If you’ve spent any time scrolling through Netflix or History Channel Canada on a Sunday afternoon, you’ve probably seen Mike Hall’s wild gray hair or Avery Shoaf’s signature laugh. They’re the heart of Tappen, British Columbia. But lately, things have been quiet. Real quiet. It’s been a while since we saw the crew hacking away at a rusted-out 1968 Beaumont or fighting over a budget that Mike is definitely going to blow anyway. Naturally, everyone is asking the same thing: where is Rust Valley Restorers Season 5?
People are getting restless.
The reality of "Rust Valley" is a bit more complicated than your average reality TV show. Most car shows are filmed on sleek sets in California. This isn't that. It’s a muddy, chaotic yard filled with over 400 cars rotting into the earth. It’s beautiful and stressful all at once. If you’re looking for a simple "yes" or "no" on the next batch of episodes, you have to look at how the show actually gets made—and how the Great Hall-Avery-Connor dynamic has shifted since the massive "Field of Dreams" auction that changed everything.
The Auction That Changed the Map
To understand the delay behind Rust Valley Restorers Season 5, you have to look back at the 2021 auction. Mike Hall finally did it. He sold off over 500 cars. It was a massive, heart-wrenching event that saw lifelong projects go for a fraction of what Mike probably thought they were worth. It was supposed to be the end. Or at least, a massive downsizing.
But here’s the thing about Mike Hall. He can’t stop.
He kept about 50 of his absolute favorites. That’s still a lot of metal to move. While fans waited for a traditional Season 5 announcement, the show actually took a bit of a pivot. In 2023 and 2024, what many people thought was a new season was actually rebranded or released in smaller chunks depending on where you live. If you’re in Canada, you saw some of this on History; if you’re in the US or the UK, you might still be waiting for Netflix to "unlock" the latest footage.
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It’s a licensing nightmare. Basically, Corus Entertainment (the folks behind History Channel Canada) often holds the cards long before Netflix gets to touch the stream. This creates a massive gap where fans think the show is canceled, but in reality, Mike is probably just under a hood somewhere in BC, completely oblivious to his IMDb status.
Why Avery Shoaf and Connor Hall Matter More Now
You can't have the show without the chemistry. Avery is the "Muscle Car MacGyver." Connor is the voice of reason—or at least the guy trying to make sure his dad doesn't go bankrupt by Friday.
The dynamic has shifted recently. Avery has been focusing more on his own shop, Wildman Restorations. This is actually a good sign for Rust Valley Restorers Season 5 or any future iterations. It provides more locations, more conflict, and more variety. When the show first started, it was just Mike’s shop. Now, we’re seeing a mini-universe of British Columbia car culture.
Honestly, the "Rust Valley" brand has become bigger than just a single TV contract. They’ve moved into the world of social media and YouTube in a way that most old-school car guys don't. You see them at trade shows, you see them on Instagram, and you see them interacting with fans globally. This digital presence is often what keeps a show alive when the big networks are dragging their feet on renewal paperwork.
The Logistics of Filming in Tappen
The weather is a factor. People forget that. You can’t film a restoration show in a Canadian winter without it being a miserable experience for the camera crew. Production cycles for Rust Valley Restorers Season 5 have to align with the thaw.
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Then there’s the money.
Mike Hall once famously said that "Rust Bros" is a terrible business model. He’s right. Restoring cars for clients is one thing, but restoring them to sell at a profit is a losing game when you’re as sentimental as Mike is. The show’s survival depends on the "TV money" balancing out the "car losses."
What We Know About the New Episodes
- Production status: While a formal "Season 5" tag is often debated due to how Netflix splits seasons (Season 4 was often broken into Part A and Part B), new footage has been captured.
- The Cast: Mike, Avery, and Connor are all still very much active. No major exits have been reported, which is rare for a show this deep into its run.
- The Cars: Expect more "mopars." Mike’s obsession with Dodges and Plymouths hasn't faded, even after the auction.
Is Netflix the Problem?
A lot of the confusion regarding Rust Valley Restorers Season 5 comes down to the Netflix algorithm. Netflix has a habit of renaming seasons or grouping them differently than the original broadcaster. In Canada, the show is well into its fourth and fifth production cycles. For the rest of the world, those episodes often sit in a "coming soon" limbo for 12 to 18 months.
If you’re waiting for a notification to pop up on your phone, you might be waiting a while. The best way to track progress is actually through the shops’ direct social media. They often post "behind the scenes" clips months before a trailer ever drops.
It’s also worth noting that the car restoration genre is crowded right now. From Car Masters to Full Custom Garage, the competition for eyeballs is fierce. But "Rust Valley" has something the others don't: authentic grumpiness. It doesn't feel scripted because, frankly, Mike Hall isn't a good enough actor to fake that level of frustration when a bolt snaps.
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The Reality of the "Field of Dreams" Today
If you visit Tappen today, the "Field of Dreams" looks a lot emptier than it did in Season 1. But "empty" is a relative term. There are still dozens of hulks sitting in the tall grass. For Rust Valley Restorers Season 5, the focus seems to be shifting from "save everything" to "save the special ones."
This is actually better for the viewer. Seeing a 1970 Chevelle brought back to life is more satisfying than watching them struggle with a parts car that should have been a toaster twenty years ago. The stakes feel higher because the inventory is lower. Mike can't just go grab another donor body from the back of the lot as easily as he used to.
What to Expect Next
The future of the show isn't just about television; it's about the legacy of the Rust Bros brand. Whether it’s officially labeled as Rust Valley Restorers Season 5 or a series of specials, the crew is still wrenching.
You’ve got to appreciate the honesty of the show. They show the bills. They show the failures. They show the times when a car simply won't start, and they have to push it back into the shed. That's why the audience stays. It’s not about the "big reveal" at the end; it’s about the struggle to get there.
Actionable Ways to Stay Updated
- Follow the Shops Directly: Stop waiting for Netflix. Check out Wildman Restorations and Rust Bros Restorations on Instagram and Facebook. They post updates on current builds that will eventually end up on screen.
- Check History Channel Canada: If you have a VPN or live up north, this is where the "real" Season 5 content hits first. The gap between Canadian broadcast and global streaming is usually at least a year.
- Watch the YouTube Shorts: Avery and Connor have become much more active on YouTube. They often do "shop tours" that show exactly what cars are currently on the lifts, giving you a sneak peek at future episodes.
- Support the Merch: Shows like this live and die by their independent revenue. If you want more seasons, buying a hat or a t-shirt actually helps keep the lights on in the shop when the cameras aren't rolling.
The "Rust Valley" story isn't over. It's just evolving. Mike Hall might have sold the bulk of his collection, but the passion—and the rust—isn't going anywhere. Keep an eye on the Canadian broadcast schedules for the most accurate picture of what's coming next. The metal is still there, the tempers are still short, and the cars are still waiting for their second chance.