zerinVR6
07-12-2005, 02:30 PM
A Look Inside...West Coast Choppers
By Donald W. Bond
Dubspeed Media Staff Writer
Additional WCC Photos can be viewed here: http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photo...ery.php?cat=806 (http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=806)
When we hear the name, Jesse James, my generation thinks of Outlaws of the Old West. Robbing stagecoaches on horseback and shooting the Sheriff, as they rode off into the sunset. That is no longer the case. To hear the name Jesse James, we envision the entrepreneur of West Coast Choppers. And the only horses you will hear is his one-of-a-kind choppers rolling out the backdoor at WCC.
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/806/wccsign.jpg
Jesse started customizing bikes in junior high. In 1980, he modified a friend's bicycle and then turned around and sold it…for a very nice profit. Remember, dreams and ideas start small. But Jesse James never would have thought it would get so big. So big infact, not only does he and his 50-man crew build bikes for the likes of Kid Rock and Shaq, but his empire has diversified, including wheels for cars and trucks, motorcycle parts and accessories, and a very successful clothing line. And to push the envelope a little further, a movie production company; Pay Up Sucker Productions. With all this, his true passion is working on a customer’s bike. With all this under his belt, his custom choppers are more than customs. They are works of art. Only 200 have been built since the birth of WCC.
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/806/57wagon.jpg
Jesse’s original shop is located in the industrial area of Long Beach, just off of West Anaheim Street. You cannot miss it with its white Maltese cross rising up out of the roof, wrapped in red neon. Little has changed since his shop first appeared on the Discovery Channel. The two story showroom, choppers lined up awaiting a new owner or customer bikes keeping company with its brethren. His famous seafoam green and purple metal flake ’57 Chevy Nomad sits inside slammed to the ground with the asking price of $50,000. Just imagine how much cheaper it would be without the WCC logo on the roof.
Just completed is the MAC Tools chopper, with its purple metallic and traditional flames. And for the die hard car enthusiast, it sports Brembo brakes.
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/806/mactools.jpg
His two pets sharks, lounge languidly in the tank from the downstairs gift shop. His 1940 Miller Indy car body sits for sale and is ready to be restored to all its previous glory. Someday...
To view the line up of choppers displayed proudly in the showroom, visit his web site. (www.westcoastchoppers.com (http://www.westcoastchoppers.com/)) My favorite...well, it would have to be “Chongo Blanco”. This El Diablo looks like it was dragged out of a hay field…rusty…all of it. The tank, frame, excluding the fully chromed engine and tan stitched saddle. Rust never looked to good. I could go on, but why bother. The photos speak for themselves.
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/806/rustychpr2.jpg
As my boys and I were leaving WCC, walking back to the truck, our eyes feasted on a delicious morsel of raw sophisticated machinery…a black Porsche Carrera GT with of all things, gold anodized wheels…Jesse’s? Maybe. But one of his ‘crew’ was driving it into the back of the new 250,000 square foot shop across the street of the original WCC.
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/806/carreragt4.jpg
The industrial building, with its red brick and mortar standing with honor after years of use, now has been reborn…Jesse James style. If you are an enthusiast of architecture, then you’ll love the heavy black spider-web gates and the stainless steel Maltese cross that adorns the property. The front fascia of the building as been painted in a traditional California seafoam green and white with full stainless doors and 3-D crosses. No signs. No neon. If you are familiar with WCC and Jesse James, then you know whose inside. It’s that simple.
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/806/coffinclnr.jpg
No admission. No tours. Just show up. Go inside and look around. Look past the choppers & the cool cars. Imagine someone telling a seventh grader it can’t be done. Then look at the detail on the coffin-style air cleaner and the curves of the exhaust.
Guess what? It can be done. By hand.
Additional WCC Photos can be viewed here: http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photo...ery.php?cat=806 (http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=806)
By Donald W. Bond
Dubspeed Media Staff Writer
Additional WCC Photos can be viewed here: http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photo...ery.php?cat=806 (http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=806)
When we hear the name, Jesse James, my generation thinks of Outlaws of the Old West. Robbing stagecoaches on horseback and shooting the Sheriff, as they rode off into the sunset. That is no longer the case. To hear the name Jesse James, we envision the entrepreneur of West Coast Choppers. And the only horses you will hear is his one-of-a-kind choppers rolling out the backdoor at WCC.
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/806/wccsign.jpg
Jesse started customizing bikes in junior high. In 1980, he modified a friend's bicycle and then turned around and sold it…for a very nice profit. Remember, dreams and ideas start small. But Jesse James never would have thought it would get so big. So big infact, not only does he and his 50-man crew build bikes for the likes of Kid Rock and Shaq, but his empire has diversified, including wheels for cars and trucks, motorcycle parts and accessories, and a very successful clothing line. And to push the envelope a little further, a movie production company; Pay Up Sucker Productions. With all this, his true passion is working on a customer’s bike. With all this under his belt, his custom choppers are more than customs. They are works of art. Only 200 have been built since the birth of WCC.
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/806/57wagon.jpg
Jesse’s original shop is located in the industrial area of Long Beach, just off of West Anaheim Street. You cannot miss it with its white Maltese cross rising up out of the roof, wrapped in red neon. Little has changed since his shop first appeared on the Discovery Channel. The two story showroom, choppers lined up awaiting a new owner or customer bikes keeping company with its brethren. His famous seafoam green and purple metal flake ’57 Chevy Nomad sits inside slammed to the ground with the asking price of $50,000. Just imagine how much cheaper it would be without the WCC logo on the roof.
Just completed is the MAC Tools chopper, with its purple metallic and traditional flames. And for the die hard car enthusiast, it sports Brembo brakes.
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/806/mactools.jpg
His two pets sharks, lounge languidly in the tank from the downstairs gift shop. His 1940 Miller Indy car body sits for sale and is ready to be restored to all its previous glory. Someday...
To view the line up of choppers displayed proudly in the showroom, visit his web site. (www.westcoastchoppers.com (http://www.westcoastchoppers.com/)) My favorite...well, it would have to be “Chongo Blanco”. This El Diablo looks like it was dragged out of a hay field…rusty…all of it. The tank, frame, excluding the fully chromed engine and tan stitched saddle. Rust never looked to good. I could go on, but why bother. The photos speak for themselves.
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/806/rustychpr2.jpg
As my boys and I were leaving WCC, walking back to the truck, our eyes feasted on a delicious morsel of raw sophisticated machinery…a black Porsche Carrera GT with of all things, gold anodized wheels…Jesse’s? Maybe. But one of his ‘crew’ was driving it into the back of the new 250,000 square foot shop across the street of the original WCC.
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/806/carreragt4.jpg
The industrial building, with its red brick and mortar standing with honor after years of use, now has been reborn…Jesse James style. If you are an enthusiast of architecture, then you’ll love the heavy black spider-web gates and the stainless steel Maltese cross that adorns the property. The front fascia of the building as been painted in a traditional California seafoam green and white with full stainless doors and 3-D crosses. No signs. No neon. If you are familiar with WCC and Jesse James, then you know whose inside. It’s that simple.
http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/data/806/coffinclnr.jpg
No admission. No tours. Just show up. Go inside and look around. Look past the choppers & the cool cars. Imagine someone telling a seventh grader it can’t be done. Then look at the detail on the coffin-style air cleaner and the curves of the exhaust.
Guess what? It can be done. By hand.
Additional WCC Photos can be viewed here: http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photo...ery.php?cat=806 (http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=806)