What has been your best Swap Meet Purchase?

I found this at a non car related swap meet almost 15 years ago . It was painted by Larry Watson in 1956 . Talked her down from $20 to $15 . There was a little write up about it in a car magazine a while back , but I can't remember which one .

 

Got this steering wheel for $1.00 and the traction bars for another 4 off the same dude last spring!

 

Went to a guys house to buy some wheels that were on Craigslist....Guy had a SBC Man-A-FRE intake (manifold only)he sold me for $25.00....YEP, I RESOLD IT !!!!

 

33 Chevy 4 door sedan from an estate All original in just about perfect shape. 8k

 

25 years ago or so I was at the National Olds meet in Lansing looking at some NOS Olds sheetmetal and one fender the sellers couldn't identify. I gave them the $35 they were asking, NOS 37/38 Chevy sedan right rear fender. Still have it.
Just this Friday in Des Moines, complete 48 Chevrolet front suspension. Crossmember, rebuilt shocks, complete disc brakes that look like they may have 100 miles on them, steering box and linkage, rebuilt rear shocks too. $125 Would hate to guess what it costs to have those shocks rebuilt.

 

sealed bid bank run estate sale ---contents of a 46 chevy panel truck that had belonged to a retired mechanic who died leaving no heirs--he bought the truck new and it was still in that condition in 1973--it contained all his tools and tool boxes (all snap on and blue point)chain falls, boring bar, sunnen hone, etc--950 dollars in 50 dollar bills and two cd's for 5000 each--cost me 87.50--the truck went for 400---i gave my wife that first 350 i found and what she gave me was worth a million bucks--still got all the tools and the wife--should have bought the truck but i had to borrow the 87.50 ---still seems like a good deal

 

Set of '56 CA plates for $4.00 at Pomona shortly before the DMV allowed them to be used again.

Non-swap meet: Ten brand-new '57 Studebaker speedometers for $5.00 each from a surplus store in Pasadena. Sold 'em to a Stude parts dealer for $15.00 each.

'58 Edsel early-style hood ornament for $10.00 from Memory Lane, of all people. No pits at all; worth about $100.00.

 

U guys all suck some of the prices were a steal good going

 

Mint pair of 35 Ford horns in working condition for $20.00-almost tore the back pocket off my jeans getting my wallet out!

 

Really nice set of stock flattie exhaust manifolds ten bux

 

Not the swap meet but, scored a Speed Gems SBC to 39 Ford trans adapter for $25 last summer at the flea.market

 

I had gone to a swap meet and a friend of mine asked me if I had seen the two freaky porcelain Butter Krust Bread sign boys. We walked over to them and I thought they were neat, but the guy wanted $150 a piece for the two small about 18inch tall signs. I thought they were neat but I couldn't see paying that much for the ugly devils. My buddy really wanted one of them, but he was broke. I didn't want to buy one but I didn't want to loan the money because I knew I wouldn't get paid back! I walked off. The guy selling the sign chased me down and told me he would take $100 for the pair! I paid and decided to hang one in my bathroom. Mike never paid me for the other!
After a few months of it hanging on the wall, I got creeped out by the bug eyed little bastard, so the sign went on Ebay for a minimum bid of $100 to cover my loss. The sign sold for a $1700! I called Mike and reminded him he owed me $50. He said he was broke and really didn't like his sign either. I repossessed his sign and sold it for $1600---- and gave him half the money. This picture is one I found on Google. I didn't save any pictures of the two that we had found.

 

a pair of torque thrust wheels for 45. atleast i think thats what i paid.a chevy straight axle drum to drum 25.if they arent good deals please dont tell me cause i still think they were! lol

 

Spotted a 1967 Mopar B-body console with shifter sitting in the bed of a truck at the St.Peter MN swap early one morning a few years agwner hadnt arrived yet so I waited.He shows up and $75 later it's mine.Walking to my swap space a guy spots it over my shoulder and for $750 I let it go.
Walking around the Jefferson swap very early am to shake off a hangover I walked between the cattle pens(Jefferson regulars know where that is)and found a nose and wing for a '69 Daytona.Owner was out buying donuts according to his kid.Sat on the nose and waited.Had to shoo away other potential buyers.Seller returns and for $150 both items were mine.
On the other hand I read this whole thread wondering if I would read about any of the times I sold parts at a swap for stupid low money because I didnt know what I had.

 

Not sure if this was a great deal, but a couple weeks ago I snagged four Rochester 2GC carbs to rebuild for $25 apiece.

 

I bought a Complete1936 Ford Rear
End with a Aluminum Halibrand H-201 Quick-Change Center From the
Dallas/Ft. Worth Halibrand Dealer. His Name was Claudie Methors, he had been a Halibrand Dealer since the 1950's. this was his Last NOS Rear End. He was at the Pâté Swap
Meet in about 1995. He had it on the
Tail Gate of his Ford Pickup & Not a
Single Person had ask him about it!
It was Complete with Hydraulic Brake & Culver City Rear Cover. He had gone thru the rear, & was Saving it for a Project, but never used. He set the Price $300.00. I've got it to
Use in my 1933 Ford Hi-Boy All Steel
Roadster. Using Full Set of Kinmont
Brakes, DuVall Windshield, 59-L Block, (Original Thickstun Heads, & Covers, Air Cleaner $300) 1988 Chickasha Swap Meet, Auburn Dash & Gauges, 1933 Lincoln Grill Insert ($100) & Shell. ($75.00). Halibrand NOS Mag Large Window 16X9.5 with NOS Firestone Rear Dirt Track Tires from Jim Niblet from OKCITY $300.(1978). Ford 5.5 Bolt W/Single Pattern. I was Given a NOS 1934 Ford Coupe/Roadster Right Rear Fender Black Paint & I Traded it for a Beautiful Chocolate Pair of Halibrand H-2005 Narrow 15X4.5 Ford Bolt 5.5 Pattern. I had nothing In the Fender, Buba the guy from New Orleans Had Nothing in the Halibrands. I did this Swap Texas Motorplex Swap meet 2013. But, I've also had some Big Misses, good with the Bad....



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I was set up at a local swap meet. Across from me was a guy with 4 of these chrome headlights. I hadn't sold anything yet so I didn't have any spending cash so I didn't ask about them thinking they would be worth a couple of hundred bucks. Finally, I thought it wouldn't hurt to ask so I inquire about a couple of them. He says "well they ought to be worth about 5 bucks a piece." So I bought all four. Two were the Guide 682s. Best $20 bucks I spent that year.

 

I come out the looser 100% of the time but have managed to do good a couple of times. I found a 32 tall coil for $1 and a ready to use set of F1 front brakes for $10. I found a 32 tin oil pan for $20 and a Burgess bat 32 airfilter for $10. I did sell a 56 Vett dist for $15 and a 55 2GC for $10 and a 58 9" complete for $75 so I should be watched. I have bought many flathead trans with 39 up gears in the $35 range so it evens out.

 

$15 Positraction differential for a 10-bolt rearend that I had in a 40 Ford pickup. And I also bought a dozen pairs of brand new leather gloves that had the Union Pacific logo embossed on the back of them for $10. I think somebody was selling goods stolen from their employer.

 

Deuce grill shell & insert. HRP

 

several years ago I bought a 1932 Ford Pines winter front for $ 50.00 from a guy that cleaned bought out a guy's garage. I sold it on line for $ 3252. 52. I'm looking for another one.

 

Good return on your money! HRP

 

The NOS doors and fenders that are on my 47 Olds. Bought them at Hershey from Mike Fusick around 30+ years ago.

 

A pile of about seven smoothie Halibrand wheels for $350.
An early model Thickstun hirise for $35.
A PM7 Thickstun hirise with original red paint for $50.
A set of four Rotoflo shocks for $80.
An original Filcoolator beehive oil filter with painted/decaled lid and another polished lid for $180.

 

I also got a 32 deck lid that was marked as a Model A. HRP

 

Thought of another. I got this 348 Chevy 3x2 setup with fairly fresh rebuilt carbs for $350.

 

4 really nice '57-'58 Cameo trim rings for $1 a piece. The guy didn't know what they were for.

 

One of the best purchases I have ever made at a swap meet was when I was 16 years old. My Dad and I went to Hershey looking for 1929 Franklin and 1931 Dodge Brothers parts. I NEVER thought I would find anything other than Ford and Chevy parts. I came across a guy who had two brand new old stock radiator shells. One was for a 1931 Dodge and the other was for a 1929 Franklin. We paid $35.00 each for them and I was in heaven!! My Dad later sold the Franklin and radiator shell, but I kept the '31 Dodge and the parts I had gathered for it. I am 62 now. Here is the '31 DB shell....

 

A couple of years ago at the Lincoln, Nebraska swap meet, I bought a complete 1964 Belvedere 8.75 rear end including brakes for $20.00, that beat my previous best swap meet deal of $15.00 for a bare 8.75 mopar housing about 5 years ago.

 

Last fall my son found a front axle assembly with a asking price of $300. He purchase the chrome radius rods for $100 and told me I should go look at the remainder for $200. I purchased the remainder for $125. This was early ford spindles , king pins , steering arms , upper and lower shock mounts, shocks, spring perches and a complete disc brake setup and a chrome tube axle. Sold the axle for $75 and made about a $20 trade on the steering arms. Got alot on nice stuff for my $5 investment .