How about a swap meet forum?

[Terry Bond]

I see a lot of posts here from folks wondering who is going to various swap meets all over the country, but darned few reports from anyone who has been to them.  I've tried myself to ask some questions of folks who may have attended them but info is hard to come by, and there is little post-event reporting done via the forum.    Was wondering if it might work to have a forum dedicated to swap meet reports to help encourage feedback?  I also visit the Model T forums frequently and they generally have pretty good reporting on the Model T friendly events, so it could probably be done here too.  For those organizing such events, some reporting would likely help increase attendance (or it might have the opposite effect for events that are not worth the drive).  Swap meets are still a big part of the old car hobby as far as I'm concerned and I would welcome greater emphasis here.  At least getting all the input, reporting, etc. into a dedicated forum would make it easier to find any available info.  Just thnkin out loud here ...

Terry

[Joe in Canada]

Well Terry I would think there will be a few Americans coming to the AACA Ontario Region swap meet in Lindsay Ontario this April. Now with the dollar exchange in the US favor over 40%. Not only the cars or parts but every thing from food to lodging is like getting 40% off. It may not be the biggest swap meet but it will be the one with the most bargains if you are coming from state side.

[Guest AlCapone]

Well Terry I would think there will be a few Americans coming to the AACA Ontario Region swap meet in Lindsay Ontario this April. Now with the dollar exchange in the US favor over 40%. Not only the cars or parts but every thing from food to lodging is like getting 40% off. It may not be the biggest swap meet but it will be the one with the most bargains if you are coming from state side.

Attendees should get their money exchanged beforehand because it is my experience that vendors do not give the full if any exchange rate! Restaurants and motels also are reluctant to commit to the full exchange. I live on the Canadian side if the border and I am seeing signs at restaurants that they are giving 10%. There are money exchanges entering Canada, please use them! Wayne

[Guest]

Good idea about a thread or forum for swap meets, since it's often tough to get info about a meet if you're not close by and have never attended.

 

I'd suggest listing some questions that need to be answered in any initial post about a meet to keep things focused.  These questions could include:

 

- Contact person/website for basic meet info (location, dates, prices, any restrictions (domestic cars/parts only, etc.), etc.)

 

- Approximate size of meet (number of vendors, crowd size, etc.)

 

- Estimation of types of parts (specific eras, brands, models, etc.)

 

- Makeup of vendors (Mom-and-Pop, national companies, specialty, etc.)

 

- Any meet-specific issues as noted by the poster (lodging, parking, food, etc.)

[John_S_in_Penna]

Wouldn't a "swap meet" forum be duplicating

the "Meets and Tours" category already listed

under "General Discussion"?  Meets and tours

don't have to be AACA events to be discussed there.

 

I like the idea of discussing the pros and cons of

various events:  People come from hours away,

and many vendors and buyers will want to know

what others' experiences have been, before they

make plans to travel a good distance.

Edited February 2, 2016 by John_S_in_Penna (see edit history)

[Joe in Canada]

Wouldn't a "swap meet" forum be duplicating

the "Meets and Tours" category already listed

under "General Discussion"?  Meets and tours

don't have to be AACA events to be discussed there.

 

I like the idea of discussing the pros and cons of

various events:  People come from hours away,

and many vendors and buyers will want to know

what others' experiences have been, before they

make plans to travel a good distance.

I see the Meets an Tours section more as an advertising page so to speak. Letting the host give information of their event. That way he is advertising and someone not criticising it for muddy parking for example. Info and discussion should be separate I think.

You would not want to advertise a car for sale and then have someone posting below calling it a rust bucket. I also started the thread on Barrett Jackson Auction and I do not think they would want the 80 comments there is now on the pros and cons of their event below an advert.

Edited February 2, 2016 by Joe in Canada (see edit history)

[D Yaros]

Attendees should get their money exchanged beforehand because it is my experience that vendors do not give the full if any exchange rate! Restaurants and motels also are reluctant to commit to the full exchange. I live on the Canadian side if the border and I am seeing signs at restaurants that they are giving 10%. There are money exchanges entering Canada, please use them! Wayne

My first stop after crossing the border is usually a bank.  It is also my last stop on the way back to the U.S.

[1937hd45]

Great idea Terry! Swap Meets sure aren't what they once were but going to the better ones are sometimes worth the trip. If I'd know about Turlock, Ca. I might have done things differently last week. Getting good reports may be tough, a 1991 Whatsit collector may be clueless as to what Brass Cars stuff is, and a  Brass Car guy wouldn't what the used 1991 Whatsit taking up space. Bob

[Joe in Canada]

Great idea Terry! Swap Meets sure aren't what they once were but going to the better ones are sometimes worth the trip. If I'd know about Turlock, Ca. I might have done things differently last week. Getting good reports may be tough, a 1991 Whatsit collector may be clueless as to what Brass Cars stuff is, and a  Brass Car guy wouldn't what the used 1991 Whatsit taking up space. Bob

I went to the Turlock swap meet years ago and done well their. I talked to a fellow from Turlock at past Hershey and he told my it has gone down the tubes and was not worth the effort. You can get a wide range point of view about swap meets I think.

[TG57Roadmaster]

That is a great idea Terry. I have lots of pics and notes from a show we go to in Mannheim, Germany that merit discussion.

 

Hope it'll fly!

 

TG

[Terry Bond]

I would love to see reports from swap meets all across the country (world wide too!) with photos. Have you ever seen pics from the Beaulieu Autojumble in England?  How about Retromobile in Paris?  I usually take a lot of photos, especially at Hershey - tables full of neat stuff.  It's great to show everyone what they missed.  Heck, I've even looked at my pictures after getting home and realize there is something there on the table that I somehow didn't notice and should have bought.  If people can rate hotels and restaurants we should have a place for swap meet reports and pics so everyone can see.  The Model T guys usually post plenty of great swap meet photos from events.  I'd love to see more of it here too, consolidated into one place that's easy to find.  I'm glad the thought has some support, and if it happens I promise a full report on our spring event here in the Tidewater area.   This year we're moving it to the Virginia Beach Aviation Museum, site of our National Meet this year. 

Terry

[1937hd45]

I keep thinking about the Swap Meets I used to go to, Kempton, Pa, and Fairfield, N.J. around this time of year, there was something special about a winter swap meet, hope this Forum feature takes off. Bob

[TG57Roadmaster]

For example, this is what we see at the Veterama Show in Mannheim, Germany when we go to hunt Mercedes parts. Trouble is, the big fall show is the same weekend as Hershey, but when you seek parts for European cars, you gotta go to them, as the selection is vast, incredible, and fruitful.

 

Plus, there are car museums to see, palaces, great public transportation...

 

TG

Edited February 7, 2016 by TG57Roadmaster (see edit history)

[Terry Bond]

Fanatastic!  Would love to go there.  Been to Beaulieu several times but never to Germany.  Thanks for the pics from the Mercedes museum too- that early Mercedes on exhibit is W.K. Vanderbilt's car.  It's the one actually on the trophy and will also be mentioned in my Brass Car seminar at the Philly Annual Meeting. 

 

Bob, i'ts been many moons since I've been to the Kempton PA swap meet but still have some of the great things I found there.  Those were the good old days for sure.  Maybe when I retire I'll take a whole year and do nothing but swap meets! 

 

No signs yet we're going to get a separate forum for these but I'll talk with some folks up in Philly at the Annual Meeting and see what the feeling is on the topic.  Until then-keep those pictures coming!

Terry

[Joe in Canada]

 This is why we need a swap meet forum.           http://forums.aaca.org/topic/269123-st-charles-illinois-buickoldspontiac-cadillac-swap-meet/

[Peter Gariepy]

Swap Meets forum - ask and you shall receive.

[1937hd45]

Roadmaster, Did you notice the asking price on the Type 40 and 37 Bugatti engines in photo #10? That is a sight you'd never see here in the USA. Bob

[Terry Bond]

Thanks Peter, Great work as always!!!!

Terry

[TG57Roadmaster]

Roadmaster, Did you notice the asking price on the Type 40 and 37 Bugatti engines in photo #10? That is a sight you'd never see here in the USA. Bob

 

Bob,

 

Hi, I did not notice the prices on thiose engines, didn't know what they were! Veterama is such a treat, so much vintage eye candy, that's it's impossible to take it all in.

 

TG

[TG57Roadmaster]

Terry,

 

Are you talking about this Mercedes? The museum pics were taken on our first Veterama visit in 2009, and it was so overwhelming, I doubt I'd have made the connection then. I've recently become acquainted with V. Cup historian Howard Kroplick, so it holds more significance now. I was the one who took pics in '86 of Mrs. Chrysler's '37 Imperial LeBaron Town Car that was recently restored, now being shown by Howard. Great guy!

 

I have bigger files of the Museum pics if you want them.

 

TG

Edited February 9, 2016 by TG57Roadmaster (see edit history)

[Joe in Canada]

Was there not a Bugatti body at Hersey this year that a restoration shop re-bodied for a customer back in the 80s than retained the original one?  I looked and do not have a picture of it.

[Bleach]

Attendees should get their money exchanged beforehand because it is my experience that vendors do not give the full if any exchange rate! Restaurants and motels also are reluctant to commit to the full exchange. I live on the Canadian side if the border and I am seeing signs at restaurants that they are giving 10%. There are money exchanges entering Canada, please use them! Wayne

I usually only use a credit card wherever possible. Then I get the full exchange rate.

[1937hd45]

Yes, It was down the row from me. a body that may have one been on a Bugatti chassis, but never as a new vehicle.

Was there not a Bugatti body at Hersey this year that a restoration shop re-bodied for a customer back in the 80s than retained the original one?  I looked and do not have a picture of it.