Whether you call it a flea market, swap meet, bazaar, antique mall, antique show, vintage show, or vintage market, an automotive-themed gathering of people, cars, parts and accessories is an entertaining way for auto enthusiasts and project craftsmen to find old treasures, the parts they need, or items of interest, at reasonable prices.

Most often called flea markets or swap meets, the term swap meet (with swap meaning “to exchange, barter, or trade”) appears to have been in use since at least the late-1940s and early-1950s, though the concept predates it. A pioneer of the automotive swap meet, the Paramount Swap Meet in Paramount, CA, says it started in 1955, and the Hershey, PA Swap meet was also founded in the 1950s, while the Carlisle, PA Spring and Fall Swap meets began in 1974.

Bill and Chip Miller (no relation), founded Carlisle Events in 1974 for “car guys and girls just like them.” Prior to Carlisle Events' emergence, anyone interested in restoring or showing 1950s‐ or 1960s‐era cars had few options, as events focused on pre‐WWII automobiles. Even counting the pre-War-themed shows, automobile-specific swap meets were rare, sponsored by local car clubs as fundraisers, generally small in size and exclusively attracted local enthusiasts. Limited to these locally sponsored swap meets, the field changed when Chip Miller and Bill Miller Jr., became friends through a mutual interest in cars of the 1950s. After attending whatever car shows and automotive flea markets they could find, they saw like‐minded individuals hunt for parts and accessories to restore their vehicles. A need for these events became obvious to these two men who wanted to open up opportunities for enthusiasts who embraced all cars. The Millers brought later-model cars to the genre on September 26, 1974, on the rented Carlisle Fairgrounds, with “Post War '74”. The runaway success of what became known as Fall Carlisle Collector Car Swap Meet & Car Corral led to a similar Spring event in 1977. In short order, they became complete sellouts for vendor and car sale (or “car corral”) spaces.

The value of these events, and the dozens that now take place across America, is finding treasures or hard-to-find needed parts and accessories. Glenn Alt, of the Historical Vehicle Association said, “If you need vintage parts, one great place to start is your local swap meet.” Alt said, “Whether one swap meet is better than another is totally subjective and depends on what the person is looking for. Typically, bigger is better. But at any swap meet, there’s that element of the unknown -- every year bringing different vendors and new surprises, which makes the search for parts exciting and not something you get from shopping in a catalog or online.”

With virtual shopping, on-line marketplaces, the rise of eBay and other virtual parts bazaars, many predicted that it was only a matter of time before swap meets became a thing of the past. But Swap meets haven’t died, nor do they show any sign of fading away. Car people like to see, hold, feel, smell and hear about the items for their projects. They want to talk to other car people up close and talk about their cars, their projects and their love for engines, four wheels, style, performance and history. They want to be one with the parts. Shiny is good, but rust is endearing. So even in a social-distancing world, automotive flea markets and swap meets continue to thrive.

With notable, historic and successful events held in such eclectic locations as Hillsborough, NC; Commerce, GA; Salt Lake City, UT; Nashville, TN; Pleasanton, CA; Des Moines, IA; Columbus, OH; Puyallup, WA; Spokane, WA; Ft. Worth, TX; Scottsdale, AZ; Chickasha, OK; Del Mar, CA, and more, some of the longest-running events are held in Hershey, PA – 65 years and running; Portland, OR – 50 years; and Pomona, CA -- the West Coast’s largest automotive swap meet.

Some of the best-attended and most heralded automotive swap meets are the Carlisle Events shows. Held on the 82-acre Carlisle, PA Fairgrounds, Spring Carlisle (April 21 - 25, 2021) and Fall Carlisle (Sept. 29-Oct.3, 2021) are among the largest automotive flea markets in the world and two of the best opportunities to get your hands on all things automotive. With 8,100 spaces of vendors selling a vast array of automotive parts, accessories, cars, collectibles and memorabilia, it's almost certain that you won't go home empty handed. Accompanied with the massive automotive flea market and car corral, is the Manufacturers Midway featuring the latest and greatest products and services. Across the street is the Carlisle Auctions, Collector Car Auction.

New to Carlisle this year is Auto Mania (January 15 - 17, 2021) at the Carlisle Expo Center. For more than 30 years, Auto Mania has been Pennsylvania’s largest indoor automotive Flea Market. Normally held in Allentown, PA, this year’s event is moving to the Carlisle Expo Center in Carlisle, PA for 2021 ONLY. The 150+ spaces showcase parts, services, new products, memorabilia items, tires, accessories, car care products, tools, vintage advertising, collectibles and much more.

<I> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

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