Car Masters: Rust to Riches follows Mark Towle and his team of experts as they work hard to restore old cars and give them a new lease of life. It’s a well-worn concept but one that is much loved by car enthusiasts, and since the show began in 2018, albeit with a somewhat shaky schedule, it has amassed an audience of car restoration lovers who enjoy not only the incredible hard work that goes into each project but also the level of detail and indeed love that is thrown at each car restored. Fans love to know all the behind-the-scenes details about these shows, so let’s explore where Car Masters: Rust to Riches is filmed and some other aspects of the production for good measure.
Where is Car Masters: Rust to Riches filmed?
Temecula, California
The filming of Car Masters: Rust to Riches occurs in the state of California, predominantly in the town of Temecula. The now-famous Gotham Garage is where the restoration process happens, and is a real-life working garage that feels authentic and has everything that the team needs for the work to happen.
Often with reality shows the locations where the action happens are a blurring of reality, with the actual location not being a real place at all, instead using a set or stage for the production. In the case of Car Masters, the location is genuine.
Temecula is a city located in California’s Riverside County and is a popular destination for visitors. The garage is owned by Mark Towle, who is himself a well-respected car designer who has also worked on projects for film and TV shows.
Mark Towle in Gotham Garage | Image via Gotham Garage
Is Car Masters: Rust to Riches real or fake?
As far as reality TV shows go, there will always be some small level of doubt about what we are seeing, and many shows have been criticized for not being completely truthful with their audiences. Some viewers have been vocal about the show’s logistics, mainly citing that the viability of what is being done is questionable.
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Eyebrows have also been raised at the profit margins that are revealed regarding the restored vehicles and their sale prices. Others have mentioned that there is often a lack of detail in some of the more technical aspects of the renovations. Still, nothing has ever been conclusive about these types of claims, and experience will lead us to assume that there may be a blurring between the whole truth, and the TV truth, which makes the show a watchable experience.
What is Mark Towle known for?
Mechanic and restorer Mark Towle builds props for movies and TV productions, but in 2011, he would fall foul in the eyes of DC Comics, who objected to Mark building and selling replicas of the Batmobile from the 1960s Batman TV series and 1989 movie. DC Comics would file a copyright infringement case against Mark about his use of the Batmobile, leading eventually to a ruling that would conclude that DC did own the copyright to the image of the Batmobile, as a character in its own right.
The United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit would conclude that Mark had indeed infringed the copyright by making replicas of the famous vehicle.
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