How to Chop Tops: A Pictorial Guide to Hot Rodding's Most Popular Modification

Learn how to chop tops with advice from the experts! Today, the purpose of a chopped top on a hot rod is mostly to make a visual statement, but that wasn’t always the case. In the late 1930s, roadsters were considered to be real hot rods, while sedans and coupes were not considered to be race cars. Over time, sanctioning bodies began to accept sedans and coupes as race cars, which created the need for chopping tops. When competing in dry-lakes racing, the tall birdcages of cars that had not been chopped created an excessive amount of aerodynamic drag. Chopping the top increased the aerodynamic efficiency to the point that the coupes were competitive with the roadsters. Tops aren’t often chopped for those reasons today. However, when viewing the works of art that have been created by the best chopping masters, it’s clear that enhanced aesthetics is the only reason that is needed. Chopping a top may seem simple at first (especially if you think that old tops are mostly square), but it is