American Chopper
Season 11 Discovery (*121) 20:00 Reality
Father-and-son bike builders Paul Sr and Paul Jr have put a decade-long feud in the past. They’re not only on speaking terms again, they’re working on projects including a brand-new season of reality show American Chopper (2003current). “I honestly did not think that we would be here, talking, making another series,” says Senior, who adds that “things are good. We [Junior and I] are in a great space. I have my son back and my grandson.”
The 69-year-old has been building 1
custom choppers for over 20 years but it started out as a hobby while he was establishing his other engineering business Orange County Ironworks in the early ’90s. Paul Sr started Orange County Choppers with Junior in 1999.
While Senior’s bad tempers are as 2
well known as his beard, there is something he keeps private: his time working in the US military service. He refuses to reveal anything more than he was a Merchant Marine [contracted civilians who work for the Navy] during the Vietnam War (from 1955-1975).
Paul is a softie for animals and 3
reportedly went on a drinking binge when his bull mastiff Gus was put down in 2011. He has a tattoo of Gus next to artwork of his other mastiff Marty – it was done by reality tattoo artist Ami James from Miami Ink (2005-2008).
He denied rumours of bankruptcy 4
in 2016 when the OCC building was sold on auction, saying that “while business isn’t what it was 10 years ago, we are doing great. The company holding the lease is refinancing their books.”
If you’re wondering, a custom OCC 5
chopper ranges from $60 000 to $100 000 (R800 000 to R1.4 million).