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 some 1:64th scale die-cast and a 1:18th scale I need to drag out and get particulars on before I ask. One of the 1:64th is a Dale Earnhardt "flat bottom" Lumina, still in the package, which at one time was worth around $300 (or so I was told by a collector). My daughter gave $1.50 for it at WalMart years ago and gave to me for Xmas. -- Dave Evans

A: Thanks for your question Dave. The Collectibles Section has actually been a part of NASCAR.com since May, 1998. It's a little easier to find now thanks to the efforts of our editorial and production team. Your Earnhardt car is one of the all-time greats. I've seen several sell for over $300 in the past. Of course, the market has softened quite a bit in recent years. It is now a $100-150 car.

Q: I have a poster that has the photos of a lot of the great pioneers of NASCAR: Lee Petty, Tiny Lund, Bob Flock, Wendell Scott, Fireball Roberts, Speedy Thompson, Banjo Matthews, Cotten Owens, Louise Smith, etc. The pictures are the size of trading cards--in black and white--and there is a total of 44 pictures. It is a poster that was given away at the various tracks during the 1989 Say No to Drugs campaign. It is 23"x35". I framed it several years ago when I saw in a magazine that it was worth $250. What is the value of it today? -- Michael

A: Your poster features the cards from the 1989 Winner's Circle set. The value has dropped in recent years, but it should be worth around $75-100. If it isn't a poster, but rather an uncut sheet of cards, the value would still be around $200.

Q: My son was given all four 1998 Racing Champions NASCAR 50th Anniversary sets (12 1:64 die cast stock cars and collector cards in each set). They are unopened in the boxes, and I was told they were collectibles. Well of course he wants to open them up and play with them, and I don't see any problem with that, but my wife thinks they might be worth something. Any idea of the value, if any, of these sets? Thanks for the help. -- Whitemex

A: It is getting harder and harder to find those two sets intact. The value of each is $15-20.

Q: I have a NASCAR "Reflections In Gold" No. 55 Kenny Wallace car. It has a small plate that has the number 3751 on the left side of the plate it is mounted on. It is in MINT condition. The car was brand new in the box until a few months ago I cleaned my storage and told my husband to keep it in his shop. He opened it up and threw the box away. I remember the box had something about gold on it. It was given to my husband from a family member for Christmas a while back. He didn't pay it much attention since he is an Earnhart fan. The car sits on a 10x5 plate. Can you tell me what it might be worth. I have just started putting stuff on eBay and need to know. Thank you in advance for your help. -- LMSH04

A: This car has a collectible value of $18-25. With the influx of product on eBay, it is doubtful it will sell for that much at auction.

Q: I was wondering the value of the 1:24 scale No. 2 Coke car driven by Dale Earnhardt Sr. It's a '76-'80 Pontiac Ventura. -- David

A: A fairly common car. It is worth $30-50.

Q: I have a 50th anniversary NASCAR picture matted and framed. There are 50 pictures of the drivers, their cars, the year they won, Goodyear logo, 10 signatures all in one frame (40"w 20"h 3/4 thick). It is in absolute mint condition. Names in 1948 with Bill France and end with Jeff Gordon (50 pictures all together in one frame). Signatures left to right: Richard Petty, David Pearson, Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough, Dale Earnhardt, Lee Petty, Junior Johnson, Dale Jarrett, Herb Thomas. It also says 465/500. Can you give me an approximate value? -- Paul Schwertner

A: A very unique collectible. Much of the value lies in the autographs. I'd place the collectible value at $200-350.

Q: I have a No. 94 Don Schullock autographed baseball cap. He was a dirt track racer in the 70's. Got the autograph at the race. Wondering if it's worth anything? -- Ron Garnett

A: Apparel doesn't rank very high in value among racing collectibles unless it is tied to a superstar or bears some coveted autographs. Unfortunately, the value of your cap is almost completely sentimental. But sometimes that is worth more than money. I know I wish I'd saved some memorabilia or souvenirs connected to my old dirt track hero, Stick Elliott.

Q: I have two autographs from when I was a child. My grandfather used to take my brother and me to the races. After which I wanted to be the "SECOND" female driver ever. Shirley Muldowny was the only woman I knew of that raced. Anyway I have Richard Petty and Mario Andretti's autographs on the back of my tickets from the races. The race track has been torn down and is now just a memory but I would like to know if these autographs would be worth anything due to the fact that the track is gone and the signatures are on the back of my old tickets. By the way the racetrack was Cloverleaf Speedway in Cleveland Ohio. -- Renee G.

A: Two great autographs. Mario's is worth about $50-60. Petty's is worth a little less--$35-40-mainly because he has signed a gazillion autographs over the years, making them the most plentiful in all of motorsports.

Q: I have a very old cap. It is very funny looking. It is made from a white nylon screen looking material with a half inch red pom pom on the top. It has a patch on the front that says Talladega U.S.A. Winston 500. No year but I am pretty sure it is from before 80's. Some told me it is from the first Winston 500 race. I would appreciate any info. -- LM

A: I think this hat is from the mid-1970s. I usually don't think of apparel as being all that collectible, but this could be an exception because of its age and the reference to Winston. I'd put the value at around $20. I will likely appreciate over the years.

Q: I have two blister pack collectibles from 1997 - one is a Racing Champions Ernie Irvan's Winston Open No 28 with white front and black back including the collector card. The second is a Winner's Circle Dale Sr No. 3 with Goodwrench sponsor, including collector card. Both are unopened. I have an idea they would be worth around $15 US each. Is that close? -- Debi from British Columbia, Canada

A. Actually, the 1:64 scale Irvan car is only worth around $5, unless it comes with a medallion, in which case the value double. The good news is that the Earnhardt car is worth $20-30.