In a past interview Prince Johnson, also known as Empire 007, detailed his zeal and passion for vehicles, especially classic cars.
The car enthusiast 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 also disclosed that he acquired his first car for Ksh 40,000 in Form Two at the age of 16, which surprised his parents.
“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 costly car he purchased was Ksh 700,000, which he renovated for roughly Ksh 300,000 and sold for Ksh 1.3 million, along with a Toyota Vitz.
On the other hand, the cheapest car he purchased was Ksh 35,000, and he spent Ksh 150,000 renovating it.
Johnson appears to have a distinct taste and a strong eye for abandoned and decrepit cars, judging by his diverse collection of old cars.
Most of his vehicles are painted yellow, comparable to sports cars.
Johnson travels the country in quest of historic cars that were dumped over 20 years ago. He indicated that he had purchased at least 100 cars for his venture.
Some of his redesigned automobiles, he continued, have been featured in various music videos across the country.
One of the regular issues he confronts is finding replacement parts for his old autos. He occasionally buys different cars to get parts for a single vehicle.
“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 envisions himself running his business full-time and restoring more abandoned historic vehicles over the following four years.
He also intends to hold an annual vehicle event in collaboration with other automobile aficionados 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 stated.
