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: I have a Mark Martin 2006 Press Pass Authentics Race-Used Tire "Burning Rubber" card BRT13 serial numbered 364/370. My question is, after checking a price guide, all I could find was the listing for the "Burning Rubber Drivers". Those Martin cards are numbered "BRD13". I could not find a listing for my Martin "BRT13." Can you clear this up for me and tell me the value please? -- Bill Allman

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A: There are two versions of the Burning Rubber Series. One features drivers; the other features their cars. "BRT" is the prefix given to "car" cards. Car cards are worth a little less than driver cards. Your Mark Martin car card is likely worth $30-40 if it's in mint condition.

Q: What would be the value of a Press Pass '06 Dale Earnhardt jr. Trading Paint race-used sheet metal card No. 043/145? It is card No. TPT4 -- Jeffery Bennett

A: Like the Burning Rubber series, there are driver and car versions of Trading Paint. You have the car version. The value of a mint card should be in the $60-80 range.

Q: I was wondering if you could tell me the value of a 1995 Classic Cards Inc. Jeff Gordon card No. 68 with metallic signature on the front?? It also has the word Assets on the front of the card. -- Chris Southerland

A: The gold facsimile signature cards were a parallel to the Asset base set. Your card is worth $8-10.

Q: I have a gas can, race used by the No. 5 Terry Labonte team. It is from the 2004 season and has the Unocal stickers on it. It still has the fueling sticker from the gas pump that shows Terry as the driver and shows the race as the Brickyard 400. There are a couple of stickers underneath this one so it was obviously used in other races. It's truly my favorite piece in my collection and I have begun using it for autographs. So far I have it signed by Carl Edwards and Elliott Sadler (with pictures to back it up). I haven't seen very many available and was wondering what kind of value it has possibly beyond what I paid for it.

I also have a 1:24 Dale Jarrett Hauler from Scaleworks from about 1997 or 1998 (Quality Care graphics). It is also autographed, with a picture to document. It's a great piece that drew quite a few questions when I took it out of the box to be autographed. What kind of value do they have and where can I get more? -- Jon Kisch

A: Two great pieces, Jon. And I applaud you for taking photos to document the autographs. More collectors should do that. I haven't seen many gas cans on the secondary market. But personally, with Labonte as the driver and the Brickyard designation, I'd place the collectible value of the can alone at around $150, plus the values of whatever autographs you can pick up. As for the transporter, Scaleworks built some beautiful NASCAR pieces in the late 1990s. This one is probably worth $100-150. The best source for more would likely be eBay.

Q: I have a Winners Circle Micro Machines Thunder Blasters Pack featuring Dale Sr and Dale Jr, made by Hasbro, and a Winners Circle Micro Machines Dueling Drivers Collection featuring Dale Sr and Steve Park. I also have a Dale Sr driver card of him in front of the No. 2 Osterlund Racing car at Daytona that is autographed in ink pen. -- Jessica Wheeler

A: The Thunder Blaster set is likely worth $15-20, while the Dueling Drivers set should weigh in at $10-15. The postcard is a great collectible. If it is the 1980 Oldsmobile card--which is the only Osterlund card identifiably photographed at Daytona-it is worth $150-250 autographed.

Q: I have a 1:24 scale Jeremy Mayfield 125th Anniversary Kentucky Derby car. What is it's value? -- Tanya King

A: Released by Action in 1999, this is a $50 piece.

Q: I have part of a set of 1993 Action Packed cards that includes eight Dale Earnhardt cards. On the front his has his name in black with gold border on the bottom and in the right bottom corner has the numbers 120-127. The front of the cards are raised. The back of 124-127 is done in Braille. I have cards No. 85 - No. 186. I would appreciate any info you could give me on this set of cards with estimated value. -- Joe Schock

A: The Braille cards are worth about $2 each. Most other Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon cards go for $3-5. Mark Martin, Rusty Wallace and Davey Allison are about $3 apiece. Dale Jarrett's card is worth around $2. The rest are commons worth under a buck apiece.

Q: Can you tell me the value of a 1999 No. 3 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Superman 1:24 scale (1 of 15000) Action car? -- Andrew

A: It's a $75-100 car.

Q: I have a 2004 Born On Date Dale Jr. 1:24 scale Action Elite. I have No. 8 of 4008. It was on the cover of RCCA before it was released to the public for purchase. I was wondering if you could give me an approximate value on such a collectible as I have. It would be greatly appreciated if you could ease my nerves, as for I have lost so many of my die-cast due to hurricane Katrina. Was able to salvage some that were not damaged and this is my pride and joy. -- John McDonald

A: Wow! Know what, John? This is a "name-you-price" piece. To have a car bearing any driver's car number as the serial number is special. But when it's the sport's biggest superstar, that's about as good as it gets for a collector. Most of the Born On Date Elite cars top out at $150-200. But yours is way too special to fall in the category of "most." Honestly, I wouldn't hazard to put an exact value on that car. But I'd be willing to bet that there are collectors out there who would pay well over $1000 for that car.

Q: I have a Snap-On Racing "Dale Earnhardt- 7-Time Winston Cup Champion", knife set produced by Frost Cutlery. The commemorative consists of the FC-105SS and the FC-152SS knives. There is also an issue number stamped onto the knives; my number is 01661. I was wondering what the value of this set would be. -- A. Cooper

A: Frost and Snap-On have each made some great contributions to the NASCAR memorabilia scene. Your set is a nice one, probably worth around $125-140.