New Hi-Tech grab

**Lea DeFoote** · 05-05-2010, 03:11 PM

I need to start this one off with some backstory. For those who aren't familiar with the '92 Hi-Tech Mario Andretti set, Hi-Tech distributed the 50 card + checklist (#51) set in factory set form. Production was 'limited' to 100,000 sets. Yeah, these are common as dirt. Well, as part of this product, they made 5,000 of card #52 to be randomly inserted. Of those 5,000, half were signed by Mario Andretti and serial numbered to 2,500. The sets with the signed cards included a notarized COA.

I'm assuming that the sets did not sell well originally. A racing card serial numbered to 2,500 should be fairly easy to find, but these autos are tough. I was talking to Les about this set a couple months ago, and he told me he had never even seen one of card #52, signed or not. All I can figure is that most of the sets went unsold and are still sitting in a warehouse somewhere, unopened. If even half of the 2,500 cards had been pulled, they wouldn't be too difficult to find. I'm thinking that somewhere between 75%-90% of these are still sealed up.

Well, last month TWO of the auto'd cards showed up. One on Beckett that was listed on eBay shortly thereafter for $125, and another one showed up on eBay a couple days later, complete with the set and packaging, listed with a BIN of $130 (+$10 shipping). After not being able to work out a deal with the first guy, I decided to make the other guy a Best Offer. I started at $25. He came back with $45 and we settled on $35 ($45 shipped for the whole set). I was stoked to be getting this tough card!

When I opened the package (the cards were shipped in the original tin that they came in) the auto card was right on top. I pulled it out and sleeved it, and I was happy. Then, I decided to take the rest of the cards out of the tin and straighten them out, they had shifted during shipping and were in a bit of disaray. I pulled them out, flipped them over, and there was the back of another card #52 staring at me! It took me a few seconds for what I was seeing to really register. I turned the card over, and HOLY ****, the unsigned version was in the lot too!

I did a big ol' happy dance right then and there!

Sorry for the long read, but I wanted to convey the true magnitude of my excitement and suprise of getting both of these tough cards unexpectedly in one fell swoop. Thanks for letting me share!

-Tom