Turlock Swap Meet a paradise for gearheads

Consider this your alarm clock “wake-up call” for one of the biggest automotive events of the year in Northern California — and it’s only a half hour from Merced.

For those interested in buying a collector vehicle or the parts necessary to get one back on the road, mark Jan. 24-25 on your calendar. Be there or be square.

Those are the dates for the 49th annual Turlock Swap Meet sponsored by the Modesto Area A’s Model A Ford Club of America. The Stanislaus County Fairgrounds in Turlock becomes the scene of “mega overload” in the old car realm. It’s that big.

The organizers are expecting close to 900 vendors from all over the country and possibly even New Zealand. Last year about 25,000 spectators or buyers roamed the sprawling fairgrounds complex. Crowds for most of Saturday are elbow-rubbing close. It’s somewhat of a social event for gearheads and I always run into folks from back home.

In this case I think the superlatives are warranted. Hundreds of running old cars and trucks will be available for purchase and thousands of vintage auto parts fill just about every square inch of the grounds. Covering everything just once is quite a hike.

The Turlock Swap Meet could be an ideal place to take the plunge and buy a vintage vehicle. You won’t see that many old cars for sale in one spot anywhere else.

Someone else has done most of the hard work of bringing an antique back to life or exposing a nearly-forgotten treasure to the light of day after decades in hiding. If you want to build an old car yourself or bring a forgotten relic back to life, just about everything is available at varying prices.

Not many 1932 Fords show up anymore but lots of other vintage tin from prewar years is there.

It’s a great show even if you’re not intent on buying anything. Vintage gas pumps, license plates, models, magazines, signs and other automotive memorabilia are all over the place. Some of the prices are fairly hefty but good deals are possible now and then.

The rules state that the old cars must be driven to their spaces so that’s a good sign. Having gone to the Saturday swap meet for more than 30 years I can tell you the variety of cars for sale is staggering.

Everything from Ford Model T sedans to 1960s muscle cars is on the grounds. In between are showroom-stock sedans, glitzy convertibles and street rods.

Saturday’s “show” runs from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday’s hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Spectators get in Saturday for a 10-spot and $5 on Sunday. You can park your RV there for the weekend for 30 bucks. Food and drinks are available on the grounds along with ATMs if you’ve run out of green fun coupons. Sorry, no dogs, alcohol or firearms are allowed at the fairgrounds.

In any case, plan on having fun. It’s a rain or shine event but much more fun when the weather is favorable, especially if you get to take something good home with you.

Reporter Doane Yawger can be reached at (209) 385-2407 or dyawger@mercedsunstar.com.

This story was originally published January 15, 2015 at 5:51 PM with the headline "Turlock Swap Meet a paradise for gearheads."