If you're a gearhead with a taste for classic cars, and you haven't checked out MotorTrend's Iron Resurrection series, you're missing out. While there's a bunch of shows out there that feature a garage, and its crew restoring old, rusty classic cars, there aren't too many with a husband-wife duo that co-host it. Not to mention, they actually focus on creating quality cars, and not over-the-top, on-screen drama.
And by that we mean the kind of fluff shown in MTV’s Pimp My Ride where everything was made to look good, but was completely useless and usually fell apart as soon as the unsuspecting owners drove their sparkling rides home. Sure, the cars may have had a cotton candy machine in the trunk, plasma screens in the bumpers, or even a UFO landing pad on the roof, but Pimp My Ride was worthless as a show for car guys, and it did absolutely nothing to actually fix the cars.
Now, this is where Iron Resurrection comes in. This MotorTrend show, owned by Discovery, takes cars that are branded as irredeemable, and makes them new, from the inside out, improving them in the process. Unlike most other reality shows, including other reality car shows, there is little to no drama on the show, no tempers sizzle, and no patience frays, and people don’t try to plot to kill each other or sabotage each other’s cars.
UPDATED DECEMBER 2022: With six full seasons of Iron Resurrection now available, we've updated this article with the latest information on host Joe Martin, his wife Amanda Martin and the rest of the crew as they bring rusty, old vehicles back to life with a modern twist - with no drama.
That's probably why lots of car guys consider this show to be one of the best to watch when it comes to car TV. So, get ready, because here’s the true story behind the Iron Resurrection and its cast.
The Power Couple Behind The Show
The show Iron Resurrection is all about the comings and goings at Martin Bros Customs, a car shop in the Texas Hill Country that was known for its great work even before the show started. While it may be called Martin Bros, because of Jason and Joe, the power couple behind it is Joe Martin and his wife, Amanda.
Growing up, Joe always loved Boyd Coddington's work, but his products were out of Martin’s price range. This led to Joe making his own stuff, using the skills he picked up from neighbors or taught himself. Coddington isn't the only person Joe Martin has admired though. He's also a fan of Wayne Carini, host of Chasing Classic Cars.
For Joe, it all started when he was on the Biker Build-Off on Discovery and soon after started a bike shop. In fact, he used to work on cars only, but later, because of his win on the Discovery show, he began working on motorcycles as per popular demand in the ‘90s. A sudden market drop downed the shutters on that but soon enough, he got back to his first love, fixing up classic and old cars.
But how did Martin become a reality TV star, and get his own show? The answer is simple. His win at the Biker Build-Off endeared him to the producers, and they approached him to create new content for the Velocity Channel (which later became MotorTrend Network). The Martin Bros made a teaser reel, and it clicked, and so Iron Resurrection was born, for a five-year contract. Jason Martin is one of the producers of the show today and handles the behind-the-camera stuff, while Joe Martin and his best friend, Jayson "Shag" Arrington were the ones who are mostly working on the cars, along with the rest of their team. Amanda Martin, Joe’s wife, is the financial whiz, being from a banking background, and is the one who gets them all the cars they need for cheap, having an encyclopedic knowledge about every barn and car shed in the area.
The couple has revealed that starring on television has changed their lives, as they're now approached by fans at airports and various car shows. Joe has stated that he and his wife were normal people who just got lucky, and it feels a strange when fans approach them and ask for autographs.
What Makes Iron Resurrection Different?
The Martins do not believe in any kind of drama. So, much like any car shop, or even any workplace for that matter, there is a certain camaraderie between the cast, and it shows in the jokes and the pranks between them all. However, there is no tension, no excessive use of bad words and force, and not much stress between the crew. And the reason for all of this is simple, Joe Martin believes that none of them are actors, so trying to act out drama for viewership is something best left to the professionals.
The second difference is that the cars were created on the show are not dramatic either. There’s no OTT pimping, or hot rodding as shown in previous shows like Vegas Hot Rods. This is a show that takes an old and nearly dead car and painstakingly revives with authentic and modern parts, breathing new life into it from inside out. The cars that Iron Resurrection makes are not tricked out, it's something they take pride in and is likely to last the owner a good many hard-running years to come.
When Will The Next Season Of Iron Resurrection Air?
The entertaining sixth season of Iron Resurrection has just seen its completion. You can catch the latest episodes via MotorTrend TV, or MotorTrend +. The sixth season features the usual run of ten episodes, which sees the Martin Bros restomod cars like the iconic 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air, a 1951 Chevrolet 3100 pickup truck, a 1965 Pontiac Catalina, a 1932 Ford Roadster, a 1966 Chevrolet Nova, and for the two-part finale, a 1965 Buick Riviera. As for season seven of Iron Resurrection, we'll just have to keep our eyes peeled to the show's social media for updates, considering the sixth season has just ended on a high note.
Sources: FuelCurve, Jalopnik, Motor Trend