Interesting Facts About The American TV Show "American Chopper"

Who still remembers the TV show "American Chopper"? Especially true motorcycle enthusiasts were interested in the show most of the time. Indeed, the series was mainly about motorcycle manufacturing in Newburgh. The focus was on making choppers. The special thing about this documentary: it was unscripted. All the drama, profanity & Co. were shown on television in a manner faithful to the original. From 2003 to 2007, the series was broadcast on Discovery Channel. The main actors are Paul Teutul Sr. and his son Paul Jr. Here are the facts about the series!

If you want to reminisce and test your knowledge about the series, we invite you to browse the following pages!

Alcohol Problems

Paul Teutul Sr. suffered from alcohol addiction for over 15 years. Several attempts at therapy had failed, until his wife forced him to try again. As a result, he was able to escape alcoholism. His two sons could not handle alcohol either, and as a consequence, Paul Jr. went to his first rehab at the age of sixteen.

Father-Son Problems

Behind the camera, things weren't always so smooth. Paul Sr. wanted to kick his son out, but he hadn't considered the legal consequences. The U.S. television station TLC reminded him of his contract, which specifically called for the two men to be on the show. Eventually, the two men were able to work out their issues and the documentary continued.

The Fine Print

It soon became apparent that there was more to the fine print of the contract than meets the eye. Paul Sr. was able to buy out his son from the Orange County Choppers. As if that wasn't enough, Paul Jr. was not allowed to be paid and no longer appeared on the show. The arguments between the two men were known to viewers, but the more famous the American Choppers became, the more megalomaniacal the two men became.

The Legal Battle Continues

After taking full control of the company (reading the fine print can still help!), Paul Sr. wanted his son out of the business permanently. He sued him for US$1 million. Paul Jr. won that legal battle, however. But what impact did this have on their father-son relationship?

Mikey as Mediator

Paul's brother Mikey was supposed to stay away from the show. But when he realized that the arguments between his brother and his father were not getting any better, he stepped in and tried to settle them. All these efforts did not help, however, and he left the company and everything around him. 

Eventually, all the fighting and money problems led to the series being shut down. The team was growing and wanted to get paid, but the people in charge didn't manage the money well and spent more than they actually had. That's why the series ended in 2007.

American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior 

In keeping with the family's internal feuds, which were later resolved, a season was produced under the sign of the confrontation between father and son and wanted to exploit the hype around the father-son duo in conflict. Thus, the seventh season of the series is titled "American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior".

The Comeback

Fans have been waiting for it for a long time, and on July 23, 2018, the time had finally come: a new season of the American TV show "American Chopper" is back in the starting blocks since that day, after fans of the series had to wait six years for new episodes. It had continued to be broadcast until 2012 on the sister channel of Discovery Channel TLC. From 2008 to 2010, the series aired on TLC.

Paul Teutul Sr.'s Fortune

The recent circulation of the estimated net worth of Paul Teutul Sr. also created a surprise. It is speculated that his fortune is estimated at 15 million US dollars. Quite a fortune to which the revenues of the series have certainly contributed a significant part.

Now Also E-Bikes

As cars, but also motorcycles, can only partially escape the evolution of time, there are more and more electric bikes. It is therefore not surprising that Paul Teutul Jr. & Co. have been looking for a representative of their corporation that can ride electrically on the roads. And in March 2021, the first images of the machine were made public. 

[Paul Jr via Twitter]