Autographed Die-Cast Cars Still Popular
Driver autographed die-cast collectible cars are still a fan favorite when it comes to NASCAR memorabilia.
Cars signed by retired Cup winners, such as legends Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough are always highly sought after, as are cars signed by newer Cup winners, including Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart.
Autographed diecasts of a driver's current car are easier to find, which makes signed versions of older cars and limited run cars even more collectible. Cars that are no longer in production are a popular choice, such as a Pontiac or an Oldsmobile. If the car was signed by a name driver, such as a Yarborough Oldsmobile, it's sure to have a lot of collectors chasing it in eBay auctions.
Also highly collectible are signed cars with sponsors that are no longer featured in NASCAR. For instance, Winston Cup cars are more in demand in the current market than Nextel Cup cars, and any car with tobacco sponsorship is also collectible, especially if the driver is a big name.
The highest demand signed die-cast cars are those that feature the signatures of drivers who have passed away. While Dale Earnhardt memorabilia is by far the most popular of all NASCAR drivers, cars signed by Davey Allison, who also died at the height of his career, are valuable as well.
Earnhardt cars are a great example of all the features that add value to a NASCAR collectible diecast coming together at once. An autographed diecast from Earnhardt's days racing for Sundrop soft drinks or Wrangler denim, which were both Winston series cars, are among the most valuable on the market today. Earnhardt signed diecasts can fetch well over $500 each.
As for the cars themselves, the bigger the better. The larger 1:64 diecasts, which are more expensive to begin with, retain their value better than the small versions, such as the popular Hot Wheel size.
The bottom line is, if you are a racing fan or are looking for a gift for someone who is, you can't go wrong with autographed die-casts of your favorite driver. Today's souvenir will likely be tomorrow's collectible, and could be worth many times more than what you initially pay for it.
