October 17, 2004
05:11 PM EDT (21:11 GMT)
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: I was given two printing plates from the Washington Post containing the article about Dale Earnhardt on the Monday following the 2001 Daytona 500. Would these plates be of any value as a collectable, or do you think they would just be a novelty? Thanks for any help you can provide.-Ed  |  | EMAIL | Got a collectible question? Email us!
Please remember to be specific when describing a collectible -- manufacturer, year, etc. Limit your questions to two and check our archives before submitting an inquiry.
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A: An appraisal on an item like this is purely a personal opinion, as there is basically no secondary market to use as a barometer. Personally, I'd place the current value at $40-50. This is the type of item that should appreciate over the years, but it would likely be 15-20 years or more before any noticeable gain in value is realized. Q: I have a tin box that has back-to-back Daytona 500 winners on it. It is 2" X 3" X 5". It has Richard Petty with the dates 1973 and 1974, Cale Yarborough with dates 1983 and 1984, and Sterling Marlin with dates 1994 and 1995 on the sides and a picture of all three on top lid. It has a Kodak emblem on two sides. Could you give me some history on this and a value please?-Frank A: If I'm not mistaken, this tin was used as special packaging for film back in 1995 or '96. It is probably worth $5 or less. It would be worth quite a bit more in mint condition with the film still inside. Q: I just got a Jeff Gordon fire suit and was wondering how much it is worth. I know it is an older suit. It is a Pepsi suit and has the GEM (Gordon Evernham Motorsports)patch, Fritos, Pepsi, and Winners Circle. It is in great condition. I got it from a friend who worked on the Pepsi account.--Matthew Carlotz A: I've seen Gordon Cup Series fire suits bring $6000-10,000 apiece back in the mid-to-late 1990s. However, the values have dropped off considerably in the last few years as more uniforms found their way into the market. What you have is Gordon's Pepsi Busch Series suit. Typically, Busch uniforms are worth quite a bit less than Cup firesuits. However, yours is pretty unique. Personally, if it can be authenticated as a race-used uniform, I'd place the collectible value of your fire suit at $2500-4000, perhaps more to a die-hard Gordon fan. Q: Did Derrike Cope drive the No. 10 Skittles car? A friend has a die-cast with Cope's name on it. What years did Skittles sponsor the car?-JLC A: Skittles sponsored Cope in the No. 36 (not No. 10) MB2 Motorsports Pontiac in 1997. Cope piloted the No. 10 (not sponsored by Skittles) car for Bob Whitcomb from 1989-92. Q: I have a 1973 Richard Petty racing puzzle. All the pieces are there, and the box is in good condition. I was just wondering if you could give me an estimate on how much it is worth. It shows Petty in front of his No. 43 STP car at Daytona. It was made by American Publishing of Waltham, MA. Thank you for any response.--Tessa A: A nice collectible here from an era when there weren't that many NASCAR collectibles out there. In good condition, it should be worth $25-35. Q: We have two Goodyear Eagle tires we received at New Hampshire Speedway in 2003 after a NASCAR practice. Is there a way to figure out who's they were? Do they have any value to them?--Dank24 A: It would be extremely difficult to ascertain who the tires were used by. Without any lineage behind them, they're likely worth $25-35 in terms of collectibility. Q: I have a 1992 Busch Clash Autographed Poster, signed by Chad Little, Bill Elliott, Geoff Bodine, Alan Kulwicki, Davey Allison, and Dale Jarrett. The poster has been tubed and in great condition. I was wondering if it has any value?--Linda D A: The poster itself is worth around $20. However, the autographs boost the value considerably, particularly the Kulwicki and Allison signatures. If you can verify them as genuine, the posters are likely worth $150-200. Q: I have a six-foot cut out of Bill Elliott in full uniform. How much is it worth?-Grey A: It would be helpful to know the year and sponsor, but most Elliott stand-ups are worth $25-50. Q: I have a 1988 Bill Elliot Winston Cup Championship Collectable tin with the original t-shirt, cup, hat, and bumper sticker. The can has never been opened and all the contents are there. How much is this worth? I also have a 1996 Kellogg's Racing Pack. It is three boxes featuring Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Terry Labonte, and Dale Jarrett. It is still in the wrapper and you must have all four to complete their pictures. How much is this worth?--Heavenly Chick420 A: The Elliott fan pack is probably worth around $25. The Kellogg's Racing Pack is rare a find in any condition, let alone still in the wrapper. It is valued at $25-35. Q: I have a 1997 solid pewter No. 3 Dale Earnhardt, The Intimidator, 7-Time Winston Cup Champion belt buckle. Could you please tell me if it is worth anything? If so, how much, and if it is a collectors buckle.-Lynn A: It would help to know the manufacturer, but based on what I'm seeing in the secondary market among several brands from that era, the Earnhardt buckle would bring $25-40 on today's market. | 
