This past Saturday, Stoddard, the premier vintage Porsche parts suppliers, played host to their 26th annual swap meet and all Porsche car show. The show held a little bit of something for everyone with Porsche representatives both vintage and modern, and the swap meet housed vendors and private collectors hawking their rarities and oddities from all over North America. While not nearly as large as the Hershey swap meet, or as well attended as the LA Literature and Toy meet, the Stoddard meet offers a little bit of each in a more intimate setting.
Friday night, Stoddard opened their doors for vendors and collectors to display Porsche related toys and literature. A record number of spaces were accounted for, and it was a very fun evening for everyone. Just before closing time at around 9pm, the showroom felt more akin to the New York Stock Exchange than a friendly Porsche get together. There were people everywhere, trying to find the next deal, looking to sell their last bit of literature, or making package deals to trade. As everyone filtered out on Friday night to enjoy a meal with friends, many were happy with the evening’s proceedings.
Start Early, Stay Late!
Saturday opened with a slight fog and a lower than expected, but not uncomfortable ambient temperature. Nearing 7:30, most of the vendors had already had their spaced staked out and set up. It seems that every swap meet I’ve ever attended is opened with the vendors peeking at everyone else’s parts before the crowds arrive, digging out the real deals. Once a deal has been struck between vendors, the purchaser will then return to his own booth and place a higher price on the piece. For this reason, I always like to show up before everyone else. Additionally, I find that deals start to come a little easier as people start to pack up to go home, wishing to make a few less dollars on an item than to pack it and take it back home. For this reason, I always like to stay later than everyone else, as well.
The third facet of the Stoddard Swap Meet triumvirate, the car show, was as well attended as ever, with a surprising number of Porsche fanatics making the drive out to Highland Heights, OH to show off their steeds. Handfuls of 356 and 911 models were in attendance, and other Porsche models were better represented than expected. The People’s Choice award for the show even went to a particularly clean 914-6 GT Clone owned by Eric Shea of PMB Performance.
Other Porsche Blog Posts You Will Enjoy
The Making of the King of the Curve, An Insider’s Perspective
Porsches Prominent on Fairway: Pictures of the Inaugural Pinehurst Concours
What is the 944Fest and Why Should You Attend?
An Introduction to Driver’s Education for Porsche Owners (Part I of II)
