At Shadow Ridge High School, most juniors are focused on getting their driver’s licenses and finding a spot in the crowded student parking lot. But for junior Kyle Bean, the most important cars in his life don’t require a gas tank or a permit. They fit right in his pocket. What started as a simple childhood hobby has transformed into a massive, sophisticated operation that bridges the gap between personal history and high-stakes collecting.

The engine of Bean’s passion was jump-started by a sentimental spark. His very first car was a gift from his late grandmother, who passed away shortly after giving it to him. Though the car went missing for a while, its eventual recovery served as a turning point. “I kept collecting cars mostly for my love of cars,” Bean says. “I think it’s cool to have a pocket-sized car of your own.”

Since then, his obsession has grown into a collection so vast that much of it has to be kept in storage. According to Bean, the sheer scale of his inventory is a “see it to believe it” situation. While most students at Shadow Ridge High School see him as just another junior, those who get a glimpse of his collection are usually left in shock. “When I tell people about my collection, they don’t believe it’s that big until they see it in person and they are shocked,” he explains.

As Bean has grown up, his “eye” for what belongs on his shelf has evolved. He has moved past the phase of grabbing any car off a grocery store peg and has become a high-level hunter. “My eyes for cars have changed a lot over the years,” Bean notes. “I’ve gone from collecting any car I can, to getting really picky. I usually look for Real Riders, Redlines, and real world models.”

His ultimate victory, his “Holy Grail,” was the Petty Tradition set. Finding it wasn’t easy. It required a digital stakeout of social media and marketplaces like eBay to find a set that was reasonably priced. “The farthest I’ve gone for a car is stalking someone’s social media,” Bean admits. “It sounds bad but it’s not. However, I can usually find what I’m looking for pretty easily.”

Even the way Bean handles his cars involves a complex internal debate: to open the box or not? While this argument often divides the Hot Wheels community, Bean plays it by ear. “To handle the ‘Open Or Not To Open’ debate is really just by how I feel that day, or if I really think the art on the box is cool, then I keep it in the box,” he says. “But I prefer to keep them in the box as long as I can.”

As graduation nears, Bean has no plans to pump the brakes. He views collecting as a lifelong journey, fueled by the belief that you can never truly have enough. “I believe that once I graduate, I’ll continue to grow my collection until I feel satisfied,” Bean says. “I think that you can never have enough cars, so I’ll be collecting until I can’t collect anymore.”