to sign or not to sign

[bcenu]

As a new member to the forums and collecting, I have to ask this question before my wife divorces me. She doesn't understand the new love in my life and the rather large expense it has cost me (us) so far.
After having a connection with last year's bathurst winner I decided I was going to buy the 1:18 model as soon as it was released. In the meantime though, I thought why not collect Bathurst winning cars in general, especially as Johnson, Brock and Moffat were childhood heros.
Seven Bathurst cars later and a couple of thousand lighter in the hip pocket I need to recoup some cash with extra cars I have bought, before my better half ups and leaves. (perish the thought :) )
I imagine other collectors do this and hope I don't upset anyone by airing this view on the forums. My question is do models sell better when signed by the driver/s or in the original condition.

bc

[terrine]

most of the models you mention moff/brock/dj come with signed COAs. i believe and the market would probably agree that value wise any model kept in tact in its original packing will return better $$$ long term than a displayed or altered, in this case autographed example. comes down to the purchaser getting exactly what was produced at factory.....MINT condition.
thats not to say that a particular collector would not pay you more for a signed example but that market may be much smaller and less reliable.
some models come autographed, i have an exoto shelby cobra that was released with carroll shelby's siggy accross the roof and even some collectors may think that detracts from the model but thats the way it came.

it is debateable, but original is best IMO, at least with potatoe chips

r/peter

[wayno]

Welcome to the forum. We covered this subject a little while ago but my opinion for what it's worth (and that's not much according to most) is to leave the car as is. I personally don't like signatures on models as that is not how the car actually competed.

[KiwiRallyFan]

I agree. Keep the model as original as possible, and don't get the car signed. If the COA doesn't have a signature (for example the Murphy/Kelly Bathurst Winner), then I believe getting that signed is worthwhile and could add a little to the models perceived value. I actually got Murph to sign my 2003 Bathurst Winner COA when he was in Wellington a couple of weeks ago, and I'd like to add the Kelly signature when I'm at Bathurst later this year. I would never get them to sign the car however as, in my eyes, this is a form of unsightly "grafitti".

:)

[BB]

I agree with not getting my own cars signed by drivers but as a money making excersise I have noticed poeple do pay more for signed models. What I have done in the past is to get the bases signed. That way you get the signature and the car stays clean. Not that I am selling any of mine anyway.

[GSXR1]

I'm with them:)

Personally I don't have a problem with signed COAs, in fact it probably enhances the model, but I definitely don't like the model itself being signed. To me it devalues it rather than increases it's value.

My 2 cents worth

[rpz00m]

I agree with the others ..... don't get the cars signed.
I picked up Brock/Mezara VR and Brack/Baird VX Bathurst Comodores with 2 autographed Crystal Display Cases on Ebay.
The drivers signatures are on the inside of each case and look good with the car in them on display.
I plan to get all my cases autographed in the same way.

[teambrock50]

Personally i get some of my cars sign. I dont intend on selling them so i dont care what people think. I used to take them to the race meeting but now i only get them signed if they are doing personal apperances or are at the konica meetins. Late car i got signed was the 1:18 Team Dynamik of Simon Wills.

[Kenseth17]

For personal collecting, if you want the actual car signed, then that is up to you.For re sale value definately don't get them signed as you are cutting your market down greatly, as most people (and general market price's shows) think it devalues the product.

[Y2kGoofball]

every one seems to have the same thoughts, I'm included

I am making an effort to ensure my COA's are autographed, but never the car itself.

I buy the cars to display, I dont look at the resale value down the track because I do buy mine to be displayed in a cabinet and looked at, and for my model collecting friends, even to be touched on the odd ocasion.

I only make an effort to have the COA autographed because I dont have room for anymore autographed posters, I may get the occasional enlarged photo personally signed, but the reason I stick with COA's is because their easy to pack into my backpack and to have with me at all times should I bump into the driver - which has worked in the past when I passed Skaifey heading off to the VB challenge and he kindly stopped to autograph a photo I had just brought.

This way i'm getting something worthwhile autographed. If it adds value to the car then good, but like I said I'm not looking at resale value, I'm looking at displaying them.

As for 1:43 and 1:64 I have had the occasional plastic case signed, and their displayed in their case.

Thats what I do and it seems most other fans do it too (so I'm glad I'm not the only one)

[timbo333]

At the local Superstars & Legends shop they have a framed car of Brock's Torana of Brock Patterson i think. Its signed on the roof and they are asking around $800...............dream on!!

Sure the framing looks superb but i'd rather spend $150 odd and get a drivers car (whoever) and have a PERSONALLY signed COA. I am not a fan of the drivers siggy over the duco of the model at all.

Timbo.