Portland Swap Meet
Randy C.
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,348
From: Albany, OR
There are actually two separate swap meets. One is at the Portland International Raceway and it runs from THU thru SAT. The other is at the Portland Expo, right next door, and it runs from FRI thru SUN. Parking happens in big fields between the two venues and there is bus service that runs between the two swap meets and the parking area (starts at parking area, goes to PIR, goes to Expo, returns to parking area). As I recall, parking costs about $10/day and the bus service comes with it. Both swap meets are pretty big. This year's Expo swap meet will be a little different, however, in that another show (Cirque Soleil?) will take up part of the outside area. I understand that some vendors have moved from the Expo to PIR to accomodate the "sun circus" show.
I'm out the door and on my way in about 30 minutes!
Randy C.
I'm out the door and on my way in about 30 minutes!
Randy C.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 259
From: Vancouver, BC
Sounds really good! wish I heard about it earlier.
I hate to trouble any of you guys, but if anyone sees a full-size 1966 Olds 3-piece front bumper or a 1966 B-bodies (all 3 88s and Starfire) rear bumper can they get the seller's contact? I'm looking for something that is "driver" quality and doesn't need rework.
I may be headed to Portland later for work, so it would be perfect to pick up some parts while there.
I hate to trouble any of you guys, but if anyone sees a full-size 1966 Olds 3-piece front bumper or a 1966 B-bodies (all 3 88s and Starfire) rear bumper can they get the seller's contact? I'm looking for something that is "driver" quality and doesn't need rework.
I may be headed to Portland later for work, so it would be perfect to pick up some parts while there.
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 520
My 3/4T chebby pickup gets about 10 mpg and gas prices here are running $4.15-4.25 a gallon for regular. With a round trip of 600 miles I'd have to get some good deals to just pay for the gas
I had a booth there and sold a bunch of stuff about 20 years ago... but since then I've wished I had many of those parts back to use on projects I've come across!
About 15 years ago I got a real good deal on a 1968 factory 4 speed Cutlass, but generally there wasn't a lot of Oldsmobile parts there. I have passed on a couple project/parts cars locally that were priced right because I don't have the room
Still always fun to look at the cars and parts, plus the chance to talk with other car guys. Probably the second best swap meet in the state is in Albany in the fall. I've got a buddy talked into joining me with a swap meet booth there. I'll have to see how the workload is this summer, but I really hope to get a couple projects on the road and thin out the collection of parts cars. Time will tell! John
I had a booth there and sold a bunch of stuff about 20 years ago... but since then I've wished I had many of those parts back to use on projects I've come across!
About 15 years ago I got a real good deal on a 1968 factory 4 speed Cutlass, but generally there wasn't a lot of Oldsmobile parts there. I have passed on a couple project/parts cars locally that were priced right because I don't have the room
Still always fun to look at the cars and parts, plus the chance to talk with other car guys. Probably the second best swap meet in the state is in Albany in the fall. I've got a buddy talked into joining me with a swap meet booth there. I'll have to see how the workload is this summer, but I really hope to get a couple projects on the road and thin out the collection of parts cars. Time will tell! John
Randy C.
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,348
From: Albany, OR
I just got back from Portland and was somewhat disappointed with what I saw as a lack of Olds parts and representation. Usually, there will be 3-4 booths with nothing but Olds stuff, plus an Olds club representation in one of the buildings. I saw none of that this time.
I did get a real treasure find, though - I know my car first went to Bob Brown Oldsmobile in Portland, OR, for its pre-delivery inspection (PDI) before it was turned over to the Zone office in Portland to be driven by a Zone manager. I've met and talked with Bob Brown's son, who worked at his dad's dealership. He told me one of the steps in the PDI was to put "Bob Brown Olds" license plate frames on the car with the car's new plate. I found a "Bob Brown Olds" license plate frame at the swap meet, which made my day! I'll get it cleaned up/restored before I put it on the car.
The only other thing of significance that I found was a nice driver-side exhaust manifold for my '71 Corvette - casting numbers right for the car and date code consistent with the build date of the car. Now I can move forward with a whole new exhaust system for that car.
Overall, I spent about $300 to buy $25 in parts that I really wanted. Don't know if that's a wise expenditure of funds, but we did have a good time!
Randy C.
I did get a real treasure find, though - I know my car first went to Bob Brown Oldsmobile in Portland, OR, for its pre-delivery inspection (PDI) before it was turned over to the Zone office in Portland to be driven by a Zone manager. I've met and talked with Bob Brown's son, who worked at his dad's dealership. He told me one of the steps in the PDI was to put "Bob Brown Olds" license plate frames on the car with the car's new plate. I found a "Bob Brown Olds" license plate frame at the swap meet, which made my day! I'll get it cleaned up/restored before I put it on the car.
The only other thing of significance that I found was a nice driver-side exhaust manifold for my '71 Corvette - casting numbers right for the car and date code consistent with the build date of the car. Now I can move forward with a whole new exhaust system for that car.
Overall, I spent about $300 to buy $25 in parts that I really wanted. Don't know if that's a wise expenditure of funds, but we did have a good time!
Randy C.
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 520
I just got back from Portland and was somewhat disappointed with what I saw as a lack of Olds parts and representation. Usually, there will be 3-4 booths with nothing but Olds stuff, plus an Olds club representation in one of the buildings. I saw none of that this time.
I did get a real treasure find, though - I know my car first went to Bob Brown Oldsmobile in Portland, OR, for its pre-delivery inspection (PDI) before it was turned over to the Zone office in Portland to be driven by a Zone manager. I've met and talked with Bob Brown's son, who worked at his dad's dealership. He told me one of the steps in the PDI was to put "Bob Brown Olds" license plate frames on the car with the car's new plate. I found a "Bob Brown Olds" license plate frame at the swap meet, which made my day! I'll get it cleaned up/restored before I put it on the car.
The only other thing of significance that I found was a nice driver-side exhaust manifold for my '71 Corvette - casting numbers right for the car and date code consistent with the build date of the car. Now I can move forward with a whole new exhaust system for that car.
Overall, I spent about $300 to buy $25 in parts that I really wanted. Don't know if that's a wise expenditure of funds, but we did have a good time!
Randy C.
I did get a real treasure find, though - I know my car first went to Bob Brown Oldsmobile in Portland, OR, for its pre-delivery inspection (PDI) before it was turned over to the Zone office in Portland to be driven by a Zone manager. I've met and talked with Bob Brown's son, who worked at his dad's dealership. He told me one of the steps in the PDI was to put "Bob Brown Olds" license plate frames on the car with the car's new plate. I found a "Bob Brown Olds" license plate frame at the swap meet, which made my day! I'll get it cleaned up/restored before I put it on the car.
The only other thing of significance that I found was a nice driver-side exhaust manifold for my '71 Corvette - casting numbers right for the car and date code consistent with the build date of the car. Now I can move forward with a whole new exhaust system for that car.
Overall, I spent about $300 to buy $25 in parts that I really wanted. Don't know if that's a wise expenditure of funds, but we did have a good time!
Randy C.
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