Meet JOE SULPY | Customer car builder, designer, metal shaper and teacher of metal shaping

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joe Sulpy from Joe Sulpys Custom Cars and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi JOE, how do you think about risk?
I’ve never been one to follow the pack. So building custom cars and motorcycles is a perfect fit for me. Everyday I get to create and push myself to think outside of the box. When you are trying to reinvent yourself everyday, pushing the boundaries of your skills, you are constantly trying to do something that has never been seen before. This can easily backfire and and get negative reactions. You have to be creative enough to come up with the ideas, skilled enough to execute them and experienced enough to know what people like to see, as well as strong enough to take criticism. There is no art without passion. That passion is a driving force not to be underestimated, it will push you to risk everything. That passion is what drives you to say to yourself “How close can I get to the edge?”

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My passion is metal shaping and redesigning cars. I dont use modern much equipment. Everything I do is shaped by hand with hand tools. There are no computers in my shop or massive powered shaping machines. I still build car bodies the same way people did 100 years ago. I started working with my father at his hot rod shop at age 8 just as a helper. I have a gift that if I see something done I can pick it up very quickly. So after many years of watching custom cars built as a child and young adult it really came as second nature. But to catotigcorize it as easy is a misconception, it’s a constant game to me to figure out the problem and the best solution.
One important thing I’ve learned along the way is you will never make everyone happy, not everyone will like your style, but you aren’t working for everyone, you are working for your customer. If I’m happy with the job and the customer is happy, that’s all that matters. Every car I build is designed and built to fit my customers desire and dreams. If other people like the car that’s a bonus not a requirement.
I would like people to know I don’t build cars for the money or recognition I get, this is my life and my passion. I have been approached 3 times by television production agencies for my own tv show and every single time I turn them down. That’s not me, I’m not an actor and I dont want the spotlight. I want the hammer in my hand, sweat dripping off my forehead and beating out a new fender for a 1936 Duesenberg.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If you were my best friend visiting we probably wouldn’t be going out much because you have the same interests as me. Often when my friends visit we work on cool projects together in the shop and learn from one another. Visiting Barrett Jackson or the Goodguys show at Westworld in Scottsdale is where you might find some of the vehicles that I have built. Phoenix international raceway (PIR) is only 6 miles from my shop or we could go to the pavilions in Scottsdale for their weekly cruise night.
But as far as places to eat Céntrico on Central Ave in Phoenix is one of the best Mexican restaurants you’ll find in the state and if we are working in the shop, which we probably will be, we will be ordering a pizza or two from taste of Italy on North Estrella Avenue in Goodyear.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m a third generation custom car builder, I went to grade school smelling like lacquer paint and race fuel. Growing up as a child in the 70’s and 80’s the legends and originators of the custom car industry from the 50’s and 60’s were just normal people to me and family friends. People such as George Barris and Ed Roth were people I would see monthly. It’s a little surreal looking back to think I would have dinner with George Barris and call him at 7 am, and wake him up to ask him a question. And by the way, if you haven’t heard his name before, this is the man who built the original Batmobile, the Munster cars, Dukes of Hazzard cars and the list is as long as my arm the amount of movie cars this man built. Ed Roth was always an inspiration because he never followed anyone. Ed’s unique style of building was a so far out of the box he made his own style and that takes some nerve to absolutely not care what other people are doing and completely make your own path. But at the end of the day my son Joe junior is my inspiration. At 10 years old he brings the joy in my life I need to face every day. He loves helping me in the shop and has a passion for custom cars. He is the light in my life.

Instagram: @joesulpyscustomcars

Linkedin: Check out Joe Sulpy’s profile on LinkedIn

Facebook: http://facebook.com/joseph.sulpy

Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/JoeSulpy

Other: Joesulpys@yahoo.com