Corvette Swap Meet History

[Geoff C.]

Twenty-five years ago there was a really large cult attendance at the exclusive Corvette swap meets in the USA. They were always packed with parts and spectators. Today the urgency has been removed as well as that old generous supply of used Corvette parts. Now they are more of a Corvette social gathering phenomenon than anything else with carbon fiber and billet accouterments.

Wish I still has some of those NOS tripower air cleaners. Heck they were only 6 years old in 1975.

Geoffrey Coenen

PS See the price guarantee below.




Note that these prices will NOT be honored.

[David Van Weele]

Re: Corvette Swap Meet History

Geoffrey

I remember those days very well. I miss the intrigue of finding the best buy on the field and then reselling it for more then we paid. First the cold days in Spring and Fall Carlisle and then the heat at Corvettes at Carlisle.

The picture of your mom brough back many memories as I spent a good deal of time talking with her while you and my friend Eric both of us to man the booths which happened to be next to each other for years.

Enjoy your retirement as I am enjoying mine. Best wishes

Dave Van Weele




My Z06

[Roy B.]

Re: Corvette Swap Meet History

I feel the same, what happened with swap meets?? I was at Oregon, Monterey and Nevada ,I was the only one selling any thing .The swap meets were a big part of NCRS. Is every one"s Corvette done?? Are repro's taking over original parts?? I notice that the only people looking at my parts are old guys like myself that wont a real Corvette and not a kit Corvette.

[John L.]

Re: Corvette Swap Meet History

Doc

Thanks for sharing those pictures and memories with us. I really enjoyed this post.

[Ralph E.]

Re: Corvette Swap Meet History

DOC,
Terrific pictures!
You really are old
Ralph #37280

[Clem Z.]

JMHO

once restoring a corvette became a national game where the awards given made the car value go up and up the people having the restoration done will pay any price for the parts. this also brought out the flim flam artist who now make a good living selling faked corvettes and faked corvette parts. back when these adds were made corvette restoration was just a pride thing not a way of making money.

[Michael S.]

Re: Corvette Swap Meet History

Geoffrey,

Unfortunately it's the people that have changed. Go to any big Corvette event today and what people do you see? Fat and 50+ with a new C5 and all the Corvette trinkets and trash they can buy for their body AND Corvette! Sure they are still those of us who did the Corvette thing in the 70's, but not as many and not the way we did back then.

Let's face it, the old timers are now "older timer's". Where did all the guys go that were in the Corvette hobby? Death, taxes, new boats, new houses, golf, retirement, new girlfriends and then new wives, different strip clubs, retirement, bankruptcy, new C5's, Cadillacs, Mercedes, out of the country, jail etc. You get the picture. Life changes and so have our Corvette friends. What the hell is wrong with these people, I thought Corvettes were forever!

We now go to the Corvette events to see our friends, sell a few parts and buy a lot of beer. We have changed also but we STILL go to the Corvette show! It's not near as fun shopping on ebay as it is rummaging through someone's junque at the swap meet! It's hard to get any young kid interested in the junque meet. Why do that when they can order it shiny new on the internet. Remeber when long distance telephone calls were expensive and we ONLY talked with the long distance Corvette buddies at the junque meet? Remeber when you actually restored a car instead of buying one done?

My these times are a changing and so is the Corvette swap meet!

Mike

[Geoff C.]

Clem and Gentlemen,

I would be a liar if I said that all I have done or accomplished has been for merely noble esoteric purposes. Fact is I did make a fair return on my investments, however that was not the initial, primary nor solitary motivation. And at least I enjoyed what I was doing for a long time. It was not as much of a drudge as perhaps for others in their chosen vocation. My goal was never to be the largest, best, or whatever superlative can be inserted in this sentence. It was to improve upon my security and future, as is the goal of most who are willing to do hard work for long hours. At the same time, some of the part solutions I offered assisted other with the same problem as mine.

Thank goodness, we never made parts that would by their addition really grossly inflate the value of ones Corvette. We made not Aluminum heads, or FI manifolds or re-stamped blocks or VIN tags or tank stickers. Our humble reproduction as addition are more of a repair/refurbish nature than an option addition nature. Most of these part or kits we developed were first used by me on my cars to repair an existing part.

Of course, it really only matters as to what the owners represents when he finally passes his model or “rare” part on to the next owner. There are plenty of honest folk; only the dishonest need the attention.

Geoffrey “Frogskin” Coenen

PS As William Safire does in the Sunday NYTimes, allow me to explain the derivation and credit my usage of the term “frogskin” to #14. I like it.

[Mike M.]

Re: Clem and Gentlemen,

Geoffrey: # 14 didn't come up with the FROGSKIN idea-- it was the diabolical Dipstick of Lyle Wash, the ex-NCRS Judging chairman who introduced the term to yours truly.mike

[Geoff C.]

Mike: Duly noted by this amateur linguist *NM*

[Clem Z.]

doc,of course i did not mean you but

if the shoe fits wear it.

[Bill Braun 33186]

Hey, Doc!

I notice from the photo of the 1997 Carlisle show that even then you were a fashion plate. This tradition was upheld with grand success at the 2003 Carlisle show. We're still waitin' on them p-washers, BTW.

btdf 33186

[Gary Bishop]

Re: Corvette Swap Meet History

Unfortunately it's the people that have changed. Go to any big Corvette event today and what people do you see? Fat and 50+ with a new C5 and all the Corvette trinkets and trash they can buy for their body AND Corvette!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I fit in to that group except that I do not feel the need to do the "add on thing".
Gary Bishop,
50th Anniversary Edition,
1962 White 2 Top - 340hp,
NCRS 11994,
NCM Member & Ambassador.
Ontario, Canada

[Joe R.]

Re: Hey, Doc!

Geoff,

When I read the start of this thread, I started to respond and tell you thanks for the memories but it is even better now. This thread is a reflection of every old vendor and every old Corvette owner that belongs to the NCRS. Swap meets have become places for C-5 owners to get hats, mats, t-shirts and sunburn.

Thanks for reminding us of the good times when we rebuilt Corvettes and didn't even know a Corvette "Driver".

JR

[Geoff C.]

I blame you and me

Joe,

I would not put the blame on the C4 or C5 fellows. I have had both, but just have not felt the heed to personalize them. Rather the blame lies with me and you and others. Those of us with “extra” C1, C2, C3 parts are tired of dragging it all out. It isn’t necessary any longer. It has changed, but I enjoy the change. It provides an opportunity to see old faces and maybe find a part if you really want to hunt for one. I see new younger fellows in their 30’s and 40’s that now cater to the C4 C5 folk that actually repair / restore those models with GM parts. The accessory and Corvette accouterment market will only grow with each year and model, C6, C7. C what I mean.

Geoffrey Coenen