Driver Signatures/Autographs.

[BILLFORD1]

I have over a period of time, noticed many, (usually "For Sale"), models that have the actual model signed on the roof or bonnet. Just a personal type of thing I guess but I have always considered that to be a crap idea..To have a Certificate, Seperate photo to go with the model, accompanying poster, Box, Base, etc signed would be fine but to have a dirty great signature on the model just seems to me to be a dull idea if the 1/1 car did not have it. Having a MODEL personally signed by a driver has never made me want to rush out & buy it !! What do others think ???

[TBVX05]

I rather buy a model car with Brocks signature than without it, but I wouldnt pay extra for one if its signed on the roof! If anything it devalues the car for me...

[Aaron]

Same. I don't know about devaluing it, but a signature does not enhance the appearance of a model for me. I'll just have em on the COA thanks.

[Oh Five]

I get all of my COA's signed, i also have a couple of cars signed on their bonnets, but they are for my own "never to be sold" collection.
I dont take to this "they didnt race with their autographs on the car" stuff, in my opinion i would love to have a golf club with Tigers autograph on it or a bat with Bradmans in my shrine.
Having said that, i wouldnt pay more for a, Eg 28c , just because it was autographed.
To each his own:)

[Y2kGoofball]

yeah it comes down to preference, but I dont have the cars signed, I have the COA signed, or in the case of some 1:43 scale the boxes (and 1:64 scale).

Ive only got 2 cars signed. 1 1:43 scale, signed by Bright on the roof of the car and on the perspex box (and COA).

The other one is a 1:18 scale Kmart Murphy car, signed on the bonnet, but thats only because it was being sold under RRP anyway and the signatire sits well on the white bonnet above "Kmart" (how many have you seen signed and the sig looks out of place?)

For me I get the COA done, that way I can match a signature to the car without touching the cars appearance!

[Malik]

No signatures on cars for me...

COA is fine and I've had a couple done.. but not the cars...

[HSV GOD]

the certificate definately the car NO WAY

I feel that it ruin's the car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it lose's the "life like look" when someone has autographed it

And i can't imagine that the ink would be good for the paint work either

[diecastdude]

Write on models no thanks

[mick xu1]

I will not buy a model with names or anything else written on it, I think it takes away the look of it, but the thing is people out there are paying big dollars for them....each to there own but not for me

[Dragferret]

I collect motor racing cards rather than models. I trade with serious collectors around the world. Signatures are a no no. They are seen as a blemish on the card and are to be avoided. It always amuses me on Ebay when I see the prices asked for signed cards. Drivers are surprised too when I tell them I just want their card but don't want them to sign it. I've got postcards from when Alan Moffat was racing his XY. I'm really glad they're not signed.

Having said that if a car is to be signed is there a 'sweet spot'? That is where should it be signed?

[Andrew]

If there was a sweet spot for signing the models themselves, it would have to be the bonnet. The roof often has aerials that could be broken off/impede the signing of the car.

That said, I am not a fan of signed models. COA's, boxes, pamphlets, brochures etc are fine.

Dragferret - you said you collect motor sport cards. Where do you get them, and which disciplines have been produced? (Or should I put this in the Topic Changing thread...?) Is it mainly Nascar now, or much broader?

[KiwiRallyFan]

I'm really looking forward to the COA holder that Admin announced a couple of weeks ago. I think this will mean that signed COA's will now become more collectable, and these may become a mini-collection inside a collection!

[Dingo]

Originally posted by KiwiRallyFan
I'm really looking forward to the COA holder that Admin announced a couple of weeks ago. I think this will mean that signed COA's will now become more collectable, and these may become a mini-collection inside a collection!
Let's hope they hold a lot of COA's, because many of us will need at least two... :D

[the_goldie]

I don't think the signature adds value to the cars - but each to their own. I have 5 cars signed on the bonnet -- 1/43 scale and wish I had not done it now... Just glad that I didn't continue doing this. The 1/18s look terrible IMO especially if the car has more than 1 autograph.

I always try to get the COAs signed, but no big deal if they are not signed -- just a bonus.

As for the Biante holder due out, it will be interesting to see how it is designed and if you can get extra sheets -- the price will determine if I get one, because I have a mine in a photo album already, using the photo corners to hold the COAs in place.

[Dragferret]

Andrew
I mainly collect drag racing cards. But I also have Australian touring cars and speedway. I have a lot of Nascar as I've toured the race shops in Mooresville, a few times, but I have little interest in it. For Australian touring cars, as that is the focus of this forum, I've found that driver signings and race car displays about the best place to get them. At the track I've found the teams only have posters to give away. I've also written to teams to get cards as well. I once traded some Dinkum's for a stack of old Moffat postards. Around Charlotte are some major card collections containing Australian cards I've never even seen over here. I'm counting on them to get me Ambrose cards when he's racing over there. If he makes it expect some interest in his cards from the V8s. You only have to look at Beckett's to see how big card collecting is in Nascar. Beckett's is where I got the question about the sweet spot.

[Andrew]

Originally posted by Dragferret
Andrew
I mainly collect drag racing cards. But I also have Australian touring cars and speedway. I have a lot of Nascar as I've toured the race shops in Mooresville, a few times, but I have little interest in it. For Australian touring cars, as that is the focus of this forum, I've found that driver signings and race car displays about the best place to get them. At the track I've found the teams only have posters to give away. I've also written to teams to get cards as well. I once traded some Dinkum's for a stack of old Moffat postards. Around Charlotte are some major card collections containing Australian cards I've never even seen over here. I'm counting on them to get me Ambrose cards when he's racing over there. If he makes it expect some interest in his cards from the V8s. You only have to look at Beckett's to see how big card collecting is in Nascar. Beckett's is where I got the question about the sweet spot.

Thanks for that. I have never seen Australian motor-racing cards before, so wondered what eras had been produced.

You are right about teams now giving out posters. I sometimes feel that a collection of autograph cards might be another way to advertise a team's profile...

[hobby]

Hi again to all,

For those collectors and contributers that dislike the signing by a legend on the actual model dont read any further as i am about to list a few models that I have had signed on the model and certificate.

Alan Moffat 65e
Peter Brock 28c
Peter Brock black bathurst VX
Peter Brock last bathurst 2004 1/18 scale and 1/64 scales
Peter Brock / Mark Skaiffe VS
Peter Brock VS 1/43 1005-1
Craig Lowndes VT 99
Craig Lowndes VT 00
Craig Lowndes first AU Falcon
Craig Lowndes / Mc Conville VT
Mark Skaiffe / Morris VT
Larry Perkins 99 VT
Larry Perkins 02 VX
Larry Perkins / Steven Richards 03 VY in both 1/18 and 1/43
Russell Ingall VT
John Goss XY, on which he wrote a small story '' Winner Sandown 250 73 signed in Perth sept 2000''
there are others, and there will be more when I am fortunate enough to catch up with these legends of motorsport.

[Malik]

Originally posted by hobby
Hi again to all,

For those collectors and contributers that dislike the signing by a legend on the actual model dont read any further as i am about to list a few models that I have had signed on the model and certificate.

Alan Moffat 65e
Peter Brock 28c
Peter Brock black bathurst VX
Peter Brock last bathurst 2004 1/18 scale and 1/64 scales
Peter Brock / Mark Skaiffe VS
Peter Brock VS 1/43 1005-1
Craig Lowndes VT 99
Craig Lowndes VT 00
Craig Lowndes first AU Falcon
Craig Lowndes / Mc Conville VT
Mark Skaiffe / Morris VT
Larry Perkins 99 VT
Larry Perkins 02 VX
Larry Perkins / Steven Richards 03 VY in both 1/18 and 1/43
Russell Ingall VT
John Goss XY, on which he wrote a small story '' Winner Sandown 250 73 signed in Perth sept 2000''
there are others, and there will be more when I am fortunate enough to catch up with these legends of motorsport.

some peeps not gonna be happy about sigs on some of them models me thinks.. hehe

[Hey Charger]

Originally posted by Dragferret
I collect motor racing cards rather than models. I trade with serious collectors around the world. Signatures are a no no. They are seen as a blemish on the card and are to be avoided. It always amuses me on Ebay when I see the prices asked for signed cards. Drivers are surprised too when I tell them I just want their card but don't want them to sign it. I've got postcards from when Alan Moffat was racing his XY. I'm really glad they're not signed.

Having said that if a car is to be signed is there a 'sweet spot'? That is where should it be signed?

It really comes down to individual preferences.....there seems to be a demand for it......ie im sure if it was 125 or 225 Rock anniversary cars released with DJ's signature they would have flown irrespective of how some put it "great big signature" or "it didn’t race that way"...i know there is the limited factor involved here with the example but hard core collectors look past the issue and see the signature itself as a bonus or something that set the item apart from the rest…

....for me its irrespective if it adds value or not......if it does bonus, but I do love knowing that I did get it personally signed by the man himself and on the item its way better than having it on some box thats stored away when the model is displayed...on a side note as a general rule of thumb the value of an item signed is lower or next to zero when its personally addressed to the individual...ie "To John all the best P Brock"..where as the generic signature does pull in greater value.....

.....but this is all dependent on the collectable....ie on cards its a bit more complicated as there are several issues 1) ink usually destroys the card due to seeping 2) there are already limited edition signed cards as part of the collection that makes anything outside less desirable because its not controlled and also 3) is the issue of it being a genuine signature ie Basketball cards with Jordans signature have been forged to the max then sold at inflated prices 4) people have been burnt hence the reluctance but in our field its pretty much genuine signatures 5) With certain individuals die hard collectors make exception to the rules...