A father explains the workings of a vintage race car, to his son. The car was driven by Len Sutton at the 1965 Indy 500 and is now owned by Don and Ruby Shervey, who had it on display at the Corvette and High Performance Swap Meet. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)
Despite a shift to buying spare parts off of eBay Motors, swap meets continue to fill the roll of both business opportunities for vendors, as well as social meets for automotive enthusiasts. That was particularly evident at this year's Corvette and High Performance Swap Meet held in the city of Puyallup, Washington on the twelfth and thirteenth of February.
According to Larry Johnson, who coordinates the meet, this year, booth vendor and exhibitor count was up this year. Vendor/exhibitor booths reportedly numbered 1,014. Attendance – including vendors – was 8,100 for both days.
Tucked away in the northwest corner of the United States, Puyallup's Western Washington Fairgrounds is a good place for a swap meet. Vendors offer not only spare or reproduction parts, but also automotive books and even entire cars. Some of the cars needed restorations and some were good to go.
Having something to haul parts in, is important for serious buyers at a swap meet. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)
Roger Perry, up from LeBanon, Oregon, said, “I've been coming up for 8 to 10 years – at least.” He was walking around the grounds with a small wagon that was fitted to look like a covered wagon of the Old West.
Like some other people, Perry was using his wagon in search of the parts he wanted. In Perry's case, it was “Corvette parts, '62 or older, “as a sign on his back would tell you; but that didn't stop him from stopping to look over a 1976 Chevrolet Corvette that was being offered for sale by Bryan Vanghan ($7,500 or best offer).
Wayne Rousch (left, with hat) stands by his 1959 Corvette, talking to interested parties. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)
Wayne Rousch, owner of Wayne's Service Center in Burien, Washington, was standing by the black 1959 Chevrolet Corvette that he was working to sell. He and his wife Ellie, had purchased it from the first owner, D.L. Rose, and they had finished a restoration in 1985. He was open to any reasonable offer.
The paint was peeling off in places evidence that the Corvette had probably been stored outside. But the miles on most of the mechanicals were reportedly just 70,856. The original 283 cubic-inch displacement engine block set out front of the car, while what Rousch said was a “donor engine,” fitted with a four-barrel Rochester carburetor, set inside the engine bay. The original four-speed manual transmission was still in place behind that engine.
The 1955 Chevrolet Corvette of Garry and Marilee Wamsley, on display inside a pavillion at the Western Washington Fairgrounds. It was restored in 2007, it was one of just 45 painted Pennant Blue. Power came from a 265 cubic-inch V8. The Wamsleys are the third registered owners. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)
It was drawing as much attention as some of the more recently restored cars inside a pavilion building where vendors such as bookseller Logan Gray of Portland, Oregon was working.
Logan Gray amidst the books he brought to Puyallup. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)
“Swap meets definitely have validity as a buying and selling medium,” said Gray. “But some meets more than others seem to have more of a social purpose.
“If it gets us out into the mainstream, and particularly gives the elder statesmen of the car hobby a chance to share their memories and knowledge, I'm 100 percent for it. We need to talk to these people and benefit from their experiences; before we lose the entire generation that was active in the forties, fifties and sixties (of the past century), the 'golden years' of racing, rodding and muscle.”
Gray said that he sees several factors influencing swap meets. The economy, in general, is one of them.
“Cars aren't selling, or turning over, as rapidly as before. So a big segment of society has been squeezed out of participating in the hobby by the current economy,” he said. “The fewer cars sold, the fewer people need a book or manual for their pride and joy. We all see small indicators of improvement but I don't see much long term change.”
As for the Internet, Gray added that, “There is no question that more shopping is being done on the Internet, particularly in books; and fewer people seem inclined to clean out their garage and go to the trouble of bringing their cast-offs to a swap meet. We need a good percentage of occasional sellers, bringing their unwanted stuff, to keep it interesting for all of us.
But asked why he's still coming, Gray allows that, “There's definitely (still) opportunity, and money to be made, by 'garage cleaners' at swap meets if perhaps less so for regulars such as myself. For my part, I'm increasing the mix of used and out-of-print books, as opposed to new, partly to keep prices down, and also to keep the mix interesting for browsers and potential customers.”
An aftermarket intake manifold on display, and offered for sale by Tom Wold, GT Marine. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)
Tom Wold, vice-president of sales for GT Marine, whose booth carried items such as an Offenhauser intake manifold, complete with dual four-barrel carburetors, for a 429 cubic-inch Ford V8 engine, was philosophical about the changing nature of swap meets, saying after the meet had ended, “The show went well for us. We sold a fair amount and had a lot of fun doing it. It is a social event. If it wasn't, it would be boring.”
So automotive enthusiasts can remain sanguine about the fact that the venerable automotive swap meet will likely endure as both a buying and selling event similar to a Moroccan bazaar, and a get-together for those who'd like to talk about automobiles and trucks, as much as work on them. – Terry Parkhurst
Epilogue: Wayne Rousch is still looking for a buyer for his 1959 Corvette. Interested parties can reach him, by telephone, at (206) 243-1970. An associate of his who answered the phone at Wayne's Service Center said he thought that “about $5,000” might seal the deal.
No word on whether Bryan Vanghan sold his 1976 Corvette, that he'd described as "an old school hot rod" due to the Offenhauser intake manifold on the 350 cubic-inch V8 in the engine bay. Interested parties can reach him, by telephone, at (253) 468-7634.
Suggested reference for swap meets: There are 67 automotive-oriented swap meets held in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and Western Canada, with details, listed in the 2011 Northwest Car Events Calendar; available at: www.upfrontimages.com
