If you fell in love with Iron Resurrection because of Joe Martin’s calm, no-drama confidence in the shop, you’re not alone. Joe isn’t the loudest guy on camera, but that’s exactly the point—he lets the metal, the paint, and the finished stance do the talking. And even though the TV era has cooled off, Joe Martin hasn’t. In fact, in many ways, he’s more watchable now than ever—because the cameras didn’t leave the shop… they just moved to a different platform.
Joe Martin is best known as the master builder behind Martin Bros Customs in Johnson City, Texas, where he and his crew restore and rework cars, trucks, and bikes into clean, road-ready machines. Long before Iron Resurrection made him a household name for gearheads, Joe was already deep in the custom world—starting in motorcycles and paint work and building his name the old-fashioned way: one finished project at a time.
In a 2017 interview, Joe explained that he got into the motorcycle business “on a whim” in the mid-1990s, doing paint jobs and later building bikes. That experience helped open doors to television, including a Discovery-related build series and the earlier Bike Build Off era, before his later shop-focused shows took off.
How TV Fame Happened: Iron Resurrection and the Martin Bros Era
Iron Resurrection gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at the work rhythm of a real shop: the setbacks, the saves, the “please let this fit” moments, and the satisfaction when a dead vehicle finally rolls out alive again. The show’s appeal wasn’t just the builds—it was the chemistry of the team, the steady leadership style, and the fact that the shop felt like a place where things actually get finished.
Season 7, the most recent season currently listed across major viewing guides, aired in early 2024. Listings show the season finale (“Pompa’s Harley Fat Boy Surprise Part 2”) dated March 19, 2024.
The Show’s Ending “In 2025”: What Really Happened, When, and Why
Fans often describe Iron Resurrection as ending in 2025 because that’s when the Martins publicly closed the chapter—but the final batch of new episodes actually wrapped in March 2024.
So why did it end?
A major piece of the puzzle is the bigger industry shake-up around MotorTrend’s streaming ecosystem. MotorTrend itself explained that MotorTrend+ was gone and that its content—including originals—moved to discovery+ and Max, noting that once the migration completed, the MotorTrend+ subscription service “sunset.”
Then came the most important confirmation for Iron Resurrection fans: the Martins publicly stated that after seven seasons on MotorTrend TV, they had officially wrapped their time with the network and were now fully independent, creating original content outside the traditional TV model.
Put those two facts together and the picture becomes clearer. The platform changes meant fewer reasons to keep producing niche automotive seasons the old way, and the Martins chose (or agreed) to move forward without waiting on a traditional renewal cycle. In other words: the TV run ended, but the brand didn’t.
Joe Martin Team Is Back
Here’s the part that matters most if you’re a fan: Iron Resurrection ending doesn’t mean Joe stopped building. The shop is still active, still open, and still moving projects through. Their official site continues to list shop hours and location in Johnson City, Texas, which is exactly what you’d expect from a business that’s still operating day-to-day.
And instead of disappearing, Joe and the crew shifted the “watchable” part of the shop to YouTube. Their channel shows frequent uploads—build updates, fabrication progress, and shop life content that scratches the same itch as the show, sometimes with even more of the real grind left in.
You may also see fans speculate about Joe turning up on another network or an OTT platform someday. Right now, there is no confirmed announcement of a Netflix (or any other) deal. The most accurate way to put it is this: Joe has left the door open for “what’s next,” while focusing on the content he can control immediately—his own.
Here’s How You Can Watch Iron Resurrection Now
Even though MotorTrend+ is gone, Iron Resurrection hasn’t vanished. Season listings show that you can still watch via services that carry MotorTrend content now, and you can also buy episodes depending on your region.
Season 7 pages indicate viewing through subscriptions like discovery+ or Max, with purchase options also shown. Streaming guides also list availability across Max, discovery+, and add-on channels, plus purchase options on platforms like Apple TV and Amazon Video. Availability can vary depending on your country.
And if you want “new Joe Martin” instead of reruns, the most consistent place to watch current builds is the Martin Bros Customs YouTube channel.
Amanda Martin’s Animal Rescue Work: The Mission Running Alongside the Shop
Amanda “Mandi” Martin has also built a major identity outside the cars—especially through animal rescue. The Martins’ shop has run fundraising tied directly to rescue work, stating that donated funds go to PAWS Shelter and Southern California Pit Bull Rescue, framing it as direct support for dogs in need.
PAWS Shelter of Central Texas describes itself as a no-kill rescue serving vulnerable pets in Central Texas and highlights foster and volunteer support as part of how it saves animals.
Southern California Pit Bull Rescue states its mission is to save, protect, and advocate for pit bulls and pit bull–type dogs through rescue, rehabilitation, and responsible rehoming. It also describes itself as foster-based and emphasizes that it rescues at-risk dogs from shelters.
In other words, Amanda’s rescue work isn’t a random side hobby—it’s structured around partnerships, fosters, and fundraising that helps cover the expensive realities of rehabilitation: food, vet care, transport, and giving dogs enough stability to become adoptable.
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