auto racing cards

[Bored5000]

Originally Posted by Arazi4442

Did anyone notice the 1968 Mira Tutturosport of Andretti that ended in PWCC last night? Seems to predate the panini sticker from 69 that had long been accepted as his RC. Is this a new find?

I thought about getting into the bidding but it got pretty high, particularly with a corner of the card burned off or something. Was sitting at $500-$600 most of the auction but spiked to over $4k by the end.

I did not even realize Mario had a card in that set, but you are right that probably should be Andretti's rookie card. I don't think many people realize Andretti is even in that set. I always see lots of Lew Alcindor, Joe DiMaggio and Wilt Chamberlain cards from the Mira set, but a lot of the players from other sports seem pretty scarce.

[Arazi4442]

Originally Posted by Bored5000

I did not even realize Mario had a card in that set, but you are right that probably should be Andretti's rookie card. I don't think many people realize Andretti is even in that set. I always see lots of Lew Alcindor, Joe DiMaggio and Wilt Chamberlain cards from the Mira set, but a lot of the players from other sports seem pretty scarce.

If the set numbering is accurate to the actual number of cards, who knows who else is in that set? I know Rod Laver (tennis) is another really scarce example from the 1968 Mira.

[Bored5000]

Originally Posted by Arazi4442

If the set numbering is accurate to the actual number of cards, who knows who else is in that set? I know Rod Laver (tennis) is another really scarce example from the 1968 Mira.

Maybe the popular athletes were printed in large quantities, but you would think an Italian set would have more Marios than what there seems to be. There also seems to be lots of Rocky Marcianos still around, and he had been retired for over a decade by 1968.

[Exhibitman]

FWIW, Andretti has a 1968 NASCAR PC and Indy 500 PCs that are earlier.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Bored5000

There also seems to be lots of Rocky Marcianos still around, and he had been retired for over a decade by 1968.

There are more Italian Marciano cards than there are cards from most other countries. I'm actually kind of surprised that the US has his two actual rookie cards.





Though Italy got right in there the next year (1952 Cicogna):



Some others:

1958 SADA Firenze



1960 Master Vending (personal fave):

[Exhibitman]

Maserati postcards, Alberto Ponno artist:







I really wanted a Maserati Quattroporte about 15 years ago. I went to the LA Auto Show and sat in one at the Maserati display and did not fit. Not engineered for 6'4". So I got the cards, which are just as good as the real thing. Yeah...

[Kzoo]

Guys...........I attended the SEMA show this week in Vegas with my son. He had a great time seeing the high end sports cars, watching the drift cars and trying the racing simulators.

I noticed Mario and Richard Petty were scheduled to attend the show at different booths to sign autographs. I've got Mario in person probably 20 times in my life at different tracks, but never on cards so I was pretty excited about this opportunity to get these signed. He was great as usual and is such a kind, soft spoken person that is always smiling and great with the fans.

I got Richard once when I was young at a Nascar race on a ticket and figured this was one of my only chances left to get him in person on his '72 STP card. Unfortunately, he cancelled due to illness the day before he was scheduled to attend. I was bummed, but I've been thinking about sending it to his museum, as Adam and many others have had success. Would you risk sending this card through the mail? On SCN, his success rate is 97%. I'd appreciate your thoughts on this. Seems a bit risky for this card, but I feel like the window is closing as he's heading into his later 80's. Thanks...........Matt

[Bored5000]

Nice Mario cards, Matt. Too bad Petty had to cancel.

No way would I send a 1972 STP card to the Museum to be signed. The card will almost certainly come back, but there is always that freak chance of something terrible happening. That is a $1,000+ card in just about any condition these days. That would be too big a risk for me to take. But that is just my personal opinion.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Bored5000

I did not even realize Mario had a card in that set, but you are right that probably should be Andretti's rookie card. I don't think many people realize Andretti is even in that set. I always see lots of Lew Alcindor, Joe DiMaggio and Wilt Chamberlain cards from the Mira set, but a lot of the players from other sports seem pretty scarce.

I have never seen or heard of an Andretti what the hell. Some are indeed scarce, like Laver, Arnold Palmer, Ali, Peggy Fleming.

[Exhibitman]

There are also a lot of reprints floating around. Some Italian seller was flogging reprints a few years ago and they were scary good online. I decided not to buy any cards from the set except on the cheap or in slabs.