You’ve probably seen the spiderweb accents, the questionable neon paint jobs, and the high-stakes trades that make Car Masters: Rust to Riches a binge-worthy fever dream. But after the credits roll on Season 5, a lot of people are left scratching their heads. They’re wondering if it’s all just Hollywood smoke and mirrors or if Mark Towle is actually out there turning wrenches in the California sun.
So, is Gotham Garage still in business 2023?
Yeah, it is. But honestly, the reality is a bit more layered than what you see in a 40-minute Netflix episode. While the show makes it look like they’re constantly one trade away from bankruptcy or a massive payday, the actual shop in Temecula, California, has been a functioning entity long before Netflix showed up with a camera crew.
What’s the deal with Gotham Garage right now?
Right now, Gotham Garage is very much alive. In late 2023, Netflix dropped Season 5, which saw the crew tackling everything from a Tesla mod to a Ferrari 360 Spider that—let’s be real—divided the internet pretty aggressively. The shop stays active not just through these TV builds, but through merchandise sales and private projects that don't always make the final cut.
Mark Towle isn't new to this. He started out building movie props and replicas way back in the day. If you look at the business filings and their social media presence, the shop at 41979 Rio Nedo Rd is still their home base. They aren't just actors playing mechanics; they are a crew with a very specific, love-it-or-hate-it aesthetic that has managed to carve out a niche in a crowded custom car world.
🔗 Read more: Mike Judge Presents: Tales from the Tour Bus Explained (Simply)
Why people keep asking if they’re still open
The rumors usually start because of how "reality" TV works. Fans see the shop looking empty or notice that the "buyers" on the show feel a little... scripted. It’s no secret that Car Masters uses a lot of TV magic.
Take the infamous Gotham Garage Concept Car and its matching bike. The show made it look like a $250,000 deal was the only thing keeping the lights on. In reality, that car sat for a while. It was eventually spotted with a new white and green paint job near Temecula in 2024, proving that while the "sale" might be dramatized for the plot, the cars themselves are physical objects that exist in the real world.
Then there’s the legal drama. You might’ve heard about the time Warner Bros. went after Mark for building Batmobile replicas. That happened years ago, and while he had to pay about $20,000 and stop making those specific cars, it didn't sink the ship. If anything, the notoriety helped put the garage on Netflix's radar.
Behind the scenes: Is the crew still together?
A business is only as good as its people, and the Gotham crew has stayed surprisingly consistent, which is rare for these shows.
💡 You might also like: Big Brother 27 Morgan: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
- Mark Towle: Still the boss. Still obsessed with putting his logo on everything.
- Constance Nunes: She’s been busy. Outside of the garage, she runs "CARS by Constance" and is a massive presence in the trade show circuit.
- Shawn Pilot: The "deal maker" still balances his time between the shop and his side hustle as a professional poker player.
- Tony Quinones: Often cited by fans as the most "real" fabricator in the group, Tony actually has his own outfit called TQ Customs.
The fact that these guys have their own separate ventures sometimes leads people to believe Gotham Garage is just a set. It’s better to think of it as a hub. They come together for the big "Rust to Riches" projects, but they aren't necessarily sitting in that one shop 40 hours a week waiting for a 1932 Ford Roadster to roll in.
The 2023-2024 transition
As we moved through 2023 and into 2024, the business model clearly shifted toward more high-end partnerships. For instance, in Season 6 (which filmed around late '23 and early '24), they started using serious industrial gear like the Flow Mach 500 waterjet. You don't bring in that kind of hardware if you're planning on closing the doors.
However, there is a bit of a bittersweet update for the superfans. While the physical shop remains in business, the Netflix series Car Masters: Rust to Riches was reportedly canceled after its sixth season. This doesn't mean the garage is gone; it just means the cameras might stop following them for a while. Constance Nunes even mentioned on social media that the show had "canceled a while ago" in terms of production cycles, even though episodes were still hitting screens through 2024.
How to tell if a shop like this is "real"
If you're skeptical, you aren't alone. Reddit is full of "gearheads" tearing apart the welds and the paint finishes on Gotham builds. But in the world of custom cars, "business" doesn't always mean "high-end restoration."
📖 Related: The Lil Wayne Tracklist for Tha Carter 3: What Most People Get Wrong
Gotham Garage operates more like a custom fabrication house for entertainment. They build "showstoppers." These aren't necessarily cars you’d want to daily drive to the grocery store, but they are pieces of art (or kitsch, depending on your taste). The business survives because of the brand Mark built. People pay for the "Gotham Garage" name and that specific, wild look.
Moving forward with the Gotham legacy
If you're looking to get a car built by them, it’s not as simple as walking into a local Jiffy Lube. They primarily deal in high-concept projects and "upgrade and trade" deals that fit the brand's narrative.
For the average fan, the best way to support the business—or just keep tabs on them—is through their official merch store and the individual social media channels of the cast. They are still very active on Instagram, showing off builds that never even made it to Netflix.
The bottom line is simple: Mark Towle’s shop survived the pandemic, survived a massive lawsuit from a media giant, and survived five seasons of intense public scrutiny. They are still open, still building, and still putting spiderwebs on things that probably don't need them.
Keep an eye on the Temecula area if you're ever in SoCal. You might just see that orange-peeled Ferrari or a wild T-Bucket fire truck cruising down the road. The show might be ending, but the garage itself seems to have plenty of gas left in the tank.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check the official Gotham Garage website for their latest merchandise drops or to see if they are currently accepting private commissions. If you're a fan of the fabrication side, follow Tony Quinones or Constance Nunes on social media, as they often post the gritty, "non-TV" technical details of the builds that didn't make the Netflix edit.