54 ragtop choptop build

[13axle]

So it begins....

This weekend I will post more pictures of the car how it was found and a little history.

[tehillah1]

'54 Ragchop...this will be fun to follow. Thanks for joining in.

[13axle]

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?

[tehillah1]

Put it together with whatever you have and drive it...

[TomVaughan64]

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

[NJ John]

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

[13axle]

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

[txoval]

This is the car that got me into VW’s

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1847309.jpg

And a thread about it

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=710515

[NJ John]

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

[13axle]

Couple updates.

[banana split]

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=
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My Beetles :
1951 Crotch Cooler 11G Split Ragtop
1953 Zwitter
1964 Chop Top

[my59]

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.

[Busstom]

[OvalinAz]

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.
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Dad's 4/55 Oval
8/56 Oval
5/64 French Notchback
12/62 French 11 Window Bus
Wedge VW
Pandraggers C.C.

[13axle]

That's awesome I'd love any info or pictures anyone has!

[13axle]

[djfordmanjack]

^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.
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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

[13axle]

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.
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54 chopped ragtop

13 tdi passat

[Blue Baron]

[NJ John]

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