Texas is big. The egos at the Dallas auto auctions? Usually bigger. If you ever spent a Tuesday night glued to the Velocity channel (now MotorTrend), you remember the high-stakes bidding wars, the grease-stained reveals, and the constant bickering of the cast of Dallas Car Sharks.
It’s been over a decade since the show first aired in 2013. While most reality TV stars fade into the background or end up on a weird celebrity boxing match, the "Sharks" were different. They were actual car dealers with real skin in the game. They weren't just playing for the cameras; they were playing for their mortgages.
But where are they now? Most fans still wonder if Martha and JD are actually related or if Tommy ever stopped wearing those signature hats.
The Shark King: Tommy Spagnola Today
Tommy was always the one to beat. He had that "I've been doing this since I was 16" energy because, well, he actually had been. Tommy Spagnola didn’t just play a dealer; he owns Texas Motorcars in Addison, Texas.
Honestly, he's probably the most successful of the bunch in terms of longevity. If you drive past his lot today, it’s not some abandoned set. It’s a thriving, family-run business. Tommy’s son, Brian, acts as the General Manager, and the whole operation feels like a time capsule of the show's glory days.
Tommy hasn't slowed down. He still races dirt tracks and spends his downtime sport fishing in the Bahamas. He’s the guy who proved that you can survive reality TV without losing your shirt—or your reputation.
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Martha Davis: More Than Just "The Mom"
Martha was the backbone of the show. As the only woman in the primary cast, she had to be tougher than the guys, and usually, she was. There were always rumors flying around about her health or whether she retired, but Martha is a survivor.
She and her son JD Cole famously shared a garage but kept their businesses separate. That wasn't just a TV plot point. It was a real-world boundary to keep the family from imploding over a 1969 Barracuda.
- Business Style: Martha was known for the "emotional" buy—picking cars that had soul rather than just profit margins.
- Current Status: While she’s stepped back from the limelight, her influence on the Dallas car scene remains. She proved that flipping isn't just a man’s game, especially when you have a better eye for detail than the "sharks" circling the auction block.
JD Cole and the Third Gen Legacy
JD Cole is a third-generation car dealer. That’s where the name of his shop, Third Gen Automotive, comes from. He always felt like he had the most to prove, mainly because he was competing against his own mother.
JD's style was always a bit more "cowboy" than the others. He’d take massive risks on rust buckets that looked like they belonged in a scrapyard, hoping for a hidden gem under the hood. Sometimes it worked. Sometimes, he’d end up with a boat that didn't float (literally—remember that fishing boat episode?).
JD is still active in the car world. He’s kept the family legacy alive, though he's much quieter on social media these days. He’s basically the embodiment of the Texas "work hard, play hard" mentality.
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Ash Rabah: The Young Gun With a Bio-Chem Degree
Ash was always the wild card. He didn't come from a long line of grease monkeys. He actually studied Bio-Chemistry at the University of Illinois Chicago before pivoting to cars.
That analytical brain served him well. Ash moved from Tampa to Dallas in 2011 to open Tampa Bay Motor Works Inc., and he brought a certain level of sophistication—and arrogance—that the other Sharks loved to hate.
Ash was the king of the "European" flip. While Tommy and JD were fighting over Camaros and Mustangs, Ash was looking for an Alpina B7 or a classic Mercedes. He’s still a businessman at heart, balancing his dealership with his life as a father of four. He’s definitely the one most likely to out-negotiate you without raising his voice.
Was the Show Scripted?
Let's be real. Every reality show has a bit of "flavoring." Producers definitely nudged the cast to bid against each other to create drama. But the cars? The money? That was real.
If Tommy bought a Hummer H1 and the transmission fell out on the way home, that was his $20,000 mistake, not the network's. That’s why the show felt so authentic. You could see the actual sweat on their faces when a "sure thing" turned into a total disaster.
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What You Can Learn from the Sharks
If you’re looking to get into car flipping yourself, these guys actually provided some decent blueprints:
- Don't Fall in Love: Martha’s biggest weakness was her heart. If you love the car too much, you’ll overspend on the restoration.
- Know the Market: Tommy’s success comes from knowing exactly what will sell in the Addison/Dallas area. Don’t buy a convertible if you live in Seattle.
- Inspect the "Surprises": JD’s losses almost always came from things he couldn't see at the auction. Bring a flashlight and a keen ear.
The cast of Dallas Car Sharks might not be on your TV every week anymore, but they’re still out there in the Texas heat, kicking tires and taking names. They weren't just characters; they were the last of a breed of old-school dealers who knew how to turn a pile of junk into a dream ride.
If you're ever in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, stop by Texas Motorcars or look for JD’s shop. You might just see a familiar face under a hood. Just don't expect them to give you a discount—once a shark, always a shark.
Next Steps for Enthusiasts:
Check the current inventory at Texas Motorcars or Third Gen Automotive websites to see the types of builds the cast is currently focusing on. Many of the vehicles featured in later seasons are still circulating in the Texas collector market today.