Keeping special paint schemes special

Remember the days when special color schemes were really, well...special? You know, back when collectors couldn't wait to see what unique paint job would grace Dale Earnhardt's No. 3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet in NASCAR's annual All Star event. Or what innovative look would adorn Jeff Gordon's DuPont car at Daytona, Talladega or Charlotte.

Most collectors agree that the special paint scheme concept has been grossly overworked. But with all the marketing advantages it provides, you can bet it's a trend that is here to stay. Nevertheless, with all the special promotions and now the advent of the multiple sponsorship platforms, there are more special paint jobs than regular liveries.

"From a collectibles standpoint, it's way out of hand," says veteran die-cast collector and former dealer Tommy West. "In the case of most drivers, the special paint scheme die-casts aren't worth any more than the standard paint job cars. About the only ones that really seem to have a strong value are the ones that feature the big sellers like Dale Jr., Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Mark Martin and maybe one or two others -- but especially Dale Jr. and Gordon."

	SUPERSTORE •   Browse special paint schemes •   Chip Foose Hot Hues No. 24 Monte Carlo, 1:18 scale •   Chip Foose Hot Hues No. 24 Monte Carlo, 1:24 scale

Indeed, Gordon has impacted the 2006 die-cast derby early on with the release of the Chip Foose/Hot Hues Heat Waves and Flames car, a replica of the machine Gordon drove a few weeks ago at California Speedway. The No. 24 Monte Carlo's color scheme was masterminded by the legendary car designer Chip Foose.

"I try to be original and innovative in all of my designs, and, with this race car, I wanted to create a truly unique representation of speed and power," said Foose, a multiple award-winning car designer whose custom creations are made for private individuals, television, film and automobile manufacturers. "The heat waves and flames are reminiscent of the heat that radiates off of race motors and asphalt."

Foose employed a combination of DuPont Hot Hues paints -- primarily Blackened and Starry Night -- to create the base striped color scheme that served as the foundation of the Heat Waves and Flames design. The car also incorporated five other Hot Hues colors as accents: Snow Storm, Atomic Tangerine, Lemon Glow, Dragon Fire and Sassy Orchid.

Gordon, known for piloting one of the sharpest rides on the circuit, said the Foose-designed car provided a unique showcase for longtime sponsor DuPont.

"Cars obviously play a big part in my life," Gordon explained. "This project unites some of my favorite interests: custom cars, cool paint schemes and racing."

The Chip Foose/Hot Hues car was replicated by Motosports Authentics in a variety of scales and styles. Response has been overwhelming, with most dealers pre-selling out of the car before it ever saw the light of day. However, the NASCAR.COM SuperStore currently has this immaculate car in stock.

Our online souvenir and collectibles mall also has a generous selection of other special Gordon schemes that will run later this year. The four-time NASCAR Nextel Cup Series will continue a tradition by running a special Pepsi paint job at Talladega in April and Daytona in July. He'll also run a Nicorette color scheme in two races this season. Motorsports Authentics replicas of the Talladega Pepsi and Nicorette racers are on sale now.

If that isn't enough, a new fantasy "concept" die-cast is also available from the SuperStore. The Jeff Gordon Foundation Mighty Mouse car is the latest in a series of annual collectibles created to benefit the charitable organization spearheaded by Gordon.