For those who like their collectable cars in a more traditional hue comes Lot #707, the 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass Winston Cup Series entry built by the legendary Banjo Matthews and driven by NASCAR Hall of Fame member Cale Yarborough. With First National City Traveler’s Checks sponsoring, this Junior Johnson-owned stock car was a key part of Yarbrough’s 1978 championship run.

The 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass Winston Cup car was owned by Junior Johnson and performed a key role in Cale Yarborough’s 1978 championship run. (Photo: Barrett-Jackson)

Crew chief and later car owner, Travis Carter – who worked for Johnson at the time this car performed – grabbed the reigns in 2000 and oversaw its restoration, certification and authentication. This piece of on-track NASCAR history can still move, too, with its revitalized 350-cubic-inch, high-performance V8, four-speed manual transmission. With Yarborough behind the wheel, it hastily found its way around Darlington (S.C.) Raceway in 2004 to celebrate the first night race at the historic facility.

“The Cale Yarborough/Junior Johnson No. 11 Olds is a documented period piece from a championship season,” Joy said. “While the ‘Citicorp meets Holly Farms’ paint scheme isn't my favorite, from the photos it looks like a short track or road course car. So, is it ready to go vintage racing, or is it destined for a collection or museum?

“I hope the consignor supplies the details of when and where it raced, and what running gear is under it now,” Joy added. “That history and current spec could help drive the auction price upwards.”

On-track machinery isn’t the only collectable inspired by stock car racing, as actual high-performance, factory-built street cars were purposely constructed in small numbers to comply with NASCAR’s notion of “stock.”

The most popular of them were the Plymouth Superbirds and Dodge Charger Daytonas that ruled superspeedways of the day. Hardly popular when they first arrived in showrooms, these limited production, high-performance muscle cars became collector cars as the super-sized Talladega rear wings and wedge-shaped aero bodies were recognized as iconic symbols of an era.

The audacious 1970 Plymouth Superbird was built as an aerodynamic superspeedway NASCAR racer produced for the street. (Photo: Barrett-Jackson)

These distinguished mounts are best represented by Lot #1282, a fully fettled, torch-red 1970 Plymouth Superbird with many of the goodies collectors crave, including a 440-cubic-inch V8, black interior and four-speed transmission. This car underwent a complete rotisserie restoration and received its authentication at Galen’s Chrysler Registry.

“Nobody was fooling anybody here,” said Matt Stone, SPEED collector car analyst and noted author. “Never before or since was a factory street car so designed and engineered for one purpose, that being aerodynamic superiority on NASCAR racetracks.

“NASCAR at least insisted that Chrysler build a certain amount of them, available for sale to the general public, to prove that it was a real production car,” Stone added. “That number still wasn't huge, but at least the company didn't build three special examples for racing use only, and try to call it a production car. It took more than a little work to make the Superbirds’ aero mods just right for racing but once trimmed and dialed, they won big.

“I give Chrysler huge credit for being audacious enough to conceive, design, build and sell it and appreciate that NASCAR didn't immediately legislate it out of competition – an all-time muscle car great, to be sure.”

As noted, one of the stipulations placed on manufacturers who competed in NASCAR was that their vehicles be “stock,” or represent an actual production-based line. Aerodynamics started to play a role in the sport, as Darlington Raceway had come online in 1950, Daytona International opened in 1959 and chatter about another “super track” (eventually Talladega) had started to percolate.