Gotham Garage owner Mark Towle became one of the best known car/motorcycle restorers and designers through the popularity of the reality television show “Car Masters: Rust to Riches” aired via the streaming giant, Netflix. For about four seasons, he along with his team of experts enthralled many car enthusiasts by giving modern transformations to certain classic cars to boost their monetary value. Just as his star became brighter, the fans wondered about the specifics of his journey to success, and the details of his personal life. The popular car builder might be quite generous in sharing his expertise about his knowledge of various types of vehicles, but was quite stingy in sharing personal stuff.

Image source

All about “Car Masters: Rust to Riches”

This reality-TV show was created for a specific audience, but even those without extensive knowledge about cars could still enjoy the show, because of its eccentric but funny team of car specialists. The production staff also knew that some viewers might be turned off by the use of heavy car language, so made sure that Mark’s team explained each step of the process, so more people could easily follow what was happening, especially those who didn’t speak the lingo. It premiered on 14 September 2018, and finished airing its fourth season on 27 July 2022.

Main cast members

Along with Gotham Garage owner, Mark Towle, the other main cast members of the “Car Masters: Rust to Riches” were Shawn Pilot as the Deal Maker; Tony Quinones as the garage’s Master Machinist and Fabricator; Michael Pyle as the resident mechanic, who also went by the name “Caveman;” and Constance Nunes, the only woman in the team who was their Engine Specialist.

The premise of the TV series

When the first season started, the crew had just expanded to a second garage after a very successful year – they traded two vehicles for $170,000, and pooled their money to expand their business. To complete their project, they flipped cars left and right, knowing that what they were doing was a huge gamble, but the word ‘quit’ wasn’t in their vocabulary. They showed so much confidence in their skills as indicated in the show’s opening spiels: ‘Here at Gotham Garage, we upgrade and trade, turning thousand-dollar rust buckets into six-figure works of art in a few greasy steps.’

The ultimate goal: Turn $1,000 into $100,000

One of the main reasons why “Car Masters: Rust to Riches” was uniquely different from other car shows was that it didn’t focus solely on transforming or constructing one car. Mark’s crew would enter into a series of car trades no matter how challenging, to ensure that they got the biggest payday that they could have from a particular project. In Gotham Garage, the deal maker, Shawn, who was keen on finding good deals on automobiles, would formulate a plan, complete with a giant board and pins, on how to achieve their ultimate goal.

An example of how they did business at Gotham Garage

They started with an ugly 1953 four-door rusty but classic Buick car, which was their trade-up car. Shawn found a buyer for it if they could restore it and give it a modern makeover with a little muscle. Mark wanted to blow the client’s expectations away so they could quickly achieve their goals; instead of just adding a bit of muscle to the car, they made it a Gotham Garage sleeper. It meant that the car would look deceptively simple on the outside, but hidden under the hood was an upgraded motor surrounded by high-performance racing parts that would make it fast and mean. It would sell for up to $30,000, which meant that they could trade the upgraded car to get a 1971 Chevy Blazer with a fully removable hard top. After they transformed it inside and out, the Chevy could sell for $60,000. With that amount on hand, it would lead them to the crown jewel, which was a replica of an iconic 1959 Corvette Stingray concept car. After they did their magic on it, the deal maker would sell it for around $120,000.

?
? GALA NIGHT ?

Mark Towle – as seen on: Gotham Garage

Raising Money For The Desert Cancer Society!

Big Rock Pub
Info: https://t.co/sv2zHSJsqQ#CharityAuction #Indio #Coachella #PalmSprings #ClassicCarAuction #ClassicCars #CarsStarsROCKnROLL pic.twitter.com/tUEWAUcrFy

— egauctions (@egauctions) November 2, 2018

Get to know Mark Towle

Most viewers of “Car Masters: Rust to Riches” thought that Mark Towle had an easy life growing up, since he was quite used to high-end classic cars in the reality-TV show. Little did they know that he through hardships in life, but was able to reach his goal due to hard work.

Humble beginnings

The TV personality was born on 13 November 1962, in California, and he along with his three siblings was raised singlehandedly by their mother. They weren’t financially well off, and he had to sacrifice a lot so they could survive. From the get-go, Mark already knew that he needed to be resourceful and creative to give his family some financial stability. Having been part of a working-class family had taught him the value of hard work – he did odd jobs until he landed one that he loved at a local body shop at the age of 16. With all the cars that he has in his personal collection today, it was unbelievable that he only had his first car when he was able to save up, at the age of 18.

Dumpster diving and fixing what was broken

At a young age, Mark was into dumpster diving with his best friend to acquire broken toys and gadgets. To other people, these objects seemed to be unfixable, but he realized that he had a knack for figuring out problems so they would work again. Through the years, he would continue to challenge himself by taking on various projects, although he had no idea that it was his training ground for something huge and profitable in the future.

The establishment of Gotham Garage

Eventually, in 1998 at the age of 36, he opened up his own car shop and called it Gotham Garage. By then, he was a known studio props creator and supplier for TV and movie productions. His crew usually preferred working on gasoline cars, which was the meaning of G in Gotham. Mark was oftentimes at odds with electric-based engines, so he would leave them with Tony. His second garage was acquired to accommodate more car builds, and to give more room for his crew to work. One of the reasons he found success aside from his high-quality builds was due to his reputation for accepting restoration work that other auto shops wouldn’t dare to touch. It didn’t matter how long the classic car was left sitting in the garage, yard or barn, as he would always figure out a way to make it running and valuable.

His personal car collection

Not much was known about Mark’s car collection, so people could only speculate on how huge it was, considering his passion for cars and his line of work. What his fans knew, however, was that most of the cars that he owned were made by Ford. His first car was a Ford Pinto, and he rarely strayed from its maker, since he could afford to buy more such as Mustangs and Ford Falcons. He was known to be vocal in relishing the fact that he had a Ford Shelby GT350R in his garage, which they said was one of his favorites.

His eye-catching tattoos and his headgear

Fans of “Car Masters: Rust to Riches” knew that Mark had a deep affection for tattoos, and his right arm is covered with them, including an intricately designed spider’s web and a gothic cross. He said that the markings boosted his creativity, that he felt more connected to his work by sporting such designs on his flesh.

Aside from the colorful markings, he also regularly wore headgear in public such as a black beanie or a black headband, and people were curious as to the reason for it. Those close to him said that it might have something to do with his receding hairline, and some fans thought the same thing, as they added that it didn’t present a great look for TV, so Mark had no choice but to cover his head. There was only one time when fans saw him without it, and that was in an Instagram photo he posted with his rumored girlfriend.

A legal battle with Warner Bros due to the Batmobile replica

Due to Mark’s creation of the Batmobile replicas that he sold for $90,000 a piece, in 2011 he was sued by DC Comics through its parent company, Warner Bros, for copyright infringement. The design was based on the original version created by George Barris that was used by Batman in the 1966 TV version, which starred Adam West. The case was then elevated to the Court of Appeals, and to Mark’s disappointment, the US District Court Judge Ronald Lew ruled ‘it is clear that the Batmobile is a copyrighted character.’ The case was supposed to be handed to the US Supreme Court, but the higher court didn’t want to hear the case, so Warner Bros won the legal battle. Mark was banned from creating replicas from materials or intellectual properties owned or made by DC Comics.

Mark’s highlights in “Car Masters: Rust to Riches”

Donating the 1960 Plymouth XNR concept car

During the first season finale, the team was not in sync when Mark suggested that the last car that they restored would be donated to the Petersen Automotive Museum. Shawn and Constance agreed to it, but Tony and Caveman were reluctant as they were expecting a huge payout. It was understandable because of the hardships that they went through, just to create a replica of the 1960 Plymouth XNR concept car; they felt it was a giant step back for them financially.

Mark recalled that when he donated a cherished car that he’d restored to the same museum, he said, ‘It put him me on a road to where I am standing right now.’ He believed that whatever the Mach 5 car did for him, it would do the same thing for Gotham Garage. He further told them that if they didn’t put the Plymouth there, it would become one of those moments in their lives that they would look back on with regret. The two reluctant crew members said that they understood, and eventually agreed to donate the car. However, they also had to face the reality that they needed the money, so Mark said that he would carry the burden by tapping the garage’s cash reserves, and asked Shawn to do his thing so they would have enough to get by until they found their next big project.

Going back to Gotham Garage basics with a 1940 Woody Station Wagon

Mark’s crew hit disaster with an El Camino project, which they believed was a simple cash deal. Apparently, they were working on high-profile car builds which didn’t work out, since Mark’s original goal was to construct them based on his own vision, but which unfortunately didn’t match the clients’ expectations. It appeared that the clients wanted specific details that would take months to complete. The crew recalibrated their goals, as they needed to do something fast so they wouldn’t be cash-strapped. They then went back to doing what they always wanted to do – the regular Gotham Garage-styled cars.

https://www.facebook.com/KruzinUSA/posts/pfbid0GgtLGBsFQ9Q7c7P2b698cTc2ncDehNi99tZH7Cxdp9MrevVQ4DnY2X9siPUhnkbil

Shawn told them not to make over-the-top designs that would be hard to sell, since most of his clients at that time wanted something near to the classic car’s original design. Mark vetoed it and went all out, because he believed that someone would take it, but Shawn was right, as only one guy was interested in it, who offered cash and cars in exchange for the upgraded 1940 Woody Station Wagon. They didn’t get a solid cash deal with six figures, but took home $85,000 along with three rusty classic cars. It was the biggest trade they’d made, and Mark was quite happy with the result, especially since he took home another car as a bonus to the deal.

A seal of approval from Jason Oppenheim

The “Car Masters: Rust to Riches” sixth episode in the fourth season showed Mark and Shawn having a meeting with a high-profile client, Jason Oppenheim of the reality-TV show, “Selling Sunset.” He is the owner of Oppenheim Group, the most successful real estate firm in Los Angeles. Shawn knew that Jason was the perfect client for Mark, who wanted people with deep pockets who were willing to pay for his vision. Jason saw the concept car that Mark built a year before, and liked it. He ordered an old muscle classic car, but upgraded with modern technology along with a sporty and sophisticated look filled with custom designs. The great thing about it was that Jason didn’t want to babysit the project, which was what Mark preferred. After meticulously building the car, Jason received a restored and upgraded shiny blue Chevy Corvette Mako Shark 2. The satisfied client proudly showed his real estate agents his new toy, and so Gotham Garage took home a six-figure payout with high-end clientele exposure.

What’s up with Mark Towle’s personal life?

Mark Towle might have been part of the Hollywood scene in front or behind the camera for some time now, but no one seemed to know much about him. He was very keen on guarding his personal life, and it was evident that in most of his interviews, as he rarely shared anything about his love life and family. As per Mark’s Gotham Garage Instagram account, the only woman except for his co-star Constance Nunes who appeared more than once was Kandance Nilos, a woman sporting a large tattoo on her left arm. Naturally, fans were curious about her, and believed that they shared something special.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ccjnss3Ll8v/

According to Kandance’s Facebook account, she finished high school at Birmingham Senior High, and then graduated from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She also earned a master’s degree in Accounting from the California Baptist School in April 2017. She started using a photo of herself with Mark as her profile picture on her Facebook page on 4 June 2019. Twenty days later, Mark uploaded a photo of them together onto Instagram in formal wear, with the captions #wecleanupgood, #GothamGarage, and #MarkTowle. She would often interchange her profile picture with a girl presumably a daughter, and then with Mark again and only changed it to a solo picture of herself before 2021 ended. Her status indicated that she was engaged, and it hadn’t changed since then.

Media people and fans assumed that Kandance was Mark’s girlfriend, but he never shared stories about her. The only time the fans confirmed that the two had something going on was from the comments on some of the rare Facebook posts that were shared publicly from her account. In November 2020, she changed her cover photo with an image of her lawn decorated with Christmas lights, and a friend of hers left a comment saying it was beautiful. She replied, ‘Nowhere near done yet but that was all I had last night. Mark can do the rest! Lol.’ Around six months before that post, she uploaded a photo of herself and Mark as her new photo profile. He left a comment, ‘All ways the love of my life!’ and she replied, ‘That is just because I am a damn good cook .’

Gearheads raved about “Iron Resurrection” as they swore on its authenticity as a show on auto restoration and customization. The hit Motor Trend series documented how a team of craftsmen at the Martin Bros Customs breathed new life into vehicles that were rusted out, and likely headed to the junkyard. Joe Martin, the shop owner, acquired a reputation for his incredible builds, which led to his journey into the world of reality television.

Get to know Joe Martin

He was born in Illinois, but his family moved to Texas when he was 10. Joe’s artistic bent had been quite evident since he was a little kid, as he loved to draw on just about any surface. The walls in their house weren’t spared, so his mother bought him a sketch pad. Aside from the cars that he tried to copy from Hot Rod magazines, he also enjoyed drawing trains, bicycles and other modes of transport. He just drew non-stop, even though he thought that he was bad at it. He didn’t know it then, but it was as though he was practicing for what would be an integral part of his business, which was conceptualizing designs.

Image source

Martin Bros Bikes

Joe didn’t receive any formal training whatsoever, but by hanging out with guys in the neighborhood when he was in his mid-teens, he was able to observe and pick up on things, be it ideas or skills. He painted skateboards, helmets and bikes, and then when he worked at an aftermarket accessory shop, he learned more about the mechanics of vehicles. People around him noticed his talent ,and began asking him to do custom paintwork. Soon he found himself with so much work that he had to expand from the back of his pickup truck, to a house with space at the back that he could use as a shop to handle the workload. His younger brother Jason became part of the operation, as they set up the Martin Bros Bikes. Joe was grateful that he was making a living out of something he enjoyed doing.

The company’s philosophy in terms of bike building was about putting a lot of emphasis on creativity and craftsmanship. Joe said that people with enough skills could construct anything, but if solely focused on getting the technical aspects right, one might end up with something good, but lacking in style and imagination – he was certainly not lacking in that regard.

His greatest influence

Joe’s talent was recognized by many, and it was natural for his fans to be curious about who his greatest influence was or who inspired him. He revealed in an interview that he was very much interested in the works of the American hot rod builder and designer, Boyd Coddington, but he couldn’t afford any of it; this inspired him to acquire tools and learn to do things by himself. If there were things he didn’t know how to do, he hung out with those who could teach him. At that time, bikes were not that cool, so he didn’t really have heroes in this line of work. That said, the people whom he considered to have influenced him the most were the local guys whom he acquired his skills from.

Inspiration for his designs

When Joe got into building or designing, all he wanted was to ‘freak’ people out with his work or to ‘dig his stuff.’ He believed that a bike was an extension of one’s personality, which meant that so much care was put into how a bike would look. When it came to cars, he drew inspiration from old ones, particularly Cadillacs, as he liked the bodylines or metalwork from the early models of General Motors. He also preferred the appearances of old aircraft and trains. Later on, ideas for his designs would come from some music he listened to, or creatures he saw in films; basically, he said it could be anything that sparked his imagination.

WE INTERVIEWED JOE MARTIN FROM IRON RESURRECTION AND HE SHOWED US HIS NOVA AT THE EMERALD COAST CRUIZIN.https://t.co/WKjXYyR8u9 DIRECT ACCESS TO OUR YOUTUBE PAGE.#IRONRESURRECTION #GETTHEMADNESS #NOVA #CHEVY #EMERALDCOASTCRUIZIN pic.twitter.com/mM8O3u75Qa

— Dollar_Bill_Burns (@DollarBillBurns) March 18, 2019

Greatest bike builder in the world

Motor Bros Bikes offered custom-designed wheels, exhaust pipes, and other aftermarket accessories. Joe never imagined his creations would gain a lot of attention, not just locally but also at a national level. He recalled winning EZ Rider shows, and subsequently being featured in magazines. Soon, producers from the Discovery Channel become interested in him being part of “Biker Build-off.”

The show was first launched in 2002 as a single competition, but as it became popular, it turned into a regular series. Each participant was given 10 days to construct a customized bike, and then take it on the road to prove that it was completely operational. If it broke down on its way to the bike show, the builder was given an hour to fix it before he or she was disqualified. When the bikes made it to the show, the audience would cast their votes to determine the winner.

Joe joined in 2004, and although he lost during his first try, he later won, and qualified for the “World Biker Build-Off” that same year. He proudly represented the US as he competed against Australia’s Scotty Cox and England’s Russell Mitchell. As he pushed the boundaries and went for something he believed was most radical, he was declared the greatest bike builder in the world.

Martin Bros Customs

He originally worked with cars and then with bikes, especially during the motorcycle craze in the ‘90s. His business was booming, but with the economic downturn in 2008, Joe had to reduce his operation. Later on, he and his wife Amanda, moved from Dallas to Dripping Springs in rural Texas. Coincidentally, famous fabricator and customizer, Jesse James (“Monster Garage”), was also in the area, and Joe had the chance the work for him for a time, as he was just starting to establish his business there. Martin Bros Customs, which specialized not just in fabricating bikes, but also cars, trucks, and boats, was co-owned by Joe, his brother Jason, and Amanda.

“Iron Resurrection”

With Joe still on top of his game, it didn’t come as a surprise when the producers of “Biker Build-Off” reached out to him when they were looking for new content for the automotive-themed programming of the Velocity Channel, later rebranded as the Motor Trend Network. With the help of his brother, who had video equipment, they made a teaser reel on what they did at the shop, and presented it to Velocity. Before long, Joe signed a five-year contract with the network for the show, with his brother as one of the producers. “Iron Resurrection” premiered on 13 April 2016.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMMIk3veePs

When he described what the show was all about, he said, ‘My team hunts down rusted wrecks. We knock out the ugly and put in the cool, and turn these buckets of rust into street art.’ Basically, Amanda and Joe’s best friend, Jayson “Shag” Arrington (Sales & Marketing), would travel all over the Texas countryside in search of classics that were thought to be just a heap of junk. Shag was known for making the best deals in acquiring not just cars but also the parts needed. As Joe’s reputation preceded him, the shop also had people coming to avail of their services. Joe would put to paper what he envisioned the vehicle would look like after it was restored, and then he and his crew would make it happen.

No frills, no drama

It was not just fans of Joe Martin who tuned in, but also those who appreciated reality TV without all the drama that most producers usually inject into the narrative to make the show more intriguing. Perhaps with his brother as one of the producers, they had more control of their content or what would be aired; not that they were trying to give themselves a positive image, but there really weren’t any fights, shouting matches, or drama that went on at the shop.

Working with family members could become problematic for some, but not for Joe. His brother was with the TV production, and Amanda handled the finances so was always in the office. He said that they never got on each other’s nerves as they worked on different things, and besides, they were too busy that they didn’t have the time to fight.

Joe claimed that through the years, he was able to build a team with people who were the best in their field, and who got along well. So, the chances of any of them butting heads over something trivial or a fight turning physical would be very rare or nil. The guys pulled pranks on each other, but they were all in good fun, and no one felt slighted when they joked around. Then, when the team was under pressure, they reacted to the situation well, to get it resolved in no time.

Problems naturally cropped up, but Joe didn’t want the focus to be on those things, saying that they weren’t actors, so there was no need to be dramatic about the things that happened in the shop. Also, he sometimes had to remind the producers that viewers weren’t stupid, and could easily see if a particular scene was staged. Joe mentioned in an interview that he wanted the biggest takeaway from the show to be the fun of building a car, as he was hoping he could inspire people to work on their vehicles, that might have been gathering dust in their garages or barns for years.

Joe’s favorite builds

It was known to many that he favored old cars, or those designed by the legendary General Motors designer, Earl Harley. From time to time, he would come across something that he found special that he ended up owning it.

1956 Ford Truck (“Cherry Bomb ’56 Ford Truck” episode, season five)

His wife Amanda’s uncle, Terry Smith, was selling his ’56 Ford truck that had been sitting in his barn for 30 years since 1990, and Joe was interested – Amanda and Shag went to check it out, and loved it. Terry shared that his grandfather, who owned a Ford dealership, immediately bought the truck upon seeing it for the first time fresh from the manufacturer. From then on, he drove it until he sold it to his friend before he passed away in the late ‘60s. Terry, who bought it back for $350, wanted to sell it for $500, but Amanda and Shag said they would buy it for a little over a thousand dollars, saying that it was the first time they offered a client more money.

Joe fell in love with it too, and wanted to keep it in the family, planning to use it as a work truck for the shop. His crew took it apart, down to its bare frame, and made the necessary adjustments so it would fit a bigger set of wheels, bigger brakes, an LS3 engine, and modern technology. When it came to its style and appearance, he wanted it to look old and rough, complete with ‘rust’, but retained its original color of Meadow Mist Green. Joe painted the shop’s logo on the door, following in the tradition of a hot rod shop. Amanda’s uncle couldn’t be happier with what they’d done to the truck – Joe then gave Terry a ride.

https://www.facebook.com/martinbroscustoms/posts/pfbid0evz5LJYvEKCs17m3deZr4XU8nfGMK3Q2E3dZF63TwVBAsCKW7efcxdAmG8Uxs9EEl

1967 Nova (“Champagne Super Nova” episode, season two)

Joe said that a Generation II Nova was everybody’s favorite out of all the Novas, but he’d never owned one, so when a customer came in wanting to trade his ’67 Nova, he didn’t let the opportunity pass him by. Clearly excited, he said that it was a perfect canvas to become a kick-ass muscle car, as it had great lines and body. Everything looked cool from the grille and headlights to the tail lights. However, it still needed a lot of work to transform it into what Joe wanted; all the guys put in the time and effort to accomplish that.

After they did the work, everyone agreed that it had the whole package – the wheels, the LS motor, the color (champagne, two-tint), and the stance. The ’67 Nova was one of Joe’s dream cars, so even if there were people interested in it, he really didn’t want to part with it, however, if he could get a good return for it, then he would consider selling. In the meantime, he was going to keep it and enjoy it. Long after the episode aired, the header or cover photo of his shop’s Facebook page was still his ’67 Nova.

What happened to Joe Martin?

“Iron Resurrection” was regarded by most as one of the best car restoration shows around, as it was focused on building or customizing vehicles without all the drama that was usually part of reality shows. For a time, avid fans were worried about the future of the show when the covid-19 pandemic hit, as businesses closed, and there were lockdowns and travel restrictions. It didn’t help that there was no talk about a fifth season after the fourth one ended in April 2020 – fans were aware of Joe Martin only signing up for a five-year contract.

When news that some of his crew members such as Javier “Shorty” Ponce and Philip Cato left Martin Bros Customs for family or personal reasons, many became quite concerned. It appeared that Cato’s exit was brought on by his wife’s career change that necessitated a move to Atlanta, Georgia. Shorty’s family was in Dallas, and he opted to open his shop there so he would be near his loved ones. All this was stated on the official Facebook page of the show, as they replied to a fan who was asking them about what happened. They said that people’s priorities in life sometimes changed, but this didn’t stop other fans from speculating as to the ‘real’ reasons behind their decision to leave. True enough, it was revealed later on that Shorty was given his own automotive restoration show with a Latino flair called “Shorty’s Dream Shop,” which premiered in October 2022 on Motor Trend.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ckq3vi_OD5y/

As for Joe, his show was still going strongly as the sixth season aired in 2022; being in a hit reality show changed his life. At car shows such as the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show, he found it strange that people recognized him, and even asked for his autograph or to pose with them for photos; he just saw himself as a regular guy who didn’t warrant all the attention he was receiving. It was humbling for him, as he said that there were other talented people who had the same job as him, but didn’t have the same opportunity to be in a TV show.

If there was a downside to being on TV, it would have to be the grueling schedule. Filming each step of the process was not that simple or easy, as there was pressure to finish the car quickly because the production people still had work to do before an episode could be aired. No matter what the producers said, Joe refused to do a rush job because he didn’t want to sacrifice quality. Even if Joe sometimes second-guessed his decision in doing the series, due to the long hours that it entailed, he said that he had no regrets as he was grateful to have their work featured on TV, because it was great for their business, giving them the chance to meet new clients and work on amazing cars.