MORRIS, IL – Students in the Grundy Area Vocational Center’s automotive technology program learned firsthand Tuesday from Joe Zolper what it takes to become a top mechanic and to start a business. Zolper owns Prison City Choppers and is lead mechanic on the TV show...
There are gear heads all across America with beloved “project cars” sitting unfinished in driveways and home garages. These weekend mechanics usually lack the time, money or skill to complete their dream car. And it’s turned into a wallet draining,...
JOLIET – It took more than 10 takes for Joliet-area mechanic Joe Zolper to perfect a half-minute clip for an upcoming reality TV show on Velocity, Discovery’s auto channel. About 15 people working on the show huddled behind the camera Wednesday in the garage of a...
Mike Allen of Joliet has been working on his 1984 Monte Carlo SS for three years. Restoring an old muscle car is hard work for anyone, but even more so for Allen who is a paraplegic. So when Allen came home from a family dinner to find his garage broken into and his...
Joe Zolper of Prison City Choppers in Joliet, IL built this 280 rear tire chopper several months before the big Metzler was available across the USA. Obtaining the tire in a nonstandard but legal and effective manner, he manufactured one of his Kapone frames around...