Rock legend Ted Nugent recently commented on his experience with a custom vehicle project. He addressed serious allegations in a statement shared on YouTube.
Nugent detailed his experience with Bill Carlton and Texas Metal, a shop featured on Motor Trend’s television program. He brought his 1974 Bronco to the shop for modifications, with Carlton allegedly promising completion within a year.
“I took it to Bill Carlton at Texas Metal. He shook my hand and actually said, ‘You know, my dad said, A man’s only as good as his word.’ As he shook my hand on film and said, I said, ‘Can you do it in a year, Bill?’ No problem,” Nugent recalled. “He said, ‘My dad said a man is only as good as his word.’ Well, your dad was right. Except that you just spit in the face of your dad.”
Nugent explained that the vehicle was supposed to receive state-of-the-art modifications. These included a driveline, suspension, and off-road capabilities. However, he claimed the project took significantly longer than promised.
“Six years later, it wouldn’t run. He dropped it off one time and it wouldn’t even go into four-wheel drive. It wouldn’t shift. At first, it wouldn’t even start,” Nugent stated. “Years later, not one year, years later. He said, ‘So, kind of work with us because we’ll get it right. It’s just not running, but we’ll get it running right.'”
Nugent alleged that despite the vehicle’s poor condition, Carlton pressured him to participate in a television reveal for the Motor Trend show. He claimed the Bronco was not operational at the time of filming.
“It wouldn’t even drive up the hill on the Texas Metal TV show. It wouldn’t even drive up the hill. And so I took a deep breath and I raved about what I was looking at. And what I was looking at was a scam,” Nugent said. “I wouldn’t dare take my family or my dogs in a drive and my beloved 74 Bronco after Texas Metal ruined it. Bill, you’re a horrible man.”
Nugent concluded by suggesting the issues were intentional rather than accidental. He called on Motor Trend to address the situation.
“What the real Bronco specialists discovered when they had to tear it all down and start over again is that Bill and his team at Texas Metal had to do it on purpose. They can’t possibly be that stupid,” Nugent asserted. “Motor Trend people, call me. You can’t possibly let this guy keep his TV show.”
To understand the context of Nugent’s allegations, it’s important to examine the history of his involvement with the Texas Metal television program and the specific vehicle project in question. HBO Max’s Texas Metal archives reveal that Ted Nugent appeared on the show in Season 4, Episode 9, titled Rock’n Bronco, which aired on May 18, 2021. During this episode, Bill Carlton and his team at Ekstensive Metal Works undertook a major overhaul of Nugent’s 1974 Ford Bronco.
IMDb’s Texas Metal database documents an ambitious project scope. The team not only transformed the Bronco into a ground-up, all-terrain beast but also constructed a handmade, all-tube, off-road buggy for Nugent as part of the same engagement. The episode was designed to showcase Carlton’s craftsmanship and the capabilities of his shop, with the work intended to be featured prominently on the reality television program.
Nugent’s public allegations represent a significant departure from the positive portrayal of the project that aired on television. His claims suggest a substantial gap between what viewers saw on screen and what he experienced with the finished vehicle. He asserts that the Bronco was non-functional at the time of the televised reveal, which contradicts the narrative typically presented in reality television shows where completed projects are showcased as successful transformations.
This controversy adds to Nugent’s history of public disputes and media appearances. Texas Monthly’s coverage indicates that Nugent has been involved in various controversies related to his appearances on reality television programs. His outspoken nature and strong opinions have frequently generated public debate and criticism. His willingness to publicly call out Carlton and Motor Trend demonstrates his commitment to addressing what he views as a breach of trust and professional responsibility.
