This year there is going to be 2 in Oct.---1 at the Expo. center and 1 at the racetrack(portland International Raceway). These will be almost as big as the one in April.
I like the Lawrence, KS, swap meet in early May. It is the biggest in Kansas, and one of the oldest in the region. Lots of A stuff. This year there were two different Nash Metropolitans for sale and a 41 Pontiac Torpedo two-door like in my avitar. Its at the Douglas County Fairgrounds.
Well, My name is Adam and I live in central California. I have a 64 Nova SS, a 29 Chevy Pickup, and a 99 Silverado Prerunner. Just went to the swap meet today in Marina out by Monterey and it was pretty good. i have been going to swap meets for years from Sacramento to Bakersfield and they just seem to be getting lame.
I have been going to swapmeets in Sacramento, Stockton, Turlock, Fresno, Selma and Bakersfield for years. I didn't say they were awful or that I didn't want to go to them anymore, just keep seeing all the same parts and most of all garage sale stuff at them all the time. And i am not SELLING anything.
I have had a couple GTO's and always used that name, just kinda stuck. I am looking at a 67 GTO this week to pickup and restore. I am also into desert racing.
Cool, when is it? I havent been to Hershey in years, last time I was there with my grandfather for a Hershey Orphanage reunion.
Dont bother with pomona swap unless your buying a lowrider bike and cheesy signs to hang in your garage the staff doesn't have a clue either that they're working..
Springfield,Mo,Wichita KS in the early spring,Lawrence Hot Rod Club s swap in May.If you want to strike gold,you have to work at it....
I went to Pomona back in March, and there was so much household stuff and garage sale stuff. Kinda seemed liked a flea market/swap meet. People had HVAC units and freezers.
Ah. Yeah, that is the bane of automotive swap meet. As a promoter, I can tell you the two big reasons household and arts-and-craft stuff shows up: One, it's money... those vendors buy a space just like the others. When a vendor comes into my show, I don't inspect his trailer to make sure he's selling car parts or garage stuff (signs, tools, shop stools, etc. etc.). However, I advertise it as an automotive swap meet, so that should weed out the housewares and arts-n-crafts stuff. A lot of potential vendors ask, and I tell them it's car parts and shop equipment stuff only--no arts-n-crafts, no jewelry, no flea market stuff. But the other, and bigger reason, is wimmin. "Oh, do you have anything for the women to look at?" "You should let jewelry vendors in so the women have something to buy." "You should let stuff in for the women, so they can come with their husbands... it'll get more people out here." First of all, it's a GUYS show. Half these guys are trying to get away from their women for a few hours! Second, guys want to buy stuff for their cars or shops, take it home, put it in the garage and look at it for a while, or glory over having found a part they've been looking for forever, or gloat to themselves about what a deal they got on that part, even if they don't need it. We do NOT want to be hen-pecked while walking around the show. None of us want to hear "Do you really need THAT?" or "What are you going to put that on?" or "That's awfully expensive, isn't it? And it's all rusty." MOST of us don't want to go to a swap meet with our wives. (My first real date with my wife was a swap meet, and she's worked the front gate at ours for 8 years now, so... Honey--I love you!) I have frequently been asked to include something "for the wimmin to do" at our swap meet, in a misguided suggestion to help it grow. Catering to wimmin in any way, is the death of a good swap meet. For those who insist, I have made an effort: I've offered to bring in a small stage with a br*** pole for 'em. We remain a bastion of rust, grease, cigarette and cigarette smoke, and men. It's a shame Pamona is going the way of the flea market. It happened to the Zepher Hills swap meet in Florida years ago... to the point where it was more than 50-percent arts-n-crafts, and jewelry. I heard the family hired a full-time promoter to fix the show, because attendance had fallen off so bad. He dis-invited all the non-automotive stuff... don't know if it worked or not--I haven't been there in years. -Brad
Every other guy at Pomona is selling cheap China tools and there is a lot of junk ... But I have found almost every thing I needed over the years. In fact we have a little joke we laugh at in the shop - some of the best (light fixtures, jukeboxes, antiques. etc.) we bought at the Pomona automotive swap meet. Get there early or Saturday night for the best deals. Ignore the Chino chrome and tool vendors and you might find what you need.
The best swap meet ? ....hmmm First, I am a in rust -we -trust car nut .. and second the owner / and keeper of the Bill Harrah flame .. of the Sacramento Cl***ic Car & Parts Swap Meet (aka Reno Swap meet ) and I hate the word promoter but that is what I am called . (Ive operated the swap meet since1998 when my buddy forced me to step in and guide it thru some up coming challenges plus he was just wore out dealing with our partner Hot GREEDY August Nights and the City of Reno and the State of Nevada .a long ugly story ) Trying to please 1,500 vendors plus fill 11,000 spaces with good car stuff and keep the T shirt people at bay and the gl***ware /yard sale people out is a HUGE challenge . We moved it to Arco Arena in 2008 and it has grown to 3 times the size that we were at the Reno Live Stock Events Center and attendance has been over the top ... plus we added an April Swap Meet date Heres 200 pics from the swap meet taken by Dean Court on April 22nd 2012 http://www.hotrodhotline.com/sacramento-cl***ic-car-and-parts-swap-meet I enjoy each and every swap meet that I attend as a buyer .. no matter how big or small. Just think about all the auto knowledge that is at each swap meet.., the old guys are there and are more than willing to guide the young guys with restoration and rodding tips ... all for Free So when you attend a swap meet as a buyer three things to remember 1. Keep your eyes on the ground . 2 Wear a card board sign with what you are looking for . 3 Dont be afraid to ask a seller a question You will be amazed how a swap meet perceived as bad will turn into the best swap meet ever And if you would like to own the Aug 5th, 2012 swap meet at Power Balance Pavilion (Arco Arena) in Sacramento . I am looking for someone to hand the flame too so I can get back to being a buyer again .. John
A little far to go for Hershey or Carlisle. I usually go to Pomona Sat afternoon, found a lot of parts I'm looking for and some I'm not. Irwindale is a really small one, but got some good buys there. LA Roadsters on Sunday afternoon can be good if you can find anyone with their tent still up. Friday and Sat, prices tend to be a little high. Long Beach can have some interesting parts too.
Springfield, MO is pretty good. They usually have around 1600 vendors with a car corral. There's getting to be more and more new parts and less and less older parts though
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