Been going for about 30 years but this my first time attempting to sell at the LARS. I've used T10 as a place to park my truck for several years so I could load parts. Selling will be a new experience. Taking some deuce parts and a new bare French Flathead block. My problem with swap meets is I'm usually to proud of my stuff because it was hard to come by that I bring most of it home.
Good luck. I went and tried to sell last year. I was shocked at the amount of 32-34 parts, peices and bodies and cars for sale. Everyone's prices were so similar that it appeared most people weren't selling alot as well. I sold Friday and sat and only sold $60 worth of parts. It was a good experience chatting and searching but i'll be heading back this year but as a buyer
What year was the last year of great buys? I've been twice and the Swap Meet was basically a display of old parts and stalled projects. Great to look at, and talk about, but destined to go back home with the owner.
I sold for about 10-12 years in a row up to 2016. The swap meet was awesome during those years. 2017,18,19 I didn’t sell but the swap was still looking good in my opinion. 2020 was the big downtrend, since 2020 the whole show has been wavering with changes in all sorts of things. I don’t want to get into the whys, but do a search, it’s out there. I’ve literally been going to this show my entire life without missing a single year and it’s still the best in my opinion and I’ll support the show, good or bad as long as it’s still there. I’ll find the good once I’m there.
Ive gone for the past few years as a buyer. I always find a few gems for either me or my buddies here in the midwest. Alot of big dollar stuff sitting around, too big for me usually. The weather is usually good though.
I've been attending since the late '70s. In '82 after walking all the rows in the swap area I saw a '32 3W body sitting on a trailer. It was complete, all glass, garnish moldings, dash, interior complete with seat and all upholstery. Rust in the quarters and below the deck lid. The seller was building a roadster and pulled the body off his chassis. I had built a chassis and needed a body. It was what I had been searching for and I agreed on his price. I've been driving it since '86 and my daughter can sell it when I'm gone. The LARS Swap is a great event and my friends and I look forward to it every year.
Yeah, only about an 85 mile drive for me, so I have went quite a bit. It definitely has declined; the opening post says a lot... mostly hoarders or dealers with prices that are excessive.
As a seller, are you trying to get rid of stuff or make some money? Should that question be addressed before deciding to go?
As a seller that is headed for 80 it's time to start to thin the parts department. More I sell the less for my wife and kids to mess with.
The show is one of the best and still is. Some people go and if they don't get something for a killer deal then its a bummer . There is a crowd that is hoping to sell high ,for the event effect . Some stuff I see over and over not selling because its priced too high . Back and forth to different swaps . Some killer deals. Some priced fair to move stuff and some stuff that people want to haul around everwhere. Its much more than a swap . Its a mega social event . Just go .
If it was a three hour drive like it is to Hershey I would. If your are that close by all means go. Glad I can say I flew out and saw it twice. Turlock is still on my Bucket List. Bob
I sold at the LA roadster show last year, normally I walk it. If I am being honest that show has been going downhill for 15 years. It's kind of a bad layout with most rows running north and south then there is one row that for some idiotic reason runs east and west... The swap meet is most certainly is neglected by the show throwers but it is still one of the best hot rod type swap meets in California especially now that the big 3 is no more that was in SD. I unfortunately am a caregiver so I've never been to Turlock (it's a little far for me to drive round trip in one day) and I found out a day late literally that Bakersfield swap meet is back. I haven't been to that swap meet in 25 years I know for a little while it disappeared then it moved to Tulare and now it's at the Bakersfield dragstrip. Next year I will go to that too... Currently where I stand there is three swap meets in California that I don't miss LA roadster show, The Long Beach Model T club swap meet and The Paradise valley Ford Model A swap meet at the bottom of Cajon Pass in Devore at the Little League stadium headquarters all three are a must for a Southern California hot rodder that actually builds stuff. For me it's about looking at car parts that I'm actually into (I like off topic cars but my heart and soul is in 1920s to 1950s stuff) I always hope to find a good deal or to find that item that I did not know I could not live without but if I don't find anything I'm not mad it's a good day going out and BS'ing with you guys and guys like you guys. So as long as there is an LA roadster show I will be going what's funny is to this day I've never been inside only the swap meet and I've probably went I'm not kidding 25 times since I was a 15year old kid (I am 45).
This is the same reason I do not sell at swap meets anymore. And because your parts were hard for you to come by you will most likely bring home more than you take because the early ford market is soft right now. So soft that I have bought more in the last few years than ever and that is due to the prices being what I thought was better than they have been in the last 20 years. I personally have a small herd of 32-34 fords, Nine of them to be exact and a bunch of extra parts. (And all of them were hard to come by) And I am still buying. Just picked up another 32 grille last week. Like many here I have loved this stuff my whole life. My Dad dragged me around swap meets and national Shows since I was 3 years old.
I'm probably on the "not going" list this year. I've made it to almost all...of these shows, including the last three or four of the shows when at the "Great Western Center", MANY...moons ago. But the last couple of years, just haven't been worth aggravating the arthertise in my hips, So yeah, I think I'm staying home this year. And, I even have a hot rod to drive there this year. Mike
I figure most of my stuff will be priced in the (your*****ing crazy) category? Really good deuce shells are priced all over the place. I've always had good luck selling the French FH blocks? Smalls are also all over price wise. I'll dig around for more. Can't take to much gotta have room for my scooter plus luggage for 3-4 guys.
Three good '32 shells would cover Wednesday through Sunday at Car Week at Pebble Beach for two people, if anyone was wondering.
Just checked, 6 hours one way from 86323, plus at least another hour with a trailer in CA. I've been looking for a running driving T bucket pretty hard for 6 months at a bargain (12k or under) within a day's drive. Found 3 with good bones and chrome, needing love (one 3 hours (title issue), one 7 hours (not running but close), one 12 hours (basic TP car), a couple that needed a freshening and lacked chrome (both sold in day or two), and a dozen at 15-25k or more. What I want is pretty tough, but is possible. If it was a 40% chance of finding, I'd spend the bucks and drag a trailer out. I expect that the chances are more like 0-5%. I understand that the seller has to load, drive, pay and sit out there both days. It requires optimism and effort from both parties. That said, I fully expect someone here to post a pic of exactly that needle in the haystack because I'm not going.
From what I have seen on Southern California prices on the net compared to other areas "Proud of my stuff" in Nebraska prices may be hot to sell in SoCal prices. I'm usually looking at Chevy AD truck parts but the SoCal brigade usually wants three times the going asking price here in Washington state that guys here will try to bargain you down from.
That is one part of the hobby I've neve experienced, loading up with the funds and trailer in search of a vehicle. I did wander around Carlisle with the balance on a Type 37 Bugatti that I later trailered home. I asked the buyer/friend what I was caring, "It's just paper, don't loose it."
I’ll really try to take pics this year (I’m too focused on parts) and to take some of the cars for sale. We’re noticing a slow down of old Fords (and old stuff in general) now, but we’re so sheltered here on the HAMB and don’t really see or feel it as much. The problem is some people are still trying to live in it’s hay day. Swap meets, shows and parts that WE like are going to go back underground again which is fine. We just had it easy since the mid 2000s.
True, but compare So. Cal. "minor rust" to midwest "minor rust". One requires PB and small patches, the other requires a torch and drilling out hardware, patch panels and fabrication. It's strange, I'm in a town in mid AZ. Lots of car guys. Prices here are higher than in PHX where it's more competitive. In the before times, pricing was what the local area could bear. With modern access, we can compare and discuss prices state, nation and world wide. And of course, complain about it!
What is up with the advertised 11am Friday start.? Half the day is over already. Can spectators get in at a regular swap meet starting time? Haven’t been for a few years but the vendors are all set up Thursday aren’t they.
The set-up for everyone is Thursday and Friday until noon. You should have no problem getting in on Friday morning.
I have been to the LARS and Turlock several times. I prefer Turlock as the prices of stuff for sale is more realistic. Bob, ( The 37 Kid ) you had an opportunity to go to Turlock with me and AV8ter when you were out west visiting your daughter. in Burbank, California. You passed up a great time. Ask Pete, aka AV8ter, also ask him to show you the pictures that he and Al Joslin took when the three of us went to Turlock, as well as the Roadster Show.
You need a full size SUV then you put one of those little cheap harbor freight trailers upside down on the roof rails, that way you can park it like normal at the swap meet and if you decide you're going to buy something big you and the three other guys can lift a little lightweight trailer off the roof of the truck hook it up to the back of it and now you got all the room in the world.
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