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13axle Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2008 Posts: 25 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2024 12:53 pm Post subject: 54 ragtop choptop build |
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So it begins....
This weekend I will post more pictures of the car how it was found and a little history. |
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tehillah1 Samba Member
Joined: August 23, 2009 Posts: 305 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2024 3:07 pm Post subject: Re: 54 ragtop choptop build |
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'54 Ragchop...this will be fun to follow. Thanks for joining in. |
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13axle Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2008 Posts: 25 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2024 5:52 pm Post subject: Re: 54 ragtop choptop build |
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So the car was chopped in the early 70's and raced with a big T4 engine.
When in the mid 80's it was made into a street car.
What would you do with it? |
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tehillah1 Samba Member
Joined: August 23, 2009 Posts: 305 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2024 6:27 am Post subject: Re: 54 ragtop choptop build |
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Put it together with whatever you have and drive it... |
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TomVaughan64 Samba Member
Joined: February 02, 2023 Posts: 87 Location: California
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Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2024 9:19 am Post subject: Re: 54 ragtop choptop build |
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I keep thinking about your question of what to do with this car. It would be great if every 54 ragtop (especially if it an OG ragtop) was returned to some form of stock. There is another thread on here about someone undoing a Baja conversion, which will be interesting to watch.
I have watched a few videos on doing a chop top and it looks like it would be a really difficult to reverse. If you could do it, I would go for it. It would probably be a memorable experience and I would love to see a thread on how it was done.
If reversing the chop top is not in the cards, then I would embrace the look and go for it.
Here are a few pictures I found of some chop tops that I find interesting:
I am looking forward to what ever path you decide to take. It seems like an interesting project. _________________ Tom
"Begin with the end in mind"
Stephen Covey
"Keep focused and seeking knowledge, you will never find disappointed, only small hiccups!"
Jimbo
56 Old Speed Euro Deville Influenced Build Returning
Returning My 55 Ragtop To Stock |
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NJ John Samba Member
Joined: September 21, 2007 Posts: 2499 Location: HdG, MD & NJ
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Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2024 5:24 am Post subject: Re: 54 ragtop choptop build |
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I’ll be watching, too. I just bought a 70 chopped bug. Didn’t even pick it up, yet. It’s a project, also. I didn’t start a thread, but you can peek in my gallery. _________________ 1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage |
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13axle Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2008 Posts: 25 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2024 5:23 pm Post subject: Re: 54 ragtop choptop build |
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Work is happening fast. The chop was rough being from the early 70's.
The plan is to make it like a drag car in the 80's |
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txoval Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2004 Posts: 3696 Location: The Woodlands, TX
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NJ John Samba Member
Joined: September 21, 2007 Posts: 2499 Location: HdG, MD & NJ
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Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2024 8:54 pm Post subject: Re: 54 ragtop choptop build |
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The thicker window posts and already low windshield make ovals the best chop candidate’s. 3” looks like a foot. Chop a late model 3” and people ask “is that chopped?” _________________ 1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage |
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13axle Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2008 Posts: 25 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 6:16 am Post subject: Re: 54 ragtop choptop build |
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Couple updates. |
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banana split Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2002 Posts: 1089 Location: Beautiful British Columbia Canada
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 10:18 am Post subject: Re: 54 ragtop choptop build |
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Dang! Talk about not wasting any time and diving in! Great!
I'm also building a chop top but it's on the back-burner for now :
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=768197&highlight= _________________ My Beetles :
1951 Crotch Cooler 11G Split Ragtop
1953 Zwitter
1964 Chop Top |
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my59 Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2003 Posts: 3883 Location: connecting the dots
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 2:38 pm Post subject: Re: 54 ragtop choptop build |
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Chopped sunroof begs for rear pop out windows. _________________ my59: Well son, my grandfather died before I got to drive it, so does that answer your question?
our79: sunroof bus w/camper interior and 2.0 FI
Other:'12 Jetta, '77 Benz 300D, and a 74 MG Midget. |
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Busstom Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2014 Posts: 4451 Location: San Jose, CA
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 4:16 pm Post subject: Re: 54 ragtop choptop build |
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It looks like you were able to smooth out this transition a bit, whereas before it looked like an "elbow." _________________ My name's Steve and it's pronounced "Bust 'em" (cuz people think I'm Tom)
cory464 wrote: |
if you aren't perfectly centered in the hole you will have issues when you tap it. |
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OvalinAz Samba Mini Tech
Joined: June 09, 2009 Posts: 1087 Location: AZ
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 7:55 pm Post subject: Re: 54 ragtop choptop build |
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sweet this car is getting rebuilt!! one of my buddies used to own it back in the day, when it was a street car. ill have to ask him if he has any pictures of it. it had a Empi gauge pod hood on it that was for sale about 6 years ago and I regret not buying it. _________________ Dad's 4/55 Oval
8/56 Oval
5/64 French Notchback
12/62 French 11 Window Bus
Wedge VW
Pandraggers C.C. |
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13axle Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2008 Posts: 25 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2024 8:35 am Post subject: Re: 54 ragtop choptop build |
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That's awesome I'd love any info or pictures anyone has! |
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13axle Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2008 Posts: 25 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2024 8:43 am Post subject: Re: 54 ragtop choptop build |
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djfordmanjack Samba Member
Joined: June 15, 2009 Posts: 2218 Location: Graz, Austria, Europe
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Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2024 4:11 am Post subject: Re: 54 ragtop choptop build |
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^it hurts....Not hating on your project, because it has been chopped that long ago and is interesting for that fact. The lines are pretty good either. but I just can't help. Beetles don't lend them very well to chopping, they are crowned perfectly from factory.
and that's coming from someone who has chopped a Model A, planned a 49 Merc chop and still have a 53 Lincoln that needs 4" haircut. imho those big 'Shoebox' type cars are more natural to receive a top chop. That said, Enjoy the process! lookin forward to seeing what you make of it. _________________ Hotrods, Fords, Veedubs and Triumph Twins !
52 Barndoor DLX Coachbuild project
55 Wolfsburg panel project, og paint Taubenblau L31
62 Dickholmer, custom color Seeblau L360
63 1500 Notch, og paint Rubin Rot L456
67 1500 Käfer, og paint Lotus weiß L282 w/red interior |
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13axle Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2008 Posts: 25 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2024 4:03 pm Post subject: Re: 54 ragtop choptop build |
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I'm a hotrod guy.my mother and father have a 36 ford truck 41 ford sedan delivery and a 55 chevy. All hotrods. None are chopped.
I love early vw's and was told this car was just a roof. Well I love the idea of building it and daily driving it so I can hear the heavens open up of all the people crying that was done to a 3 fold ragtop and it's ruined.
I will be smiling every inch it moves. _________________ 54 chopped ragtop
13 tdi passat |
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Blue Baron VW Aficionado
Joined: June 16, 2006 Posts: 25861 Location: Southeast USA
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Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2024 6:18 pm Post subject: Re: 54 ragtop choptop build |
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I think the back corner of the rear quarter windows come to too much to a point, and you may want to round the bottom rear corner off a bit.
Vintage gasser style would be the only way to go IMHO. I have the complete 'glass fenders, hood and decklid that a friend wants to buy real bad to build just such a car. _________________ We are striving for perfection, to make our cars run forever, if possible.
Heinz Nordhoff |
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NJ John Samba Member
Joined: September 21, 2007 Posts: 2499 Location: HdG, MD & NJ
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Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2024 8:08 pm Post subject: Re: 54 ragtop choptop build |
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I’m stickler for rear quarter window shape on chops. Many people ruin it. I like the way yours was executed. Later models usually end up rounder, but all look better when done like yours. JMO _________________ 1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage |
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