Collectibles Q&A

NASCAR memoribilia collectors often have questions about the items they've accumulated. Here are our responses to some of your most recent inquiries:

Q: My daddy, Gayle Warren, and Curtis Turner had a high performance driving school at Charlotte Motor Speedway back in the 1960s. They were best friends and my daddy was killed in an airplane leaving Turner's house in Roanoke, VA in 1968. Turner was killed in another plane crash in 1970. I have my daddys application for passports to South America with photos and also have Turner's. What would something like this be worth? -- Keith

A: Keith, I actually knew your brothers, Junior and Randy, when we were growing up. If those passport applications are signed, which I feel sure they are, Curtis' passport application would be worth $300-400 in my opinion. Curtis Turner's signature is perhaps the most rare of all major NASCAR stars. Since Gayle was not as well known as Curtis, his would probably be worth $100-125. If for some reason the applications aren't signed, I think the values would be $150-200 for Curtis', and $50-75 for Gayle's. Give my regards to your brothers.

Q: I would like to know the value of a Dale Earnhardt Monopoly game. It is still in the original plastic, with the price tag on it. It was manufactured in 2000. -- Joe Elrod

A: USAOPOLY did a fantastic job with this game, especially the artwork on the packaging. Games like this are kind of slow to appreciate. So, right now, I'd place the value at only around $50. But in 10 years, I think the value will be many times that.

Q: After searching your archives, I am at a loss for the value of some of my cards, and I hope you can help me! I have tried to pick the best of the several that I have. I have a complete set of 1993 Finish Line cards, 1-180, including a memorial Alan Kulwicki card. They are in excellent condition, and have only seen the light of day a few times since I purchased them back then. I hope that you can help me with a value. Your archives have helped me with several others, and I thank you for that. -- Michele

A: A nice set here, but it doesn't hold a lot of monetary value. It's worth around $20.

Q: I have a 1:24 scale model Goodwrench 24 Kt Gold car with box, made by Action. It is 1 of 2500, approximately three years old, and sold by QVC. Have any idea what it's worth?-- PT Irish

A: As best I can tell from the description, this is the 2003 replica of Earnhardt's 1990 Chevrolet Lumina. If that is correct, it is likely worth $125-150 in excellent condition.

Q: I have a 3-D backlit replica car side of Dale Jr.'s Budweiser car No. 8 It is 36" long, 14" high, and 4" deep. It is still in the box only took it out to see if it lit up and it works great. I've looked about every where and can find any thing about it just wondering what it might be worth! -- Randy Lucas

A: If this is an item that was made for sale to the public, it's likely worth around $50. If it is a display piece that Budweiser used for advertising purposes in bars and restaurants, I'd say it is worth $50-100, more to the right Junior collector.

Q: I have a 1:64 scale Dale Earnhardt K-2 1956 Ford made by Action Performance Companies. It is in a plastic car protector that says it is a Limited collectible. I received it for Christmas last year and was wondering what this car is worth. -- Eearnhardtfan3

A: There were two versions of this car. One was solid pink, the other had an apricot roof. Both are worth $20-30.

Q: I have a Collectors Series 1 Dale Earnhardt die-cast and collector card with display stand made by Racing Champions. It is still in the package. The only date on the package is Racing Champions Inc 1989. Any help with the value would be appreciated -- Tim

A: There was a time, right after Earnhardt's death, when the 1989 Racing Champions "flat bottom" car was selling for over $250. However, once the market for Earnhardt collectibles stabilized, it leveled off to $100-150, where it is today.

Q: I have a shirt (white with blue sleeves) that has approximately 50 signatures with Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, Bill Elliott, Bobby Allison, Harry Gant, A.J. Foyt, Tim Richmond, Benny Parsons, Darrell Waltrip, Buddy Baker, Sterling Martin, Ricky Rudd, Terry Pearson, Kyle Petty, Tom Sneva, Buddy Arrington, Geoff Bodine, John Page, Glenn Jarrett, Stanley King, and more. I think this shirt is from Earnhardt's rookie year because Rudd signed No. 3 beside his signature. How much do you think this is worth? -- Catcoo304

A: Rudd drove Richard Childress' No. 3 in 1982-83, so the shirt would be from one of those years. You have quite a variety of drivers there: NASCAR champions, Indy 500 winners, Busch and Dash series drivers... The Earnhardt and Richmond signatures are the most valuable. Personally, if the autographs can be adequately authenticated, I'd place the value in the $300-500 range.

Q: I have a 12 oz unopened bottle of Sun Drop. It has a picture of Dale Earnhardt, his signature and "1979 Rookie of the Year" below his picture. It also has series No. 1 above his picture. Is this bottle worth anything? I bought this at Lowe's Motor Speedway back in 1990. -- Traci

A: This is one of our most-asked questions. The Earnhardt Sun Drop bottles are worth about $25 each unopened.

Q: Can you tell me which of the Dale Earnhardt cards is actually his absolute "rookie card"? Ebay has both the '88 and the '89 MAXX as being his true rookie card.- - Terry A.

A: Terry, technically, the correct answer is "Neither." The Intimidator's first appearance in a trading card was in the 1983 UNO set, a 30-card set that was produced by International Games to promote its UNO card game. However, I think most trading card aficionados consider the 1989 MAXX card as his Rookie card, since the 1988 issue wasn't available to the general public when first released.