Why Most VW Bug Top Chops Look WRONG (Pro Tips with Ian Roussel)

Описание: Why Most VW Bug Top Chops Look WRONG (Pro Tips with Ian Roussel)

Ian Roussel of Full Custom Garage cuts the visor off a classic Volkswagen Beetle while building his one-of-a-kind Le Mans–inspired custom.
But once you change the A-pillar and roofline on a VW Bug… every window and proportion has to follow.

Today in the shop, Ian takes a step back from the Le Mans–inspired race car hood and makes a bold move—cutting the visor off the front of the VW Beetle.

This isn’t just a cosmetic change. On a Volkswagen Bug, the visor, A-pillars, and roofline all work together to define the proportions of the entire car. Once you change one… you change EVERYTHING.

Ian breaks down:

How chopping a VW top affects the front and side window proportions

Why the A-pillar angle is critical to getting the look right

The right (and wrong) way to approach a VW chop top

He even revisits a previous chop top he built on Full Custom Garage that didn’t meet his personal standards—and explains exactly what he would do differently today.

As the visor comes off and the lines begin to change, it becomes clear this build is evolving far beyond a simple hood redesign. The side windows will need to be reworked, the flow of the body will need to follow, and the entire silhouette of the car is shifting into something more aggressive, more aerodynamic, and more in line with vintage Le Mans, Lola, and Porsche 917 race car design language.

Because with customs…
👉 once you change one thing, you have to change everything.

And this is just the beginning.

More on this build tomorrow.


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🛸 About This Build

This project is all about mixing German engineering with 1960s Le Mans racing DNA—blending inspiration from icons like the Ford GT40, Porsche 917, and Lola endurance racers into a completely custom, VW-based supercar tribute.

No sketches.
No rules.
Just imagination, experience, and fabrication.

Every panel is hand-built, every line is evolving, and you’re watching the process as it happens.

“Car building is fun… let’s keep it that way.” – Ian Roussel
🔥 About This Build

This once-forgotten Beetle is being transformed into a completely one-of-a-kind kustom using nothing but imagination, experience, and hands-on metal fabrication—no templates, no CAD, no shortcuts.

👍 If You Love Real Custom Car Builds

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🔔 Stay Tuned

We’ve got some big announcements coming very soon… make sure your notifications are on so you don’t miss it.


Follow Ian and Jamie on Instagram👽
@Full_Custom_Ian
@Mrs_Roussel_

Chapters:
00:00 – Transitioning from the Le Mans Hood Build

01:45 – The Philosophy: "Once You Change One Thing, You Change Everything"

03:10 – Removing the VW Front Visor (The Point of No Return)

05:25 – Understanding VW Bug Proportions & Rooflines

07:40 – Deep Dive: A-Pillar Modification & Geometry

09:50 – Analyzing a Past Build: Why It Wasn’t Up to Standard

12:15 – Correcting the Front vs. Side Window Relationship

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