Q&A: Odds 'n' ends

One of the neat things about racing memorabilia is the fact that there are so many different items out there to collect. Here are responses to some of your inquiries about a variety of miscellaneous collectibles:

Q: Is there such a thing as a book or yearbook that shows all the paint schemes used by all the drivers for a given year? -- Denise

A: No, not per se. But I think that would be an excellent idea for someone to do. UMI does an annual Preview and Press Guide that has the biographies and standard paint schemes of the top 35-40 drivers. But we all know that most drivers run several special paint jobs each year. So it would be a neat deal if someone would do a year-end book that had posed driver and car shots of each car and paint scheme. I know a lot of scale modelers would buy it for a reference book, and the fans in general would love it.

Q: I have a Dale Earhardt silver coin. The back has 7 Time Winston Cup Champion on the coin. I just wonder if the coin is worth anything. I also have a silver 1992 Sterling Marlin Daytona 500 Pole coin. I have a hard time finding any information on these coins. Can you help me? -- Ursula

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A: Coins and medallions are nice collectibles, but they never really caught on with collectors to a large degree. The Earnhardt coin probably has a value of $40-70. The Marlin pice would most likely appraise for $35-40 in terms of collectibility.

Q: I have a Morema Racing Collectables No. 1304 of 10,000 Davey Allison Clock, the clock face has Sam Bass artwork. I also have a 4' x 6' Coca-Cola Racing family store display standup from 2000 featuring Dale Earnhardt, Dale Jarrett, and Kyle Petty. It has a button for each driver that when pushed that driver tells a short story. Any Idea what these items might be worth? Thanks -- Brian

A: That's a great clock. I've seen this clock sell for $250-300 in the past. Unfortunately, I've also seen it sell for under $50 on eBay, which is a real shame. Personally, I think this Mac Tools clock still has a collectible value of $200-250. You have a nice standup also, though it is fairly common as standups go. I'd value it at $40-50.

Q: I have a Sam Bass Artist Proof of his "Rising Son" print. This is the print showing the No. 3 Goodwrench Chevrolet of Dale Earnhardt Sr. on track alongside (but slightly ahead of) the No. 3 A.C. Delco Chevrolet of Dale Earnhardt Jr. The print also has a Sam Bass Remarque drawn on the bottom of it. This Artist proof is autographed by Sam Bass, Dale Earnhardt, & Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Jr. signed it with his full name, not Dale Jr. like he signs now. How much is a print signed by these two great drivers and one great artist worth? -- Bob

A: Wow! You have all the bells and whistles on this print. Taking into consideration that its an Artist's Proof (all of which were sold out, by the way), that it has a remarque, and signatures from both Earnhardts and Bass, I think this artwork is easily worth $1000-1250.

Q: I have a Mark Martin plush teddy bear. It is wearing a blue sweater sporting the No. 6 with his name embroidered on it. Still has the tags on it.Would like to know if anything it's value? -- Tami Wood

A: There are so many styles of bears its hard to make an accurate appraisal without knowing the manufacturer and style, But suffice to say that the value is probably in the $10-25 range.

Q: I have an autographed piston from Jeff Gordon out of his car when he won the 2003 spring race at Martinsville. I have a authenticity certificate as well as enclosed in a plexi-glass case. I know this is a obscure collectable, what do you think the value? -- R. Docchio

A: Race-used memorabilia are among the most coveted and most valuable collectibles-particularly when they are verified by a credible certificate of authenticity. Since there is not much of a secondary market on items this unique, my opinion of its value is just that, an opinion. But with the COA and autograph, I'd place the value in the $150-200 range.

Q: I have a Bill Elliott Reese's Racing No.94 hat. I went to the Dover race and went to Bill's trailer to buy his die-cast car. The man at the trailer asked me where I got the hat. He told me only his crew had them. Can anyone tell me about the hat? My brother got it from Dick Trickle'ss gas man. -- Mike Grierson

A: This cap is certainly not as plentiful as some other hats, but I've seen quite a few around. So, I doubt seriously its distribution was limited to the crew. It was probably given out as a promotional by Reese's. The set-up costs for making a hat are fairly high, so it makes sense to do a lot of them if you're going to do them at all, Hats don't carry a high collectible value, but since this one is a little unique, I'd say it is worth $15-25.

Q: I have a County Time Lemonade can with Alan Kulwicki on it. Can you tell me what it is worth? It has never been opened. -- Mike

A: Country Time released some nice collectible canisters in the early 1990s. This is perhaps the most collectible of them all. The fact that it has never been opened is a huge plus. It should be worth $15-25, perhaps more to a die-hard Kulwicki collector.

Q: I have a Dale Earnhardt "The Magnificent 7" wall clock still in the box. Any idea what it is worth? -- KKag4

A: A great JEBCO piece here featuring the artwork of Sam Bass. There were 10,000 produced. Its current value is $100-135.

Q: What is the approximate value of all three boxes of Wheaties: orange , purple and blue with Dale Earnhardt on front, unopened. The blue box was autographed in Austin in 1996. -- E Nagy

A: All three are worth somewhere in the $40-50 range apiece. You can add another $75 or so to the value of the one that is autographed.