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Our Two Cents: 7 of Our Favorite Pieces of Automobilia
As gearheads, we’re used to the unafflicted masses raising an eyebrow when we explain that we have more cars than drivers in our households, and that some don’t, erm, work right now. When we talk “collecting” in this sort of hobby, we’re generally referring to the vehicles themselves.
But the world of automobilia—the trinkets, the baubles, the brochures, the badges, the scale models, the list goes on—has a pull unto its own. We’d bet that if you looked around your computer, living room, or garage as you read this, your eyes could land on at least one car-related thing that is not a car itself. Lord knows our staff certainly can.
As such, we polled the folks you read day in and day out on this website to ask them to share their favorite piece of automobilia. Some are quirky, some are sentimental, some are just flat out cool, and there’s not much else to it. Without further delay: The non-car car things that turn the corners of our mouths skyward.
Desk Decor and a Brush with Greatness
I don’t know that I have a single favorite piece of automobilia, but I’ll count what’s behind my desk as one grouping, since it’s what my coworkers are forced to look at for every Zoom call.
The rainbow of Porsches comes from the first season of the International Race of Champions. Seems that more often than not, when people see that they think I’m a Porschephile, but my affinity lies more in the original intent of the series and Mark Donohue’s involvement.
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The big photo is one I shot of an Alpine A110 through some trees at the Pittsburgh Grand Prix. I’m no Cameron Neveu with a lens, but it’s a fun hobby.
The cars: the Daytona Prototype that Tony Stewart nearly limped to victory after a suspension piece broke with 45 minutes to go in the 2004 24 Hours of Daytona. That drive made me fall in love with the 24, and I’ve been attending for more than 15 years. The other is a C5 Corvette given to me by our own Sajeev Mehta.
Last is the Senna art/photo. That’s ten-year-old me standing with him the day before the Canadian Grand Prix in 1990—plenty of moments set me on this path I’m on, but if I had to pick the most significant, this would be it. — Eddy Eckart
New Loophole Unlocked: One (1) Collection of Things
Like Eddy, I can’t point to one piece of automobilia that’s my favorite or even come close. Also, I’m not sure if books even count as automobilia, but I’ve built up a solid library of car books over the years and built some bookshelves to house them.
Something that does count as automobilia are posters, and I’ve got dozens, many of them not yet framed because framing is so damn expensive. I collect vintage posters in general, but car stuff probably makes up 50% of my purchases. Here are a bunch in my entryway.
(I should note that I just buy the stuff and enjoy it. My fiancée is the one who used to be an interior designer, which is why the presentation looks nice.) — Andrew Newton
Cadillac’s Masterpiece, Posterized
Apparently I don’t actually have much automobilia; I own a lot of car parts. While maybe a car part with a good enough story becomes automobilia, what I have is not that.
But one thing I do have that will likely never leave is a banner I saved from a dumpster over a decade ago that shows a simplified engineering draft of a Cadillac V-16 engine. Simple black and white, but also interesting enough that I catch myself staring at it occasionally when I get lost in thought while trying to do math or solve a small problem on a project.
A perfect conversation piece that also rides up and down on the garage door. Maybe I’ll own more of a V-16 than a drawing one day, but for now, this will do just fine. — Kyle Smith
The Automobilia Ace Himself
I am having a hard time with this question, because I have been collecting automobilia for the ’70s–’90s era vehicles since many of them were new. But I have a feeling I should pick my ridiculous collection of “alternate history” memorabilia from the time Lincoln almost celebrated its 75th Anniversary in 1995.
It started with a hunt for restoration parts for my 1995 Lincoln Mark VIII, as it was getting a glass-out body re-spray. When looking for new emblems, I came across emblems, slide shows, clothing, and a book suggesting 1995 was the year to celebrate.
It wasn’t, because Ford celebrated that in 1996. But since they actually did sell their first cars in 1920, I was emboldened enough to turn my 1995 model into an alternate history Anniversary Edition, with emblems on my speaker grilles to prove the point. — Sajeev Mehta
Truly, Sajeev’s collection could supply a year’s worth of lists like this on its own. And we love him all the more because of that. — Ed.
Jewelry—But Not Like You’d Expect
I don’t really collect or own any automobilia, but Lalique hood ornaments have always stood out to me. In general, the variety of hood ornaments and personalized radiator caps of the 1920s and ’30s is fascinating, but tops among them are the glass creations of Frenchman René Lalique. He was a jeweler and maker of perfume bottles who also created about 30 different hood ornament styles for luxury cars over a two-decade period before WWII.
Mostly done in clear frosted or satin glass, and sometimes lightly colored in pink or blue, they represented themes such as speed (“Vitesse”), victory (“Victoire,” to commemorate the 10th anniversary of WWI Armistice), and seduction (“Chrysis”), but also came as more straightforward pieces, such as Tete de Paon, the head of a peacock, and Tete de Aigle, the head of an eagle. — Stefan Lombard
Apparel from a Bygone Era
One day in college, I went to study with one of my friends over at the house where she lived with several other girls, and one of them was wearing this Team Penske/Marlboro Racing sweatshirt. When I complimented it, she offered it to me—apparently, it had lost its luster.
In my ownership, it’s gained some holes in the cuffs, but it always makes me wish I had been alive for the period of IndyCar racing when cigarette sponsorships raised no eyebrows, in the early ’90s, when Team Penske dominated the Indy 500. It’s surreal to think that Roger Penske is still at it—now, with his eye on Le Mans. — Grace Jarvis
The Golf and Car Collab We Didn’t Know We Needed
History is littered with weird Venn diagrams where the worlds of golf and cars overlap in ways ranging from logical (hello, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance) to dismaying (Ben Hogan’s illustrious career was nearly brought to a terrible end in a car crash in 1949) to rather humorous. This one falls into that third category, but deserves a bit of context.
Behold: a badge from a Lincoln Town Car. Ah, but it’s not just any Lincoln Town Car; this is the special Jack Nicklaus Edition, paying a nod to, well, Jack Nicklaus, one of the greatest golfers in history, with 18 major championships to his name and scores of PGA Tour wins on top of that. The Nicklaus Edition Town Car was short-lived, arriving in 1991 and lasting through the conclusion of the 1992 model year.
Folks in the golfing space affectionately called him “The Golden Bear,” a nickname given to him by Australian sportswriter Don Ward—or so the most commonly cited tale for this title says. On top of his golfing success, Nicklaus fancied himself a bit of a businessman, happily leveraging his notoriety (and the now-famous golden bear logo) in the golfing space to help sell everything from apparel to wine to cars.
As a golfing fanatic myself, this little tie-in between my work world and one of the other, terribly expensive hobbies I’ve become hooked on never fails to make me crack a smile. (A special thanks to Sajeev, who generously sent me this badge after I mentioned the car’s existence in passing in a meeting. Is anyone surprised that he had a piece of Lincoln automobilia like this just lying around? What a treasure.) — Nate Petroelje
I avoid collecting anything that can’t actually be used on a car since I tend to accumulate too much of the stuff that at least in theory can. I do have one of those old porcelain ‘contains lead’ fuel pump signs though
I may not reach the level of Sajeev’s collections, but much like he and others, I’ve too much – and too many pieces that are special to me – to pick just one favorite. I’ve a jacket covered with patches from events and teams (including one I got for a class win at a local dragstrip in 1966. I’ve posters galore, plus autographed hats by the likes of Penske, Sullivan, Andretti, Prudhomme, and Garlits. Pins and decals, programs and ticket stubs. Pennants and banners I stole from tracks, even a green starter’s flag lifted from PIR in the early ’90s. My membership packet from the Goodyear Motorsports Club back in the ’70s (issued and signed by Leo Mehl himself). But I suppose the one that I’d most defiantly fight to retain would be the medallion I got at the 1967 Indy 500. I was visiting a favorite aunt in Indiana, and she surprised me with tickets. We decided to root for A.J. Foyt, and he rewarded us with his second win. I bought the medallion at a stand as a memento, and it’s stayed in places of honor with me for going on 58 years.
I have a feeling your collection is just as impressive as mine, good sir.
Sir, I grew up in Indianapolis, IN, graduated in ’78. Dad & older bro Uncle Bruce did sprints and dirt cars (Sheldon and Steve Kinser ate KFC with me at 6-7yoa before I knew who they really were- how many of your Dad’s friends did you know at 6?) and my Mom’s youngest sib Uncle Ricky poisoned me with the GTO bug, as well as participating in the *ahem* unsanctioned street racing of the day. I have boatloads and storage units with that auto memorabilia important to me. But I never thought I’d see a Jack Nicklaus Lincoln badge after seeing the one on my step dad’s besties ’91 Lincobarge. I thought it was embarrassing then, but I’m more mellow now and see the vibe. Elderly white golf gentlemen, at the country club, life bolted in place by money and through social position. I’m glad I missed that, being a veteran with lotsa outside interests helps, I spose.
I have collected many things over the years. Having an automotive passion and also having a father who worked for Goodyear and my self for a Racing firm I have had the opportunity to gather some cool things.
I still have my first matchbox car I was given at six month old.
Some of my other things is a collection of some Billboards of the Corvette (one is up in the garage. 24’x12′. One of a Fiero that is only one of two known.
I do have the Carbon Fiber hood off Greg Picketts Trans Am Jaguar after it caught fire at Mid Ohio. I cut off the burnt side and hung it on the wall in the shop.
I also have something that is really special. I got a piston from Don Garlits. at the time he was still racing and this was just after the Gator Nartionals. I was given the one with the highest speed and he said it was a good run. Later he retired from Top Fuel at Columbus i saw a story on him and it stated the fastest time he ever ran. It looked familiar and it was the same speed that my piston had on it. So it is one of the pistons from his fastest run ever.
One other thing I like is a photo of me as a kid sitting in the Spirit of America Sonic One. I was looking at the car and a worker setting up the display put me in the car and said I needed a better look.
Much of what I have means little to the average person but to a car person I think they might be interested.
Not automotive but I do also have a Space Shuttle tire. It is not used but makes for a good conversation piece.
I don’t know what that hood looked like, but it seems like it might have been cooler to leave the burnt part intact and then have a story to tell every time someone asked about it.
Too burnt to save. I did keep the black soot out the vent on the hood. I also cut Greg’s name off the roof with the letters flame damaged.
Neither Dub6 nor hyperv6 mentioned a magnetic dashboard hula girl. How come?
Mine won’t fit under the ’66 Poncho slanted windshield, and my more modern rigs have plastic dashes. So she sits atop the metal paper towel dispenser salvaged from the Men’s Room before my wife’s restaurant was torn down, waiting for something with a more upright windscreen to allow her to stand upright. I’m thinking the ’31 Model A project car out in the shop right now – which doesn’t even HAVE a dash yet, but when I build one, it’ll likely be fashioned to give her her rightful place of honor! 😉
I met Don Garlits in the early 1970’s. He was in the pits changing plugs. He talked to the people watching as he worked and handed me one of the plugs to have after he had looked at it. He’s a really nice guy.
I have a promotional Sears Die Hard battery. A genuine battery housing in which none of the innerds were ever installed. It weighs about a pound. Sears Automotive shops used to have a display of these things.
Here I am wanting to lighten the load and lose the title of King Pack Rat, and there YOU are glorifying the very stuff I have in major excess. Oh, the humanities!
Thanks do much!! Wonderful article, just way too short! Automobilia is such an endless topic (from Lalique to Penske..) and the stories around collecting and the reasons why, the memories are just so nice & feelgood. Don’t hesitate to extend this topic please! Very happy to read that Sajeev Mehta is not just into taycans and lucids! Quite the contrary is what this actually oozes, the Nicklaus badge and the C5 showing taste and attention and generosity, the Lincoln badge an almost English taste for the quirky, wonderful!!.
Grace Jarvis: that sweater.. wow!! The bright 80s colour, the logo, the story!
And would Andrew Newton’s fiancée have a sister of some 38-42 years of age?
I have one of those sweatshirts as well. Got it from a contest I won first (but not Grand) prize in. Got sent to a Skip Barber school and some swag came with it. Started a short and murderously expensive dalliance with racing. Got out before I went full John Paul.
Coolest remark of the day: going fully John Paul! Brilliant. Only those in the know..
My appreciations run far and wide.
Your response to the four door two cents had me on the wrong foot.. kind of.. still my limited brain capacity cannot fathom how a man with such taste of automobilia can pen down the words lucid and taycan in even a remotely positive context! They’re not even automobiles.. Well, hope to read more about your splendid taste for automobilia in a future article!
Go drive one, that’s all I can say!
An important thing to note. Not all of the Jack Nicolas edition Lincoln Town Cars were Green and White. My Mom had one that was two town Burgundy and had gray leather interior.
When I was a teenager a buddy managed to “acquire” a Mack truck hood ornament. No easy feat as I learned & very cool piece.
I’ve got one possibly valuable piece, a banquet menu from the 1973 Argentine GP autographed by Emerson Fittipaldi, plus a bunch of car catalogs. A standout for me is the 1989 Landrover accessory catalog, featuring a cat guard, to keep the felines away from the radiator fan. I also have a random collection of wrenches
I’m surprised the Jack Nicklaus tie in was a Lincoln, Buick is the brand I most closely associate with golf.
I’m officially jealous. Emmo is my all-time favorite driver, and although I tried several times, I never got his autograph!
The rarest thing I have is a Ferrari F1 mechanic’s coveralls (with Marlboro patches) that I probably picked up at one of the Long Beach races in the ’70s. Genuine Ferrari oil stains, too, haha. Also have a mounted collection of NOS Ferrari badges from the ’60s. Ironically, I’m more of a Porsche fan…with a collection of a ridiculous range of Road Runner stuff…
My favorite memorabilia is my collection of a copy of every title issued to my 1968 Pontiac Firebird convertible. They are not on display, but I do have them!
I’m with Andrew – books. All over the place. Having built one set of bookcases in my old house, I settled for buying lots of the folding models and screwing them together to look like built-ins in this house.
I do have one other piece of auto memorabilia – sort of – if you will agree that a Tiger II is actually a 65 ton automobile. I have four prisms from the periscopes of one of these monsters. After the war, the Germans started engraving patterns on them and selling them to GIs like my father.
FYI, I owned a green 1997 Jack Nichlaus Lincoln Town Car. It was totaled by a hit and run driver on I-95 in South Florida on August 10, 2023. It was fully loaded and also carried a Presidential badge. The only thing that remains of that car are memories and one of the badges just like the one you pictured that was displayed on the front fenders. The Golden Bear logo was also depicted on the dashboard in gold letters.
In any case the Golden Bear Edition either ran through to 1997 or it was reintroduced after the model years you mentioned.
Maybe car-adjacent? My small collection is Gulf Oil memorabilia, as I worked for the (OG) Gulf before its absorption into Chevron in 1985. It consists of mostly small items – patches, branded maps, office trinkets, etc., but the headline item is one side from a service station sign that measures roughly three ft. in diameter. I got it from a guy that was jonesing to get to a casino, and took my offer without hesitation.
When I finally left Chevron in 2008, I was gifted a 4” drill bit to go along with the rest.
Becauth origthinal gangsther. Smh.
While nowhere near the size and scope of one friend’s memorabilia collection what I have combines vehicles and aviation. As with the cars, my airplanes were also collectable, primarily 50’s Piper Tri-Pacers and one ’67 Cherokee. I particularly like my fly/drive posters.