Hooniverse Asks: What's a Good Non-Car Automotive Collectible Category?

Magazines
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

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  1. 0A5599 Avatar
    0A5599

    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.

  2. smalleyxb122 Avatar
    smalleyxb122

    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.

    1. Tanshanomi Avatar

      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.

      1. GTXcellent Avatar
        GTXcellent

        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.

        1. Tanshanomi Avatar

          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

          1. 0A5599 Avatar
            0A5599

            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.

        2. Rover 1 Avatar
          Rover 1

          With parents like that, it’s a wonder that you’ve turned out alright.

    2. Alff Avatar
      Alff

      Plus, the least desirable make excellent heat shields for things like sweating copper.

    3. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      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.

  3. GTXcellent Avatar
    GTXcellent

    Tools – not only cool, and historical, but useful too
    http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg59/cesinc123/box_6.jpg

      1. CruisinTime Avatar
        CruisinTime

        Because we need politics at the Hooniverse? NO WE DO NOT !!!!!!!!!

        1. Alff Avatar
          Alff

          Agreed. We should build a wall … and make the politicians pay for it.

        2. Maymar Avatar
          Maymar

          Eh, Drumpf has been a tool far longer than he’s been a politician.

        3. Sjalabais Avatar
          Sjalabais

          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.

          1. cap'n fast Avatar
            cap’n fast

            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.

          2. CruisinTime Avatar
            CruisinTime

            Ooh,sarcasm.

          3. Sjalabais Avatar
            Sjalabais

            Seriously, I will adjust.

  4. kogashiwa Avatar
    kogashiwa

    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.

  5. Alff Avatar
    Alff

    Oil stains in the garage and driveway. I believe I have our town’s most impressive collection.

    1. Kiefmo Avatar
      Kiefmo

      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.

      1. Alff Avatar
        Alff

        This is why you should change your oil over that weedy patch in the yard.

      2. smalleyxb122 Avatar
        smalleyxb122

        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.

        1. Kiefmo Avatar
          Kiefmo

          Well, it came out of the ground originally — you’re just recycling!

          1. cap'n fast Avatar
            cap’n fast

            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.

  6. engineerd Avatar
    engineerd

    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.

    1. Tanshanomi Avatar

      My name is Tanshanomi and I approve this message.

      1. Alff Avatar
        Alff

        I would include Pinewood Derby cars here, particularly if you’ve had a scout in the house. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6983e0d11bf147121995aa0fdb5d8521c95f0212ec781031592381f189d04905.jpg

    2. Inliner Avatar
      Inliner

      Shameless plug for liveandletdiecast.kinja.com .
      (I’d upload a picture, but all of mine are too big)

      1. Amoore Avatar
        Amoore

        Hey, a fellow LaLDer here on the Hooniverse! 😉

        1. Inliner Avatar
          Inliner

          I split my time between Hooniverse, LaLD, Curbside Classic, and the Hemmings Blog, but only really comment/contribute to the first two.

  7. smalleyxb122 Avatar
    smalleyxb122

    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?

    1. kogashiwa Avatar
      kogashiwa

      And if you get the right ones, you don’t even need to paint or wallpaper.

      1. dead_elvis, inc. Avatar
        dead_elvis, inc.

        Interstate speed limit signs are a lot bigger seeming once they’re the ground, or so I’ve been told.

        1. Ross Ballot Avatar
          Ross Ballot

          ^I concur.
          (Heard from a friend)

    2. Vairship Avatar
      Vairship

      Ahem!

  8. Rust-MyEnemy Avatar

    I’ve heard there are losers out there who collect car brochures.
    They all have really patient wives.

    1. Maymar Avatar
      Maymar

      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.

    2. Tanshanomi Avatar

      The LUCKY ones have wives.

    3. Rover 1 Avatar
      Rover 1

      Does she have a sister?

  9. Siemion Avatar
    Siemion

    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

    1. kogashiwa Avatar
      kogashiwa

      Repair manuals would be an interesting option. The more obscure the better of course.

  10. smokyburnout Avatar
    smokyburnout

    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

    1. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      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

  11. Toby Mushrush Avatar
    Toby Mushrush

    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”

    1. Top-dead-centre Avatar
      Top-dead-centre

      and it’s turbo-whipped!

    2. Vairship Avatar
      Vairship

      Must have been used on the 1961 Chevy
      or Hillman Minx.

  12. marmer Avatar
    marmer

    This and this.