Peanut’s Custom Garage founder David Gonzales pours out acrylic paint to use on a Hot Wheels milk van to give it the look of rust and patina Saturday, April 2, 2022, in Loraine, Texas. (Jacob Ford|Odessa American)

There’s a difference between car guys and non-car guys.

So why do some of us become car guys? Where does the love for cars originate?

For some it’s the art of the design, or the history, or maybe it’s the memories they create with their dad in their trucks, a Steve McQueen movie, or maybe it’s as simple as their love for their first Hot Wheels.

Like most young boys, 47-year-old David Gonzales, grew up playing with toy cars.

Those toys later became an adult hobby of collecting and customizing. Gonzales would later display his hobby as he formed Peanut’s Custom Garage on various platforms.

A display of Peanut’s Custom Garage founder David Gonzales’ custom Chevrolet Silverado Hot Wheels Saturday, April 2, 2022, in Loraine, Texas. (Jacob Ford|Odessa American)

Gonzales says he has been collecting Hot Wheels since 1997 and now has thousands, almost ten thousand toy cars.

He began customizing Hot Wheels in 2016, by taking the casting, chassis, interior and windows apart. He then gives them custom paint jobs, custom body work, and custom interiors.

“My favorite part about customizing is detailing, that’s what I love to do,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales added: “I don’t resell whatever I purchased is for myself. Unless I have another customizer that would need a certain casting…if I have so many of a certain casting, then I will trade it off or I will send it to them in what we call ROA, random act of kindness.”

Peanut’s Custom Garage founder David Gonzales’ made a custom Chevrolet Silverado work truck using a Hot Wheels, a Matchbox, and JB Weld Saturday, April 2, 2022, in Loraine, Texas. (Jacob Ford|Odessa American)

Gonzales created Peanut’s Custom Garage for his customs as the hobby grew. Gonzales was given the nickname Peanut from one of his uncles when he was a young boy.

Gonzales said he got the idea to start customizing after seeing a post on Instagram of another guy who had customized some Hot Wheels.

“And so, I started giving it a try and learning the techniques,” Gonzales said. “…Most of the stuff that I do or that I learned was off of Instagram. And some guys wouldn’t give you tips.

“I have sold some in the past…I have done commissions for people and a bunch of us trade with other guys. They’ll send me a custom and I’ll send them a custom. What we call a custom for custom trade, and I enjoy doing that.

“There’s some that I like too much, so I’ll just go ahead and keep it.”

A display of Peanut’s Custom Garage founder David Gonzales’ custom Hot Wheels shows his interest in trucks Saturday, April 2, 2022, in Loraine, Texas. (Jacob Ford|Odessa American)

Gonzales expressed while he mostly customizes trucks, his passion of the hobby truly lies in the customization.

“Really my interest is in rat rods, the rusted patina look,” Gonzales said. “Stuff like that.

“It’s very peaceful. …Of course, like any other hobby. Sometimes things won’t go your way. But you know, you just sit there and you relax and you do it and you enjoy it, especially if you enjoy it like I do. Then it’s really therapeutic and it’s really enjoyable. And it’s really neat to see what you’ve done after you customize.”

Gonzales spends a few hours each day after work customizing for a week or two before a custom diecast is finished.

“There’s so much you can do with these things,” Gonzales said. “It’s unbelievable.”