VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 Hershey, Pa

Hey all,
I was wondering if anyone would tell me about the Hershey, Pa auto show/swap meet coming up in October. How many days will it take to wander around it, are sections divided up into auto manufacturers .... etc etc etc. I have the time off work and could be there for 3 days. Should I bring a wagon/ cart to haul my stuff ?
Any info would be appreciated.
Cliff
p.s. where exactly is it in Hershey?

You might want to post you question in the Non-VCCA Events forum or the General Discussions forum instead of here in the 1929-32 forum.

hey puppy.
yes. bring a hand truck or old lady shopping cart.
be warned. you are going to walk alot. so good shoes are in order. it will take about 3 days to see everything if you don`t stop at any one vender for to long and talk.
no there is no sections,ford,chevy, etc. it goes be vender space numbers. so its alot of walking. i make it a point to walk down every row as i don`t want to miss anything. good bargins and good stuff can be had there. last year i spent over 1k on GOOD JUNK. i even found the right steering wheel for my 30 last year after 8 yrs of looking for one.
i wouldn`t miss it for the world. alot of pre war cars and stuff. friday morning is when all the cars come in and everybody sits on the fence and watch them go by.

You'll need all of the three days just to see the stuff for sale, and don't miss the car show saturday morning. Best to watch the cars arrive it's like a parade. Take clothing to cover all seasons,the weather is changeable. It's the greatest show on earth.

Hi
3 days! to walk the whole thing + the parade...hmmm. I guess I might have to leave the bride at home to work. Sounds like a road trip is a go..... walking around, looking for parts and pieces for 3 days.... I'm in.
thanks guys....
Cliff
p.s. Where exactly in Hershey is it..... ?

Hershey PA is east of Harrisburg PA in southern part of the state.

Don't forget to visit the VCCA space and sign in.

Hey Cliff?

First off, since no one told you were it is, just follow your noise and the smell of chocolate. The swap meet is held every year on the Hershey Chocolate factory grounds.

Also if your a VCCA member there is a picnic on Thursday night so we can all get together and meet everyone. There is about 100 to 150 people at the picnic each year and it keeps getting better.

By the way, yes it takes 3 days to see about most of it.

Bruce

Also, my procedure has been to arrive around 5:30 am and then park in the "center" parking lot next to the chocolate store. That way you are about 20 feet from the first booth, and generally in the center of all of the action.

It can be pretty miserable if you end up parking in one of the "parking fields" that are about 1 or 2 miles away.

My advice is that you can't get there TOO EARLY. Bring a blanket and take a nap for an hour or two after you arrive... except... if you're like me, you'll be so charged-up that you'll only be able to sleep with your eyes open!

Morning....
Well... I'm booked to go. The bride is tagging along for the trip but she will be spending her days shopping for shoes, clothes and whatever else her heart desires. She will be dropping me off and then I will be free to explore on my own. I will be there thursday to saturday and then home sunday.
Thanks to all who have given me the heads up.
Cliff
p.s. Is there an admitance fee ?

No fee to get in, and there's a shopping center with brand name outlet stores close to the flea market. Saturday's car show always has great one-off concept cars.
The car coral is always great if you want to see what people are asking for the "classics". It's easy to spend several hours looking at the what's for sale.

No fee. Good luck and let us know what you found when you get back!

just got the latest issue of Antique Automobile the ACCA magazine, great article on the Hershey meet on pages 26-27

First day report....

I was only able to come for 2 days but what a first day.
I was able to pick up some goodies for my car which I didn't have. Gasket this, gasket that...either nos or kit form to fit multiple years. I will be buying tires for my car tomorrow and finish off the chocolate field and do the complete red field. I will then go back to a few vendors I marked on my progaram and do some dickering. Plan to catch the parade and then finish the day in the corral.

The bride dropped me off at 7am and picked me back up a 6pm, same thing again tomorrow.

I think I will come back again next year. More later.
Cliff

I just completed my 40th year at Hershey. Thursday was low 70's and today was probably mid 70's and not a cloud in the sky. In comparison to other years, Hershey was unbelieveable for 1940 Chevy parts this year.

It's time to head home and mow the grass.

dtm

Just got ome from Hershey, perfect weather. I was there Wednesday though today (saturday). A little rain on wednesday but perfect the rest of the time. I was able to pick up a Viking radiator cap that looks to be NOS. It's the threaded cap for a 1930-with the flip top, it was labled Pontiac. Cost me $300 and I found it within the first 15 minutes.
The Saturday car show has some nice 29 and 31 Chevys.

Well I did it.....
I made it through Hershey. What a great show. A lot of the vendors were clearing out saturday. I was able to watch as the cars came into the parking lot from the road. Police were out and stopped 3-4 old cars and issued tickets. They were heckled by the crowd on the walking bridge. When the cars started back they were cheered on. Rules are rules, I guess.
Bought 4 tires, tubes and straps for my car and will have them installed on the car next spring. Walked the car corral and realized just how little money I do have as I looked at the ticket price on some of these cars. Highest asking $$$ was 325k for a car that was a one of from 190?. Part of the name of the car was Brille. Half chitty chitty bang bang and half boat.
I will definately go back again next year but try to make it for thursday-saturday. You need 2 days for the market and 1 day to check out all the cars in the corral and being judge.
3- "32's were being judged. 2- roadsters and 1 cabriolet. Don't know how they made out but one gentleman is a VCCA member of at least 35 yrs and doesn't come onto chevy II. Mike was his first name
Anyways.... I was happy that I went and will go back again next year.
Cliff
p.s. The bride had a great time shopping on her own. She spent more money than I did.
C

I did Hershey as well. Shared a space on the orange field. Sold some stuff. I noticed alot of no show spaces. Weather was great Thursday and Friday. Small crowed on Thursday. Many more people on Friday. Noticed that many of the cars brought on the field sold. Many of which needed a full resto.
Woodbutcher

Don't have anything to support the claim but the buzz in the car corral was that there were a lot of European and South American buyers with cash. Lot's of expensive cars, have to wonder if they really sold for the asking price. Did you see the 57 Chevy yellow 4 door that was marked sold with the the word "OUCH" It was marked down several times.

Yes, there was a lot of european buyers, and there has been for the last 3 years. A friend of mine who had a space out there, said there was plenty of parts buyers from Brazil. He sells mostly parts from the 60's and 70's. They claim there is a lot of those cars down there and they want to keep them running.
Woodbutcher

Saw the yellow chevy... sad but maybe it was overpriced for what it was. I doubt it though. Sign of the times. I had talked to a guy who sold his MG to a european. Cash in 24 hours. His car wasn't even in the corral.
I got some parts for my car and that's why I went. It was too bad most of the vendors were packed up and gone by noon/sat.
I'm still going back next year.
Cliff

In a previous post I mentioned

" ...3- "32's were being judged. 2- roadsters and 1 cabriolet. Don't know how they made out but one gentleman is a VCCA member of at least 35 yrs and doesn't come onto chevy II. Mike was his first name. ..."

I stand corrected as his name is William Mikelionis.
I apologize for my error.
Cliff

Hey Cliff,

I only saw one 32 roadster @ 10 that morning. Where was the other one? What color were they both? I saw the tan one.

Bruce

Bruce
The 3 cars were in the same row as each other. Two were side by side and the third was 3 cars down. There was a two tone (tan/brown) and the other was just tan. The third car was red with black fenders. I saw these cars about 2pm in the judging field.
I hope one day my car looks like these do.
Cliff

I just got back from Hershey with a trunkload of parts. Had a GREAT time. Weather was super, AACA show on Saturday was spectacular, and I especially enjoyed the Thursday evening VCCA picnic. Great seeing many of you guys, too! I'll be back next year as always.

All the Best, Chip