Collectibles Q&A

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

Q: Has the 1998 NASCAR 50th Anniversary edition Barbie gone up in price?-Linda

A: Anything connected with Barbie is collectible. This doll is no exception. NASCAR Barbie didn't gain value as quickly as most people predicted. However, the potential for long term appreciation if definitely there. Right now, NASCAR Barbie is probably holding steady at about $35-40.

Q: I have an official NASCAR Alan Kulwicki baseball cap in Hooters colors with the No. 7 and "1992 Champion" sewn on the front. Is this of any value?-David Joyce

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.

A: Technically, hats and T-shirts fall into the "wearables" category rather than collectibles. There is not much of a secondary market for apparel. However, everything is collectible to somebody. And if there was ever going to be an exception, it would be Kulwicki memorabilia. I would value your cap at $25.

Q: I recently received a mirror with an image of the No. 27 MGD Pontiac driven by Rusty Wallace. I'm looking for info as what year(s) he drove this black, gold and red car. Did he drive this car in '89 when he won the championship?-Dale

A: Rusty drove this particular car in 1990-his last season with Raymond Beadle's Blue Max Racing Team. The following year, he hooked up with current car owner Roger Penske and the car number changed to No. 2. The car Rusty drove to the championship in 1989 was No. 27, but the sponsor was Kodiak.

Q: I have a Quaker State racing baseball cap signed by Jeff Gordon. I also have a cardboard stand-ups of Jeff Gordon, Terry Labonte, Dale Jarrett, and Steve Kinser. They are all Quaker State except the Dale Jarrett which is Ford Racing. What are the values on these items?-Ken

A: The signed ball cap should probably be worth $30-50. The stand-ups are fairly common, except maybe the Kinser. I would put their value at $35-50.

Q: I have a No. 15 Bobby Allison Ford Thunderbird Grenadier Spirits straight bourbon ceramic decanter-still with bourbon in it. It is late 1970s or early 80s. What is the value of it?-Bobby

A: This is an excellent collectible! I can't stress how important the fact that you left the bourbon in the decanter is. The collectible value is likely $125-150. If you had emptied the decanted, it would have more than cut the value in half.

Q: What is the worth of a Coca-Cola Bobby Labonte collectors series cardboard cut-out?-Lester B. Gray

A: There was a time when stand-ups brought big money because they were so hard to come by. However, as more and more corporate entities saw the value of stand-ups for advertising purposes, they produced more of them. Today, most stand-ups-with the exception of a few Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Jeff Gordon editions-can be purchased for under $50. This one is probably worth $25-35 at best.

Q: I have a Matt Kenseth JEBCO clock from 2002. What is it's value?-Mike

A: This JEBCO clock is worth $80-90.

Q: I have a souvenir program from the 1950 race at the old Charlotte Speedway. What is it worth?-Joe Long

A: I bought one of these on eBay for under $25. Personally, I think an item like this should be worth at least $50-60, maybe more.

Q: How much is a program from the first Brickyard 400-autographed by race winner Jeff Gordon-worth?--Kim

A: The autograph is going to add a lot to the value in the long term. The program is probably worth about $15-20 right now. The autograph adds another $30-50. But again, look for this program to gain considerable value over the next 10 years or so.

Q: I have a Dale Earnhardt business card from about 1978. It says Hargett-Earnhardt Racing and has a picture of a No. 8 Chevy Nova on the back. What is it's value?-Mal Greene

A: A super collectible here. This is from the days when Earnhardt and veteran car builder/crew chief Gary Hargett (who would later field cars for Little E) teamed to run a gorgeous Chevy Nova in NASCAR Late Model Sportsman competition. This is a rare piece. Fifteen years ago, I saw them being sold for $50 each. That price probably wouldn't even get you a peek at one today. Honestly, this is a name your price article. I spoke with Hargett several months ago and he told me he had talked with a guy who paid $1800 for one of these cards on the internet-and it was a fake! The card the fellow had purchased had a blank back. The originals had "Hargett and Earnhardt Racing Team" printed on the back, along with the address of Earnhardt's old shop behind his mother's house and the phone numbers of both Earnhardt and Hargett. Honestly, this is a name your price article. Arbitrarily, I'd place the collectible value at $500-700, depending on how bad a collector wanted one. I'm sure some folks will think that appraisal is ridiculously high, but I'm just as confident that there's a collector out there somewhere who'd pay two or three times that amount. Incidently, Hargett himself only has one of the cards left.