Charlotte Autofair... did it seem smaller?

I was at the Charlotte Autofair on Friday and Saturday, and it seemed smaller than years past.

I'm just checking with anyone else who was there to see if my perception is on or off.

How'd the vendors do?

I didn't buy a whole lot--mainly a few tools, though I did find a clock I'll be able to adapt for my '61 Suburban (a 5 year search completed!)

-Brad

 

I also thought so. I was set up in the Greenfield and didn't sell half of what I brought. Not many people came by. I usually have people make offers but hardly anyone did. Maybe no one needs 34 Ford parts.

 

Sold the hell out of my stuff on Thurs., Of course, I was yardsale pricing.......Ragtopbuick66 did all right also, especially on Sunday.

 

I've been going for many years on Friday,,I believe it was way off. HRP

 

I did not go but several friends that did said it was way off-not many people toting parts so not much buying.

 

Way smaller....I should have bought the SBF radiator I looked at though...mine got chewed up by my electric fan Sat on the way home...!!!

 

A friend of mine and I went on Saturday, found a few parts for the 1950 Chevy Coupe, there werent many to choose from though. We got there at 8am and looked straight thru the infield parts untill 4pm. I think we will go in the spring and spend 2 days. One day for parts, one day looking he cars.. It was a good time..

 

I was there Thur. to Sat. me and two more frinds in the orange field I got a deposit on the 34 Chevy Coupe and we sold quite a few parts.

 

Sold a little..not much..mostly on Thursday and Friday. Turned down some great offers on Friday for a tripower set up thinking I'd do better on Saturday...only to get one lowball offer.

It was a great year for buying though. Picked up some wide white tires mounted on '55 Chevy rims I'll have to have changed over to the rims for my Desoto for the value of the rims. Picked up an incredible tripower on Thursday for almost nothing - lost the profit turning it to a good friend that's been good to myself and my father over the years. Also picked up some smaller stuff - steering wheel for my '34, steering wheel I'm trying to adapt over for the Desoto, steering column, etc.

Overall...yeah, it was smaller. The green field was a ghost town. I wish organizers would realize that the cost for a small space is getting outrageous due to the limited buyers and cut prices. Unfortunately, the aftermarket and ebay have stolen buyers over the years. I think a lot of people like the online sources due to being able to buy with a credit card or paypal.

Regardless, the cost let's us park right in the middle of everything and covers the cost of tickets, etc.

 

Smaller . . . Green field was what, 1/2 full? But you know, it seems like it's never fully recovered from the Great Recession. Prior to fall of '08 the Auto Fair and GG's were balls to the wall.

I also scored a great deal, 4- 15"x6 wire wheels w/ 2 tires for $200. That's another thing, prices have not yet fully recovered to pre-recession levels.

 

Was that your '34 sitting on the trailer at the center of the turn looking like a recent barn find? If so, what a great original car...

 

Seemed like an estate sale. More furniture than car parts. Hopefully APRIL will be better.

 

yeah, i was excited to go bc itd been a couple years. it seemed a quite bit smaller. hardly any y block ford stuff, and thats what I was looking for, but with a small crowd I was able to talk to some more people a little longer then usual

 

Dang... I missed it.

 

Yes that was mine the car came from a barn in Nebraska the guy said they parked in the barn in 1960

 

Went Thurs. ,small number of people,but sold like crazy...went back Fri., way more people ,sold 1 $5 item ( and then ,he asked "would you take $3....)left and did not return

 

I didn't make it, but a though....

The fall event is ALWAYS smaller than the spring event. It's really not fair (no pun intended...well maybe) to compare the spring and fall turnouts, both from vendor and buyer perspectives.

But then again, I wasn't there.......

 

Did not go to the fall event. The organizers should do something about the vacant spaces and the ones with a table and a few old parts that no one would even steal. Could move some of the serious vendors to the infield. Also make it only auto only related items.

 

the attendance was a little sp**** given how nice the weather was but it was still a good turn out and a good swap meet

I also think people would sell a lot more if they became a little more realistic in their prices. I see the same dudes drag the same stuff around year after year with these unrealistic prices looking for a ****er to gouge.

and Im not talking about ultra rare speed parts here, like I saw 3 guys within two rows of each other wanting $100+ a piece for some tweeked and rusty ribbed 49 ply bumpers. none sold.

 

Did you look in the greenfield for Yblock stuff? Some was there.

 

I noticed alot more vendor's personal cars/trucks parked with their stuff (maybe to fill some empty areas?)...

 

It was smaller than previous fall shows. The spring show is always better, Guess we'll see next year.

 

I went and worked the manufacturers midway for the day job and yes, crowd was smaller than spring. Hard to compare the 2, the spring show is super huge and has always been. It was still a decent weekend though.

 

Covered the whole infield on Friday unlike last year which took Fri and Sat. Never buy much other than water because it it such a pain to haul anything back to the parking lot. They should offer golf carts or small trucks as parts haulers and let some charities make a few bucks or do something different.
Looked to me like the only buyers carrying much were also sellers or thought it worthwhile to pay the big bucks for a parking spot inside.
Probably a good show to park a project car with your phone number if priced right.
Didn't have a problem getting a motel room close by unlike the spring show.
You could spend all day walking the speedway oval looking at all the nice cars for sale.

 

I have been going to BOTH the Spring and Fall event for years.
I actually thought that the Blue Field was fuller ( spaces occupied ) than last year. Did not go to the Orange field.

The Spring event is always HUGE ... but the economy and other factors are slowing down sales. The crowd is getting OLDER ( grayer or BALD ) and are not buying parts because they are NOT working on as many projects as in the past.

Just look @ your circle of friends. I bet most have slowed down or about quit. I know I have and most of the folks I know who were very active 15/20 years ago now have the cars they want ... in the condition they want and most just go the Charlotte as a social event. I have 5 spaces in the Blue field ... on the pavement and I lease 4 of them out to friends and use the one I retain to park my vehicle down and use as a base of operation. I do not even take anything to sell.

.

 

They will let you drive you vehicle in after 4:00 or 4:30 to pick up parts

 

They do have parts haulers available. Just ask at the Hornets Nest tent.

 

I asked about parts haulers and the dude wearing a Hornet shirt said to look around the inside and they were in there somewhere.
Never saw one all day unless it was the guy with the $10 hand truck struggling with a 9 inch ford.

 

...they were coming by me all weekend.

 

I have been going for 20 plus years and this was definitely smaller than usual.