Building and Drinking with Josh Allison of American Metal Customs

Serving as lead fabricator for Orange County Choppers, Josh Allison continued making his mark within kustom kulture due to his unique vision, undeniable work ethic, and versatility. Appearing on the hit Discovery Channel series, American Chopper, Allison was poised to accept new challenges.

Having earned the respect of Paul Teutul Sr. for his work ethic and adding his personal touch to builds, Allison’s future at OCC looked very bright but Teutul wanted to relocate to Florida, which enabled Allison to consider his options and create new opportunities.

“That was an amazing experience but things slowed a bit during Covid. I was working on an Easy Rider chopper tribute for Chris Bishop at OCC and we began talking about opportunities and what I had next. Things were winding down as they were getting ready to relocate to Florida and Chris would pop in a lot and talk while I was working on the bike,” recalled Allison.

After moving to Connecticut, Allison and Bishop discussed launching a joint venture of a high-end kustom ‘rod and bike shop but with a twist; creating and incorporating an independent whiskey brand with an image solely dedicated to moto culture and independently crafted, U.S. alcohol

“We really talked things out and Chris and myself really wanted to create an all-inclusive, one-stop-shop for custom builds, restorations, hot rods, bikes, and specialty services. Then, Chris had a vision for a whiskey company that would be driven by the custom shop and the kustom kulture of the industry. I thought this was a great idea and got on board right away,” said Allison.

Allison added the importance of an all-inclusive shop and stated, “Whenever people take on builds the bike or car has to go to different spots for different things. What I had in mind was a spot that could do all the metal work, paint, motor work, and upholstery in one place with total attention to every detail.”
American Metal Customs officially launched in April, 2021. Allison took his talents and attention to detail within the kustom builds and collaborated with Bishop, Brian, and Randy to launch the whiskey side of American Metal Customs, which Allison admitted was not an easy undertaking.

“I learned so much from working to launch this brand and nothing was easy but Chris and the team had an extensive and impressive background. Chris owned Sobe Energy back in the day and Blue Buffalo, which he sold to General Mills in 2018,” said Allison.

Allison and Bishop continue proving their conviction that whiskey and moto kulture are linked. Demand for whiskey orders continues growing and Allison’s high-profile builds provide the vehicle to further propel the brand.

“The kustom shop pushes the whiskey and gives it further credibility. We work on bringing them together thru moto imagery and just like a kustom build, focus on every detail. American Metal got up and running right as I finished The Disciple, which really pushed me because it was a mix of vintage and some modern touches that make it very rideable. As soon as I finished, we were off to Cleveland to show it at Fuel and introduce everyone to American Metal,” said Allison.

Allison has solidified his reputation for his unique and intricate chopper builds that feature handmade fabrication, patina, and a tasteful mix of classic and modern, with the ultimate goal of creating a kustom chopper that is also easily rideable. Allison continued reflecting on his most recent builds.

“There has to be balance. I try to always push myself with my metal fabrication, from gas tanks to frames, anything. When I finished Malibu Honey, I worked outside my comfort zone because I usually don’t do painted bikes but I’m really proud of how that turned out. The Disciple has a 1941 OEM motor that runs like a dream but when all said and done, that motor broke $20,000! For King Nothing, I found the Knucklehead motor for cheap on eBay but it was mostly empty cases and needed everything. That was $18,000 and that’s not considered super expensive for a knuckle motor. I have seen knuckle frames for $6,000 and motors for $20,000 and of course, they need work. That’s the name of the game when you talk classic knuckleheads,” lamented Allison.

Asked how a novice, passionate builder should navigate the commanding prices of classic iron, Allison quickly agreed that escalating prices can certainly intimidate even the most-skilled builder.

“I totally understand why some people would be unhappy with the current prices. However, I know sheet metal is cheap, and if you’re willing to develop your skills, and be dedicated, you can craft some parts yourself. I actually think it’s a great time for kustom kulture and builders. We have this unprecedented access and communication with social media and if used right, it’s a valuable resource for learning. For those that cannot source or buy an original Panhead or knuckle motor, S&S Motors continues doing an awesome job at recreating those awesome motors and they’re new and evolved and offer the best of both worlds, which offers opportunities to builders,” said Allison.

Allison’s diverse skill set has him earning several accolades but he quickly reminds himself that nothing has come easy. Launching American Metal Customs was not a seamless transition from his tenure at OCC but his tenacity, vision, and desire to learn has made his newest venture rewarding.

“It’s not just myself that has made this all happen. Every day was a moment to work and learn something new. We’re not creatively limiting ourselves to just one thing, not just kustom bikes or exclusively working on custom ‘rods. Every day is something different because each client has a different vision for what they want,” he said.

In addition to putting in shop time, Allison will continue building on his reputation as a unique kustom bike builder, ambitiously pushing himself in new directions. Allison earned the honor of being an invited builder to Born Free 14, marking his 3rd invited builder appearance at the renowned event. He shared some details of his upcoming build.

“It’s gonna feature a 1938 Knuckle motor. I know the costs of these are getting out of control but it’s a unique motor and fun to build with if you can source it,” he laughed.

He continued, “It’s gonna have a 4-speed Panhead ratchet top transmission and a total kustom, VL frame. I really liked what Harley did with the VL frame so I’m going to be completely cutting it apart, raking it, windowing it, and then the rest will be custom-built, making it my own spin on the VL frame. It will also feature one of my handcrafted springers and the rest of the build will be completely handcrafted.”

Allison works hard to surprise himself, something not easily achieved after developing such a high level of skill.

“I have it laid it out but I’m getting a little loose with the design and I’m excited about it! I work hard to surprise myself and it really gets the energy going when I can do that!”

For Allison and American Metal Customs, the passion and knowledge remain unlimited because nobody is settling for focusing on a singular goal, or design concept.

“We continue asking ourselves how we top our hard work, what new things can we learn. I try to elevate my work and push myself. There’s lots of things out there to remain inspired. You have truly unique events like TROG where you can see these classic machines not only run but pushed to some limits with classic sand races. You have so many people out there pushing boundaries with their builds! Everyone has their own reasons for getting into kustom kulture, but you have to put the effort in. There’s something for everyone and it can be so rewarding,” concluded Allison.