Prices of Vintage Sportscards V. Classic Cars: What’s More Impressive?

The classic car marketplace is undoubtedly an absolute marvel. Every year the Speed Channel covers the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction in Arizona where the most unbelievably rare cars in the world are all in one place. I sit in front of the TV in awe of the prices that people pay for these cars that sell for hundredes of thousands of dollars and in some cases, millions of dollars.

As I was watching the auction, I came to realize that the value of vintage sportscards is far more impressive than that of classic cars. In September of 2007 a little piece of cardboard sold for $2.8 million. That was of course the T206 Honus Wagner PSA NM-MT 8 card that the hockey legend Wayne Gretzky once owned. In other words, this piece of cardboard could buy you about three numbers-matching, all-original 1969 ZL1 Camaros (if 3 even exist). One of these beauties sold for $880,000 at the Barrett-Jackson auction. The examples don’t even need to be this extreme. Sportscards that sell for say $75,000 could get you a beautiful classic car as well. Way less of these cars were produced in comparison to the production of sportscards, yet sportscards rival the value of rare classic cars. In addition, these cars can be restored, you cannot restore a sportscard.

So tell me what do you think is more impressive?

Happy Collecting

Joe (joe@joeknowscards.com)