Las Vegas: Shelby, Counts Kustoms & WelderUp Car Garage Tour

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Las Vegas: Shelby, Counts Kustoms & WelderUp Car Garage Tour

  • 4.3101 reviews
  • 4 hours
  • From $115
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Operated by Annie Bananie Tours · Bookable on GetYourGuide

Traveller rating 4.3 (101)Duration4 hoursPrice from$115Operated byAnnie Bananie ToursBook viaGetYourGuide

This is Vegas, but with a wrench in hand. You’re set up for a car-obsessed loop through the famous Welcome to Las Vegas sign, Shelby American’s racing machines, and two real-world shops tied to the Counting Cars universe. I especially like how the tour adds a practical Counts Kustoms customized bus ride and wraps it with rare-car stops you won’t easily recreate on your own.

One thing to keep in mind: the shop time is limited, and the viewing areas can feel tight or crowded, so you’ll get the highlights, not an all-day hangout.

Quick hits before you go

Las Vegas: Shelby, Counts Kustoms & WelderUp Car Garage Tour - Quick hits before you go

  • Counts Kustoms bus ride (when available): a themed start that sets the tone right away.
  • Express photo stop at Welcome to Las Vegas: faster entry, so you spend more time looking and less time waiting.
  • Shelby American stop tied to Ford vs Ferrari: you’ll see famous Shelby models and the brand’s racing pedigree.
  • WelderUp’s junk-to-rat-rod creativity: see the kind of builds that helped inspire Vegas Rat Rods.
  • Count’s Kustoms finale plus $20 gift shop voucher: time to browse and photos at Danny’s collection.

Entering Vegas by way of cars, not casinos

Las Vegas: Shelby, Counts Kustoms & WelderUp Car Garage Tour - Entering Vegas by way of cars, not casinos
This tour works because it flips the usual Las Vegas formula. Instead of marching from hotel to hotel, you spend four focused hours on motors, metal, and the people who build the stuff you’re only used to seeing on TV.

You’re also getting a mix of experiences. There’s classic Vegas sightseeing along the Strip, but the heart of the day is structured around three big stops that car fans actually talk about: Shelby American, WelderUp, and Count’s Kustoms. If you’re into cars as objects (and not just as props), this format pays off.

Guides matter here. More than once, I’ve seen names like Mike, Christian, Susie, and Adena connected to these tours, and the common thread is simple: the guide ties what you’re seeing to history and “how it all got built.” That’s especially helpful at Shelby American, where the cars are famous enough that it can be hard to know what you’re looking at without a bit of context.

You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Las Vegas.

Treasure Island pickup and the Counts Kustoms-style bus ride

Las Vegas: Shelby, Counts Kustoms & WelderUp Car Garage Tour - Treasure Island pickup and the Counts Kustoms-style bus ride
You start at Mystère Dreams Avenue, meeting at the benches furthest west. From there, you’re headed out for a short Strip loop—about 20 minutes—so you can get your bearings before the photo and shop stops eat up the clock.

One of the nicest details is the ride itself. The tour includes transportation, and when it’s available, you’ll board a bus customized by Counts Kustoms. Even if you don’t get the themed bus, the point stands: you’ll be in a dedicated group vehicle, not figuring out Vegas traffic between attractions.

This matters because timing in Vegas is tricky. Parking, crosswalks, and getting back on schedule can drain an entire afternoon. Here, the route is built to keep the day moving, with each stop allotted enough time for photos and browsing without pushing you into a full-day grind.

Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign: a faster photo stop

Las Vegas: Shelby, Counts Kustoms & WelderUp Car Garage Tour - Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign: a faster photo stop
The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign has been a photo target since 1959, and the tour gives you a clean, practical way to handle it. You get a dedicated photo stop of about 15 minutes, plus express handling for entry through security, so you can skip the slow line and head straight to the fun part.

If you’ve been to the sign in the peak hours, you know the deal: the waiting can be as big as the sightseeing. This tour’s value is that it treats the sign like the quick classic it is. You get your shot, you’re done, and you move on while your eyes still feel fresh.

A small but important detail: flash photography is not allowed. If you rely on flashes for night-like shots or darker interiors elsewhere on the route, plan to use normal camera settings instead. No drama—just don’t show up expecting to fire off flashes.

The Shelby American stop: Ford vs Ferrari horsepower, up close

Las Vegas: Shelby, Counts Kustoms & WelderUp Car Garage Tour - The Shelby American stop: Ford vs Ferrari horsepower, up close
Next comes one of the biggest “yes, this is why I booked” moments for car fans: Shelby American. This stop is designed for people who like both the cars and the story behind them—especially if you’ve seen it connected to Ford vs Ferrari.

Your time is split into two modes. You’ll get around time to browse, shop, and self-guide, then you’ll switch to a guided segment (about 40 minutes) focused on what matters in the collection. That combo is smart. Self-guided time helps you move at your pace and zoom in on the details that catch your eye. The guided part then gives you the context so the cars don’t blur together into “nice vintage stuff.”

What you’ll be looking for includes well-known Shelby models and variants—think legendary road-racing names like 427 Cobras and GT500s, plus special vehicles like the Shelby 1000. The tour’s messaging about “largest private collection” and “worth millions” lines up with what you feel when you’re in the space: this is curated for enthusiasts, not casual passing tourists.

Tradeoff? You’ll be in and out. Even fans who want to stay longer may feel the time is tight. But compared to trying to stitch this stop together yourself with rideshare and parking, you’re getting the key payoff: curated viewing plus a guide to help you read the collection fast.

WelderUp in Vegas: junk-to-rat-rod creativity on display

Las Vegas: Shelby, Counts Kustoms & WelderUp Car Garage Tour - WelderUp in Vegas: junk-to-rat-rod creativity on display
Then the tour turns intentionally weirder—in a good way. WelderUp is the “not your average customization shop” stop, tied to Steve Darnell and his team. The whole idea is that they turn junk into street-ready, show-worthy rat rods, and you’ll see the kind of builds that helped inspire Vegas Rat Rods.

The stop includes about 30 minutes, with time for a self-guided walk plus photo opportunities and shopping. This is where the tour delivers something different from a museum. At WelderUp, you’re looking at the energy of custom work: metal choices, finishing styles, and the visible decisions that make each build look like it came from a maker who doesn’t care about being “average.”

One practical note: the shop areas can feel small and crowded, depending on the group flow. That’s not unusual in a real working space. Plan to take photos quickly, then focus on details with your eyes once you’re close. If you spend the whole window waiting for perfect framing, you’ll miss the craftsmanship that’s actually the point.

Also, Steve Darnell’s presence is not guaranteed. Some days he’s been seen taking photos and signing items with people from the group flow, and other days you might just interact with the shop environment. Your best bet is to show up expecting the work and the machines, not a guaranteed meet-and-greet with TV personalities.

Count’s Kustoms finale: Danny’s collection and a real photo window

Las Vegas: Shelby, Counts Kustoms & WelderUp Car Garage Tour - Count’s Kustoms finale: Danny’s collection and a real photo window
The day closes at Count’s Kustoms, Danny “Count” Koker’s shop. This is the stop built to feel like the grand finale: a chance to explore his private collection of custom cars and motorcycles with time to browse and take photos.

The standout here is variety. You’ll hear about specific vehicles associated with the shop, including a SUPERFLY 1971 Cadillac, a 1932 Ford Hot Wheels Car, a GT350 Fastback, and an ’81 Corvette. If you like cars that look like they have personality—custom paint, intentional stance, and design decisions that go beyond factory—this is where the tour delivers the emotional payoff.

The shop time is about 40 minutes for photo stop, shopping, and self-guided exploration. That’s enough time to do the essentials:

  • Find your favorites
  • Get your photos
  • Walk through the related display areas
  • Browse merchandise if you want it

One extra value perk makes this stop more than just a photo op: you get a $20 voucher for the Count’s Kustoms gift shop. It’s not a huge discount, but it nudges this experience from “expensive curiosity” to “at least I get something tangible if I’m buying merch anyway.”

Price and value: what $115 buys you in Vegas time

Las Vegas: Shelby, Counts Kustoms & WelderUp Car Garage Tour - Price and value: what $115 buys you in Vegas time
At $115 per person for a 4-hour tour, this isn’t a budget activity. The value comes from three things you don’t get for free in Vegas: guided context, guided routing, and saving time on high-friction logistics.

First, you’re paying for a guide who helps you understand what you’re seeing. For car stops like Shelby American and the customization shops, that context turns the trip from sightseeing into real appreciation.

Second, you’re paying for the schedule design. You can absolutely visit these places on your own, but you’ll lose time on travel, parking, and waiting—especially for the Welcome sign. Here, the tour builds in the fast photo approach and keeps the day tight enough to feel like a complete experience.

Third, the tour includes entrance fees and transportation, which adds up fast when you’re stacking stops. And the $20 voucher at Count’s Kustoms gift shop is a small but real bonus, especially if you’re a fan and plan to buy something.

Where the price can feel a bit sharp is when you’re expecting a lot of TV-star interaction. Some people want more chances to meet Danny or the cast. The tour is designed around the cars and the shops, not guaranteed on-camera access. If you go in treating it like a car lover’s garage crawl first, you’ll feel the value more strongly.

Who should book this tour (and who might not love it)

Las Vegas: Shelby, Counts Kustoms & WelderUp Car Garage Tour - Who should book this tour (and who might not love it)
I think this is a great fit if:

  • You’re a car fan who wants a concentrated route through three major stops.
  • You like guided context, not just wandering around.
  • You want a Vegas activity that’s not built around shows or gambling.
  • You care about classic and performance vehicles, including Shelby models.

You might hesitate if:

  • You’re hoping for long, workshop-style viewing time at every shop. The windows are limited.
  • You’re expecting frequent cast appearances. Even when some famous faces show up in the tour flow, it isn’t something you can count on.

If you’re on the fence, use this rule: if cars are your main interest, this tour delivers. If you mostly want the Vegas vibe and shopping with cars as a side note, you may find it pricier than you want for the time provided.

Should you book Las Vegas: Shelby, Counts Kustoms & WelderUp?

Las Vegas: Shelby, Counts Kustoms & WelderUp Car Garage Tour - Should you book Las Vegas: Shelby, Counts Kustoms & WelderUp?
Book it if you want a tight, fan-focused Vegas plan built around Shelby American, WelderUp, and Count’s Kustoms, with a smoother-than-average Welcome sign photo stop and guided explanation that helps the cars make sense quickly.

Skip it or rethink your expectations if meeting TV stars is the whole reason you’re going. This is not a guaranteed meet-and-greet tour. It’s a car collection and shop experience with time to photograph and browse, plus a guide to keep the day coherent.

If you do book, bring comfortable shoes, leave room in your phone storage for pictures, and remember: no flash. Then show up ready to look past the merch angle and focus on what you came for—the machines and the craftsmanship.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour duration is listed as 4 hours.

What is the price per person?

The price is $115 per person.

Where do I meet the group?

You meet at the benches furthest west on Mystère Dreams Avenue.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Transportation is included, and you ride in a customized bus by Counts Kustoms when available.

Does the tour include the Welcome to Las Vegas sign photo stop?

Yes. You’ll have a photo stop at the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, with an express security check to help you skip the line.

Are entrance fees included?

Yes. All entrance fees are included.

Is flash photography allowed?

No. Flash photography is not allowed.

Do I get a voucher for shopping?

Yes. Your tour includes a $20 voucher toward the Count’s Kustoms gift shop.

Is cancellation free?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

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