Indianapolis 500 Memorabilia Sells for Big Bucks at NateDSanders.com
To auction, buy or sell Indianapolis 500 memorabilia, please contact NateDSanders.com at (310) 440-2982 or [email protected].
Indianapolis 500 Memorabilia
One-of-a-kind Indianapolis 500 memorabilia is hard to acquire and here at NateDSanders.com Auction House, we have sold a few key Indianapolis 500 memorabilia items. Here they are, with description, picture and price realized:
Wilbur Shaw’s ”Champion 100 Mile an Hour Club” jacket. Bomber jacket was awarded to Shaw in 1935, as one of the very first 12 Indianapolis 500 drivers to finish the entire 500 miles without relief at a remarkable average speed in excess of 100 miles per hour. The club was founded in 1935 by Champion ad executive, M.C. deWitt as the ”Champion Spark Plugs 100 mph Club”. Fully-lined brown leather jacket features a yellow Club applique on the front and a patch sewn within, embroidered with Shaw’s name. Its label identifies the leather as genuine pony skin and its brand as Knopf Sportswear. Wear and fading, with some scattered fraying to lining and knit cuffs, else near fine. From the Wilbur Shaw estate. Very rare Indianapolis 500 memorabilia. Sold for $15,625.
Indy 500 Champion Al Unser Jr. Race Worn Suit — Worn in 1992, the Year He Won the Indianapolis 500
Al Unser Jr. worn racing suit from 1992, during the season in which he won the Indianapolis 500. Unser Jr. won his first Indy 500 that year, racing for the Galles team. Red, white and blue suit measures 19.5” across the chest and 30” down the inseam. Light wear; very good. Great Indianapolis 500 memorabilia. Sold for $6,250.
Very Early Indianapolis Motor Speedway Ticket Stub — From the Pre-500 Races
Ticket stub from the first days of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway auto races, circa 1909-1916. Blue ticket with black print bears an early rendition of the now iconic ”Wing and Wheel” logo. Louis Schwitzer, Louis Chevrolet, Ray Harroun and Billy Borque were among the winners of the very first events. The stone track proved accident prone, so it was resurfaced with brick, giving the speedway ”The Brickyard” nickname. This $1.00 ticket, numbered 105, admitted the bearer to the grounds by way of the main gate. Slight creasing to 3.5” x 2.25” ticket with perforated side edges, else near fine. Early Indianapolis 500 memorabilia. Sold for $2,500.
Winner of the 1925 Indianapolis 500, Peter DePaolo Lot of Two Signed Photos
Lot of two signed photos of Indy 500 winner Peter DePaolo in his racing car. DePaolo is the first driver to finish the Indy 500 in less than five hours with an average speed in excess of 100 mph. Photo signed by DePaolo as winner of the 1925 Indianapolis 500 is a 10” x 8” of the driver in his full racing suit behind the wheel of his racecar, bearing his autograph inscription to the upper left, ”Best Wishe’s / to my pal / Jack Comegro / Pete De Paolo / 6/18/25”. Photo bears the photographer’s stamp of W. Frank Jones and labels DePaolo, ”The Speed King of 1925 / Time: 101.13 Miles Per-Hr”. Creasing, chipping to edges and stain to lower right. Good condition. Second photo signed ”Pete” is of DePaolo smiling in his racecar at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. An inscription, possibly by DePaolo, at top reads, ”At the end of 500 mile’s / tire’d? Nawh!” Glossy photo measures 6.75” x 4.5”. Crease to upper left corner and a chip to upper right corner. Photo is split from bottom edge center about 3” up; split has been taped on verso. Overall very good. Accompanied by an unsigned 8” x 10” photo of DePaolo in the passenger side of a racecar. Scarce Indianapolis 500 memorabilia. Sold for $1,875.
To auction, buy or sell Indianapolis 500 memorabilia, please contact NateDSanders.com at (310) 440-2982 or [email protected].