It’s really a crime to call it a swap meet. The words are tantamount to calling it a flea market, but the momentum of time and history kind of make it hard to change it at this late date to “The Antiques Roadshow Of Everything Chrysler.” Collectors come from all around the country to the Mopar Nats every August to bring their rare Mopar artifacts to sell. Likewise, even more collectors come to the Mopar Nats to buy rare Mopar artifacts. It’s a marriage made in heaven and that’s why we headed to National Trail Raceway in Columbus, OH this past August 11-13, 2017.
This tradition is over 30 years in the making, and by now, Nats attendees and vendors can practically do it in their sleep. Notwithstanding, having familiarity with the event is not the same thing as taking it for granted. The swap meet at the Nats is likely responsible for inspiring more projects and saving more build-ups than any other event of its kind except perhaps the All-Chrysler Nationals at Carlisle, PA. (That would be a tough call to make, but the two are that close!)
Your success at the swap meet is dictated by a few factors. Over the years, we’ve been on both sides of the fence buying and selling, and there are a few tips we have for both roles. There’s nothing worse than spending a ton of time hauling yourself and your junk to a swap meet, only to a). not be able to turn your roll of cabbage into parts, or b). not turn your load of parts into hard cash. To keep that from happening, it helps to put yourself in the other guy’s shoes. If you’re a seller, it’s a huge deal to label the parts with year, make, and model. Yeah, it sounds stupid, but not everybody knows what they’re looking for unless they’ve got a photographic memory. The customer might not even have a broken, beat-up version of the part for reference, so don’t be lazy: label it.
Many sellers like to specialize in specific models and years of production. Perhaps they started with leftover parts cars from a project long ago, or they just like a certain model. We see that all the time, so if you’re a seller and you’ve got a buyer on the hook for one part, there’s a good chance you’ve got something else he wants. Don’t squander the opportunity! Show him what else you’ve got or tell him about stuff you have back in the barn. Turn it into a package deal—you’ll both be happier. One more note: Sellers love grouping parts by type (all fenders together, all grilles together, etc.) but you’ll sell a lot more parts if you group them by year, make, and model (ex.: all 1968 Plymouth Valiant parts in one pile).
Buyers can help their situation by stating what they’re looking for. The easiest way to do that? Write it with a fat Sharpie on a white t-shirt. (It helps to wear that t-shirt at the Nats too!) You’d be surprised how well that works, and it’s also a conversation starter. We’ve even seen guys walk around with sandwich boards made of cardboard listing stuff they want and the junk they’re willing to trade. The biggest tip for buyers is to carry cash and not be shy about talking about it. The old saying goes, “cash talks, BS walks.” Don’t be afraid to snag a seller with your pocket broccoli in the late hours of the day when it’s time for him to start loading it all back on the truck.
There are, of course, times when vintage parts are unavailable or not appropriate. This is why the Mopar Nats also has a very robust manufacturer’s midway. If it had a roof over it, it would be more like a Mopar Mall, so bring your credit card and bring your truck! At Columbus, the National Trails pit area adjacent to the staging lanes has everything you could image, from crate motors and transmissions to speed parts, interiors, and brand new sheetmetal. There are even vendors selling complete turnkey cars with the horsepower dial turned up to “eleven.”
When it’s all said and done, you really don’t need a reason to troll the swap meet or the midway. True gearheads do it just for the love of it. Every swap meet stall or midway booth is like a mini treasure trove that draws you in and entices you with its hidden secrets. This progresses from aisle to aisle in a never-ending, slowly building crescendo of mechanically induced joy. By day’s end, even the stingiest swapper has experienced nirvana and the loss of hard-earned cash. Why? Because Mopar.
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