As the car expert on Pawn Stars, Danny “The Count” Koker got his start. He earned his very own program on The History Channel after proving himself to be a hit among viewers: Counting Cars. When he buys, fixes, and flips rare cars to turn a profit, we get to peek into Count’s Kustoms, his Las Vegas garage. Some aspects of the show are staged, just like most reality TV shows. For one thing, the purchases of “random” cars are not as spontaneous as they might seem. What else is wrong with this TV show?
They Have The Right Parts On Hand
It is not uncommon to have custom parts on-site at car shows. This is also the case with Counting Cars, although not every single part is really on hand. The series uses rare parts that would take days and weeks to search for, as a matter of fact. Having them in the shop during a taping is not exactly plausible. However, if viewers had to wait weeks before they get the parts, it would get boring. In the end, to make it all look seamless and fast, they have to rely on editing magic.
They Have The Right Parts On Hand
They Need To Follow A Tight Budget
Danny Koker has a reputation for being a money sticker because he likes to argue about prices and, if needed, walks away from cars. Even so, with his complex and wild restorations, it is known that he put a dent in the company’s wallet. Is money for him a big deal or not? It seems to be the latter. You’d think that he runs on a budget, but he doesn’t. The show pays for the cost of repairing rare cars.
They Need To Follow A Tight Budget
The Shop Only Employs A Handful Of Employees
Car shows like to make it look like only about a dozen people are working at the shop. This show does not constitute an exception to the rule. They only film several individuals working on the vehicles when it comes to restoration projects. From the way it is shot, you would assume that only a handful of people worked on it. The truth is that there is a large support staff that doesn’t get any air time at all!
The Shop Only Employs A Handful Of Employees
They Talk To Random Car Owners
You’re going to see lots of shots of Koker riding around, seeing cars, and offering deals to random people if you watch Counting Cars. This is not always the case in reality. Scouting around often takes longer. On top of that, before they approach a potential client, the team puts in much research. They are looking for vehicles that would make good remodels and people who have a story of “tough luck.”
They Talk To Random Car Owners
Giving Customers Surprise Enhancements Without Approval
Koker and the team restore the cars that go through the shop, just like many car enthusiasts. Some improvements such as a new paint job and fancy rims are added to them. This occurs without informing the customer and at no cost. The “surprises” are not as spontaneous as they may look. In fact, the team talks about it at length before doing anything with a car and bringing it up with the client!
Giving Customers Surprise Enhancements Without Approval
The Truth About His Humble Beginnings
Koker is depicted as a down-to-earth guy with humble beginnings over the course of the series. So that you know, this really isn’t true. His childhood was not as modest as he makes it out to be, even though he is a laid-back dude. As he grew up, Danny Sr., his father, was at the piano with people like Johnny Cash and Pat Boone. To indulge his car hobby, which his son then inherited, he made a great deal of money.
The Truth About His Humble Beginnings
The Garage Does Not Always Have Money Problems
When you watch the series, you will notice how often Koker and his team talk about the need to flip cars as soon as possible. They make it sound like they need that money badly. The reality is that the show is not afraid of going under. Count’s Kustoms, in fact, is far out in the green. Because of the success of the show, everyone brings home big checks. Koker also earns money from his tattoo parlor and restaurant.
The Garage Does Not Always Have Money Problems
Danny Does Not Own Almost Everything
Koker does not look like the boss of Count’s Kustoms in Counting Cars or act like that. On the show, they make it look like the show is being run instead by Kevin Mack. He lays out budgets as the shop manager and discusses with Koker projects. Even though Koker pretends that he does not have much input, he is actually the show’s producer and the place’s owner! He actually calls the shots, in reality.
Danny Does Not Own Almost Everything
Celebrities Drop By Casually
There are several casual celebrity instances on the show. Koker, for example, got to work on the cars of people like Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. When the musician came for enhancements, he also met country rocker Andy Ross once. They weren’t random, as you might have guessed. The show actually invites celebrities, often for a promotional deal, to appear on the show. Allegedly, they earn some money out of it!
Celebrities Drop By Casually
The Crew Members Are Crazy
Reality tv shows have earned a reputation for showing crazy characters. This show is not an exception to the rule whatsoever. In the garage, you are going to find a lot of nutty people. We have Mike Henry or Horn Mike, an airbrush artist wearing horns on his bandanas. Those who dropped by the store when the cameras are not rolling say that the show’s people are just characters in essence!
The Crew Members Are Crazy
How Long It Takes To Flip A Car
Let us not forget that Counting Cars is still reality TV, in essence. In one way or another, this means that you can expect drama. The show typically depicts staff working on the restoration against a crazy time limit. Actually, the time limits are simply proven false. Only in the hope of adding more drama to the episode are they added to the plotline. In the afternoon, there’s no way that you can fix a car.
How Long It Takes To Flip A Car
Danny Finds It Hard To Sell Cars
Viewers will easily see that a number of his rare cars are attached to Koker. This could have to do with how he wound up with the unit, how much work or historical significance the restoration took. Even so, the show makes it appear that he finds it difficult to sell them off. Let’s not forget that he’s a huge celebrity with an assortment of cars. There is no way he finds it difficult to sell a car with all of his connections.
Danny Finds It Hard To Sell Cars
His Anti-Environmentalist Statements
Koker is not super fond of the environmental rules and regulations on vehicles, like many gearheads. Counting Cars’ common theme is Koker complaining about switching out a classic part to meet regulations for a modern one. He likes to rant about environmentalism and how politicians are playing a game. He argues that all of that should not be taken seriously. He may be overdoing it so that his motorhead viewers can appeal to him!
His Anti-Environmentalist Statements
The Dramatic Departure Of Scott Jones
Scott Jones was a regular presence on the show from the first season to the third. He was the shop’s money manager, so he played a big role in all of the shop’s affairs. He left on a weird note as the third season rolled in. He was embezzling money, according to the grapevine. The truth is that he left the show to open his own garage! Koker just wanted a more dramatic story to tell.
The Dramatic Departure Of Scott Jones
They Know The Origins Of Every Single Car
They will normally go into the backstory of the vehicle when the team works on a car. The stories do not always reflect the truth, even though they sound knowledgeable as they do so. They’re talking in one episode about how they found an abandoned Chevy in bad shape. The truth surfaced on the internet. Fans learned more about the authentic origins of the car in question. Unfortunately, Counting Cars like to tweak origin stories. They do so to make it sound more appealing to the viewers and interesting.
They Know The Origins Of Every Single Car
The Shop Conversations Are Genuine
For several years, Koker has been working with his team. Knowing this, it should sound friendly and easy for their conversations. It’s not the case here. Most of the discussions between the castmates, even the arguments and jokes, are staged. Unfortunately, it makes everything sound too clean by editing these bits, so the cast tends to seem insincere. It’s all fragmented, so it doesn’t sound natural.
The Shop Conversations Are Genuine
They Work On Multiple Projects At Once
At the same time, Counting Cars like to show Koker and the team working on several projects. They go into detail about all the cars, supposedly providing the same level of care for them. When they portray each project as a one-day job, this is particularly difficult to believe. As you can imagine, this part is all fake. They spend at least a week on each one, but to make it look like just a day, the footage is manipulated.
They Work On Multiple Projects At Once
Koker Knows Everything About Cars
You would think that Koker knows a thing or two about vehicles as the star of a reality show about cars. When the cameras are rolling, he pretends to be a know-it-all when it comes to this topic. He is not, in reality. Indeed, he is passionate about cars, knowing more than the average individual does. Even so, he is not an expert on the topic. Fans pointed out that in the past, he had stated inaccurate facts.
Koker Knows Everything About Cars
They Guarantee Customer Satisfaction
You will find all the customers smiling, laughing, and enjoying themselves in the shop when you watch the show. Similarly, the workers are always portrayed as professionals who deliver as promised. You know what they’re saying… don’t believe all that you see on TV! Reading what the reviews have to say is fascinating. Many customers rant about the poor service they received at the store. Many of them were displeased because their vehicle was not featured on the television show.
They Guarantee Customer Satisfaction
There Is Little To No Negotiation
We see Koker driving from the shop down the road in Counting Cars and then finding a car on the side of the road. He is then shown negotiating with the owner, even throwing out a super low bid for some reason that gets accepted. With minimal negotiation, this is all done. It is not difficult to see that this has been staged. Before the cameras rolled, the car owner had been scanned, so they had a deal already.
There Is Little To No Negotiation
Roli Szabo And The Stolen Trailer
You should be careful when you close up for the night when working in a store with rare parts and cars. There are times when this is not easy to do, according to Roli Szabo, shop detailer. In early 2017, he had a custom-painted trailer stolen. High-end detailing equipment worth thousands of dollars was also inside it. For both normal projects and the show, he used these tools.
Roli Szabo And The Stolen Trailer
Joseph Frontiera Paid For A Range Rover With Company Money
In 2016, it was said that Joshua Frontiera used company funds for expenses not related to the shop. Allegedly, the former employee of Count’s Kustoms used a lot of cash to pay for personal flight tickets and a Range Rover. Aside from those things, when he was assigned to do so, they also accused him of not paying the shop’s income taxes on time. Count’s Kustoms finally got a huge fine for it.
Joseph Frontiera Paid For A Range Rover With Company Money
There Is A Camera At All Times
Filming a reality show should not be easy since the cameras are always rolling. Their whole life is recorded on tape for those who work at Count’s Kustoms. Everything goes through the process of editing, but on the air, only a fraction is shown. In an interview, Koker explained, “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.”
There Is A Camera At All Times
Joseph “Doc” Duggan And His Strange House Robbery
The resident tech genius at the store had bad luck back in 2015. To find the door unlocked and his house essentially empty, Joseph “Doc” Duggan went back home. He was completely robbed, leaving nothing more than clothes and a few dishes for the culprits. It was odd that, before leaving, the robbers ran the plates through the dishwasher. They also saw evidence that they used the bathroom.
Joseph “Doc” Duggan And His Strange House Robbery
The Truth About Shop Tours
Fans are thrilled to see rare and custom cars up close and intimate. We are sure that when they get to do so at a famous TV shop, it is even better. Unfortunately, Count’s Kustoms tours are not all they’re cracked up to be. Reviews say that the pricey coffee, the poor customer service, and the garage’s location disappointed them. Allegedly, Count’s Kustoms is located in a bad part of town.
The Truth About Shop Tours
It Is Getting Harder To Strike Deals
For the folks at Count’s Kustoms, the company has been booming thanks to the show’s success. We’re glad fame is paying off. But does it really? Koker says people are now more familiar with his show and are raking in the show’s money. It has also, however, become harder to negotiate with customers. He could drive up to customers in the past and discuss the rates. People are trying to make just as much money out of him these days. This has made things more difficult for him, for sure.
It Is Getting Harder To Strike Deals
How Danny Got His Nickname
Danny Koker would wear a vampire getup before becoming the store’s owner and a reality TV star. Under the moniker “Count Cool Rider,” he would host a horror show known as Saturday Fright at the Movies. He would appear on the stage in a cape, talking in a bad Transylvanian accent as he introduced the movie for the evening. He decided, as you can guess, to roll with the nickname.
How Danny Got His Nickname
It Is Hard For Danny To Sell Personal Cars
Danny Kroker being a big car lover is no secret. He spent a lot of time in the garage with his dad. Now, he’s got his own shop! It is only natural that, from his collection, he would find it difficult to let go of his prized cars. He once spoke about how hard it was. “I feel like I put a piece of me in it,” he admitted.
It Is Hard For Danny To Sell Personal Cars
He Almost Got To Buy His Dream Car
Many people have their own “dream car,” which they would not hesitate to buy if they had enough money to do so. Danny Koker turns out to have his own. While he spends most of his time on rare and cool cars, his dream car is none other than a Lamborghini Miura SV from 1972. His wish was almost granted to the shop owner, but the deal did not go through. He continues to be on the lookout for one.
He Almost Got To Buy His Dream Car
Working On The Cars Owned By His Late Father
His father was one of his life’s biggest influences. When his dad died, Danny Koker found it hard to look at his old man’s private car collection. The shop owner told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he was “just now starting to dig out a couple of the very personal vehicles that were my father’s that now belongs to me, that I haven’t been able to think about, or look at, or touch for a long time.”
Working On The Cars Owned By His Late Father
Paul Sr. Wanted Paul Jr. To Leave
Let us talk about a different show right now! The truth is, Paul Sr. always wanted his son to leave the show for the family. He then did a bit of research and eventually saw a few loopholes in the TLC contract. He could get his son away from the show this way! Also, Paul Sr. knew that he could get Paul Jr. out of the American Chopper. He also discovered a way to buy the younger man’s stake in Orange County Choppers.
Paul Sr. Wanted Paul Jr. To Leave
Suing His Son For A Million Dollars
Can you believe that his son was sued by Paul Sr. for a million dollars? After this, the older man assumed that his son would go back down and leave the family business, but Paul Jr. did not intend to take this lying down. The younger man hired his own legal team and fought back. Paul Sr. lost the case in the end.
Suing His Son For A Million Dollars
He Missed The Wedding Of His Son
Rachael Biester and Paul Jr. tied the knot in 2010 after two years of dating. While filming American Chopper, the pair met and immediately fell in love. Unfortunately, around the time the father and son duked it out in court, the nuptials took place. Due to the timing and the feud, Paul Sr. decided to skip the wedding. We are sure he regrets this, but now there’s nothing to do about it.
He Missed The Wedding Of His Son
Something Else Made Things More Difficult
Things only got worse between the father and the son after Paul Sr. lost the lawsuit. He ended up, in fact, firing Paul Jr. If he did not rehire Paul Jr., TLC threatened to put an end to the show. It is said that their contracts required both of them to be in the show. The network filed a notice of default when the older man declined to do so. It’s crazy to think that American Chopper almost brought an end to a silly feud.
Something Else Made Things More Difficult
They Decided To End Their Work Relationship
They agreed to stop being business partners in hopes of making amends. It sounds like the last straw was the lawsuit. The younger man left the show and launched a design firm to keep the family together. This worked out for the two of them surprisingly well. TLC agreed that he might leave the show’s main cast, but he had to appear as his dad’s independent consultant.
They Decided To End Their Work Relationship
His Business Is Doing Very Well
It looks like the greatest thing that Paul Jr. did was to leave the business to his dad. Ever since it was launched, his custom chopper show has seen a lot of success. One of his customers is Blizzard, a video game company. They commissioned him to design a couple of bikes with a World of Warcraft theme. He’s been hired to work on big movies that require knowledge of motorcycles. It was the right thing for this native of Southern California to step out of his dad’s shadow from the look of things.
His Business Is Doing Very Well
Passing His Bad Habits Onto His Children
No one else had a personality as big as that of Paul Sr. on American Chopper’s cast. Still, he had his demons as well. For 15 years, before he checked into rehab, he was addicted to alcohol. He hated it but wanted his marriage to be saved. Although he sobered up later in life, by then, he had already passed his bad habits on to his children. At the age of 16, Paul Jr. checked into rehab.
Passing His Bad Habits Onto His Children
They Are Nearly A Happy Family Once More
Their relationship was not magically fixed, even though Paul Sr. and Paul Jr. split amicably. It was hard for the young man to let his overpowering dad back into his life. It was in 2015 that he had his first child. People were happy that they found a picture of Paul Sr. and his grandchild! The name Hudson was given by Rachel and Paul Jr. to their baby boy. We’re wondering how long it’s going to take to get him on his very first bike ride!
They Are Nearly A Happy Family Once More
Rumors About The End Of Orange County Choppers
In 2012, the whole drama finally came to an end. Country Music Television released a spinoff of the TV show, but it did not get much attention. There was a rumor that if it continued to lose more money, Orange County Choppers would close down. It turns out that they exaggerated the rumors. Paul Sr. reported that the store was not closing in a radio interview, just moving to another place. It was official, not long after that, that American Chopper would receive new episodes in 2018.
Rumors About The End Of Orange County Choppers
The Reboot Nearly Did Not Materialize
Fans were delighted to hear the good news when the revival of the show was announced. They had no idea that the reboot had almost failed. The family had been on good terms, save for the producer, with the others on the team. In the past, the Teutuls and Craig Piligian butted heads. He said, “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.”
The Reboot Nearly Did Not Materialize
He Was Sued For Fraud
Although the show has since come to an end, Paul Teutul’s legal woes remain. In 2018, he was sued for fraud. “Teutul tried to change their 51/49 percent ownership deal to a 50/50 deal. Derbyshire had agreed to fund the project up to $3 million at that time,” the report said. On the contrary, his legal team responded to the accusation by saying, “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.”
He Was Sued For Fraud
Going Bankrupt In 2018
A month after Paul Teutul was sued for fraud, he filed for bankruptcy. He was owed millions of dollars, including a million on his mortgage. He said he makes 15,070 dollars a month and uses almost all of it. He claimed he was doing a bad job of arranging his finances. The report said, “Teutul filed paperwork claiming that he owes close to 50 creditors $1,070,893.44 and that he was only worth $1,801,729.”
Going Bankrupt In 2018
The Lawsuits Do Not Stop Coming
The team behind American Chopper has indeed been sued quite frequently. A few seasons into the show, after he quit, Cody Connelly sued them. Even so, to sell the product, the company kept using its likeness. He did not, in the end, win the lawsuit. Winning $250,000 in court is hard to do. It would still be wrong to say that he lost, as he ended up settling for an undisclosed amount with the producers.
The Lawsuits Do Not Stop Coming
Claiming Credit For This Chopper Idea
When the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation teamed up with Orange County Chopper, the objective was to make a wheelchair-accessible chopper. This sounded perfect until they got sued by Chris Tavantzsis. A polio sufferer claimed that he had pitched that idea to the crew two years before it happened. It took place at a trade show in 2008, while in 2010, the episode came out. Four years later, it was thrown out of court.
Claiming Credit For This Chopper Idea
Mikey Left For A “Top Secret Project”
In addition to Paul Jr., Paul Sr. has another son on the show as well. Mikey was hired to carry on maintenance duty around the show by his father. He often got to play peacemaker on the show, however, as well. He was a fan-favorite among the show’s viewers. After so many years of playing the middleman, he left the company after getting fed up. He left a void that had been found impossible to fill by producers. Since then, he has been talking to his family about things.
Mikey Left For A “Top Secret Project”
Shaq And His Custom Chopper
Shaquille O’Neal was a pleasant face on the show back in 2014. American Chopper returned for a one-night event so that they could build the NBA icon a custom chopper! The hardest part of this was to make a chopper big enough to support his huge frame. The basketball legend was thrilled with his new vehicle, saying that he had always wanted to ride a motorcycle but found all the others too small. Paul Jr. did not appear in the special, but his brother was the garage’s vice president.
Shaq And His Custom Chopper
Mikey Is Passionate About Art
Mikey left American Chopper to pursue his passion for art after getting fed up with family affairs. This was always his dream. After learning how to operate a business from his time at Orange County Choppers, he opened an art gallery. He did, however, only run it, but he also contributed and sold the art he made. In the name of making his life simpler, he shut down the gallery in 2014. Aside from that, he wanted to focus on fixing his relationship with his family members.
Mikey Is Passionate About Art
Vincent DiMartino Saw Success Of His Own
Vincent DiMartino learned just a month into his new job at Orange County Choppers that the garage would become a reality show. He became a minor American Chopper celebrity, but he ended up leaving for the V-Force Customs launch. He does not forget to look back on his roots, even though he has started his own shop since then. He showed up to seek advice from Paul Jr. in the final seasons of the show. Clearly, the two of them remain good friends no matter what.
Vincent DiMartino Saw Success Of His Own
Eventually Making It Back To The Show
It was a dream come true for Vincent. He had a successful garage of his own, but he acknowledges that he would not have gotten there without any assistance. He returned to lend Paul Jr. a hand when American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior came out. For two seasons, the new show was on the air until the Discovery Channel pulled the plug. It is impressive, at any rate, that DiMartino juggled his responsibilities!
Eventually Making It Back To The Show
Not Originally Meant To Focus Orange County Choppers
When Discovery Channel came up with American Chopper, it was not interested in the Teutel family and the shop. The show’s producer said the decision to concentrate on the chopper shop was only made a night before taping. It was so last minute that until it was too late, the network had no clue. He said, “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.”
Not Originally Meant To Focus Orange County Choppers