Event Coverage The Pomona Swap Meet Is Dying A Slow Death

I rented a mobility scooter for the first time at Iola this year. The weather usually kills me with the hills and all, but wouldn’t you know it, weather was perfect for a change.

I also brought my side by side, but the rented mobility scooter worked better.

The hardest part was admitting I was one of those old geezers on a cart now, but once I overcame that, it was golden. I would ride it to the end of an aisle or to a food court, walk around a little, then ride it to the next stop. Wish the basket was bigger, though.

Attendance is certainly down, and I haven’t had the time in recent years to get to Jefferson, but time changes things. I suspect these large meets will continue to decline over the next fifteen years, but my life lease will expire by then, too.

 

Sure that the hobby has changed.....hell they dont teach any fucking thing in public school regarding trades...he last B.S. lockdowns took the wind out of a lot of events , funny turned out to be an over reaction by the powers that be ....Grown ups exhibit childish behavior...

 

I think one of the best ones out there is The Daytona Speedway Turkey rod run. There is still a lot of vintage parts there, sometimes at reasonable prices.

 

Pomona was always a tough sell for me. Living by the beach, it was a long drive, I usually ended up parking quite a ways from the sellers. It’s big, so you have a lot of walking to do but it was great. Lots of parts. But if you buy a lot, it’s a long walk back to the car. (and you better be able to lock it up).
Long Beach was smaller and had great stuff at first. Local racers out there selling unneeded stuff to fund their race cars. The junk yard scroungers were the first to pollute it, then the low riders, then general merchandise. Hardly worth going these days.
In NorCal, a guy started the Stockton swap a few years ago and it was just like Long Beach used to be. Not too big and mostly regular folks cleaning out the shop - awesome! He now has three events, Stockton, Galt and Manteca. So we’re seeing a healthy swap meet resurgence here. I almost always find something to buy.
I’m hoping Turlock has a good turnout. The cars for sale area has been pathetic the last few years but it’s usually is worth slogging through the mud and wet grass, even if just to look.
No denying that our times have changed but we need to push ourselves to get out and support the events we like or they will disappear forever.

 

It's far more efficient to search facebook marketplace to try to find what you need than to drive somewhere, pay for parking and entry, and hope what you are looking for is there, in good nick, and available for the price you are willing to pay. Yes, sometimes you get lucky, and that thrill is like no other, but it's a crapshoot. Fewer and fewer people seem willing to gamble their time on the slim chance they'll be fortunate to find exactly what they want.

 

I can remember as a kid going to Pomona with my Dad in the late 70's 80's & early 90's back when it was huge and if we ended up walking the entire swap that was a proud accomplishment ! then after we would drive around and see if there was anything good the sellers had dumped because they didnt want to load back up.
Back then it was mostly just old parts. very rarely any new parts for sale, unless you count the salesman with the microphone selling synthetic chamois or metal shrinking disc. last time i went was in the mid 2000's and noticed a significant change in the ratio of newer parts for sale and the size seemed smaller
(I do still have the 1950's murray pedal car my parents purchased for me in 1973 ! at pomona)

 

The crash of 2008 took out quite a few auto enthusiasts that were in their prime collecting years at ages of early 50’s- later 60 years old. By the time the economy somewhat recovered, almost 10 years later, the hobby lost a huge number of hardcore participants and the slide began.

 

I noted the same thing (not as severe as the pics above) at the Portland Swap Meet last year. This year we are just doing the racetrack at PIR. So, I guess we are adding to the vacancies at the Expo. We have stuff to sell because we build cars (and I order too many of the same parts or duplicates because I lost them in my garage until spring cleaning). Long live the swap meet in one form or another.

 

I do, I go to club swaps (Model T, Model A and early V8) from Orcutt down to San Diego. Downside is a lot of the guys are getting old and are slowing down.

I love going to a good swapmeet, I'd walk from 8am-5pm without stopping at the Big 3 (eat lunch as I walked) and I even go to the old tool swapmeet in San Diego/Culver City. I fully understand that I'll be driving far to go to more swaps in the future when I move, but that's ok.....I like driving my cars and I can sleep in the back of the Panel truck. Good thing is I'm bringing good west coast parts to a possible slightly rusty area (at least snowy area).


I'm going to keep going as long as I can + a little more .

 

What didnt help the Expo last year was the massive snow down south. Quite a few vendors from Southern Oregon and California couldnt make it up. One of the few that made it up was then sweating if he was gonna get home on time or be stuck somewhere near Medford. They are taking all the lower lots away this year for parking to make up for the loss of the horse track.

Plus they jacked the prices up, my grandpa and I just sent in the application for a indoor stall as we have just enough stuff to sell and then have a home base.

Will say though so far the usual ones I hit every years have been good. Next up is the NWDRA one at Clark County, its usually decent.

 

I think we all need a hat like this. Where did you get it?

.bjb

 

But you are missing just one thing. How do you experience the 'atmosphere' by sitting at home in front of your computer screen? Going to swap meets is about far more than just buying parts..... Much more.

 

I was just at Pomona last December. It was pretty full. Mostly I saw were new re-pop parts for ‘49-’54 Chevys, old parts for ’58-’66 Impalas, any x-frame Chevy, 13” chrome wheels for the aforementioned cars, hats, and toys. Very few performance parts, and very few Ford and no Mopar parts. The cars for sale were about half NOT for sale, lots of people there just gathered there with their car clubs. Plenty of EZ-ups with beer and food – one even had a live band playing Norteno music (for a minute I thought I was at the Mooneyes show, but I knew I wasn’t since it only took me 30 minutes to get in). It seems to be still going strong, and some of the cars had some good prices. But looking for hi-po parts there is a thing of the past. However, $18 to park and $15 to get in just to look around isn’t for me anymore. I’m more inclined to go to Long Beach, but from reading here, maybe that’s not what it was anymore either.

 

We used to fly from the East Coast to go to Pomona 3-4 times a year. Fly out Friday after work, shop Saturday and Sunday. Then, back to the motel, pack all of our parts, and catch the red-eye flight back home to go to work on Monday. We also went to Turlock, except, fly out Friday, shop on Saturday, pack up Saturday, fly home on Sunday. some people thought we were crazy for doing this, but it was very profitable while it lasted. The last time we went to Turlock was 8 years ago, and we still filled 2 large FEDEX boxes, 3' x 3' x 3' ? and used my FEDEX account to get discounted shipping home.I can't go anymore because of health reasons, but I have great stories and memories.

 

Got the basics for a nice Banger right there!

 

I enjoyed swap meets years back. Never bought much, but usually brought something home.
Then in the late 90’s I went to the GG’s in Pleasanton for a few years, each year it seemed like more and more non automotive stuff was filling up spaces.
When I moved out of the Bay Area, Turlock became the go to meet.
I went from early 2000’s until a year or so before the pandemic.

But always met up with friends in groups of 3/4 people.

That dwindled off, and to be honest, I’d rather now just look online for something used I can use, than kill a day by myself walking around and looking for something I may or may not need.

Looking at the pics @Black Panther posted, looks like a spread out flea market.

But I will try Saturday at Turlock in a few weeks, I’ve a friend in Healdsburg looking for an FE Al intake for his 390.

Who know, maybe it will rekindle my juices.

 

Iola in Wisconsin is working pretty hard to do things right, they've told vendors if they leave before Saturday they won't be promised the same spot again, and while there are people with antiques and shit, there really isn't that much totally unrelated flea market stuff, which is nice. The organizers clearly saw the issues and heard the complaints, and are at least trying to steer the ship properly, which I appreciate.

Some of what I'm reading here is just perspective though. Sure, it was easy to find '56 Chevy stuff at a swap meet in 1990, because the stuff was only 34 years old then. Today, 34 year old parts would be from... 1990.

 

A friend sent my the photo but here is a link to one on the auction site:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/404712516355

 

I agree, but check your math!

 

Unfortunately I find less and less each year at the swapmeets. I now go to see old friends and if I find something it’s a bonus. I usually find something cool and old but not much . The big collectors that brought great stuff to the swaps in the past are now not available to attend or with the lord.
It’s also got very expensive to put on a swap or even a car show at a fairgrounds. I know our local swaps disappeared due to rising cost of venues and lack of vendors . We now have swapmeets in our area that are small donated spaces and proceeds going to charities. Those are some of the best now as you know everyone and mostly car related goodies.

 

@Black Panther I reflect on the larger scope of this topic often. I used to buy estates, keep what I needed and sell the rest. I did this with a few different interests. All those wells have significantly dried up. The last collection of early Ford parts I visited to possibly buy had an asking price higher than anything I bought before and most of it containted the bits and pieces and "junk" that I would have given away from other estate purchases.

Early on, the internet was great change, we could put parts in hands around the world... both for those who needed that hard-to-find part or others who were willing to pay more than the locals. We could get Cali prices in areas that wouldn't dare pay them.

And so, lots of places we could buy cheaply, haul home and those parts moved on.

I know people blame TV shows and hot-rodding-as-a-fad enthusiasts, but a lot of cars have been built over the years and the well is bound to run dry of those must-have parts.

When it comes to 2020, that might have been the pinnacle for how much I bought and redistributed ever in my life. I sent parts all over the world, not just the country, weekly. In the past, I might send something out of the country here or there but not multiple shipments each week. It was nuts.

I know I'm typing out a book, here, but for years it wasn't uncommon for folks to visit the states just to buy parts and ship them home.

I do believe there's good stuff left but it will take more effort to seek it out. And, I'm pickier now. To get me to on a trip where I'll have to fill up my truck 4-6 times - it's going to have to be worth it.

 

Is my math off? Seems right to me.

 

Autofair in Charlotte appears to be going in the same direction.

during Covid people had already paid for their spots and the promoters wouldn’t give them back their money 2 shows in a row.

a lot of people got pissed and vowed to never come back.
The spring show last year was okay

the fall show last year, even though fall has always been a little light, was just absolutely pitiful. Down right heart breaking.

the only people there were pretty much the sellers and even they were about 1/3 of what’s normally there.

If this spring show is as bad as the gal show was I can’t imagine this will continue.

so sad.

 

I lost my swap meet virginity at the long lost Mattel swap meet. I had never seen anything like it! Hot rods and parts everywhere. For a couple years it was the big, new thing and I was hooked.
When the LBSM started, I lived right over the bridges from Long Beach so I could go there, score some good stuff, have a half pound burger at Fudrucker’s, and still be home by noon and get stuff done. I built most of my cars during that period from the LBSM and the wrecking yards. Only engine and trans parts were new. The carcass usually came from the Recycler classifieds.
About five years ago, and before they started up the Stockton Swap Meet, I was seriously considering having an annual swap and show up here at our rural property. I talked with the neighbors, the county, insurance companies and facility suppliers (porta-potties) and it seemed doable. With $20 sellers spaces it would probably cost me out of pocket, but it’s a very scenic location in March, so I was hoping that after the first one, word would get around and I’d do more advertising. It would just need to pay for itself, the real payoff would be the fun. At least for a while….
I’ll keep going to the swap meets as long as I can.

 

I believe he is correct.
What does your math come out to?

 

I've always attended swap meets, that are reasonably close to where I live, for 50+ years.
Agreed old/classic car swap meets have declined in attendance.
What I have noticed though (being some what of a 4X4 guy also) is that the 4x4 swap meets are alive and well (a much younger crowd also), and actually are thriving.
I've bought several Hot Rod parts at these swap meets, give it a try if you have one in your area.

 

Hello,

We used to go to the local So Cal swap meets that started out as antique auto parts for collectors. Then as the popularity grew, not only was it a garage clean out to showcase items for sale, but now, people started to bring small packaged items for sale. They got them at a super discount at various 2nd hand factory outlets warehouses. So, now, commercialism was creeping into the fun Saturday morning walk around and shop for old parts fun.

Once that started, it went down hill from there. The displays not only showcased some great old parts, but not in every aisle, there were places that looked like a commercial display at car shows. From that time, my wife and I stopped going to those swap meets. It was no longer clean out the garage, but to see who could get the best discount 2nds to sell at low prices.

Jnaki

There were still some places like the old Model T Club from Long Beach area that catered to the group’s tastes and kept it “garage clean out” stuff. They had some of the best stuff for sale. So, in order to increase the attendance at the bigger swap meets, more stuff was allowed to be for sale and it was no longer the “quality old stuff” from anyone’s old hot rod garage.

Westside of Long Beach

This place was dangerous. It had stuff that automatically drew one over to take a look and most of the time, we bought it. The prices were better than the swap meet’s questionable products/history and it was considered N.O.S. Plus, it saved time and energy. We just pulled over into the lot and shopped to our delight. We knew the quality of what we were buying and that was helpful. then a few minutes back on the street, we were at our mom's house just a 3-4 blocks away. Very convenient and handy.

NOTE:

We stopped going to those swap meets and relied on stopping at the old Ford Parts Obsolete store near our Westside of Long Beach house for any part(s) we needed to upgrade our Flathead Sedan Delivery from 60 to 65 and 327 Ford Sedan Delivery after we got married. YRMV

 

I am only minutes from Hershey, it is the only swap I go to anymore. It is still great but is also changing just like everything in the world.

 

Been a seller and swapper for 30+ years and Hershey is still best in the Northeast but last few years have seen it thin out thanks to covid and grey beards dying off. Still like to feel the parts in my hands. My club SJRAACA has a swap in South Jersey March 24th with over 350 vendor spaces and a car corral worth the drive. Sure there are flea market stuff but a lot of tailgaters cleaning out their garages too. Never tell what you can find. MantuaJohn

 

The “Scrap Drive” car show and swap meet is a fun event every year. Sort of a Northern Illanoy, Southern Wisconsin event. I believe a swap spot costs the same as a car entrance fee, so you don’t have to sell half your stuff the break even! It isn’t real big, but doesn’t appear to be getting smaller. Good place to get rid of some treasures, and free up some garage space!