My Collection of automotive 'junk'

I Suppose an introduction is in order since this is my first post. I've been a GRM subscriber for three years now and have been lurking on the new site for awhile now. I had an account on the old site, but didn't post very often. I've posted this on other forums and people seemed to get a kick out of it. I thought you guys might appreciate it as well. I wanted to see if anyone here collected any type of automotive memorabilia and also wanted to share my personal collection of random stuff.

My grille badges I just started collecting these last year. None of them are particularly rare, but they are sorta hard to come by if you're not shopping on ebay for them. The grille is from an old Jaguar XJ. The Stuttgart badge is my latest addition.

These are probably my most interesting pieces. I thought they were an older style of badge that you might mount on a light bar or something, but it turns out that they're license plate toppers. I'm still unclear as to how they were displayed on cars in their day. The one on the left is from the Independent Order of Oddfellows and I thought the one on the right had something to do with freemasonry, but apparently it's for some engineering union.

My medallion of St. Christopher. My understanding is that these were like good luck charms that you'd put on your car back in the day (?). This particular one was made in Germany in the '60s and is smaller than most other examples I've found. Written behind the glass in very small letters is the motorist's prayer.

Magazines and other media Just a few of the old magazines I've collected over the years. I got all the Autoweeks for a dollar at a garage sale.

More magazines I forgot to include in the first picture, plus a Driver's Ed book from the '50s.

A few of my favorite ads found in the Life, Time and Rolling Stone magazines I've collected. They're fun to look at.

Anyway, just thought I'd share. If you have similar collections, post 'em up!

Nice collection. I like those grille badges, and old/retro car ads are always great to look at.

I've got a bunch of automotive tat scattered around the place, which I'll try and take some pictures of tomorrow.

When was the last time anybody saw a St Christopher's (patron saint of travellers) medallion?

My aunt and uncle each had them on the dash of their respective Volvo 122s; when I got my first BMW they gave me one as i'd "probably need it..." Haven't seen one in about 30 yrs.

mel_horn wrote: When was the last time anybody saw a St Christopher's (patron saint of travellers) medallion? My aunt and uncle each had them on the dash of their respective Volvo 122s; when I got my first BMW they gave me one as i'd "probably need it..." Haven't seen one in about 30 yrs.

When I turned 16, my great aunt gave me a little St. Christopher medallion on a string, to put around my rear view mirror. As it is, I just keep it in the glovebox, but its almost always with me when I'm driving.

oh, and to the OP, VERY cool.

mel_horn wrote: When was the last time anybody saw a St Christopher's (patron saint of travellers) medallion?

About 6 months ago I was visiting my father in assisted living and he gave me his old St Christopher's medal he wore while in Viet Nam.

Pretty cool, Evo!

If I ever get unpacked, I'll have to show y'all some of my back issues..I've got some old GRM from when it was still called "Auto-X".

I collect hot wheels (only about a thousand of them), I have magazines (there was a point where I subscribed to 12 of them), and Books (currently somewhere over 250).

die casts are starting to be my new thing...unfortunately I don't have enough money for the ones I want.

That's awesome. I've always wanted to start a Hot Wheels collection, but for whatever reason I never could. I have a lunch box full of hot wheels and matchbox cars from my childhood that I should go through.