Be not afraid. For many treasures await…

The swap meet is one of the last bastions of old-school hot-rodding. Old-timers with treasure troves of knowledge and vintage speed parts mingling with wide-eyed youngsters looking to complete that first build. You will find them at a swap meet. Here are some tips to make your trip to the land of forgotten parts fun and successful.

Be the early bird.

Get there early or buy a vendor spot—swap-meeters are an early crowd. Walking around at 4 a.m. in the freezing cold with a flashlight looking for the holy-grail part is considered good sport. Consider buying a vendor’s spot to get in extra early. Leave the setup of your stall for later and do your shopping early. If vendors can set up the night before, be ready to stay up all night perusing new arrivals.

Don’t be afraid to negotiate.

A swap meet is one of the last places in American culture where negotiating a price is an appreciated art form. The stated price is rarely the selling price. If you really want to get the edge, watch the vendor negotiate with a few other customers before wading into the fray. Get a line on his/her tactics. Use this to your advantage when purchasing that must-have part.

 Buy in bulk.

“How much for all of it?” Some vendors are just there to clean out their garage and get rid of what they consider clutter. Deals can be had for those willing to deal with multiple items. See a license plate you must have but the price is too high? Consider buying the whole box and cherry-picking the ones you want, take your time and sell the rest one by one at a profit.

Don’t be afraid to walk away.

Unless the item you are looking at is one of a kind, never find it again in a million years and you must have it today, walk away if negotiations reach a stalemate. As the day wears on, the seller might be more motivated to not have to pack it up and take it home. You risk someone else buying the part out from under you, but at least you will know that someone was willing to pay the asking price for it and next time you should as well.

Ask questions.

A swap meet is not only a great place to come away with some hardware; you can gain some knowledge as well. Ask what models a certain part came from. Was there a heavy-duty version? Does it cross-reference to another year/model? Does anyone remanufacture it or make replicas? Some vendors are fountains of arcane knowledge, others might just grunt at you and shoo you away.

Take a gearhead friend.

Two sets of eyes are better than one. That hard-to-find part you need for a project will do no good if you don’t see it as you walk by. Your swap meet buddy will likely know things you don’t and visa versa. More eyes, more knowledge equals more success at the swap meet. Plus, you get to hang out with a buddy for the day.

What is it?

For hours of endless fun, take some random part, the more obscure the better, and put it out with a sign that reads, “What is it?” Your day will be filled with many humorous conjectures, right and wrong, about its origin. If you honestly don’t know what the part is, it’s a good way to find out. Plus, you never know where it might lead. I’ve had this game lead to, “You know, I have one of those, but it’s on this old car in the back of the barn that I’ve been thinking about selling, you want to come take a look at it?”

Why, yes, I do.

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