Getting your car or truck customized by the Ekstensive Metal Works team from Texas Metal team will cost you about $175,000 or more.
Texas Metal and its stars, the Ekstensive Metal Works team, has quickly become one of the most popular shows in MotorTrend’s expansive car restoration- and customization-show lineup.
And chances are, any gearhead who has tuned in to watch this team’s fine handiwork has wondered whether they could afford their own souped-up, low-down Ekstensive Metal Works truck.
And although most of the trucks that you see on Texas Metal are specially commissioned, there have been a few of the Ekstensive Metal Works trucks which have gone to auction in the last few years.
This has given us a fair idea of what it would cost to get a Texas Metal car of your very own.
What to budget for a Texas Metal truck
The Ekstensive Metal Works website warns that owners who want to get their beloved classic cars or trucks overhauled by the team will need to save up for a working budget of at least $175,000 (with an hourly shop rate of $85 per hour plus the cost of the materials).
But of course, this number is subject to change based on the project’s difficulty.
And it seems like even if you were to purchase an already-finished Texas Metal car at an auction, you can expect to pay approximately the same amount.
The Ekstensive Metal Works team advertised a Ford F-150 for only around $68,999 back in 2019, but a more recent 2017 Ford F250 Super Duty Pickup build, sold for $187,000 at the 2022 Mecum auction.
How Ekstensive Metal Works’ prices compare to those of other custom trucks
Purchasing a custom-built truck is arguably the same thing as getting a tattoo, in that you shop around for the best artist and not necessarily the best price.
However, for those of us who do not scroll through car auction listings, it is helpful to know how Ekstensive Metal Works’ prices compare to those of the rest of the market.
The top ten results for Mecum’s most recent Chattanooga 2023 auction included the following sales:
| Model | Selling price |
| 1958 Chevrolet Corvette Custom | $203,500 |
| 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 3LZ Convertible | $176,000 |
| 2022 Mercedes-Benz G550 | $167,750 |
| 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 | $145,750 |
| 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon | $121,000 |
| 2016 Porsche 911 Turbo S | $115,500 |
| 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible | $112,750 |
| 1990 Ferrari Testarossa | $105,600 |
| 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible | $104,500 |
| 1969 Jaguar E-Type Series II Roadster | $95,700 |
Bill Carlton’s net worth
If you have ever tuned in to watch an episode of Texas Metal, you may already know that the Ekstensive Metal Works owner, Bill Carlton, is the mastermind behind most of their builds.
Carlton is a third-generation welder, who founded this shop all the way back in the early ‘90s. Although his exact net worth will likely always remain a mystery, some sources estimate that it could be as high as $5 million.
And considering the shop’s continuous success, his various guest appearances and the extra revenue generated through the show, there is a chance that this number could climb even higher as time goes on.
Bill Carlton’s favorite build
Texas Metal’s most recent sixth season certainly ended on quite a high note, with Carlton and the rest of the Ekstensive Metal Works team undertaking to chop off the roof of John Cena’s ’37 Bugatti Type 57.
But even though this ambitious build may turn out to be one of the most expensive builds ever featured on the show, it does not hold the title of Carlton’s favorite build.
Carlton revealed in a 2021 TALKING ABOUT CARS episode with Randy Kerdoon, that the Baja truck (featured in the first season of the show in 2017) is still one of his personal favorite projects that the shop has worked on throughout the years.
How to go about letting the Ekstensive Metal Works team work on your car
If all this talk about custom builds and money has got you fired up to take on an Ekstensive Metal Works project of your very own, you will have to get on the shop’s waiting list first.
Fortunately, you can join this waiting list fairly easily, by simply filling in the application form on the Ekstensive Metal Works website.
Although the website does state that you should receive a response from the team within three weeks, the Ekstensive Metal Works team receives thousands of queries a day.
So it is advisable to keep reaching out via their quote@ekstensive.com email address, or through the shop’s phone line, if you want to ensure that your project stays on their radar.
