Is Gas Monkey Garage Still Open? What Drivers Should Know

Gas Monkey Garage has been one of the most recognized names in American car culture since the Fast N' Loud reality TV series launched it into mainstream visibility in 2012. But as the show wound down and years passed, a lot of fans and car enthusiasts have been left wondering: is Gas Monkey Garage still operating, and what does it actually do today?

What Gas Monkey Garage Is — and What It Was Known For

Gas Monkey Garage is a custom car shop based in Dallas, Texas, founded by Richard Rawlings. The shop became famous through the Discovery Channel series Fast N' Loud, which followed the team as they hunted down neglected vehicles, restored or customized them, and flipped them for profit.

The work featured on the show ranged from full frame-off restorations to heavily modified builds — muscle cars, hot rods, trucks, motorcycles, and vintage American iron of all kinds. The builds weren't always factory-correct restorations. They were often custom jobs with upgraded engines, swapped drivetrains, custom bodywork, and period-correct or over-the-top aesthetics depending on the project.

The shop became as much a brand as a working garage — spawning merchandise, a bar and grill, licensing deals, and a broader lifestyle identity around car culture.

What Happened to the Shop and the Show

Fast N' Loud ran for 15 seasons before ending in 2020. The departure of lead mechanic Aaron Kaufman earlier in the series and eventual changes in format contributed to declining viewership. When the show ended, the question of what remained of the actual shop followed naturally.

Richard Rawlings has continued to be publicly active in the car world — appearing at events, buying and selling vehicles, and maintaining a social media presence. The Gas Monkey Garage brand itself has remained active as a commercial and entertainment brand, even as its TV production chapter closed.

The physical shop in Dallas has gone through changes. As of publicly available information, the location has functioned in varying capacities — at times open to visitors, hosting events, and operating as a working shop, though not at the same scale or public visibility as during peak TV production years. Details about current operating status, hours, and services can shift, and the most reliable way to confirm what's happening right now is to check official Gas Monkey social media channels or contact the Dallas location directly.

What This Means for Someone Looking for Custom or Restoration Work 🔧

Gas Monkey Garage is a specific business in a specific city. For most drivers, the more practical question behind "is it still open" is really: where do I find a shop that does this kind of work near me?

Custom and restoration shops operate very differently from standard repair facilities. A few things worth understanding:

Custom shops vs. general repair shops — Most neighborhood mechanics handle maintenance and standard repairs: oil changes, brakes, suspension, diagnostics. Custom shops specialize in fabrication, bodywork, paint, drivetrain swaps, and builds that require specialized skills and tools. They aren't interchangeable.

Restoration shops — These focus on returning a vehicle to original or near-original condition, often sourcing period-correct parts and using historically accurate methods. The scope and cost vary enormously depending on the vehicle's condition, rarity, and the level of detail required.

"Restomod" shops — A growing category that blends original body styling with modern mechanical components: fuel injection, overdrive transmissions, disc brakes, updated wiring, and modern suspension. Shops like Gas Monkey built their reputation partly on this style of work.

How Costs and Timelines Work in Custom Builds

One of the more misleading aspects of TV car shows — Gas Monkey included — is the timeline and cost compression that happens on screen. Builds that appear to take days routinely take months in real shop environments, and costs shown on TV rarely reflect full labor.

Real custom build costs depend on:

Vehicle starting point — A rust-free California barn find costs less to restore than a deteriorated Midwest example of the same car
Parts availability — Common muscle cars have robust aftermarket support; obscure makes or rare trim levels may require fabricated or sourced-to-order components
Labor rates — Custom shop rates vary by region and reputation, often running higher than standard repair shops
Scope of work — A paint-and-interior refresh is a different project than a ground-up restoration or an engine swap

There's no standard price list for this category of work, and estimates from TV don't translate to real-world quotes.

The Broader Point About Specialty Shops

Gas Monkey Garage gave a lot of drivers a window into what custom automotive work looks like — the craftsmanship, the problem-solving, and the transformation possible on old vehicles. That exposure has real value.

But any individual shop's current operating status, services offered, wait times, and pricing depend entirely on who runs it, where it is, and what they're set up to do. That's true of Gas Monkey, and it's true of every custom or restoration shop in every city. 🚗