annual Kustom Kulture show in Helsinki in February 2024 and stands as a testament to the art of custom car modification, balancing historical preservation with innovative automotive design. The top was chopped 2 inches up front and 3 inches in the rear, giving the car a sleek and lowered profile.

After returning from WWII, Glen Wall settled in Whittier, California, and found himself drawn to the booming post-war custom car scene. In the mid-1940s, while working at a car lot, he bought this 1939 Ford convertible, already chopped and fitted with a Carson Top. The car’s sleek, low stance turned heads everywhere he went, and before long, people started offering to buy it. That’s when Glen realized he could turn customizing into a business. He began sourcing 1939 Ford convertibles, chopping the tops himself, welding the posts, and having them leaded and primed before taking them to Glen Houser at Carson Top Shop for a padded top. Black was the best-selling color, and his cars featured fender skirts, Appleton spotlights, Buick trim details, sunken license plates, and dual exhaust. Looking back, Glen told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama in 2016 that he estimated building and selling around 20-25 custom cars before chuckling, "But that’s a conservative number." This 1939 Ford was the first, and the one that started it all. Photo from The Glen and Forey Wall Collection.

Bill Pearce's 1939 Ford Convertible of Hacienda Heights, California. Bill's Ford was restyled in the late 1940s or early 1950s. During the restyling the top was chopped.

Bob Calahan's 1939 Ford convertible sedan of Culver City, California. Bob's convertible sedan was chopped and fit with a padded top.

Clarence Patterson's 1939 Ford convertible of Glen Allen, Virginia. Built by Glen, the build was started in 1948 and completed in 1951. The car was chopped and fit with a padded top.

Bill Collins' 1939 Ford Convertible of Dallas, Texas. Bill ran the ford in the mid-1950s. He lived in the Oak Cliff part of Dallas and was one of the early hot rodders there in the 1950s. His Ford ran a chopped and padded Carson style top.

Arthur Lellis' 1939 Ford Convertible of Los Angeles, California. Restyled by Art at Art & Jerry Custom Shop, the build was completed in 1946, featuring a 3 inch chop.

Jerry Moffatt's 1939 Ford Convertible of Los Angeles, California. Restyled by Jerry at Olive Hill Garage, the build was completed in 1946, featuring a 3 inch chop.

Harry Keiichi Nishiyama's 1939 Ford convertible of Hilo, Hawaii. Harry's chopped and channeled Ford was built in 1949. The top was supposedly chopped 3 1/2 inches.

Bill Henderson's 1939 Mercury Convertible of Los Angeles, California. Bill bought the Merc when he was 14 years old. In the mid to late 1940s he worked for Barris Kustoms, and they taught him how to customize cars, while he was working on the Merc. Modifications included a chopped top.

Eddie Dominguez' 1939 Mercury convertible of El Paso, Texas. Eddie bought the already customized Mercury from a local kid in 1960. When he got it, the top was chopped about 2 inches.

Kalle Jonasson's 1939 Mercury Convertible of Costa Mesa, California. Originally restyled in the 1940s or the 1950s. An earlier iteration of Kalle's Mercury was supposedly spotted in Lynwood, California in 1958. By 1963, it had been repainted in Green Metalflake, and an old photo shows it sitting at a car dealership in San Diego. Kalle bought the car in May of 1978 and spent two years restoring it, giving it his own look. The windshield frame on Kalle's Mercury was chopped 5 inches when he got it.

Jim Kierstead's 1939 Mercury Coupe of Inglewood, California. Jim's Mercury was restyled by Barris Kustoms, and it is rumored to be the first 1939 - 1940 Mercury coupe that the Barris Brothers chopped. The build was started in 1945 and completed in 1947.

Fred Crellar's 1940 Chevrolet convertible of Concord, California. The build was started in 1948, and completed around 1951-1952. The top on Fred's Chevrolet was chopped approximately 2 1/2 inches.

Johnny Aguirre's 1940 Dodge Business Coupe of Riverside, California. The build was completed early in 2019, featuring a 3 inch chopped top.

Nick De Simon's 1940 Ford Coupe of Teaneck, New Jersey. Nick worked for his dad at De Simon Auto Body. He was a very talented body man and fabricator, and the coupe was built during weekends, nights, and in Nick's spare time. Featuring a chopped top and channeled body, the build was completed around 1957.

Bob Creasman's 1940 Ford coupe was chopped 4 inches . Bob began restyling the car late in 1943, making it the first 1940 Ford coupe to be channeled, and the second to be chopped in the Los Angeles area. The work was done in conjunction with the Brand Brothers Body Shop in Los Angeles. In 1948 the car received fadeaway fenders.

Paul McGill's 1940 Ford Convertible was restyled by Clusters of Grays Harbor member Paul McGill, of Aberdeen, Washington, in the early 1950s. The windshield frame on Paul's Ford was chopped 5 inches.

Fred Cain's 1940 Ford coupe of Wilmington, Massachusetts. Fred's coupe was originally restyled in 1948, receiving a top chop and a channeling.

Ted Graziano's 1940 Ford Sport Custom, of Cranston, Rhode Island.

Jimmy Summers of Hollywood, California, built one of the most influential customs of the 1940s, a radically restyled 1940 Mercury. Channeled 6 inches and lowered a total of 8 ½ inches, the Merc featured reshaped fenders, a sectioned hood, and a hand-fabricated grille reminiscent of a 1939 Buick. It sported a 2 1/2 inch chopped windshield and a tan Carson Top, giving it a sleek, elegant profile. Restyled in 1946, the car’s first iteration was finished in a stunning Ruby Maroon lacquer, applied in 60 coats, and meticulously polished to perfection. In May 1947, Popular Mechanics featured the car, bringing Summers’ craftsmanship to a nationwide audience. According to the article, Summers hand-built about one car per week for customers, solidifying his reputation as one of the era’s premier customizers. Photo from The Jimmy Summers Collection.

Al Andril's 1940 Mercury Coupe of Maywood, California. Al's Merc was restyled by Barris Kustoms in 1948, featuring a 5 1/2 chop.

Johnny Zaro's 1940 Mercury Coupe of Maywood, California. Johnny's Merc was restyled by Barris Kustoms in 1948, featuring a 5 1/2 inch chop.

Kevan Sledge's 1940 Mercury coupe of Martinez, California. Restyled by Kevan, the build was started in 2002 and completed in 2014. The top on Kevan's Merc was chopped 6 inches at the a-pillars, and 7 inches at the c-pillars.

Dick Owens of Redondo Beach, California, had this 1940 Mercury convertible restyled by Barris Kustoms after returning from WWII. A veteran of the Battle of Guadalcanal, Dick came home, married his girlfriend Betty, and got right into the booming custom car scene. According to Betty’s brother, Harold Johnson, Dick already had the Mercury in 1945, and it was in grey primer at the time. Sam Barris handled the chop, sometime between 1945 and 1947, giving the car a sleek, lowered profile. The running boards were removed and replaced with filler panels, the license plate was recessed into the trunk, and a padded Carson Top was added by Glen Houser. The car also featured fender skirts, and Hollywood Flipper hubcaps wrapped in blackwall tires. Photo courtesy of Tina Bergeson.

Barris Kustoms was still finding its footing when George Barris' 1941 Buick won top honors at the first Hot Rod Exposition Show at the Los Angeles National Guard Armory in January 1948. That victory changed everything. Completed late in 1947, the Buick, with its chopped top, fadeaway fenders, Cadillac grille, and deep maroon paint, became a symbol of Barris’ craftsmanship and helped establish them as top customizers. Understanding the power of publicity, George started photographing his work, ensuring Barris Kustoms stayed in the spotlight. When Hot Rod Magazine launched in 1948, Robert E. Petersen reached out to George for photos, leading to features in magazines across the country. Soon, customers weren’t just coming from Los Angeles, they were bringing cars in from the Midwest and East Coast, eager to have a Barris-built custom of their own. Photo from The Jerry Fassett Collection.

Dan and Ken Hiramoto's 1941 Buick Century convertible of Cleveland, Ohio. Built by Dan and Ken, the car went trough several iterations between 1951 and 1962. This photo shows the Raven version of the car as it appeared in 1958. The top was chopped 3 inches around 1957 - 1958.

John Vara's 1941 Ford Convertible was restyled by Barris Kustoms in 1948. The windshield frame on John's convertible was chopped 4 1/2 inches.

Harry Rusbach Jr's 1941 Ford coupe of Ridgefield Park, New Jersey. Harry bought the car in 1988. In 1990 he and three friends spent a weekend chopping the top on the car. They took 4 inches out of the front, and 4 1/2 inches in the rear.

Don Holland's 1941 Ford convertible of Lakewood, California. Don's Ford was restyled by Gil's Auto Body Works sometime between 1948 and 1951. The top on the car was chopped 5 1/2 inches.

George Contaoi's 1941 Mercury Coupe of San Bernardino, California. George was a member of the San Bernardino Krankers car club. He bought the Merc in 1952, began restyling it in 1953, and completed the build in 1956. The work was performed by George, Al Andrade, and Dick Richardson at Dick Richardson's Custom Shop. The trio chopped and hardtopped the roof, fitting it with a 1952 Studebaker one-piece windshield. This work was done in 1953.

Pete Brock's 1946 Ford Convertible of Menlo Park, California. The car was originally restyled by Art Lellis and Jerry Moffatt at Olive Hill Garage. The original owner was killed in Korea, and his family placed the car on a used car lot in San Francisco. Pete Brock bought it from the lot in the mid-1950s. When Brock bought the Ford, the body had been sectioned 5 inches, channeled another 5, and the top had been chopped 3 inches. It had also been dressed up with a padded Carson Top by Carson Top Shop.

A second iteration of Pete Brock's 1946 Ford Convertible of Menlo Park, California. While studying as an automotive designer at the Art Center Design School of Los Angeles, Pete started sketching new ideas for the Ford. He brought the custom to Norm's Auto Body to have the ideas carried out in metal. According to Peter, "It’s interesting to note that Briggs Cunningham was the first to use these "racing stripes" which I added to my car in honor of his participation as an American at Le Mans. I later used those stripes in designing the livery for the Mustang GT350s we built at Shelby American starting in 1965." Known as the "Fordillac", this photo shows the car as it appeared when it was featured in Car Craft June 1956.

Tommy Thornburgh's 1947 Studebaker of Gardena, California was restyled by Barris Kustoms. The build was completed late in 1952. The top was chopped 4 inches.

Jack Crabbs' 1948 Buick Roadmaster of Bettendorf, Iowa. Known as the "Black Flame", Jack's intent was to build and market a low scale production custom car for wealthy people, like the Kurtis Cad and the Muntz of the same time. The build was started in 1953 and completed in 1956. It was restyled by Dunshee's Body Shop, who chopped the top 4 inches.

Glen Patrick's 1948 Chevrolet Stylemaster of Beavercreek, Ohio. Glen resyled the Chevrolet in 1985. Inspiration for the build came from the Barris Kustoms built High School Confidential 1948 Chevrolets. The top was chopped 4.75″ at the front and 6″ at the rear. The rear quarter windows were filled in and the C-pillars were leaned forward.

Jim and George Bernardo's 1948 GMC Pickup of Milford, Connecticut. Jim and George ran Bernardo Auto Body in Milford, and the truck acted as rolling advertisement and parts hauler for the shop. The build was completed around 1958 - 1959, featuring a 5 inch chop.

Tom Piantkoski's 1948 Mercury Convertible of New Jersey. Tom bought the car in California in the early 1950s. By then the top had been chopped 5 1/2 inches, and the car had been fitted with a padded top by Carson Top Shop.

Spencer Murray's 1949 Chevrolet of Glendale, California. Spencer worked for Link Paola at Link's Custom Shop when they restyled the car, and he had a heck of a time getting him to work on it. They chopped the top of the car 3 inches in September 1950. We don't know when the build was completed, but Spencer showed it at the 1952 National Roadster Show in Oakland.

Qvintus Brusefält Ån's 1949 Chevrolet of Borensberg, Sweden. In 2018 Qvintus and Gene Winfield chopped the top on the car 4 inches at the Yankee Car Show in Finland.

Lloyd C. Hammond's 1949 Ford of San Bernardino, California. Lloyd was a member of the San Bernardino Krankers and his car was known as "The Majestic Lady." The first iteration of his Ford was completed circa 1958. It featured a 3-inch top chopped constructed by 1953 Ford and 1954 Mercury roof sections.

Jim Galvin's 1949 Ford Tudor of Ottawa, Illinois. Galvin was an original member of the Illinois Valley Mis-Fires car club. He built the Ford in his backyard, starting the build in 1958. By 1959, the car had been painted blue with a scallop paint job and a chopped top. Galvin took 6 inches at the rear of the roof and 5 1/2 inches at the front.

Lloyd Myers' 1949 Mercury convertible of San Jose, California. Lloyd was a member of the San Jose Rod and Wheelers car club. The Merc was completed in 1959, featuring a chopped and padded top.

Sam Barris' 1950 Buick Sedanette, restyled by Sam Barris of Barris Kustoms, was completed in 1953. The car was chopped three and a half inches up front. The rear of the car and the top was sectioned 5 inches.

Erik Lind's 1950 Chevrolet of Livermore, California was chopped 3 inches up front and 4 inches in the rear. The build was completed in 2013.

Edward Meritai's 1950 Ford of East Paterson, New Jersey. Restyled by Monego's Body Shop, the build was completed in 1958 featuring a 3 1/2 inch chopped top.

Bill Hines' 1950 Ford of Lincoln Park, Michigan. Known as "The Bat," Bill started restyling the Ford for a customer in his Southfield shop about 1955 or 56. The customer lost interest in the build, it became Bill's personal car, and he completed it late in 1957. Bill debuted the first iteration of The Bat at the 1958 Detroit Autorama. After moving to California, landing a job at Barris Kustoms, he gave the car a scallop paint job in 1958. The top on Bill's Ford was chopped 4 inches.

George Egan's 1950 Ford Convertible of New Jersey. George was a member of the Drivin Deuces car club. Known as "The Apollo," the second iteration of Egan's Ford was restyled in the 1960s. It ran a chopped wraparound windshield with a padded top.

Richard Gregg's 1950 Ford Pickup of Sacramento, California. Restyled by Richard at Rick's Body Shop, the build was started in 1958 and completed early in 1959. It featured a 5-inch chopped top. The car was shown as "the Capri."

George Mizzi Jr.'s 1950 Mercury Convertible of Lyndhurst, New Jersey. Mizzi was a member of the Driving Deuces car club, and his Mercury was restyled at Monego's Body Shop. Named the "Purple Bug," the build was completed circa 1958 - 1959, featuring a 3 inch chopped top.

Buddy Alcorn's 1950 Mercury was originally restyled by the Ayala Brothers at Gil's Auto Body Works for an undisclosed owner in 1952. Buddy Alcorn of Dominguez, California acquired the car in 1955 and promptly took it to Barris Kustoms for further enhancements. The Ayala's chopped the top 4 inches in the front and 7.5 inches in the rear, giving the car a tapered, almost fastback-like slope.

Ralph Tyrone Scarfo's 1950 Oldsmobile 88 hardtop of North Bergen, New Jersey. Ralph's Olds was supposedly restyled in San Diego in the mid 1960s. The top was chopped 2 inches.

Phil Macchiarella's 1950 Plymouth four-door of Santa Clara, California was chopped 7 inches. The first version of the car was completed around 1955/1956.

Chris and Jeni Johnson's 1951 Ford of Fairfield, California. Chris is a member of the Emperors of California car club, and his and Jeni's Shoebox Ford is known as "The Emerald." After 5 1/2 years in the works, the build was completed in 2017. The top was chopped 3 inches by the A-pillars before it was brought down 5 inches through the sail panels.

Robert Ansetta's 1951 Ford Crestliner of Morris Plains, New Jersey. Korky's Kustom Shop chopped the top 5 inches in 1959.

Fred Rowe's 1951 Mercury Convertible, of Los Angeles, California was restyled by Barris Kustoms. The build was completed in 1953 featuring a 4 inch chop. A second version of the Merc, restyled in 1954 was featured in the movie Running Wild along with Bob Hirohata's 1951 Mercury.

Nick Cozzitorto's 1952 Ford F-1 Pickup. In 1952, with barely 100 miles on the odometer, Nick brought the pickup to Gene Winfield at Winfield's Custom Shop for a full custom treatment. Winfield chopped the top 4 inches.

Ron Fagundes' 1952 Ford Victoria of Napa, California. Ron's Ford, known as The Ronbardue Kart, was restyled by Barris Kustoms, A-1 Body Work, Hall's Top Shop and Andy Southard. At Barris Kustoms the car was fit with a 5 inch chopped 1954 Mercury top. The build was completed in 1958.

Larry Ernst's 1952 Ford Convertible of Toledo, Ohio. Restyled by Clarkaiser Custom Shop, the first version of the car, named "Pharaoh's Pacer", was completed in 1955. Larry was a Roman Catholic priest who later became a monsignor. Owning a radical and famous custom car put him at some odds with senior members of the church, so he showed the car under the fake name Grant Macklin. The top on Larry's Ford was chopped 6 inches.

Loma O. Johnson's 1952 Kaiser of Headland, Alabama. Inspired by the 1951 GM LeSabra concept car, the build was started in 1952 and completed in 1953. Built by the staff at Johnson Motor Co., the car became known as "The Johnson Special." It was also known locally as "The Car of Tomorrow." It featured a chopped and removable top.

The second version of John Bozio's 1953 Buick Roadmaster, of East Hartford, Connecticut, was chopped 3 inches. The build was started around 1960 and completed in 1978 by later owner Red McCormick.

Mikko Kiviniemi's 1953 Chevrolet of Örebro, Sweden. The body on Mikko's Chevrolet has been sectioned 3 inches and chopped 3 inches, reducing the height with a total of 6 inches. The build was started in 2013 and completed in 2019.

Jack Nethercutt's 1952 Oldsmobile Holiday 98 of Santa Monica, California. Jack bought the Oldsmobile in 1953. He was 16 years old at the time, and he drove his brand new Oldsmobile straight from the Oldsmobile dealer to Barris Kustoms to have it restyled. Once completed, the car got its power from a gold-plated 1953 Cadillac engine. Because of its extensive use of gold plating, the Olds was often called the "Goldsmobile," although its real name was "Vienesse." The top was supposedly chopped 4 inches.

Roger Miret's 1954 Chevrolet 210 of Scottsdale, Arizona. Known as "Morphine," the build was started in 2010 and completed in 2018. Roger and Mike Lewis chopped the top on Roger's car 2 inches up front. In the back they took 4+ inches out until it looked good.

Bill Layman's 1954 Mercury of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. Inspiration for the build came from Dick Jackson's 1954 Mercury. Bill's Merc was completed in 2005 featuring a 2 3/4" chopped top].

Scott Roberts' 1954 Mercury of Moorpark, California. The build was completed in January of 2016, just in time for the Grand National Roadster Show. The top on Scott's Merc was chopped 3 inches.

Harry Hoskin's 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air of Maricopa, California. Restyled by Barris Kustoms, the car went trough several iterations. The first version was completed in 1955. In the late 1950s the top on the car was chopped 2 1/2 inches.

Barry Atkins' 1955 Chevrolet of Columbia, Connecticut. The car was supposedly restyled in 1958, but the original owner and builder are unknown. Barry bought the old custom from Red McCormick of East Hartford, Connecticut in the early 1980s. He restored and restyled it further before he sold it in 1984. The top on Barry's Chevrolet was chopped 3 1/2 inches before Red bought it.

George Barris' 1955 Chevrolet truck, the Kopper Kart, was built as a promotion vehicle for Barris Kustoms of Lynwood, California. The build was completed in 1957, featuring a 4" top chop.

Vic Collins' 1955 Chevrolet truck of Rahway, New Jersey. Vic's truck is a clone of George Barris' 1955 Chevrolet truck, the Kopper Kart. Restyled by Customs by Flash and John Maurice, the build was started in 1999, and completed in 2008. John chopped the top on the truck 4 inches.

Rich Pichette's 1957 Chevrolet Sedan Delivery of Moreno Valley, California. The car was restyled by Bill Hines and Gary Minor after a rear end accident in 1992. The build was completed in 1998, featuring scallops designed by Jerry Weesner and pinstriping by Larry Watson. The top was chopped 4 1/2 inches.

George Garcia's 1958 Ford Ranchero of Bellflower, California. George's Ranchero was built as a tribute to Richard Lee Tiago's 1957 Ford Ranchero, according to him the best custom Ranchero ever built. The build was completed in 2018 featuring a 3-inch chopped top by Brad Masterson.

Al Neblett's 1956 Oldsmobile of Vallejo, California. Al was a member of the Swanx of Vallejo, and his dad, Boyd, ran Vallejo Auto Body where the car was restyled. Completed in 1957, the car became known as the Batmobile due to its Chrysler taillights and fins. The top was also chopped.

John Hychko's 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk of Waterbury, Connecticut was restyled by John at his Valley Auto Body in 1959. The top on John's Studebaker was chopped 5 inches.

Peder Behr's 1960 Chrysler New Yorker of Sweden. The build was started at Forsberg Motorcars in Huntington Beach, California in 1996, and completed by Peder in Sweden in 1998. The top on Peder's New Yorker was chopped 2.5 inches.

Richard Zocchi's Second 1962 Pontiac Grand Prix was restyled by Lucky 7 Custom for Richard Zocchi of Walnut Creek, California. The car was built as a chopped clone of a 1962 Pontiac Grand Prix that Gene Winfield of Winfield's Custom Shop restyled for Zocchi in 1962. The build was completed in 2002 featuring a 3 inch top chop.

Dave Stuckey's 1965 Pontiac Catalina of Wichita, Kansas. The build was started in 1967 and completed in 1969. The car was Dave's personal driver, and the overall height of it was drastically reduced by chopping the top 3 inches, sectioning the body 3 inches, channeling it 2 inches and lowering it 6 inches.

Helge Solberg's 1967 Chevrolet Camaro of Bø i Telemark, Norway. Known as "Low'n Blown," the car was built in the 1980s. Featuring a sectioned body and a chopped top, the first version made its debut in 1984. The top on the car was chopped 3.94 inches.

Chop - to lower the top by removing a section from the window posts and windshield.

Chopped Cars

Chopped Top

Chopped Cars

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