‘Ustaz Hot Wheels’: From avid collector to thriving seller
KOTA BHARU: In 2018, at the age of 50, Mohd Khairillah Ibrahim found himself spellbound by Hot Wheels wonder and developed a passion for collecting the die-cast toy vehicles due to their captivating design and potential for high resale value.
Despite having a late start, the Arabic teacher at the Pasir Mas Vocational College has now become an ardent Hot Wheels collector and trader in Kelantan, owning six shop lots at Bazar Tok Guru in just six years.
“I started collecting Hot Wheels in 2018 and began actively selling them in 2020. I started with two retail lots and have since expanded to six.
“I have most of my Hot Wheels collection displayed in six shop lots here, while my personal favourites are kept at home,” he told Bernama when met at Bazar Tok Guru recently.
Affectionately known among Hot Wheels enthusiasts as ‘Kolektor Ciput’, Mohd Khairillah said the cheapest toy car in his collection was RM10, and the most expensive was a 55 Chevy Gasser, priced at RM1,200.
“I also own a 71’ Datsun 510, a Nissan Skyline GT-R (BNR34) Aero Lift, a 1969 Chevy Camaro SS, a Nissan Silvia (S15) Aero Lift, a 1996 Toyota Chaser JZX100, a Proton Saga, and several other models,” he said.
According to Mohd Khairillah, the cost of each Hot Wheels die-cast toy vehicle is determined by demand and several other factors.
“Pop culture series, movie or cartoon-themed toy cars and those that are sold at the Hot Wheels Collectors Convention often carry a higher price tag.
“Apart from that, carded (still in the original package) Hot Wheels sell better than loose ones,” he said, adding that the majority of his collection was bought from fellow sellers.
Mohd Khairillah said in addition to collecting Hot Wheels, he would also sell cars from his collection, with prices ranging from RM10 to RM500.
“I focus more on clients who come to buy items at my store than online sales, as the online market is highly competitive due to the large number of sellers.
“There are even buyers who come from outside Kelantan after catching my live sessions on TikTok.
“Alhamdulillah, most customers are happy with the Hot Wheels collection at my store since we sell them for as low as RM10,” he added. — Bernama