Some of us collect cars. In my case it’s a tiny collection of small, reasonably cheap cars, none of which would ever be asked to come and visit the Peterson. Still, it’s my collection and I have the receipts to show for it.
Collecting cars, no matter what end of the economic spectrum you call home, is an expensive hobby. That doesn’t mean however that those of lesser means are left out in the cold. There is plenty of other automotive related stuff that you can collect, a lot of it not very expensive, and all of it destined to piss off a significant other who will simply consider it “your car junk.”
Let’s help out our friends in need, those who are looking to amass memorabilia but who perhaps haven’t found just the right niche. What do you think is a good non-car automotive collectible category right now?
Image: eBay
Hooniverse Asks: What's a Good Non-Car Automotive Collectible Category?
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Oil cans.
I went to an estate sale a few years ago. The deceased had a couple of dozen old oil cans, unused. The people running the sale used magic markers to write the prices, in big numbers, on the face of the cans. -
License plates. If you live in a state that doesn’t require their surrender, you can start with your own. Beyond that, there are vendors at any swapmeet selling used license plates. Ebay, too.
Personally, I have no intent to expand my collection beyond those from my own cars. This makes my collection far from collectible, but of more significance to me.-
My wife and I have about 30 years worth of them, bikes and cars, from at least six (maybe 7) different states, all lined up inside an I-beam that runs across our basement. The only two we purchased were Alaska and Hawaii plates we found at a flea market. Because, hey — Alaska and Hawaii.
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I told this tale last summer, but I’ll say it again. My Mother sold out from under me my Hawaii license plate that was given to me when I was 7 years old, by a family friend who lived there. I still haven’t forgotten, and haven’t completely forgiven.
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My mom and dad sold my Whiz-Skid snow bike at a garage sale, without even telling me. To this day, we don’t bring it up. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/80c986fdd5017031057ceac08411c8bbd3f7566016a3349ebf4f50bcddf2a764.jpg
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My dad gave my Green Streak Centurian to my cousin. He gave me his SL100 when he started riding the CL77 he moved up to, but I would have preferred the Kawasaki.
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With parents like that, it’s a wonder that you’ve turned out alright.
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Plus, the least desirable make excellent heat shields for things like sweating copper.
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I haven’t ever thrown away one of my plates either. The coolest one I have is from my father. He had it on his Triumph Spitfire when he was stationed in Germany with the US Army. It say “USA” instead of a state.
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Tools – not only cool, and historical, but useful too
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg59/cesinc123/box_6.jpg-
But some tools just take up too much space.
http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/55918b77ecad04a3465a0a63/nbc-fires-donald-trump-after-he-calls-mexicans-rapists-and-drug-runners.jpg-
Because we need politics at the Hooniverse? NO WE DO NOT !!!!!!!!!
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Agreed. We should build a wall … and make the politicians pay for it.
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Eh, Drumpf has been a tool far longer than he’s been a politician.
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That was meant as a fairly innocent giggle, but I will take your capital letters and exclamation marks into careful consideration the next time my political nerves tingle.
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well, I can go with that. unsolicited political commentary causes my dog to puke and have you ever cleaned dog puke out of a plush rug? a stench none may abide by. any politician worth listening to has had to clean up dog puke at least once in their lifetime.
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Ooh,sarcasm.
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Seriously, I will adjust.
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Car movies would be something good for more than just hanging up in a display. Lots to choose from as well. Start with Ronin, of course.
Oil stains in the garage and driveway. I believe I have our town’s most impressive collection.
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You should see the mother of a stain I introduced to my driveway when I changed the oil on the Merc this past weekend. I neglected to open the vent tube on the drain pan, and the inevitable happened. Probably a gallon of 4000-mile thinned, black-as-coal oil ran downhill. It took a whole 25lb bag of kitty litter, that one.
Also, there’s a spot at work where I consistently park that the Merc has begun to seriously mark as his territory.-
This is why you should change your oil over that weedy patch in the yard.
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The last oil change that I did, I forgot the oil pan under the car. I spotted it as I was backing up. I didn’t want the pan to sit in the middle of my driveway for the entire day, so I placed the drain pan in the bed of my truck. Then I promptly forgot about it.
Oil floats, so as rainwater displaced the oil in the pan, the oil would overflow, into the bed and out onto the pavement. It was relatively gradual, and by the time I noticed, the entire pan was full of just water. That’s an entire oil change worth of oil that found its way onto the ground.-
Well, it came out of the ground originally — you’re just recycling!
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er;; we may be drinking that soon.
I am sort of having a fun time collecting rare metals, like brass and lead. also magazines. lots of magazines.
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Models of cars…regardless of scale or quality. I have a small collection of Hot Wheels / Matchbox cars along with a few 1:18 models. If you have the means, you can buy the nice Minichams models of your favorite F1 cars. If you like to DIY you can buy a Revell or AMT kit and build it yourself. No matter what, you can own in scale form vehicles you can never own in 1:1.
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My name is Tanshanomi and I approve this message.
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I would include Pinewood Derby cars here, particularly if you’ve had a scout in the house. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6983e0d11bf147121995aa0fdb5d8521c95f0212ec781031592381f189d04905.jpg
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Shameless plug for liveandletdiecast.kinja.com .
(I’d upload a picture, but all of mine are too big)-
Hey, a fellow LaLDer here on the Hooniverse! 😉
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I split my time between Hooniverse, LaLD, Curbside Classic, and the Hemmings Blog, but only really comment/contribute to the first two.
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Street signs.
smalleyxb122 does not endorse or condone the theft of city, state, or federal property. Decommissioned street signs can often be purchased legally from your DoT. You could also buy new street signs, but what would be the point in that?
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And if you get the right ones, you don’t even need to paint or wallpaper.
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Interstate speed limit signs are a lot bigger seeming once they’re the ground, or so I’ve been told.
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^I concur.
(Heard from a friend)
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Ahem!
I’ve heard there are losers out there who collect car brochures.
They all have really patient wives.
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Yours too? Mine is mostly happy if the brochures and old car magazines and car models stay in a closet where she doesn’t have to see them.
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The LUCKY ones have wives.
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Does she have a sister?
Car models obviously, brochures, repair manuals and other books (maps & tourist guides, garage/gas stations ads, accesories catalogues), some trim parts (badges, hubcaps), old stereos, T-shirts. Maybe front & rear seats as a piece of furniture?
Here are some pics of my “collection” (sorry for poor quality and dust… I mean patina). Needless to say I’m a Skoda & FSO nut…
http://s32.postimg.org/b2jdtz2sl/HPIM0708.jpg
http://s32.postimg.org/8rgqc22n9/HPIM0977.jpg
http://s32.postimg.org/qk2ajxjvp/HPIM0978.jpg
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Repair manuals would be an interesting option. The more obscure the better of course.
Badges! Free from most junkyards with purchase of a toolbox/backpack (that you get before you go and bring in with you) and enough parts to avoid suspicion.
Alternatively you can try to buy them in bulk from international auction sites.
I don’t actually maintain a very large collection of them, mostly I get them for Hoonimas stocking stuffers
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This one was gifted to me free of legal issues, is now adoring my home office:
http://s26.postimg.org/bklj40oa1/IMG_20160512_153447.jpg
I am an auto detailer and I’m building a decent collection of old car wax cans. This one is “for today’s gay colors”
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…and it’s turbo-whipped!
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Must have been used on the 1961 Chevy
or Hillman Minx.
This and this.
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