1937 Ford | TIME LAPSE CHOP TOP 

The things you're capable of doing, take a lifetime to learn. No engineers, no laser scanners, and no computer patterns. I know that we learn more from our mistakes than we do from our successes. You are a master metal worker. Your mistakes disappeared a long time ago. I hope you pass the knowledge along to some deserving kid. Having this kind of craftsmanship end with your passing would be a shame. You are amazing. Can't say enough. I hope. someday, you get the national recognition that you deserve.

I've done a few chops through the years. I've seen hundreds done by other shops. This is the cleanest version of a chop I've ever seen and if I ever happen to do another one I'll definitely change some of the things I used to do. Your metalwork is superb man. One way for you people to know how right his work is?... When he uses the bodysaw to cut away the overlap so he can do a buttweld... nothing jumps up out of place, theres no tension on the metal at all. He's not FORCING the metal into shape, its already in shape by his hands!

When my PTSD kicks in, watching this man work is so calming. Just want to thank you from my heart. His work is so dope. One day ill have him make me something for my w123. Would be a honor to show his work.

Lord brother how many nights you spend doing this alone with no distractions. You da man.

This guy is phenomenal at what he does. I lovee these year cars he works on, and all you can do is respect him for what he can do, hes leaving behind a legacy for sure.

Confidence is in the eyes of the man that has pride in his hands .

The more i see his videos the more I'm impressed with his work. Truley a Master in his work!

I am master woodworker 45 years , and have fabricated every type of custom projects . and brother all I can say is your an artist period . just remember they called Michelangelo a craftsman!

WOW, amazing work, I'm 70 yrs old and this guy is an amazing fabrication expert. Well done that Man.

I would like to think that if I typed in define craftsmanship into RU-vid's search bar then this video would be at the top of the list, dude is like the Yoda of chopping tops.

My wife came in while I was watching this and said I looked like a kid seeing Santa for the first time and he was making my favorite toy. Amazing work! Thanks for posting.

Mike, you are truly an artist.

you cut the roof skin to move the b piller. Brilliant. less work cleaner install. I am off to stare at my Hudson b pillar now. thank you

Thanks 4 posting the videos he gets down.

Mike Bello is a fucking wizard. I love watching him work. Not only super talented but one of the hardest working builders out there. Big respect

People are intitled to there opinion 84 dislikes this is appairently people with no sence of addventure.Dont like chopped cars or somthing. I have watched Mikes videos over and over. This guy is one or maybe the best in the business.This is only my opinion.

I can’t say that I have ever seen a portable planishing hammer. That was amazing work to watch.

Best 25 minutes ever spent!! And I even learned something new. But I did notice you didn't even use anything to keep down the heat warpage. Now that's awesome.

I had absolutely NO idea that a chop involved that much work...BRAVO

I have been a bodyman for over 45 years,but this is amazing work

I have no words! As a lifelong bodyman/painter, my welding cap off to you friend!

This man is an absolute master at his craft. I’d love to own one of his creations.

mesmerising....who thought a chop time-lapse could be so good.

You have given me food for thought for my 37 coupe. Thank you.

His work is so clean and tight 😍. If I had the money this guy would be the first cat I would go to.

The workmanship that went into this build is amazing. That's pure metal art right there!!! Awesome video. I Love the camera angles too they look great.

It is great to see a real craftsman do his thing. If I didn’t know better I’d think this was done in the ‘40’s or ‘50’s. Thanks for sharing!

I am left shaking my head in awe.......when I see this work being done.......pure art.....craftsmen.....all in a class of their own..... amazing.....you make it look like a walk in the park...... but those of us .....that know......this is art.....not easy.....

You cannot beat watching a skilled man at work - Excellent Work & Video Thanks

A good craftsman makes things look easy. This guy made it look super easy which means that he is a MASTER CRAFTSMAN! Amazing work!

I thought you had disappeared, i guess ill forgive you after that awesome top chop, wow you are the man.

I spent my entire career on the auto body business and I can tell you this guy is a true craftsman

That is some of the finest metal work I have ever seen performed, the way you took the time to do the radius around the side windows was just killer, and the way you went about doing the door frames and the way you laid that back window frame in. Well I could just go on for days about how awesome your work is, let's just say it was just bitchin. Keep up the excellent work and videos and I will set back and enjoy each and every one, Thank you my friend.

WOW, talk about Talent and true Craftsmanship, this Guy is a MASTER...Perfection at it's best and done in only 3 weeks, and ZERO BONDO needed. Loved this video, THANK YOU

One of the best videos yet.

Mike is one of the best fabricators in the rod and kustom world barr none keep up the good work

Where others slap on crazy amounts of filler to hide blemishes in the job, Bello goes the hard yards. Superb craftsmanship.

I never cared much for the chopped top look, but you sir, are a craftsman!

GAWD DAMN!!!!!!!!!! Ok the custom work being done on this was simply amazing to watch!!! And KUDOS to filling and editing!!!! WOW all around just fantastic!!!!! WOW!

Sooo cool! 37s are so rare and underrated in the scene, but they make really bad ass kustoms. Amazing fab skills anyway, really satisfying to watch 👍🏻🖤🏴‍☠️

You sir chopped yourself a new follower, liking and subscribing.

Bro!!! If I leave in the West I will make it my duty to go sweep your shop and do anything for free just to learn and chill with so real good people!!! God bless and thank you for the videos!! I pray you will be able to continue doing this for years to come!!!

I've seen some gas dude tops before option 4 but you're the best

A true artist!! This car is unbeleviable..this shop put out the soul and essence of a southern California car..you can't replicate soul either it has it or it doesn't. Mike is one of the best to do it,period. Locochonies

Just one word:----"AWESOME"!!!!!👍

Wow very impressed with your work good sir, sipping my coffee and just having my mind blown seeing you chop that Ford 🤘

A time-lapse is a good way to show how to actually do a job like this...great work

always fun to watch masters at work doing their magic.....what a beautiful job chopping this old girl....

Best custom metel work I've seen on utube, good work enjoy the show 👍

Good to see genuine honest work being done and not a you tube clip full of drama, that man has skills

Very Nice work I love watching someone do craftsmanship like that. I learn a lot every time I do

I am a welder by trade and I just found my new favorite channel. Loved this video

Jesus I wish I would have known about your shop when i lived in SD. This has got to be one of ....if not THE best channels for custom cars. Please keep pumping out videos...I literally watched all the playlists in a week. Entertaining and informative and far better than any "network" car shows!

I liked the fact you used a Tig to control the heat instead of a bunch of hot MiG stich's, beautiful job.

VERY GOOD Work. The part most people miss ? Is all the work it takes to actually make this video. I make videos too. But i am not that patient to film Everything i do. IF i did i would have 1 video, LOL. Great work on making the video too. Thanks for bringing us along. 👍

Fantastica this how a Master Artist be doing it. Best of all with the total copping no Bondo Thanks for the inspirational creation.

Someone stepped up the camera game!! Looks awesome. Worth the wait

This performance is about making the impossible possible. This is a demonstration is pursuing perfection.

Best video of pure skill & talent I have ever seen. I feel honored to have watched. Mad props & respect. What a beautiful 37

ZOWWIE!!! Unbelievable craftsmanship. What a master fabricator.

Knowledge,probably hard learnt , a work of art. I didn't know it could be done so accurately. Magician

Automotive sculpture. A rolling piece of art! Even if the engine never started, I'd still be on cloud 9 as my crew pushed!

Just watching Mike do his work on this chop, with the help of the really good camera work and angles, I would go as far as suggesting Mike would be the most precise body builder/ coach builder I have seen in my experience of seeing chops before and after. His work is so precise, so professional, he has the build all set out in his mind from the get-go, the mistro indeed.

That man is a artist. One hell of a fabricator.

ITZ ABOUT TIME SEÑOR LOKOCHON. TAKEN CARE OF BIZZNEZZ...

Dude you are a badass. Love your style man. This chop video is killer

The devil's in the detail, the workmanship second to none , dude knows his stuff totally wicked !

The first dirt track race I ever went to was about 1959 when I was 12 years old. There were tons of late 30's coupes and sedans. I think that's the first time I ever saw Frankland quick-change diffs. and hubs. Remember how the right front suspension was modified to make the tire lay out so it would stand up in the turns. Hoods had a strap on the front to hold them down. Had never seen all that stuff before.

Absolutely one of the best craftsmanship!

Hypnotizing !!! You are The Man of Steel ! The Iron Man ! Thanx for posting your skills SIR !

MIKE, YOU ARE THE MAN!! ,JUST BLOWN AWAY, AMAZING WORK!

You are a AWESOME Metal Man....Master Craftsman of You Trade !!!!

Very talented, Mike! This is an excellent example of what it takes to chop a top. Most people don't understand the length of time and effort required. You make it look easy! Nice chop, beautiful work.

He made that look easy but many , many hours went into that job. Wow ! What a great job , Homie ! The 37 is happy now.

My man, that is some amazing work you done, I wish I was half as good as you. Never mind the haters brother, they are just trying to bring you down, their lives suck so bad they hate seeing other succeed. Much Respect

Wow Beautifully done NOW that’s how u do a chop the right way Great job vato 🤙🏽

I was screaming don’t chop it it’s to Beautiful as it is but after watching the complete video I am speechless you are a craftsman an old soul, and an absolute master with all those tools…… I don’t know how to give you the highest praise I could possibly give you !! thanks for making the video keep them coming

Best 25 minutes worth of gold spent , I can say that he is a true craftsman !!!! A master at this beautiful work that he creates !!!!!!!

I really appreciate the artistry in chopping a top, but, damn, I'd love to have a stock 37 Ford Coupe that looks as clean as that one.

Wow you sure got my attention. Great job.

just the best master craftsman metal man in existence

You my friend are nothing short of sick. I can't wait to see the final outcome. Keep up the great work.

Damn, tried to like it twice😜. You are a master, and the toys, I mean tools, are awesome.

You sir are a tin bending GENIUS! People like you are artists who work with metal instead of paint on canvas. The way you radiused those rear quarter windows was brilliant.

What a pleasure seeing a craftsman doing real bodywork instead for so many other "Bondo-Bill" swinging mud hiding all the crappy welds and piss poor work. This guy he knows how metal works, small saw for cutting is from the beginning a meat-cutting air-driven tool, that later on came out as a special tool doing body work. English wheel performance from Mr Bello, just perfect *** Making panels, crimping and bending, another craftsmanship with knowledge. **** Welding using a tig for final result, then shrinking surrounding areas, also nothing you learn in one day. * * * Very impressed Mr Bello, hats off to you sir ! From a retired old school body-tech in Texas. Cheers * * *

Wonderful work !!!!! you have golden hands, it's marvelous to see how you can do what you want with the metal !thank you !And the car line is too nice!

Wow, never seen this done before, glad I got to see a master do it

Chingon, those locochon dance moves get me every time 🤣🤣🤣

That is impressive. All those hours of work with the end goal of making it look like it was never touched. That is years of experience, no doubt. Awesome.

Getting down Lake James Brown on the chop 🤘🏽

I'm sure your busy enough but if you had the time to put on a class for this SIGN ME UP! You made this look so dang easy as only a true professional can. Great work!

I have never seen a chop done to the extent you went through , that is some real craftmanship . Fantastic job I wish we had more guys with your ability .

Craftsmanship at its highest level. You sir are a true artist. I enjoy watching you flex your skills.

This has to be one of the best looking chops on a 37-38 ford coupe that I've ever seen! The back of the roof flows seamlessly and I really like how you removed the factory ledge between the roof and rear deck panel. Outstanding workmanship and thank you for showing the insane amount of work that goes into chopping a roof properly!

I'm glad there are still artists who know their sh#t and can lead the way into the past even better than it was done before.

You make it look easy! I known it is NOT easy though!

Only a person who tries to do body work knows have much skill and talent a person like you have, Brother you are really good and talented, and with your experience cannot be matched, beautiful work,

God damn foo. Firme chop, top of the line. Young guys, watch and LEARN...

No matter what I say it wouldn’t be enough. I respect your talents. 🤘

Retired pattern maker here, (pre CAD) A pleasure to see a man operating at the top of his game. Superb! 👍 😎 Subbed.