How Much Does a Martin Brothers Custom Car Cost?

Last updated on May 2, 2026 | Written by Alec Pow
This article was researched using 7 sources. See our methodology and corrections policy.

Martin Bros Customs does not publish a price list, and no official build quote has appeared in any public auction record or verified press source. Any number you see on a low-authority blog should be treated as speculation rather than fact.

How Much Does a Martin Brothers Custom Car Cost?

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$50,000–$80,000 (equivalent to 1.3 work-years at $30 per hour, or about $32,000 in 1990 dollars) covers entry-level custom builds at serious independent shops (labor, parts, and basic fabrication combined, 2024–2025 market). $100,000–$250,000 is typical for mid-tier bespoke builds with full fabrication, custom paint, and drivetrain work. Top-end TV-profile or show-quality customs range from $250,000–$500,000ass="tpp" data-u="500000">$500,000+, consistent with recent auction comps. Professional restoration labor runs upward of $70 per hour, per Hagerty’s restoration cost guide. Recent auction sales for comparable premium customs reached $253,000 to $438,900 at Barrett-Jackson in 2025.

Martin Bros Customs, the Austin, Texas shop run by Joe Martin and featured on the Motor Trend Network series Iron Resurrection, builds one-off vehicles with no standard menu of packages or public rate card. Cost is driven by donor vehicle condition, fabrication depth, paint complexity, drivetrain specification, and the shop’s current project load. The wide range above reflects the gap between a competent regional shop and a nationally recognized builder with a TV audience.

What you’re actually buying

A Martin Bros Customs build is a commissioned, one-of-a-kind vehicle. Joe Martin and his team take a donor car, truck, or motorcycle and redesign it from the frame outward, handling metalwork, fabrication, paint, interior, and mechanical work under one roof, according to the shop’s official about page. The client is not buying a restored original or a factory restomod kit. Every panel gap, chassis modification, and paint layout is designed and executed specifically for that project.

This differs from a restoration, where the goal is returning a vehicle to factory specification, and it differs from a bolt-on restomod, where a shop fits aftermarket suspension, brakes, and engine components to an otherwise stock body. At Martin Bros, the fabrication is the product. A customer commissioning a build is paying for Joe Martin’s design judgment, the shop’s metalworking and fabrication capacity, and the brand credibility that comes with a nationally televised build portfolio. That combination has no published price because no two builds share the same scope, donor condition, or design brief.

Why no official price exists

The shop’s contact page directs inquiries about custom builds, buying, and selling directly to an email address, with no pricing tier or starting-budget disclosure visible on the site. This is standard practice for high-end custom shops where scope variability makes a published price misleading rather than helpful. A client bringing in a clean 1969 Camaro with a sound body has a very different cost floor than someone bringing in a rusted 1955 pickup that needs full frame fabrication before any cosmetic work begins.

The absence of public pricing also protects the shop’s ability to price each job on its actual labor and parts requirements rather than a menu that invites low-budget inquiries. Hagerty’s valuation team noted in May 2024 that custom hot rods are hard to value because no two are truly identical, and that build cost does not translate directly into market value. That same logic applies to quoting: a shop cannot post a starting price without implicitly promising a scope it cannot define in advance.

Martin Bros Customs vs other high-profile builders

Several nationally recognized custom shops operate on a similar commission model. Chip Foose’s Foose Design in Huntington Beach, California, and Kindig-It Design in Salt Lake City, Utah, both gained TV exposure and both decline to post public build prices. The comparison is useful because it shows that the no-public-price model is not unique to Martin Bros. It is the standard operating structure for shops where the builder’s name is a meaningful part of the product.

Where Martin Bros Customs sits relative to those shops depends on project type. Iron Resurrection, which Warner Bros. Discovery’s press team described in August 2018 as featuring the team restoring and customizing old cars, trucks, and motorcycles, focused heavily on rescued vehicles with significant structural work. That scope, full teardown plus fabrication plus finish, sits at the upper end of the labor-hour spectrum regardless of which shop performs it.

“Custom hot rods are hard to value because no two are truly identical. Build cost is not the same thing as market value.” — Hagerty valuation team, May 2024

What the auction market shows

Auction results from Barrett-Jackson provide the clearest public evidence of what buyers will pay for premium finished customs in 2025. At the Palm Beach auction in May 2025, a 2008 Lamborghini Murcielago custom coupe sold for $282,700 (about $110,000 in 1990 dollars) and a 1967 Ford Mustang custom fastback sold for $253,000, according to Barrett-Jackson’s Palm Beach 2025 results. At the Scottsdale auction in February 2025, a 1981 Land Rover Series 3 custom SUV reached $438,900, per Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale SUV roundup.

These figures are sale prices, not build invoices. A shop might charge $150,000 to build a vehicle that later sells for $280,000 at auction, or it might charge $300,000 and the car sells for less if the buyer pool is thin that day. Hagerty’s point about build cost diverging from market value applies in both directions. What the auction data does confirm is that the mid-to-upper range of premium custom builds sits firmly in the six-figure band, and that buyers with name-brand provenance behind their vehicle can see results above $400,000 in current market conditions.

The labor math

Hagerty’s restoration cost guide sets professional shop labor at upward of $70 (about $28 in 1990 dollars) per hour for classic-car work. A full custom build, covering teardown, metalwork, fabrication, mechanical rebuild, paint preparation, paint, and interior, commonly runs 800 to 2,000 labor hours at a serious shop. Using the $70 per hour floor and a conservative 800-hour estimate, labor alone reaches $56,000 before a single part is purchased. At 1,500 hours, the same rate produces $105,000 in labor. A shop with a stronger reputation and a higher hourly rate, say $120 to $150 per hour, would push those same hour counts to $96,000 to $225,000 in labor alone.

Parts, donor vehicle acquisition, fabricated components, chrome or powder coating, upholstery, and glass add on top. A custom drivetrain swap using a modern LS or Coyote engine with a matching transmission can add $15,000 to $40,000 in parts. A full custom paint job with bodywork, primer, color, and clear at a premium shop runs $10,000 to $30,000 by itself. These are not Martin Bros-specific quotes. They are market-rate ranges drawn from the labor and parts structure Hagerty describes for serious restorations and custom work.

You might also like our articles on the cost to build, widebody, or straight pipe a car.

Three build scenarios

Scenario one: a clean donor with limited fabrication. A client brings in a structurally sound 1972 Chevrolet C10 pickup with surface rust and a tired drivetrain. The shop performs a full mechanical rebuild, mild suspension modification, custom paint, and interior refresh. Labor runs roughly 600–800 hours. At $70–$100 per hour, that is $42,000–$80,000 in labor. Parts and finish work add another $20,000–$40,000. Total range: $62,000–$120,000.

Scenario two: a full custom with heavy fabrication. A client commissions a ground-up build on a 1964 Ford Falcon with a new chassis, custom body modifications, modern suspension, a crate engine, and a full custom interior. Labor runs 1,200–1,800 hours. At $100–$130 per hour, that is $120,000–$234,000 in labor. Parts, fabricated components, and finish work add $40,000–$80,000. Total range: $160,000–$314,000.

Scenario three: a show-quality build with TV-profile shop involvement. A build of the complexity shown on Iron Resurrection, involving a near-derelict vehicle, full frame fabrication, one-off body panels, custom drivetrain, and a multi-stage paint process, can absorb 2,000 or more labor hours. At a premium rate, labor alone exceeds $200,000. With parts and materials, the all-in figure can reach $300,000 to $500,000, consistent with the upper end of what comparable finished vehicles sell for at Barrett-Jackson.

Hidden costs

Teardown discoveries are the most common budget expander in custom builds. Hagerty notes that costs frequently rise after a vehicle is disassembled and reveals frame damage, hidden rust, or a compromised engine block that was not visible in the initial inspection. A client who budgets for surface rust may face a full frame repair that adds $8,000–$20,000 in unplanned labor and materials.

Insurance during the build is a separate line item most clients underestimate. Progressive cites a Hagerty Vehicle Under Construction arrangement that increases coverage limits by 10% every three months, up to $25,000, as the vehicle gains value during restoration. That coverage costs money, and the policy requires documented progress photos and receipts. Transport to and from the shop, storage if the project is paused, and any specialist subcontractor work (chrome plating, upholstery, or engine machining) add further. A realistic all-in budget should carry a 15 to 20% contingency above the initial quote.

Who this cost makes sense for

A Martin Bros Customs build, or any comparable shop at that level, is a long-term commitment of both money and time. The decision to commission a build at this price point is rarely purely financial.

Makes sense if:

• You have a specific vehicle with personal or historical significance and want a build that reflects that, not a generic restomod.
• Your budget can absorb $100,000–$300,000ass="tpp" data-u="300000">$300,000+ without the expectation of full cost recovery at resale.
• You are comfortable with a multi-year timeline and the possibility of scope changes after teardown.
• You want provenance from a named shop whose builds have public auction history and media recognition.
• You plan to show or display the vehicle, where builder reputation adds measurable value to the finished car.

Doesn’t make sense if:

• You are treating the build as a financial investment and expect to recover costs at auction, since Hagerty explicitly warns that restoration spend rarely returns dollar-for-dollar.
• Your budget is under $80,000 for a full custom build, which is below the realistic floor for a serious commission at a shop of this profile.
• You need a firm fixed price before the donor vehicle is torn down, which is not how commission shops at this level operate.
• You want a quick turnaround; complex builds at high-demand shops can run 18–36 months.

Verification

• Confirmed that Martin Bros Customs operates as a custom build, buy, and sell shop under Joe Martin’s ownership, with no public pricing schedule, via the official Martin Bros Customs about page.
• Checked professional restoration labor rates at upward of $70 per hour against Hagerty’s restoration cost resource.
• Cross-referenced the claim that custom hot rod build cost diverges from market value against Hagerty’s May 2024 hot rod valuation analysis.
• Confirmed $253,000 and $282,700 custom sale prices at Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2025 via the official Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach results article.
• Confirmed $438,900 custom SUV sale at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2025 via the official Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale SUV roundup.
• Verified Iron Resurrection as a Martin Bros Customs production via the Warner Bros. Discovery press release from August 2018.
• Verified Hagerty Vehicle Under Construction coverage details and Progressive insurance terms via Progressive’s classic car restoration insurance guide.

Takeaways

• Martin Bros Customs publishes no official build price; all inquiries go through direct contact with the shop.
• Based on professional labor rates of $70+ per hour and typical custom build hour counts, a realistic floor for a serious commission is $80,000–$120,000, with complex builds reaching $300,000–$500,000+.
• Recent Barrett-Jackson auction results show comparable premium customs selling for $253,000 to $438,900 in 2025, which frames the upper market without representing what the shop charges to build.
• Teardown discoveries, insurance during the build, and specialist subcontractor work are the most common sources of budget overrun; plan for a 15–20% contingency.
• Build cost and resale value are not the same figure; Hagerty’s analysts warn that restoration spend rarely returns fully at auction.
• The Martin Bros brand premium, tied to Joe Martin’s reputation and Iron Resurrection visibility, is a real factor in both the shop’s pricing power and a finished vehicle’s auction desirability.

Answers to Common Questions

Does Martin Bros Customs have a starting price for custom builds?

No public starting price appears on the shop’s website or in any verified press source. The official about page directs all build inquiries to a direct email contact. Scope and donor vehicle condition vary too widely for a posted starting price to be meaningful.

How long does a Martin Bros custom build take?

No official timeline is published. Builds of the complexity shown on Iron Resurrection, involving full teardown, fabrication, and finish work, commonly run 18 to 36 months at high-demand shops. Teardown discoveries can extend that timeline further.

Can a Martin Bros custom car appreciate in value after the build?

Appreciation depends on the finished vehicle’s market appeal and the buyer pool at auction. Hagerty warns that build cost does not translate directly to resale value. A vehicle that cost $200,000 to build may sell for more or less at auction depending on design, condition, and demand. Provenance from a named shop like Martin Bros can add value, but it does not guarantee a return on the full build investment.

What insurance do I need during a Martin Bros-level custom build?

Progressive recommends Hagerty’s Vehicle Under Construction coverage, which increases limits by 10% every three months up to $25,000 as the vehicle gains value. The policy requires documented progress photos and receipts. Tool coverage of $750 with a $25 deductible is also available. Confirm coverage details with your insurer before the build begins.