Count All The Ways The Reality Show Counting Cars Is Fake

Starting as the car expert on Pawn Stars, Danny "The Count" Koker quickly earned a following and his own TV series, Counting Cars. The History Channel series brings viewers inside Koker's Las Vegas garage, Count's Kustoms, where he buys, restores, and flips rare cars for a profit.

As it goes with most reality shows, quite a few aspects of Counting Cars are fake and staged, including the "random" on-the-spot car buys and Koker's extensive car knowledge. Keep reading and count some of the many ways Counting Cars is fake.

The Crazy Crew Members

The Crazy Crew Members
Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images
Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images

Reality TV is known for producing some crazy characters, and Counting Cars is no different. Koker's garage is full of nutty people, like Mike Henry, aka Horny Mike, an airbrush artist who wears intricate horns attached to his bandanas.

People who have visited the shop on a non-filming day have said that the characters shown on TV are just that, characters. The guys who work in the shop aren't nearly as crazy as they appear on the show.

ADVERTISEMENT

There Are Only A Few Guys Working In The Shop

ADVERTISEMENT
There Are Only A Few Guys Working In The Shop
History Channel
History Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

A common stunt that car shows pull is making it look like only a dozen or so guys work in the shop, and Counting Cars is no different. During restoration projects, the series has only a few men working on the cars.

ADVERTISEMENT

And they make it look as though only a handful of others are walking around the shop. In truth, there is a huge support staff that is never seen on camera, including other men who work in the shop.

ADVERTISEMENT

Randomly Riding Around Looking For Cars

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Going To See Random Car Owners
History Channel
History Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

One of the main elements of Counting Cars is Koker riding around, spotting cars, and making deals on the spot with random people. The truth of the matter is that it isn't necessarily what happens.

ADVERTISEMENT

The scouting process takes a potential customer. They want cars that will make for great remodels and look for people who have a good "tough luck" story.

ADVERTISEMENT

Danny's Humble Beginnings Weren't So Humble

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Danny's Humble Beginnings Aren't So Humble
History Channel
History Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

Throughout the series, Danny Koker characterizes himself as a down-to-earth car guy who comes from humble beginnings. Well, that's not exactly true. While he might be a laid-back guy, Koker's childhood was anything but humble.

ADVERTISEMENT

Growing up, his father, Danny Sr., played the piano for some of the greats, including Pat Boone and Johnny Cash. The money he made performing was enough to indulge in his car fascination, an expensive hobby he passed on to his son.

ADVERTISEMENT

Casual Celebrity Drop-Ins

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Casual Celebrity Drop-Ins
History Channel
History Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

During select Counting Cars episodes, casual celebrity drop-ins occur. So, Koker might work on the cars of famous people such as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, and once he even had country rockstar Andy Ross come by for enhancements.

ADVERTISEMENT

Obviously, these are anything but casual stop-ins. As it turns out, the series openly invites celebrities to come on, usually for some promotional deal. It's even rumored they get a tiny fee for making an appearance, so it's a win-win.

ADVERTISEMENT

There Is A Strict Budget

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
There Is A Strict Budget
History Channel
History Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

Known for arguing over prices with potential sellers and walking away from cars, Danny Koker's employees see him as a stickler with money. However, he's also known for putting a dent in the company's wallet with his wild and complex restorations.

ADVERTISEMENT

So, is money important or not? The answer: not. While it might seem like Koker is on a budget, he's not. The show is willing to pay whatever the cost for those rare cars and their restorations.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Time It Takes To Restore A Car

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Time It Takes To Restore A Car
History Channel
History Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

One aspect of reality TV viewers can rely on is drama. When it comes to Counting Cars, it's not necessarily day-to-day drama between people, but more so what happens to employees when they're given a ridiculous time limit on car restorations.

ADVERTISEMENT

The fact of the matter is, the time limits presented on the show are only there to build up tension since it's impossible to make a car restoration in the matter of one or two afternoons -- they take much longer than that.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Correct Parts Are Always On Hand

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Correct Parts Are Always On Hand
History Channel
History Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

Having rare and custom parts on-site is a trick for many car shows, including Counting Cars. This means Count's Kustoms doesn't actually have all of the parts on hand. The fact is, the series tends to use rare parts that might take days or weeks to track down.

ADVERTISEMENT

So, having them in the shop during filming isn't exactly plausible. But viewers can't wait around for weeks while Danny and his crew to get the parts, so the process is edited together, making it seem like everything is right there in the shop.

ADVERTISEMENT

Koker's Anti-Environmentalist Statements

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Koker's Anti-Environmentalist Statements
History Channel
History Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

Like a lot of gearheads, Koker isn't too fond of all of the regulations and environmental rules on cars. A common theme in Counting Cars is Koker complaining about having to switch out a classic part for something that meets the modern regulations.

ADVERTISEMENT

He's known to go on rants about environmentalism being a game played by politicians, something that shouldn't be taken too seriously. Well, he might be embellishing his stance a bit while on camera to gain more motorhead viewers.

ADVERTISEMENT

"Surprise" Enhancements Without The Customer's Knowledge

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
"Surprise" Enhancements Without The Customers Knowledge
History Channel
History Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

Like many car enthusiasts, Koker and his team enjoy restoring the cars that come into the shop and adding on special enhancements. They'll add some fancy rims or a new paint job, all at no cost and without the customer's knowledge.

ADVERTISEMENT

The thing is, these "surprises" aren't surprises at all. Koker and his team discuss the enhancements at length before doing anything to a car, having the customer sign off before any changes are made. Their surprised faces are all for show.

ADVERTISEMENT

Scott Jones' Dramatic Departure From The Show

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Scott Jones' Dramatic Departure From The Show
History Channel
History Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

From season one through three, Scott Jones was a common face around Counting Cars. He was the shop's money manager, and therefore had an important part to play in pretty much everything. Then the third season happened, and Jones left on a strange note.

ADVERTISEMENT

Rumors began floating around that he was embezzling money when in truth, he left to open his own garage. Apparently, Koker wanted to use the more dramatic narrative because it makes for better TV.

ADVERTISEMENT

Knowing The Origins Of Every Car

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Knowing The Origins Of Every Car
History Channel
History Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

When Koker and his team work on a car, they typically go into the vehicle's backstory. And while they sound knowledgeable, their stories aren't always accurate or the truth. During one episode, they talked about how a horrible-looking Chevy was found abandoned.

ADVERTISEMENT

After the episode aired, fans went to the internet, learning the truth about the car's actual origins, which were pretty cool! Unfortunately, Counting Cars tweaks origin stories more often than not to make it sound more interesting.

ADVERTISEMENT

Shop Conversations Are Scripted

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Shop Conversations Are Scripted
History Channel
History Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

Koker and his team have worked together for years, so it would make sense that their conversations would be easy, friendly, and unscripted. As it turns out, that is not the case. A majority of the conversations between castmates are scripted, including jokes and arguments.

ADVERTISEMENT

Unfortunately, the editing of scripted bits makes the conversation way too clean, the cast insincere sounding, and the drama seemingly fake because it's been pieced together. Pretty much, little is ad-libbed.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Garage Isn't Always Running Low On Funds

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Garage Is Always Running Low On Funds
History Channel
History Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

One thing fans of Counting Cars might notice is how Danny and his employees are constantly talking about how they need to flip cars to make money ASAP. They make it sound like the garage is about to go under when that couldn't be further from the truth.

ADVERTISEMENT

In reality, Count's Kustoms is very far in the green, making a nice paycheck from the show's success as well as its supplemental income from Danny's restaurant and tattoo parlor. Basically, their cash crisis is an act.

ADVERTISEMENT

Multiple Projects At Once

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Multiple Projects At Once
History Channel
History Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

Counting Cars typically shows Koker and his team working on multiple projects at once, going into detail about each of the cars and giving them the same amount of care. For something that is portrayed as a one-day job, it's hard to believe.

ADVERTISEMENT

Well, that's because it's fake. Each restoration project takes at least a week to complete, meaning the footage is edited together to give the illusion that each of the cars was completed in a day.

ADVERTISEMENT

Danny Having Trouble Selling Cars

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
345337202_643843543780209_959923369221190330_n
History Channel
History Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

To viewers, it's obvious how attached Koker is to some of his rare cars, whether it's because of how he wound up owning the car, its historical significance, or how much work he put into its restoration. Yet, Counting Cars make it seem as though he has a hard time selling them off.

ADVERTISEMENT

Considering how rare Koker's assortment of cars is, plus his celebrity status, finding a collector to buy the car isn't nearly as hard as the series makes it out to be.

ADVERTISEMENT

Koker Is A Know-All Car Expert

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Koker Is A Know-All Car Expert
History Channel
History Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

Since he's the star in a reality show about cars, one would think Koker would know a thing or two about the series' main aspect. And even though he portrays himself as this know-it-all car expert, the truth is, he isn't.

ADVERTISEMENT

While Koker is obviously very passionate about cars and knows more than the average person, it doesn't mean he knows everything. Fans have caught him stating more than one inaccurate fact on the show, for which he never corrects himself.

ADVERTISEMENT

Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed
History Channel
History Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

In the show Counting Cars, customers are seen wearing smiles, laughing, and always enjoying their time in the shop. And the workers are always shown as professionals who get the job done in a timely manner. Well, don't believe everything on TV!

ADVERTISEMENT

As it turns out, reviews have other things to say. A lot of customers have ranted about the poor service they experienced at the shop because their car wasn't featured on the show and they feel they were charged unfairly.

ADVERTISEMENT

Buying Cars With Little To No Negotiation

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Buying Cars With Little To No Negotiation
History Channel
History Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

Counting Cars shows Koker driving out of the shop, down the road, and stumbling across a car on the side of the road. He's then seen in negotiations with the owner, throwing out an incredibly low bid that is somehow accepted.

ADVERTISEMENT

All of this is done with little to no negotiation, and it's all staged. The car and its owner were scouted prior to filming, and they've already made a deal on the car. Usually, the buying price is much higher than what is shown on TV.

ADVERTISEMENT

Danny Acting Like He Doesn't Own Pretty Much Everything

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Danny Acting Like He Doesn't Own Pretty Much Everything
History Channel
History Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

Oddly enough, Danny doesn't act or look like he's the boss at Count's Kustoms during Counting Cars. Instead, the series makes the shop manager, Kevin Mack, look like he's running the show, laying out budgets, and discussing various projects with Danny.

ADVERTISEMENT

And while Danny acts as though he has little input, the truth is he owns then place and is a producer on the show. So, he's pretty much calling all the shots even if it doesn't look like it.

ADVERTISEMENT

Roli Szabo's Trailer Getting Stolen

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Roli Szabo's Trailer Getting Stolen
History Channel
History Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

When working around a shop full of rare cars and parts, it's best to take extra caution when closing up for the night. But sometimes it's not that easy, as shop detailer Roli Szabo can attest.

ADVERTISEMENT

In early 2017, the detailer had his custom-painted trailer stolen. Inside the trailer was thousands of dollars worth of high-end detailing equipment he used for his day-to-day projects as well as those on the Counting Cars.

ADVERTISEMENT

Joseph Frontiera Used Company Money For A Range Rover

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Joseph Frontiera Used Company Money For A Range Rover
History Channel
History Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

In 2016, former Counting Cars star and Count's Kustoms employee Joseph Frontiera was accused of using company funds for non-shop related expenses. Using a nice sum of money, Frontiera put a down payment on a Range Rover and bought a few personal airline tickets.

ADVERTISEMENT

On top of those two purchases, he was also accused of not paying the shop's income taxes on time, something he was in charge of doing. Count's Kustoms was hit with a major fine.

ADVERTISEMENT

They're Followed With Cameras At All Times

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
They're Followed With Cameras At All Times
History Channel
History Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

Filming a reality show is no easy matter; it takes time and a whole lot of footage. That means, for the staff at Count's Kustoms, their entire life is pretty much caught on tape; even though everything is edited, only a fraction of what's taped is aired.

ADVERTISEMENT

During an interview, Koker said, "As far as production is concerned, they've gotta keep rolling on all this stuff, or they're going to miss something vital on an episode."

ADVERTISEMENT

Joseph "Doc" Duggan Had A Strange House Robbery

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Joseph "Doc" Duggan Had A Strange House Robbery
History Channel
History Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

In 2015, Joseph "Doc" Duggan, the tech genius at Count's Kustoms, returned home from a party to find his door unlocked and his place virtually empty. He'd been completely robbed out of his belongings, aside from a pile of clothing and some dishes.

ADVERTISEMENT

Oddly enough, the robbers decided to run the dishes through the dishwasher before they left. There was even evidence that they'd used his bathroom! Talk about a strange robbery with a lot of potential DNA samples.

ADVERTISEMENT

Shop Tours Are Hyped Up

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Shop Tours Are Hyped Up
History Channel
History Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

When it comes to custom and rare cars, fanatics will jump at the opportunity to see them up close and personal. And if they just so happen to be located in a famous TV shop, all the better! The only problem is the tours of Count's Kustoms aren't all they're hyped up to be.

ADVERTISEMENT

According to reviews, people who went to tour the shop were surprised by the poor customer service, pricey coffee, and the bad neighborhood the garage is located in.

ADVERTISEMENT

It's Getting Difficult For Koker To Make Deals

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
It's Getting Difficult For Koker To Make Deals
History Channel
History Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

With the success of Counting Cars, Koker's shop's business has been booming. It seems like fame and notoriety pay off! Or does it? According to Koker, now that people know his shop is successful and gets a nice payday from the reality show, it's becoming more difficult to negotiate with people.

ADVERTISEMENT

Before, he was able to drive up to prospective clients and negotiate solid prices for cars. Now, people try to get every cent they can out of the celebrity, and it's making his job a bit more difficult.

ADVERTISEMENT

Danny Got His Nickname In A Strange Way

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Danny Got His Nickname In A Strange Way
KFBT
KFBT
ADVERTISEMENT

Before becoming the owner of Count's Kustoms and a reality television star, Danny Koker used to dress up as a vampire and host a cheesy horror show called Saturday Fright at the Movies.

ADVERTISEMENT

His name on the show was "Count Cool Rider," and he would come on stage, wearing a cape and talking in an awful Transylvanian accent, introducing the movie for the evening. It looks like the name stuck since it's partially the name of the shop.

ADVERTISEMENT

It's Difficult For Danny To Sell His Personal Cars

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
It's Difficult For Danny To Sell His Personal Cars
History Channel
History Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

It's no secret Danny Koker is a huge car lover, spending most of his life around a garage with his father and now as the owner of his own shop. So, it makes sense that he has a hard time selling some of his more prized cars from his personal collection.

ADVERTISEMENT

During an interview, Koker relayed why it was hard for him, saying, "I feel like I put a piece of me in it."

ADVERTISEMENT

Koker Almost Had A Chance To Buy His Dream Car

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Koker Almost Had A Chance To Buy His Dream Car
History Channel
History Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

A lot of people have a "dream car" that they wouldn't hesitate to buy if money wasn't a factor. Well, as it turns out, Counting Cars star Danny Koker is no different, even though he spends his life around cool and rare cars.

ADVERTISEMENT

His dream car: a 1972 Lamborghini Miura SV. Around 15 to 20 years ago, the shop owner almost saw his dream come true, too, but the deal eventually fell through. He's still on the lookout, though!

ADVERTISEMENT

Koker Has A Hard Time Working On His Late Father's Cars

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Koker Has A Hard Time Working On His Late Father's Cars
History Channel
History Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

One of the biggest influences in Danny Koker's life was his father. When he passed away, it became hard for Koker to look at his father's personal collection of cars, let alone work on them.

ADVERTISEMENT

During an interview, Koker told the Las Vegas Review-Journal he's "just now starting to dig out a couple of the very personal vehicles that were my father's that now belong to me, that I haven't been able to think about, or look at, or touch for a long time."

ADVERTISEMENT

Paul Sr. Attempted A Hostile Takeover Of The Family Business

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ac3-77142-42335
Photo Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Photo Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Paul Sr. might not have looked a businessman, but he was intent to get his son off the show and out of his shop, so he hit the books. Eventually, he found several loopholes in his contract with TLC that would allow him to get Paul Jr. off the show.

ADVERTISEMENT

Not only did Paul Sr. realize he could kick Paul Jr. off American Chopper, but he also figured out a way to buy out his son's stake in Orange County Choppers.

ADVERTISEMENT

He Sued Paul Jr. For One Million Dollars

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ac5-88999-51935
Photo Credit: Matthew Peyton/Getty Images
Photo Credit: Matthew Peyton/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

To get his son out of his life, Paul Sr. sued Paul Jr. for one million dollars. He figured his son would back down and let him have the family business...but Paul Jr. wasn't going to go down without a fight.

ADVERTISEMENT

Paul Jr. was infuriated and hired his own legal team to fight back against his dad. At the end of the day, Paul Sr. lost the lawsuit and nearly lost his son.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Feud Meant Paul Sr. Missed His Son's Wedding

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ac8-25634-65070
ADVERTISEMENT

In 2010, Paul Jr. married Rachael Biester, his girlfriend of two years. The pair met while American Chopper was filming and fell in love instantly. Unfortunately, the wedding took place at the same time Paul Sr. was battling Paul Jr. in court.

ADVERTISEMENT

Because of the timing of the wedding and emotions of the feud, Paul Sr. chose not to attend his son's wedding. Looking back on it, he probably regrets the decision, but there's nothing he can do about it now.

ADVERTISEMENT

Another Contract Clause Further Strained The Father-Son Feud

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ac4-15969-46065
Photo Credit: Discovery Channel
Photo Credit: Discovery Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

After losing the lawsuit, the feud between Paul Sr. and Paul Jr. grew so toxic that the father fired his son. TLC threatened to end the show if Paul Jr. wasn't re-hired. According to the network, their contracts called for both men to participate in the show.

ADVERTISEMENT

When Paul Sr. refused, TLC filed a notice of default. It looked like a silly family feud was going to bring an end to American Chopper as the fans knew it.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ending Their Working Relationship Saved Their Father/Son Relationship

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
acc6-75095-49648
Photo Credit: Discovery Channel
Photo Credit: Discovery Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

To find peace with each other, Paul Sr. and Paul Jr. mutually agreed to part ways as business partners. The lawsuit was the straw that broke the camel's back. In order to keep the family together, Paul Jr. left the business and started his own design firm.

ADVERTISEMENT

Surprisingly, the two worked this agreement out together. TLC agreed that Paul Jr. could leave the show's main cast so long as he appeared as an independent consultant for his father.

ADVERTISEMENT

Paul Jr.'s Business Is Thriving

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ac18-67240-50862
Photo Credit: Robert Lachman/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Photo Credit: Robert Lachman/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Leaving his dad behind might have been the best decision Paul Jr. ever made. His new custom chopper shop found instant success when he opened it. One of his current clients is video game giant Blizzard, who contracted him to design several World of Warcraft-themed bikes.

ADVERTISEMENT

He's also been hired to work on big-budget films in need of motorcycle expertise. Stepping out of the shadow of his father and into the spotlight has paid dividends for the Southern California native.

ADVERTISEMENT

Paul Senior Passed His Addiction Habits Onto His Sons

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ac2-57963-16352
Photo Credit: TLC
Photo Credit: TLC
ADVERTISEMENT

No one on American Chopper had a bigger personality than Paul Sr. Unfortunately, he also had a problem with addiction and spent 15 years addicted to alcohol before going to rehab. In true Paul fashion, he hated the idea of rehab but went to save his marriage.

ADVERTISEMENT

Before going, Paul threw himself one last rager. By the time Paul cleaned himself up, he had passed his bad habits onto his sons. Paul Jr. entered rehab at 16-years-old.

ADVERTISEMENT

Paul Sr. And Paul Jr. Are Almost A Happy Family Again

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ac17-20882-87323
Photo Credit: Pinterest
Photo Credit: Pinterest
ADVERTISEMENT

Paul Jr. and Paul Sr. may have parted ways on amicable terms, but their relationship wasn't magically fixed. Paul Jr. found it difficult to let his over-powering father back into his life. When Paul Jr. had his first child in 2015, though, a picture surfaced online of Paul Sr. meeting his grandchild.

ADVERTISEMENT

Paul Jr. and Rachael named their baby boy Hudson, but have not said how young he will be when he rides his first motorcycle. Choppers run in the family's blood, so it will probably happen sooner rather than later.

ADVERTISEMENT

Rumors Arise Of Orange County Choppers' Demise

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ac12-13726-34524
Photo Credit: Bennett Raglin/WireImage via Getty Images
Photo Credit: Bennett Raglin/WireImage via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

After all the drama, the show finally came to an end in 2012. Country Music Television aired a spinoff of the show, but it wasn't a hit. Rumors began to circulate that Orange County Choppers was losing money and the shop was getting ready to close for good.

ADVERTISEMENT

Those rumors were greatly exaggerated. During a radio interview, Paul Sr. announced the shop wasn't closing, just moving to a new location. It was later announced that American Chopper was coming out with new episodes in 2018.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Reboot Almost Didn't Happen

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
chopper-reborn-53476-86790
Photo Credit: Bobby Bank/WireImage via Getty Images
Photo Credit: Bobby Bank/WireImage via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

When a revival of American Chopper was revealed, fans couldn't have been more excited. Little did they know the reboot almost didn't get off the ground. The family was on good terms with everyone except the producer.

ADVERTISEMENT

Craig Piligian had issues with the Teutuls in the past and was not happy about helping run the show, " It wasn't very much fun, and a lot of bad blood was spilled at the beginning of it all. And now everything’s great."

ADVERTISEMENT

Paul Sr Was Sued For Fraud In 2018

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Paul-Teutul-Sr-Sued-36572
Jason Kempin/FilmMagic
Jason Kempin/FilmMagic
ADVERTISEMENT

The show might be over, the Paul Teutul's legal woes won't go away. In 2018, he was sued for fraud. The report alleged the Thomas Derbyshire, "Teutul tried to change their 51/49 percent ownership deal (benefiting Derbyshire) to a 50/50 deal. Derbyshire had agreed to fund the project up to $3 million at that time."

ADVERTISEMENT

Paul's legal team responded, "Mr. Derbyshire's interpretation of said events is without merit and with the timing of Orange County Choppers much-anticipated return to television tomorrow night the timing is very suspect of once again untrue allegations."

ADVERTISEMENT

Paul Went Bankrupt In 2018

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
paul-sr-39422-86338
Photo Credit: Bob Gevinski/WireImage for Porter Novelli via Getty Images
Photo Credit: Bob Gevinski/WireImage for Porter Novelli via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

One month after being sued for fraud, Paul Teutul filed for bankruptcy. He owed millions of dollars, including one million left on his mortgage. While filing, Teutel stated that he earns $15,070 a month and spends nearly all of it.

ADVERTISEMENT

Teutul reportedly did a terrible job organizing his finances, which ended up hurting him in the long run, "Teutul filed paperwork claiming that he owes close to 50 creditors $1,070,893.44 and that he was only worth $1,801,729."

ADVERTISEMENT

Another Day, Another Lawsuit

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ac11-35878-45472
Photo Credit: TLC
Photo Credit: TLC
ADVERTISEMENT

If you haven't caught onto it yet, the American Chopper team got sued a lot. Cody Connelly sued them a few seasons into the show after he quit, but the company and producers continued to use his likeness to sell their product.

ADVERTISEMENT

Like so many lawsuits before this one, Cody didn't win. It's not easy to win a quarter million dollars in court. But Cody didn't lose either. He settled with the show's producers out of court for an undisclosed amount of money.

ADVERTISEMENT

Not All Of Their Chopper Ideas Were Original

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ac9-43680-82523
Photo Credit: Twisted Polygon
Photo Credit: Twisted Polygon
ADVERTISEMENT

When Orange County Chopper team up with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation to create a wheelchair accessible chopper, it seemed like a match made in heaven. That is until they were sued by Chris Tavantzsis.

ADVERTISEMENT

Tavantzis, who suffered from polio, claimed he gave the American Chopper crew the same idea two years before. He said he pitched the idea at a trade show in 2008. The episode aired in 2010. In 2014, the lawsuit was thrown out of court.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mikey Left The Company For A "Top Secret Project"

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ac10-70444-60163
Photo Credit: TLC
Photo Credit: TLC
ADVERTISEMENT

Let's talk about Mikey, Paul Sr.'s other son who was featured on the show. Mikey was hired by his dad to do maintenance work around the shop, but also found himself playing peacemaker a fair amount of the time. He quickly became a fan favorite as the heart of the show.

ADVERTISEMENT

After so many years of playing the middleman, Mikey got fed up and left the company, leaving a hole that proved impossible for the producers to fill. He has since patched up his broken relationship with his family and is working on a "top-secret" project.

ADVERTISEMENT

Shaq Got A Custom Chopper Made

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ac14-67445-16745
Photo Credit: Discovery Channel
Photo Credit: Discovery Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

Shaquille O'Neal got into the American Chopper business in 2014. The show came back for a one-night special event where they built the NBA legend his own custom chopper. The hardest part about making the chopper was making it big enough to support Shaq's massive frame.

ADVERTISEMENT

Shaq was happy with his new toy, claiming he'd always wanted a motorcycle but never found a big enough one. Paul Jr. was not apart of the special, but Mikey returned for the episode and was even listed as Vice President of the garage.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mikey's Second Passion Is Art

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ac16-26496-52862
Photo Credit: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images
Photo Credit: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

When Mikey got fed up with his family and left American Chopper, he was able to pursue art. He had always had a passion for art and knew how to run a business from his experience and Orange County Choppers and decided to open an art gallery.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mikey didn't just run his own art gallery, however. He also contributed and sold his own art! In 2014, he closed his gallery, choosing to simplify his life further. He also wanted to work on repairing his relationship with his family.

ADVERTISEMENT

Vincent DiMartino Found His Own Success After The Show Ended

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ac19-48194-70178
Photo Credit: Discovery Channel
Photo Credit: Discovery Channel
ADVERTISEMENT

Vincent DiMartino had been working at Orange County Choppers for one month when he found out the garage was being turned into a reality show. After becoming a minor celebrity, Vincent left the garage to start one of his own called V-Force Customs.

ADVERTISEMENT

He may have left the shop, but he never forgot his roots. During the final seasons of the show, Vincent would appear to ask Paul Jr. for advice. Paul Jr. was always willing to tell his good friend anything.

ADVERTISEMENT

Vincent Eventually Found His Way Back To American Chopper

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ac20-51377-58552
Photo Credit: Jacob Andrzejczak/Getty Images for Hawaiian Tropic
Photo Credit: Jacob Andrzejczak/Getty Images for Hawaiian Tropic
ADVERTISEMENT

Running a successful garage was a dream come true for Vincent, but he never forgot where he came from. When American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior premiered, Vincent came back to help Paul Jr. in his garage. The new show ran for two seasons before Discovery Channel was forced to cancel it.

ADVERTISEMENT

Helping Paul Jr. out didn't stop DiMartino from continuing to run V-Force Customs, which had turned into a successful operation. Who needs sleep? Definitely not Vincent DiMartino!

ADVERTISEMENT

The Show Wasn't Supposed To Focus On Orange County Choppers

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
chopper-boys-12289-41892
Photo Credit: William Thomas Cain/Getty Images
Photo Credit: William Thomas Cain/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

When Discovery Channel was coming up with American Chopper, they had no interest in focusing the show on Teutel family and their shop. According to the show's producer, the decision to focus on a motorcycle shop was made the night before shooting.

ADVERTISEMENT

The decision was so last minute, Discovery Channel had no idea until it was too late, " I changed all the tickets, changed the crew, and on Thursday we were shooting the pilot for American Chopper. We didn't initially tell Discovery about the switch. It was just a gut feeling."

ADVERTISEMENT

The Teutuls Tried To Crowdsource A TV Show

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
chopper-crowdsource-64859-59661
Photo Credit: Tom Briglia/FilmMagic via Getty Images
Photo Credit: Tom Briglia/FilmMagic via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

When American Chopper went off the air, the Teutul family still felt like they had unfinished business. Not having enough money to produce a new show, the family turn to Patreon to try and crowdsource a new TV show.

ADVERTISEMENT

They claimed they were having financial hardships and would offers fans the chance to be interviewed on the show. They also said making their own show would give them more creative freedom to make something more in line with what they're really like.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Teutuls Love Animals

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
3038853-79067-57578
Photo Credit: L. Cohen/WireImage via Getty Images
Photo Credit: L. Cohen/WireImage via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

In 2009, Paul Teutul revealed an adorable secret. He absolutely loves animals. Speaking with People Magazine, he revealed he has, "two dogs, Marty and Gus ... plus, 5 miniature horses, 2 miniature donkeys, 2 alpacas, 2 baby doll sheep, 5 goats, and 2 highlander cows."

ADVERTISEMENT

Teutul knows how to spread the love too, opening his home to neighborhood kids so they can play with the fluff monsters, "They love the animals. We all do." He's not wrong, folks.

ADVERTISEMENT

It Created A New Genre Of Reality Television

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ac1-54229-85076
Photo Credit: Mark Mainz/Getty Images
Photo Credit: Mark Mainz/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Before American Chopper debuted, few reality shows followed the day-to-day lives of average people. The concept helped the show stand out from its competition. The amount of drama, rough language, and fighting that happened became must-see TV.

ADVERTISEMENT

And for how much the family seemed to disagree, none of it was scripted. Everything that was happening to the family on film was happening to them in real life. Countless networks have tried to mimic American Chopper since, but none have been able to catch the same magic.

ADVERTISEMENT

Paul Junior Has Thanked His Dad For Firing Him

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
paul-jr-92408-27311
Photo Credit: Tom Dahlin/Getty Images
Photo Credit: Tom Dahlin/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

When Paul Junior was fired from Orange County Choppers it gave him the chance to start his own business. According to the reality TV star, it ended up being one of the best things that could ever to him.

ADVERTISEMENT

Paul was understandably angry when the firing happened. He even sued his dad and won. Looking back now he says, "And that turned out to be one of the best things that could have happened to me at the time. It just took a while to realize that."

ADVERTISEMENT

Paul Junior Worked On A Ninja Turtles Movie

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
96616892-28227-15848
Mauricio Santana/Getty Images
Mauricio Santana/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

One of the biggest projects Paul Junior got to work on after being fired was the movie Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows. Michael Bay, the producer, hired Junior to design one bike. He was so impressed with the work he ended up asking for a second bike.

ADVERTISEMENT

What's most impressive about the story is that Paul Junior waited until the last minute to design the bikes. He didn't come up with a single design until he started working. It was the first time Michael Bay let an artist work without a concept already designed.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Show Never Made Up Drama

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
real-drama-27623-89228
Photo Credit: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images
Photo Credit: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

These days it's nearly impossible to watch a reality television show and know what drama is real and what drama is fake. American Chopper was full of drama and it was all real. The family didn't get along and didn't care about fighting and abusing each other while the cameras were rolling.

ADVERTISEMENT

If you still don't believe that none of the drama was made up, just look at all the lawsuits that the Teutuls have filed against each other. Few reality TV have had such easy jobs as the ones on American Chopper.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Teutuls Tried To Open A Restaurant

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
775210329cm019_turkish_lira-54590-48972
Photo Credit: Chris McGrath/Getty Images
Photo Credit: Chris McGrath/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Around 2011, Paul Sr had the brilliant idea to get into the restaurant industry. Along with his business partner, Carlos Urbaneja, Paul pitched his idea to several investors. Only one restaurant opened and it's still in business today despite a 2.7 star Google rating.

ADVERTISEMENT

One of the most scathing reviews says, "Place is a joke, needs new management clearly. Just seems like they are not concerned with making money or customer appreciation what's so ever. Food is basic and unappetizing, beer lines are dirty, everything just needs an update."

ADVERTISEMENT

The Show Aired 223 Episodes

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
american-chopper-success-28008-59785
Photo Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc via Getty Images
Photo Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

During its original run, American Chopper was a huge success. Over the course of its ten-year run, 223 episodes aired. At its peak, it pulled in nearly four million viewers weekly. In comparison, most shows on Discovery Channel struggle to pull in more than one million.

ADVERTISEMENT

One critical component to the shows sustained success was the endless drama of the Teutul family. At the end of every drama-filled episode, there would be a teaser for the next one, making sure drama junkies would come back for more.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Series Had Its Own Video Game

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
66484637-16730-10373
Photo Credit: Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Xbox
Photo Credit: Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Xbox
ADVERTISEMENT

You know you're popular with the youth when your show gets a video game adaptation. In the early 2000s, Activision released American Chopper on all the major gaming platforms. Later, a second game was released called Americ Chopper 2: Full Throttle.

ADVERTISEMENT

We don't know how many copies the games sold, or what the plot of the video games was, but it's impressive they were made nonetheless. Maybe a third entry in the series will be released with the show's revival!

ADVERTISEMENT

Paul Senior Is Selling His Farm

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
the-end-55095-10099
Photo Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Photo Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Paul Teutul Sr is having a really rough 2018. He's been sued for fraud, filed for bankruptcy, had a home foreclosed on, and is now selling his 70-acre farm. Hopefully, the reboot of the show will relieve some of the pressure he's faced in recent months.

ADVERTISEMENT

The attempted sale of the farm should help with his financial burden. He originally listed it for $2.89 million, although recently had to drop the price to $2.49 million. Let's hope the price doesn't go any lower!