Ever thought of earning more money from your hobby? Well, that is the story of Prince Johnson from Nakuru County, popularly known as Empire 007.
During an interview with a vlogger on Friday, April 22, Johnson detailed his zeal and passion for automobiles, especially classic cars.
The man who doubles up as an IT expert explained that he also sells laptops, but prioritises his car gig, which earns him more.
"I am an IT expert and cars are just my passion from a young age. But interestingly I get more money from my passion compared to my actual hustle," he stated.
Johnson further revealed that he bought his first car for Ksh40,000 in Form Two at 16, a move that shocked his family.
"The guy who sold me the car did not even provide me with the right documentation. I did not know if they were important," he stated.
According to Johnson, the most expensive car he bought cost Ksh700,000 which he revamped for about Ksh300,000 and sold for Ksh1.3 million, plus a Toyota Vitz.
On the other hand, the cheapest car he bought cost him Ksh35,000, and he spent Ksh150,000 to renovate it.
From his wide range of classic cars, Johnson seemingly has a unique taste and a keen eye for abandoned and dilapidated cars. Most of his cars are painted yellow similar to sports cars.
As they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure, Johnson traverses the country far and wide in search of classic cars dumped nearly 20 years ago. He stated he had bought at least 100 cars for his venture.
Some of his revamped vehicles, he added, have been used in several music videos in the country.
Among the challenges he constantly faces is getting spare parts for his classic cars. He sometimes buys different cars to source parts for one automobile.
"It is an expensive and demanding affair as it can also take a whole year to get a car ready. This is not (a venture) for everyone (or feint-hearted)," he added.
Johnson sees himself running his business full-time and revamping more abandoned classic vehicles in the next four years. He also plans to organise an annual car show in liaison with other car enthusiasts in the county.
"For anyone planning to join this venture, it is advisable to understand why you want to do it. Is it commercially, or as a hobby," he advised.
