About Us
Hunt. Collect. Trade. Repeat.
Welcome to Salty Wheels Collects, your coast-side garage for diecast cars, classic collectibles, and the thrill of the hunt.
I'm Simon, and what started as a hobby, casually collecting the odd Hot Wheels car here and there, gradually turned into a mini-obsession.
I have a strong interest in classic cars and working with my hands - having built a few awesome classics over the years, I found that grabbing a sweet mini car was a nice way to combine a love of collecting and cars.
In early 2024 I started grabbing short videos from each of my hunts, clipping them up into shorts and uploading them to youtube. I had been enjoying hot wheels, retro toys, game and garage sale style content for some time and thought it would be fun to create a simple version of this, and a bit of fun to look back on some of the pick ups I had been finding.
Salty Wheels Collects has become a way for me to take something I love doing, and figure out a way to do more of it. My goal is to not only help support the collector community in NZ, but also be a part of it's growth.
THE DREAM
Kicking off Salty Wheels Collects as a web-store is just the first step. My goal is for this site to sustain itself enough to lead to opening a small retail location - I believe the thrill of hunting, not quite knowing what you will find - is fundamental to this hobby.
My aim is to have a place where collectors of all ages can not only do this, but also find those unique or hard to pick up pieces for their collection.
A key part of this, will also be the ability for collectors to gather and trade with each other, or even trade in with Salty Wheels when they want to change up or refine their collection.
Born in New Brighton, Christchurch, Salty Wheels Collects is more than just a diecast store — it’s a collector’s hideout by the sea.
We specialise in Hot Wheels, Matchbox, MiniGT, and rare diecast models, with an ever-rotating mix of premium collectibles, trade-ins, and hard-to-find favourites.
Whether you’re hunting down a specific casting or just love the joy of discovery, this is your place. Salty Wheels is for all ages, kids, parents and seasoned hunters are all welcome and encouraged to HUNT.
Built for Collectors, by Collectors
We’re lifelong fans of classic cars, toys, and collecting culture.
Our store was built from the ground up to reflect the excitement of finding something new (or old) for your shelf. From regular stock drops to community-led trade nights and collector events, Salty Wheels aims to bring together collectors across Aotearoa.
We believe in the Thrill of the hunt, the stories behind finding each small car, and connection between collectors.That’s why we’re not just an online shop — we’re aiming to build a real-world community through pop-ups, events, and eventually, our physical space in New Brighton.
What You’ll Find Here:
- Diecast models from Hot Wheels, Matchbox, OzWheels, MiniGT, and more..
- A rotating stash of popular finds and second-hand treasures
- Trading and Buy/Sell options for collectors looking to move or upgrade pieces
- A growing community of collectors, traders, customisers and garage shelf architects
Easygoing. Collector-first. Always chasing the next great find.
Whether you’re new to diecast or 30 cars deep into your dream collection, you’re welcome here. We’ll keep the finds fresh, the vibes laid-back, and the wheels salty.