Danny "The Count" Koker wasn't just another reality TV face when Counting Cars first rumbled onto the History Channel back in 2012. He was a local legend in Las Vegas long before the cameras started rolling at Count's Kustoms. If you grew up in Vegas, you knew him as "Count Cool Rider," the guy hosting late-night horror movies in a cape. But for the rest of the world, the show became an obsession because it felt different from the polished, scripted junk filling up the airwaves. It was raw. It was greasy. It was about the cars.
People still search for the Counting Cars TV show today because it left a void that hasn't really been filled. We watched Danny literally pull over strangers on the strip just to make an offer on their classic rides. It felt spontaneous. Of course, looking back with the benefit of hindsight and a few behind-the-scenes leaks, we know the "random" street encounters were often staged for licensing reasons, but the passion for the metal? That was 100% real.
The shop, Count's Kustoms, is a living, breathing business that existed before the show and continues to thrive long after the peak of reality TV fame. It’s not a set. It’s a workspace where sparks fly and tempers flare.
Why We Became Obsessed With Count's Kustoms
What made the Counting Cars TV show work wasn't just the engine swaps or the flame paint jobs. It was the crew. You had Kevin Mack, Danny’s best friend and the voice of reason who constantly had to remind Danny that a business actually needs to make money. Then there was "Horny" Mike, whose obsession with putting 3D horns on everything—from helmets to hubcaps—provided the kind of comic relief that kept the show from getting too "gearhead-heavy."
But let's be honest about Danny. The man is a purist. He doesn't just like cars; he's haunted by them. There’s a specific look he gets in his eyes when he sees a 1970s era Cadillac or a rare chopper frame. It’s almost visceral.
The show tapped into a specific brand of American nostalgia. We weren't just watching a restoration; we were watching someone try to preserve a version of the American Dream that’s made of steel and chrome. In a world of plastic EVs and subscription-based seat heaters, seeing a guy spend $50,000 to bring a rusted-out GTO back to life feels like a rebellious act. It’s cool. It always will be.
The Reality of Reality TV Finances
One thing the Counting Cars TV show rarely talked about was the actual math. Fans often wondered how Danny could afford to just hand over stacks of cash on the side of the road.
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The truth is a bit more corporate. While Danny is wealthy—thanks to the shop, his rock club Vamp’d, and his tattoo parlor—the show’s production budget handled a lot of the heavy lifting for the televised builds. When you saw a "gifted" car or a suspiciously cheap restoration for a veteran, that was often the production company, Leftfield Pictures, helping bridge the gap between reality and a feel-good story.
Business is tough. Especially in Vegas. The overhead for a shop that size is astronomical. Rent, specialized labor, high-end paint, and the literal thousands of man-hours required for a frame-off restoration mean that most of those builds would actually lose money if they weren't being filmed for a global audience.
The Mystery of the Missing Cast Members
If you followed the show closely, you noticed people started disappearing. The most famous case is Roli Szabo, the shop’s resident detailer with the thick Hungarian accent. One day he was there, making paint shine like glass, and the next, he was gone.
Fans went wild with theories. Was there a fight? Did he get fired?
Actually, it was mostly just life. Roli eventually moved on to start his own mobile detailing business, "Roli’s Rockin’ Detailing." It wasn't some massive blowout; it was just the natural evolution of a guy who gained a platform and wanted to be his own boss. That’s the thing about the Counting Cars TV show—it wasn't a soap opera, even if the editing tried to make it one. These are real mechanics with real careers.
Then there was the tragic passing of Barry White and other friends of the shop over the years. These moments grounded the show. It reminded us that while the cars are immortal, the people building them aren't.
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Is Counting Cars Still On?
This is the question that haunts Reddit threads and Facebook groups. Technically, the show hasn't been "canceled" in the traditional way where a network issues a press release and says goodbye. It just sort of... faded.
The last "official" season aired a while ago, but History Channel loves a marathon. You can still catch reruns almost every day. Danny and the crew have moved more toward "specials" and digital content. The reality is that the TV landscape changed. The cost of producing high-end automotive reality TV is massive compared to the dwindling ratings of linear cable.
But Count's Kustoms hasn't closed its doors. If you go to Highland Drive in Las Vegas today, the shop is still there. You can actually walk into the showroom for free. It’s one of the few "as seen on TV" locations that actually lives up to the hype. You'll see the cars from the episodes. You might even see Kevin or Mike wandering around. Danny is usually in the back or at the rock club, living the same life he lived before the cameras arrived.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Builds
There’s a common criticism that the Counting Cars TV show focused too much on aesthetics and not enough on the "real" mechanics. I’ve heard people say, "They just slap some paint on it and call it a day."
That’s a misunderstanding of what a "Kustom" shop does. Danny isn't trying to be a factory-spec restorer. He’s an artist. If he wants to put a velvet interior in a hearse, he’s going to do it because it fits a vibe.
The level of detail in the paintwork alone is staggering. We’re talking about dozens of layers of clear coat, hand-pinstriping by guys like Ryan Evans, and custom-mixed colors that you can’t buy out of a catalog. Ryan is arguably the MVP of that shop. His ability to take a vague idea from Danny’s head and turn it into a literal masterpiece on a gas tank is why the shop maintains its reputation.
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How to Visit Count's Kustoms Without Being a Tourist Trap Victim
If you’re a fan and you’re headed to Vegas, you’ve gotta do it right.
- Go early. The showroom gets crowded by noon.
- Check the schedule. They often have "Open House" events where the whole crew is out.
- Don't expect a free build. People show up with their 2005 Honda Civics hoping for a TV miracle. That’s not how this works. They do high-end, expensive work.
- Visit Vamp'd. If you want to see Danny in his natural habitat, his rock bar is the place. He’s a frontman for his band, Count's 77, and he’s often there supporting the local music scene.
Honestly, the shop is more of a museum now than it is a soundstage. And that’s probably for the best.
The Lasting Legacy of the Count
The Counting Cars TV show belongs to an era of "Blue Collar Gold" television. Alongside Pawn Stars and American Restoration, it turned everyday trades into legendary pursuits.
It taught a generation of kids that working with your hands is cool. It showed that you can be a "weirdo" who loves monsters and old cars and still build a multi-million dollar empire. Danny Koker didn't change for the cameras. The cameras just caught up to who he already was.
Even if we never get another "new" season, the impact is there. You see it at every local car show. You see it in the rise of automotive YouTubers who use the same fast-cut editing and "find of the day" storytelling that Danny pioneered.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Car Enthusiasts
If you're looking to channel the energy of the show into your own life, don't just sit on the couch watching reruns.
- Start small. You don't need a $100k budget. Buy a beat-up project bike or a classic moped. Learn how to clean a carb.
- Visit the shop. If you’re in Nevada, the Count's Kustoms showroom is at 2714 Highland Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89109. It’s free.
- Support local builders. Every city has a "Danny." Find the guy in your town who does amazing upholstery or custom paint and support their business before they're gone.
- Preserve the history. If you have an old car in the family, don't let it rot. Even if you can't restore it today, keep it out of the rain.
The story of the Counting Cars TV show isn't just about a television contract. It’s about the fact that some things—like a 1969 Charger or a well-worn leather jacket—never go out of style. They just get a new coat of paint.