Chop top-- anyone done it?

[bugshop]

I've been looking around and I can't seem to find where anyone has done a chop on a NB.
I'm sure most here would think it would be a shame to cut a NB but I see a good many on here being parted out with what looks like a solid shell.
So my mind is starting to slip into some thoughts that I can not afford to be thinking
From looking at my '01 it looks like it would be very doable but I was wondering why I can't find any pics. where anyone has chopped a NB.
I'm sure it's been done, so does anyone know of one out there?

It's been more than a few years since I've chopped one but I think it would be fun.

[Toad]

VW did... thier concept bugs are always soo much cooler than what they actually mkae

[Fl_bug]

Originally Posted by Toad

VW did... thier concept bugs are always soo much cooler than what they actually mkae

Fun fact time!!

Did you know the ragster is actually a convertible bug with its softtop removed and a frame'd rail in its place on the roof?

[Blugg]

Originally Posted by bugshop

I've been looking around and I can't seem to find where anyone has done a chop on a NB.
I'm sure most here would think it would be a shame to cut a NB but I see a good many on here being parted out with what looks like a solid shell.
So my mind is starting to slip into some thoughts that I can not afford to be thinking
From looking at my '01 it looks like it would be very doable but I was wondering why I can't find any pics. where anyone has chopped a NB.
I'm sure it's been done, so does anyone know of one out there?

It's been more than a few years since I've chopped one but I think it would be fun.

Nice photo of the " Olde Bug " But chop that and your googling wizzards

Of all the New Bugs i've seen, (quite a few ) I only know of one that's been chopped, but they didn't replace the roof.



I WILL BE OVER THE MOON if you do yours, as i've always thought it would be impossible due to the shape of the Bug to replace the Tin Top roof, proove me wrong PLEASE !!

[Toad]

Yeah, even though i love the work put into the oxford bug, i wouldn't call it a chop top since it doesn't have a top.

[70autostick]

I love chopped a/c bugs.


I think you should go for it op.

[Blugg]

Originally Posted by Toad

Yeah, even though i love the work put into the oxford bug, i wouldn't call it a chop top since it doesn't have a top.

It wasn't a convertible, therefore it's a chop, maybe not top

But until another photo arises ( theres not going to be one )

It's the only chop top

WHY: Never going to be one ?

Look at your Bug, it's not possible with a Tin Top

[bugshop]

Originally Posted by Blugg

Nice photo of the " Olde Bug " But chop that and your googling wizzards

Of all the New Bugs i've seen, (quite a few ) I only know of one that's been chopped, but they didn't replace the roof.



I WILL BE OVER THE MOON if you do yours, as i've always thought it would be impossible due to the shape of the Bug to replace the Tin Top roof, proove me wrong PLEASE !!

Thanks for the props, I loved doing the old bug (I love a challenge)and think the NB would be VERY doable!

I like the Roadster look but if I built something it would have to be something that I could drive with some kind of roof.
I like the Ragster too and LOVE the over sized rag top.

from what I've been looking at the NB would be much easer that the older ones. the largest obstacle to over come would be the curved windows. The door windows may be able to be reused but the rear qtr. and front and rear windows would have to be custom.
Does anyone know it the NBC uses the same window as the NB hard top? If not, how much shorter is it?

If anything, one of the things I likes the least about my '01 is how far up the windshield goes and tiny visors

[bugshop]

Originally Posted by Blugg

It wasn't a convertible, therefore it's a chop, maybe not top

But until another photo arises ( theres not going to be one )

It's the only chop top

WHY: Never going to be one ?

Look at your Bug, it's not possible with a Tin Top

That almost sounds like a dare LOL

I wish I knew someone local to me that was gutting out one that I could get a good deal...like free LOL on the empty shell to work with.

[Blugg]

Originally Posted by bugshop

That almost sounds like a dare LOL

I wish I knew someone local to me that was gutting out one that I could get a good deal...like free LOL on the empty shell to work with.

Your full of (as the English would say) SH*T

[Toad]

Originally Posted by Blugg

It wasn't a convertible, therefore it's a chop, maybe not top

But until another photo arises ( theres not going to be one )

It's the only chop top

WHY: Never going to be one ?

Look at your Bug, it's not possible with a Tin Top

If you're saying the oxford edition didn't start out as a convertible... you must be high.

It's got 'vert doors, 'vert upper windsheld visor/clock pieces, vert rubber gaskets around the doors, and vert bracing underneath...

[SMG]

Someone needs to build a Ragster replica.

[bugshop]

Originally Posted by SMG

Someone needs to build a Ragster replica.

Would be cool. You would need a NBC for a base car

I love the hardtop look and the ragtop

My first car @ 15 was a '66 sunroof.
@ 17 I found a '60 ragtop shell that someone cut the front and rear off of to get the front and rear suspension off of for a formula vee.
One long weekend and wide eye baja kit later I had myself a cool '60 ragtop baja. So I like me some ragtop

[Wingnut_rb]

Targa! Targa! Targa! Targa!

[wawalker]

Originally Posted by Blugg

...Look at your Bug, it's not possible with a Tin Top

I gotta say anyone who's chopped an old one could do a new one. Pretty much have the same issues. There are 3 different ways that OBs are chopped. Think about it, the A pillars come in and back and the C pillars come in and forward so when you chop out a section of these pillars the roof has to get longer and wider to line back up--on the OBs this is done by sectioning the roof and cutting up a second roof to fill in the gaps or fabricating filler pieces from scratch. The NB could definately be chopped in the same way. I'd like to see it. To the OP--go for it!

[marvins_dad]

We had a conversation in my club about it way back when - someone actually did a killer sketch (can't find it though) - I have always dreamed about doing a chop on a new beetle. Hope you go for it so we can see how it turns out!
I had wondered about the geometry of the TT's top and pillar spacing...wondering how off it would be from the new beetle...probably not as long as the new beetle.
The windows and money were always the end of that fantasy for me.

[bugshop]

Originally Posted by wawalker

I gotta say anyone who's chopped an old one could do a new one. Pretty much have the same issues. There are 3 different ways that OBs are chopped. Think about it, the A pillars come in and back and the C pillars come in and forward so when you chop out a section of these pillars the roof has to get longer and wider to line back up--on the OBs this is done by sectioning the roof and cutting up a second roof to fill in the gaps or fabricating filler pieces from scratch. The NB could definately be chopped in the same way. I'd like to see it. To the OP--go for it!

That is, for the most part, what we did on this one. But it took 2 additional roofs. After cutting the stock one into 6 sections and lowering it to the desired hight. The second one was used for all the filler areas and reinforcements. And the third was the ragtop sunroof section.

[wawalker]

Originally Posted by bugshop

That is, for the most part, what we did on this one. But it took 2 additional roofs. After cutting the stock one into 6 sections and lowering it to the desired hight. The second one was used for all the filler areas and reinforcements. And the third was the ragtop sunroof section.

That looks like a great job--love to see a pic of it finished. What is that? 6"? Yeah, 3 tops huh? If you'd started with a rag it coulda been just 2.

[bugshop]

Originally Posted by wawalker

That looks like a great job--love to see a pic of it finished. What is that? 6"? Yeah, 3 tops huh? If you'd started with a rag it coulda been just 2.

It was right at 5.5" And the way it was done, it would have been much harder to do if it had started out as a ragtop and reuse it.

The long and short of this chop top is... A friend of mine took on this job in his shop. It wasn't long before he figured out that he was in over his head and ready to tell the guy he couldn't do it. So he asked me to come and help him out. I was working in a VW shop all day and going over to his shop and burning the midnight oil over there trying to get it to the point that you see it in the above pic. The body work done and ready for paint.

That was the last I saw of it.

I have since learned that is was featured in VW Trends.
and here is the article if anyone is interested in reading it and seeing more pics.
1963 Volkswagen Beetle Custom & Restored - Vw Trends Magazine

[wawalker]

Originally Posted by bugshop

It was right at 5.5" And the way it was done, it would have been much harder to do if it had started out as a ragtop and reuse it.

The long and short of this chop top is... A friend of mine took on this job in his shop. It wasn't long before he figured out that he was in over his head and ready to tell the guy he couldn't do it. So he asked me to come and help him out. I was working in a VW shop all day and going over to his shop and burning the midnight oil over there trying to get it to the point that you see it in the above pic. The body work done and ready for paint.

That was the last I saw of it.

Well, if the original roof was sectioned before you got to it then I gotta commend you on some great challenging work. I've seen some of this work and have a buddy who sectioned in a rag to an Oval--it boils down to planning before execution. I've seen the bits and pieces and owned a few OBs myself--someday I will build a slantchop Volksrod. I have replaced panels, modded aprons & decklids, sectioned doors, etc., but a chop is a challenge I look forward to...someday Who knows? Maybe by the time I get around to this dream it'll end up being a NB!