Thanks to a regular appearance on Discovery Channel’s hit TV show Fast N’ Loud, Yu-Lan Haiso Martin – known the world over as “Sue” – has become the most recognizable figure in auto upholstery.
Fans of the show tune in each week to revel in her witty humor and relentless bashing of costars Richard and Aaron of Gas Monkey Garage. However, it’s not just her charismatic personality that keeps viewers coming back for more. Sue is, in fact, a talented trimmer who always manages to breathe new life into the “junk” interiors that customers bring her.
Of course, Sue’s success cannot be simply attributed to a television show. On the contrary, she has earned her stripes the old fashioned way: hard work.
Sue founded her shop, ASM Auto Upholstery, 23 years ago after immigrating to the United States from Taiwan and teaching herself the craft. Since then, she has worked day and night – sometimes even sleeping in her garage – to build a strong reputation for quality and dependability.
Sue’s hard work has certainly paid off. Today, she operates a busy nine-person auto upholstery shop in Dallas, TX; stars in a hit reality TV show about the auto restoration industry; and is revered by peers and car enthusiasts alike. As her website states, “Sue is an example of the true American dream.”
We are proud to interview Sue of Fast N’ Loud and ASM Auto Upholstery for the sixth installment of our “10 Questions” series.
1. How long have you been an auto upholsterer for? How and where did you learn the craft?
23 years, a friend introduced me to the industry. I learned the craft by working side by side with my first employee, Adan De La Rosa, who has since passed away.
2. How did you link up with the fellas of Gas Monkey Garage and get involved in the whole Fast N’ Loud project?
Richard’s shop was down the street when he came by and saw our quality work and decided to use us. That was 12 years ago and we’ve had a business relationship since.
3. Your catch phrase on Fast N’ Loud is: “Why you always bring me junk?” Do Richard and Aaron of Gas Monkey Garage really always bring you junk?
Yes, since most of their vehicles are restorations, we get their projects at there worst.
4. Gas Monkey Garage brings you a lot of classic restorations and custom work. Is that the bulk of your business or do you mainly do general repairs?
The bulk of our business is not restorations. It’s general repairs with some restorations and custom projects.
5. Often times on Fast N’ Loud, the fellas of Gas Monkey Garage will bring you a vehicle that needs a total interior overhaul and give you a ridiculously short deadline for when it needs to be complete. How real are those deadlines? And if they’re real, how do you manage to complete a full interior restoration that quickly?
Due to the fact that Richard’s vehicles are often scheduled for sale at auctions, the deadlines are real and we manage by putting several employees on their projects and working late.
6. How do you find the time to shoot scenes for Fast N’ Loud while running a fully operational auto upholstery business?
Luckily we have two sides to our shop. When discovery comes over to shoot, we’re still able to work on the other side.
7. Your role on Fast N’ Loud has cast ASM Auto Upholstery into the spotlight. Has the show impacted your business? And if so, how?
Since we are already a busy upholstery company before the show, with our accounts with many car dealerships, the business side hasn’t changed with the show, but we now have a lot of fans from across the world.
8. There aren’t many auto upholstery shops that receive as much international attention as yours does right now. Do you feel a sense of duty to the craft to represent it in any particular way?
I think since it’s a reality show, you don’t see what the craft is really about. We do a lot of different things that aren’t on the show. It would be nice to redo only hot rods and be able to make a living at my shop, but that’s not the way it is.We work all day everyday on variety of projects from furniture to marine and even airplane upholstery.
9. If there’s one thing that you’d like car enthusiasts to know about our industry, what would it be?
One man’s junk can be turned into another man’s treasure.
10. It seems that you started off as a guest character on Fast N’ Loud, but because of your funny and outgoing personality you’ve been highlighted a lot more. Is this a sign of you taking on a more regular or leading role in the show?
You’ll just have to watch the show and see. But yes, Richard, Aaron and I have been filming more together. It’s been a lot of fun.
BONUS QUESTION: What does the future hold for Sue and ASM Auto Upholstery?
We’re just gonna keep on trimming.
Gjudd says
March 18, 2013 at 7:33 pm11. is your daughter single? lol
only joking Sexy Sue, keep up the good work and grilling the monkeys!
Monty says
March 18, 2013 at 11:44 pmThe interior is just as important as the exterior. Keep it up Sue!
Eric 's Auto Upholstery says
March 21, 2013 at 4:45 amI agree the interior is just as important as the exterior. It is frustrating when a customer pays tens of thousands on the exterior of a car restoration. Then wants to budget the cost of the interior. I don’t think upholsterers are appreciated as much as we should be! Just my opinion. Thanks Eric
Kustoms says
July 29, 2016 at 1:00 pmEric, 100% on target!
james mike terry says
May 19, 2013 at 5:41 pmhi is there any way i could get a autograph photo from sue ,thamk you.
dano says
June 17, 2013 at 9:37 pm“cheap charlie” = priceless!
larry arnold says
June 18, 2013 at 3:52 pmwould like to know how sue found 9 trimmers in texas now thats amazing considering there are few coming into the trade
david says
July 2, 2013 at 5:08 ami think sue is great need to see more of her
lbcharlie says
July 23, 2013 at 1:30 amMy favorite thing Sue does is say for lunch she is serving Monkey Soup! She fits in this show great! And I want to know if Sue is single.
Potal says
September 3, 2013 at 9:07 amGreetings from Poland. In our country Gas Monkey Garage is in each village :)- we are still repairing and junks from all European countries:)
But Sue is inimitable. God bless you and your family.
gary foulk says
September 17, 2013 at 5:42 pmautograph photo from sue thank you
Naomi says
September 28, 2013 at 2:39 amSue, I would sacrifice body parts to work for you! Hire me! I think you’re awesome!
jeff hoye says
September 29, 2013 at 12:24 pm“YOU NO GAS MONKEY,YOU ASS MONKEY!=BINGO,JET OUT!!! SUE HAS THE ONE LINERS FOR SURE.
Tommy aka Harley says
September 29, 2013 at 4:36 pmgreat show and great bunch of people.we can relate to their situations. always looking forward to Monday pm.keep the shows on please because that is the only day we look at leaving the shop early.thank you
Harley
john rademaker says
December 7, 2013 at 6:40 pmsue’s new saying,youv’e got monkey gas coming out of youre monkey ass.
Steve B. says
January 18, 2014 at 2:56 pmSue, I would love to see Richard, Aaron and you become in a heated argument and then you karate chop and kicked the shit out of them and grab Aaron by the beard. Sue, that one job the seats were so screwed up and you had to redo the seats. Did somebody actually screw up that bad?
Michael A. Buttitta says
March 31, 2014 at 1:20 amYou are funnier than ,Hell,on Christmas Eve,I am sure the advertising / and kickbacks are worth The Drama,from,Ass Monkeys,you seem to be really good.Do you do motorcycle,seats/Leather,?? Without stitching holes that let water,(RAIN),in?No wet ass,Monkey,like simple designs, 2-3 color,????.I did 2 bikes in my life,that shit is not easy,but mine looked showroom new,replacement covers of course,still kind OF DIFFICULT,for a white boy.Can you send info to / mikeb714@comcast.net,Love, thank you,!!!!!!!!!
vee says
October 14, 2014 at 4:04 amLove Sue! Love the genuine honesty.
The world would be better with more Sue.
Susan says
October 17, 2014 at 11:28 amI just saw an old movie, Cadillac man, the Japanese waitress in it could be Sue in her younger days, same voice, same kind of character!
Tex says
December 6, 2014 at 4:43 pmYou do good, Sue. Keep up the good work turning Richard’s junk into trophy cars. I hope Richard pays you well.
paul says
December 7, 2014 at 1:28 amSue you are GREAT you need your own show
patricia deaton says
September 8, 2015 at 12:46 amhow can I get a tee shirt from sue that says why you always bring me junk I love yalls show
Steve says
September 25, 2015 at 5:03 amSue I have really gotten a kick out of seeing you, and your interaction with Ass Monkeys, and Fired Up. I always look for you when I watch either of the shows, and am disappointed when you don’t have an appearance. I agree with an earlier post: You need your own show. You’d be great, and you’d have a regular viewer in me.
Mike says
November 6, 2015 at 2:30 amHello Sue your awesome! I love you! you have that drive that is very rare in a person, you have accomplished so much in your life. Are you married? wishful thinking on my part.
Billy dreher says
January 17, 2017 at 8:15 pmI LOVE WHEN YOU CALL HIM ASS MONKEY WOULD YOU FIX MY 1985 SUPRA
Nathan says
December 28, 2015 at 3:38 amI like the show of the volkswagen bus you id a really good job sue. I never saw somone do as good as you at upholsterey.
mark miniard says
July 12, 2016 at 2:51 amCongratulations Sue!!!! Thank you for all your hard work all these years. The American Dream is alive and well in Dallas TX. Don’t take any crap from those Gas Monkey nut jobs!
Harry Tomlinson says
July 25, 2016 at 6:44 pmHello Sue, enjoy every appearance. You do GREAT work and speak the truth. You always bring a smile when you appear. Would like to meet you some day. I think it would be worth the trip from Michigan. Thank you for being you.
Kustoms says
July 29, 2016 at 1:03 pmWhy do you give your work away?
Susan says
October 27, 2016 at 9:22 pmSue you’re the reason I watch Gas Monkey. Do you sell t-shirts.I’m Sue too.Your fan.
Mel says
August 31, 2017 at 3:56 amI would love to work under Sue and learn some of the things she knows. Can I have a job?
Logan says
September 2, 2017 at 2:59 amHow much for an autographed photo of you sue I love your attitude and personality you are awesome
Joseph Reihing says
November 24, 2017 at 11:55 pmHoe can anyone especially Richard Rawlins argue with Sue and get away without her injuring him?
Ed Campbell says
April 7, 2018 at 8:56 pmI am Ed Campbell owner of Campbell Upholstery woodbury Pa. do not know if this is the proper spot to ask but here it goes. Anybody know where I can order original foam forms for back seat and backrest for 1959 T.Bird. Any suppliers phone numbers would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.