Check Out Josh Oyler’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Oyler.

Hi Josh, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I fell in love with Hot Rods and custom motorcycles when I was a teenager. I was lucky enough to have some people help steer me away from troublemaking and into mechanics. I started working for myself when I was 21. Working towards the ultimate goal of a speed shop. Sometimes building custom choppers (Oyler Custom Cycles), and building cars. Wherever the money was at the time, that was my focus. Lots of outside help and support, plus some luck is how I got to the place I am today.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Never a smooth road for anyone. My shop is no different. About 15 years ago some laws got changed making it almost impossible to continue the way we were building custom motorcycles. We adapted, and grew. Also, the speed shop is very small and we are always juggling how many customers we can deal with at a time.

We are very lucky to have more work than we can handle. Struggling with changing interests in the Hot Rod and Chopper world is one of our biggest struggles. Always trying to stay true to your vision and beliefs, while giving the customer what they want.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We focus mainly on 1972 and older American cars and handmade custom motorcycles. We will work on newer cars from time to time, but we prefer to stay in the vintage world. I’m proudest of the shop’s willingness to try and reach perfection. Always knowing it can’t be obtained but wanting to make everything the best we can. Clean, quality builds are what we are known for.

Taking a 50-year-old car and making it functional and enjoyable to drive in the world today. Adding small, handmade touches while focusing on form and function together. I treat everything we work on with respect and ask that anyone that works with me does the same. Handling a 100-year-old car is a privilege and we treat it as such.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I have had more help, support, and cheering than I ever deserved. I couldn’t take the time needed to thank everyone that has helped me. However, my folks saw that I had an interest and let me dirty up, and take over their garage. Even in the Colorado winters, they would scrape off the snow and ice on their cars, so I could have a place to work and modify mine.

I was lucky enough to find a woman that supported and encouraged my crazy ideas. Then gave me a son, that now is 16 and helps around the shop. We have had a lot of good people come and go over the years at the shop. It’s a hard business, with lots of deadlines, quality control, responsibility, and stress. I have been lucky to have great people around as employees, teachers, customers, and mentors.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.oylersspeedshop.com
• Instagram: @oylers_speed_shop