Motorsports Authentics in Houston, Texas announced today that a new die cast collectible car has been unveiled, picturing the faces of Dale Earnhardt, Sr. and The Duke, John Wayne.
Since John Wayne was one of Dale Sr.'s favorite heroes, the pairing seemed natural. Both characters have been classified as “intimidators” in their own right.
This collectible is the second in a series that combines the memory of the beloved Dale Sr. with other icons. The first of die cast collectibles paired Earnhardt with the “Man in Black,” Johnny Cash.
Motorsports Authentics is touting the die cast as a way for the legacies of both of these heroes to live on in the world of collectibles. They even invited Dale and Duke descendents Taylor Earnhardt and Marisa Wayne Ditteaux to be together at the unveiling event to honor their loved ones through this unique die cast model.
So, will fans really go for this new collectible? Motorsports Authentics is banking on just that. The company is counting on the fans’ loving memories of both Wayne and Earnhardt to move this new brand of merchandise.
But are fans really that gullible? Will they fork over hundreds of their hard earned dollars for a car with a paint scheme that will never be seen on a race track?
Motorsports Authentics admitted that collectibles of these types are sometimes a stretch for the fans. In fact, the first car in this series, featuring Earnhardt Sr. and Johnny Cash, increased only slightly in value from its original sale price.
So, is the “Dale and The Duke” die cast a bogus or a most brilliant marketing concept? Will it entice either or both fan camps? The fans will have the final say, as they vote with their hearts and their wallets.
12 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
Christopher Leone 10 months ago
I really think these marketing-type cars are disgusting. Stop ripping off the fans and give them realistic cars.
How about a Dale Earnhardt car with the new GM Goodwrench logos? Maybe take one of his old cars (e.g. the 1998 Daytona 500 winner), update all the companies' logos from that car, slap it on a COT with Sprint Cup contingencies and sell that to the fans? Maybe a Darrell Waltrip Mountain Dew car with the same concept? A Richard Petty car with the same paint scheme Marcos Ambrose is now running? I'd rather buy those than this "dead celebrities" crap.
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L.J. Burgess 10 months ago
They already did a COT with the '98 Daytona paint job. It sells moderately priced on the secondary market
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L.J. Burgess 10 months ago
They already did a DW Mountain Dew scheme with Parts America on the quarter panels back in '95.
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L.J. Burgess 10 months ago
They did a Kasey Kahne '03/Richard Petty '75 car/paint job swap back in '04 I think.
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Christopher Leone 10 months ago
Yeah, I saw the '98 Daytona COT. But I was thinking, most of the companies featured on that car have undergone logo changes. That's more or less what I meant. Seeing a 2009 Dale Earnhardt car with 2009 Goodwrench and 2009 Burger King and 2009 Food City logos, as opposed to the 1998 car placed exactly on the COT (save that stupid E logo that's getting really bothersome).
I meant the same thing for the DW Mountain Dew car and the Petty STP car. For some reason I think Ambrose's current scheme would go great on a #43 Dodge, and I'd like to see Mountain Dew do away with the retro scheme and design DW a good-looking new ride with the modern brand logos, instead of the same ones from the 1980s.
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L.J. Burgess 10 months ago
Ohhh, I got ya. As a collector that's a bit of overload for me and I get enough DW on FOX, lol.
I've been customizing my own for a couple of years now so...I could do those for you!
I still think they're just shamelessly capitalizing on the man's death.
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L.J. Burgess 10 months ago
Gawd Teresa...let the man rest.
This will go on forever.
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Mary Jo Buchanan 10 months ago
L.J. I agree - there is a piece of me that feels like this has gone from memorializing a great driver to just plain cheesy capitalizing on his death......don't like that at all.
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S M Napier 10 months ago
All I know is my Bobby Labonte Die-cast collection doesn't have any value to it and if I sold it today by piece. I would lose money on it, not that I ever would sell it. But I can tell you if Bobby didn't race it, I wouldn't buy it.
Think it's time Teresa to let him rest in peace.
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L.J. Burgess 10 months ago
The market is at the lowest I've ever seen it in 10 years.
There are very few pieces that still command top dollar. Even Jr.'s cars are dropping.
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L.J. Burgess 10 months ago
You know...now that I think about it...the #3, specifically Earnhardt's #3 belongs to Richard Childress personally, as in 'financially' not part of RCR.
Richard and Teresa should let the man rest.
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Jim Crooks 10 months ago
I too get a little bit weary about all the special paint scheme cars that no one ever actually drove. As an Earnhardt fan, I will always think that Dale was a great driver, but a lot of these special theme paint schemes on die-casts seems to cheapen his legacy and reputation, especially for those fans who are recent newcomers to the sport, and may never have actually seen the man drive.
Very well written and well reasoned article though! Kudos for that!
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