Orange County Choppers
An American custom motorcycle manufacturer and lifestyle brand best known for its featured role in the reality television series American Chopper.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Orange County Choppers (OCC) is an American custom motorcycle manufacturer and lifestyle brand founded in 1999 by Paul Teutul Sr. in Orange County, New York. The company began as an extension of Teutul's steel fabrication business, OC Iron Works, and developed around the design and construction of highly individualized motorcycles. Its work typically combines hand fabrication, sculptural metalwork, themed bodywork, custom paint, and mechanical components selected for a particular client, institution, event, or cultural subject. OCC gained international visibility through American Chopper, a reality television series that premiered on the Discovery Channel in September 2002. The program presented the shop's motorcycle projects alongside the demanding production schedules and family conflicts involving Paul Teutul Sr., his son Paul Teutul Jr., and other employees. The show made the workshop, its builders, and its creative process part of popular culture, while also broadening OCC's business from a specialist fabrication shop into a recognizable consumer-facing brand. American Chopper later moved to TLC in 2007. After the original Discovery run ended, OCC was featured in a CMT series in 2013 and returned to Discovery in 2018. The company's early work included one-off theme motorcycles and ceremonial or promotional builds. Its first motorcycle, True Blue, was presented at Daytona Biketoberfest in 1999. OCC became particularly associated with motorcycles designed around recognizable themes, including the Fire Bike, created to honor New York firefighters who died during the September 11 attacks, and the Air Force Bike, commissioned by the United States Air Force and styled around the F-22 Raptor. These projects demonstrated the brand's ability to translate institutional identities into large, highly visible mechanical designs. The television show's success supported a major physical expansion. OCC constructed a 61,000-square-foot facility in Newburgh, New York, which opened in April 2008 and included production, retail, and visitor-oriented functions. The property was later surrendered to its lender in 2011 to avoid foreclosure, while the company continued leasing part of the building. The Newburgh site subsequently changed ownership and was eventually converted for other uses. In late 2020, OCC decided to leave the Newburgh location and establish a new Florida destination beside Bert's Barracuda Harley-Davidson in Pinellas Park. The resulting OCC Road House & Museum opened in late June 2021. The concept expanded beyond motorcycle production to include a bike-building shop, retail space, museum displays, restaurant facilities, billiards, and live entertainment. This reflects OCC's broader positioning as an experiential lifestyle business rather than only a motorcycle workshop. OCC has also extended its name through licensed and promotional activities. In 2007 it introduced a limited-edition production motorcycle line with prices beginning at $31,000, according to the referenced Wikipedia account. The company obtained naming rights for the MotoCoaster at Darien Lake in New York when the motorbike-themed roller coaster opened in 2008; the attraction was later renamed MotoCoaster after the naming arrangement ended. OCC has hosted live music performances and participated in music-related retail promotions, including the OCC Rocks compilation associated with RED and Sony. The brand remains closely identified with custom motorcycles, American Chopper, Paul Teutul Sr., and the visual language of oversized, theme-driven American fabrication. Its business has included motorcycles, accessories, retail, entertainment, hospitality, museum experiences, licensing, and media exposure. The supplied reference material does not establish current production volumes, financial results, corporate ownership, or a complete current executive structure.
History
Orange County Choppers developed from Paul Teutul Sr.'s earlier steel-fabrication activities. In the late 1990s, Teutul began applying the capabilities of OC Iron Works to custom motorcycle construction. He formally established Orange County Choppers in 1999 in Rock Tavern, New York, at a site on Stone Castle Road. The company later moved to Montgomery before establishing a larger public-facing operation in Newburgh. Its first motorcycle, True Blue, was shown at Daytona Biketoberfest in 1999. The company initially operated as a specialist custom builder. Its motorcycles were generally one-off or limited projects, using a strong visual theme and extensive fabrication rather than a standardized mass-market design. OCC's work became more visible through American Chopper, which debuted on Discovery Channel in September 2002. The program documented the design and construction of motorcycles while also focusing on the working relationships within the Teutul family and the shop. The series became a central part of OCC's identity and helped turn the business into a lifestyle and entertainment brand. The program moved to TLC in 2007, and OCC later appeared on CMT in 2013 before returning to Discovery in 2018. Media exposure encouraged physical expansion. OCC built a 61,000-square-foot facility in Newburgh, New York, for approximately $12 million according to the referenced account. The facility opened in April 2008 and was intended to support production, retail, and visitor activity. The company owned the property until 2011, when it surrendered the building to GE Commercial Finance Business Corp. to avoid foreclosure. OCC continued leasing approximately two-thirds of the site. The property was later sold to BRE East Mixed Asset Owner LLC in 2016. The former building was subsequently used as a self-storage facility, while the adjoining cafe closed. OCC's product identity centered on themed motorcycles. The Fire Bike commemorated New York firefighters killed in the September 11 attacks and incorporated a steel rivet said to have come from the collapsed World Trade Center. The design was associated with the number 343, corresponding to the number of New York firefighters who died in the attacks. The company also built the Air Force Bike after a commission from the United States Air Force. First displayed in March 2005, the motorcycle was designed around the F-22 Raptor, with aviation-inspired exhausts, wheels, tank detailing, and mirrors. In July 2007 OCC introduced a limited-edition production motorcycle line, extending its reach beyond individual commissioned builds. The brand also entered licensing and entertainment activities. OCC secured naming rights for the motorbike-themed MotoCoaster at Darien Lake in New York. The attraction opened in May 2008 under the Orange County Choppers MotoCoaster name, but was renamed MotoCoaster in 2010 after the naming rights expired. OCC hosted free concerts in its retail environment featuring a range of rock and alternative acts. In 2009 it marked a decade of company activity with performances by Smile Empty Soul and Earshot, and it participated with RED and Sony in the release of OCC Rocks, a classic-rock compilation connected to Paul Teutul Sr.'s musical preferences and featuring original material from the OCC Band. In late 2020, OCC decided to close its Newburgh location and relocate its principal destination concept to Pinellas Park, Florida, beside Bert's Barracuda Harley-Davidson. The new OCC Road House & Museum opened in late June 2021. It combined a motorcycle-building shop with retail, exhibits, food and beverage, billiards, and a concert pavilion. This move represented a shift toward an integrated visitor destination, using the brand's television recognition and motorcycle heritage to support hospitality, entertainment, and museum functions. The available reference material does not provide reliable information about current ownership, financial performance, production volume, or the company's present legal structure. It does, however, establish OCC as a continuing American custom motorcycle and lifestyle brand whose recognition rests on bespoke fabrication, themed motorcycles, television exposure, and experiential retail.
- 2021
OCC Road House & Museum opens
[1]OCC opens its new Florida motorcycle, museum, retail, restaurant, and entertainment destination in Pinellas Park.
- 2018
American Chopper returns to Discovery
[1]The OCC-associated series returns to Discovery Channel.
- 2013
OCC appears on CMT
[1]Following the end of the Discovery series, the company is featured in a CMT television program.
- 2011
Newburgh property is surrendered to lender
[1]OCC gives up ownership of the Newburgh property to avoid foreclosure and remains as a partial tenant.
- 2008
Newburgh facility opens
[1]The company opens a large custom motorcycle and retail facility in Newburgh, New York.
- 2007
Limited-edition production line launches
[1]OCC introduces a limited-edition production motorcycle line.
- 2005
Air Force Bike is displayed
[1]OCC publicly displays a United States Air Force-commissioned motorcycle inspired by the F-22 Raptor.
- 2002
American Chopper premieres
[1]Discovery Channel begins broadcasting the reality series that brings OCC broad public recognition.
- 1999
Orange County Choppers is founded
[1]Paul Teutul Sr. establishes OCC in Rock Tavern, New York, as an extension of his steel-fabrication business.
- 1999
True Blue is unveiled
[1]OCC presents its first motorcycle, True Blue, at Daytona Biketoberfest.
Products and positioning
A high-visibility American custom motorcycle and lifestyle brand combining hand-built themed motorcycles, fabrication craftsmanship, television entertainment, merchandise, licensing, and destination hospitality.
Custom motorcycles · 1999
Custom theme motorcycles
OCC's core offering is a program of bespoke motorcycles built around a defined theme, client, institution, event, or cultural reference. The bikes typically use extensive hand-fabricated metalwork, custom frames or body elements, specialized paint, and visual details intended to make the motorcycle function as a public display object as well as a rideable machine. Many of the best-known examples were developed for television and promotional exposure.
Custom motorcycle · 1999
True Blue
True Blue was Orange County Choppers' first motorcycle. It debuted at Daytona Biketoberfest in 1999 and represents the company's early transition from steel fabrication into motorcycle design and construction. The bike is significant primarily as an early OCC project and as evidence of the brand's origins before its later television-driven expansion.
Commemorative custom motorcycle
Fire Bike
The Fire Bike was created to commemorate New York firefighters who died in the September 11 attacks. Its styling drew on fire-truck imagery, and a steel rivet described as originating from the collapsed World Trade Center was mounted on the gas tank. The motorcycle was also associated with the number 343, representing the number of New York firefighters killed in the attacks.
Institutional commission · 2005
Air Force Bike
Commissioned by the United States Air Force, the Air Force Bike was a large custom motorcycle inspired by the F-22 Raptor. Its design incorporated aviation references including Air Force symbols, a riveted fuel tank, aircraft-inspired exhaust elements, and mirrors shaped like jets. The motorcycle was first put on public display in March 2005.
Production motorcycles · 2007
Limited-edition production motorcycles
In July 2007, OCC expanded from primarily one-off builds into a limited-edition production motorcycle line. The line was intended to make the brand's custom styling available in a more repeatable product format. The referenced account reports starting prices of $31,000 at launch, but does not provide sufficient information about later models, production totals, or current availability.
Lifestyle destination · 2021
OCC Road House & Museum
OCC Road House & Museum is the brand's Florida destination in Pinellas Park. Opened in 2021, it combines a motorcycle-building shop and retail section with museum displays, a restaurant, billiards, and a concert pavilion. The concept extends OCC into hospitality and entertainment, using the workshop and its history as part of a visitor experience.
Marketing campaigns
- 2009OCC Rocks music promotion
United States
OCC worked with RED and Sony on a classic-rock compilation connected to Paul Teutul Sr.'s musical preferences and featuring original material by the OCC Band.
Outcome. The project extended the brand into music retail and reinforced its lifestyle positioning.
- 2002American Chopper television launch
United States · International
The Discovery Channel reality series made OCC's workshop, motorcycle builds, and Teutul family dynamics central to the brand's public identity.
Outcome. The program gave OCC broad visibility and helped establish it as a motorcycle lifestyle and entertainment brand.
Brand decisions
2020
Relocation from New York to FloridaStrategyBackground
OCC decided to close its Newburgh location and pursue a new destination-oriented facility in Pinellas Park, Florida.
Action taken
The company developed OCC Road House & Museum beside Bert's Barracuda Harley-Davidson, combining motorcycle production with retail, museum, restaurant, billiards, and live entertainment facilities.
Aftermath
The new location opened in late June 2021, while the former Newburgh building was subsequently used as a self-storage facility.
2011
Surrender of Newburgh facilityStrategyBackground
OCC owned a large Newburgh facility opened during its television-driven expansion, but the property became financially burdensome.
Action taken
The company surrendered the property to GE Commercial Finance Business Corp. to avoid foreclosure and continued leasing part of the building.
Aftermath
OCC remained associated with the site as a tenant for a period, while ownership later transferred to another property company.
2007
Launch of limited-edition production motorcycle lineProduct launchBackground
OCC sought to extend its custom motorcycle identity beyond individually commissioned builds.
Action taken
The company introduced a limited-edition production line in July 2007.
Aftermath
The move broadened the brand's product model, although the available material does not document later production volumes or current availability.
Reported starting price. 31000 (At launch in July 2007; currency reported as United States dollars)
Recent events
- 2021
OCC Road House & Museum opens in Florida[1]
Other
The brand opened a new Pinellas Park destination combining motorcycle production, retail, a museum, food service, billiards, and live entertainment.
- 2011
OCC surrenders Newburgh property to lender[1]
Bankruptcy
The company surrendered ownership of the Newburgh facility to GE Commercial Finance Business Corp. to avoid foreclosure and continued leasing part of the site.
- 2008
Newburgh custom motorcycle facility opens[1]
Other
OCC opened a 61,000-square-foot custom facility in Newburgh, New York, supported by the brand's television-driven expansion.
- 2007
OCC introduces limited-edition production motorcycles[1]
Product launch · Pricing
Orange County Choppers launched a limited-edition production line, with the referenced account reporting starting prices of $31,000.
- 2005
United States Air Force Bike is publicly displayed[1]
Other
The United States Air Force commissioned a large motorcycle inspired by the F-22 Raptor, which was first displayed publicly in March 2005.
- 2002
American Chopper premieres on Discovery Channel[1]
Campaign · Other
The reality series introduced Orange County Choppers and its motorcycle-building process to a broad television audience.
Sources1 sources
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