OCC's Paul Teutel Sr – American Chopper
Orange County Choppers, founded by Paul Teutel Sr., became a cultural phenomenon, particularly through its role in the reality show *American Chopper*. This article explores the journey of Paul Sr., his career, and his contributions to the world of custom motorcycles.
Orange County Choppers is a manufacturer specializing in customizing motorcycles based on customer demands. The shop was also the focal point of the popular reality television show *American Chopper*, a major hit among the biking community. Paul John Teutul, commonly known as American Chopper Paul Sr., founded Orange County Choppers and rose to fame through the television show.
On *American Chopper*, Paul Sr. appeared alongside his sons, Paul Teutul Jr. and Michael Teutul. Following the success of the show, Paul Sr. launched his own series called *Orange County Choppers*, which aired on CMT in 2013. Paul Sr. is originally from Yonkers, New York, though he was raised in Pearl River, New York.
Before entering the motorcycle business, Teutul served in the military. Although he was not part of the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, he has stated that he served in the United States Merchant Marines at the time of the war. Details about his specific role or time served remain unclear.
Paul Sr.'s entry into the motorcycle world began when he worked at Orange County Ironworks, a shop initially run by his son Daniel. The shop primarily focused on fabrication but later expanded into building and customizing motorcycles. This evolution was inspired by the increasing popularity of custom bikes, which Paul Sr. observed in films and on the streets.
After leaving the Ironworks shop in 1999, Paul Sr. founded Orange County Choppers. His son Paul Jr. joined the new venture, where the shop began focusing on building custom motorcycles for commercial purposes. In addition to Paul Jr. and Daniel, Paul Sr. has two other children, Michael Teutul and Christin Teutul. The reality show often featured the intense arguments between Paul Sr. and his sons, which became a signature element of the show. In 2009, following a series of conflicts, Paul Jr. was fired, leading him to start his own design business, Paul Jr. Designs.
Paul Sr. is also known for his numerous tattoos, which he has accumulated over the years as a form of personal expression. Some of these tattoos were even featured in the *American Chopper* episodes.
