I grew up in Oregon riding bicycles and racing BMX. From the time I was 4 until I was 16 I was on my bike religiously. My family moved to San Diego in 1990 and I continued to ride but as my friends traded in their bikes for cars I was called upon to help work on them. I lowered my first truck when I was fifteen and when I was sixteen my mom took her Volvo wagon away from me because I was trying to cut the coil springs. Once I had my own car it was all over. I couldn’t leave anything about it alone. I was washing cars for a job and had enough money for the easy modifications but couldn’t afford to do anything trick like you see in the magazines.

About this time I was 18 and wanted to learn how to fabricate. I would drive up to The Chop Shop in Escondido and push the broom around and run errands. I purchased a 93 Toyota truck and really wanted to do up the suspension. Brian Jendro (the chop shop) agreed to help me out as long as I could work off the debt. Nine months later I had one of the nicest airbagged and body dropped trucks on the west coast and an official job at the Chop Shop.

Since the Chop Shop days I have built numerous cars for myself and customers alike. I have traveled the country for car shows, trade shows, and work. Many of the vehicles I have built or owned have been featured in magazines. I have done custom work for professional ball players, musicians, celebrities, and have been featured on two Speed Channel television shows. In 2006 I was the head fabricator and suspension shop manager for Street Tuner Challenge where we built an insanely trick 6cyl supercharged mustang. Then for 2007 I did the suspension fabrication and design for the Bricklin that was featured on Chop, Cut, Rebuild.

Currently I have my own shop in San Diego called Chappelle's Exhaust and Kustom. I am still building trick suspensions, exhaust systems, elaborate off road vehicles, and classic cars alike. There is no telling what the future will hold but I’m sure of one thing. I am gonna work hard to make the most of it.

- David Chappelle

  

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