Swap Meet Classics – Part One

1956 Chevrolet 1300 pickup truck

I always enjoy attending the local swap meet despite usually not making any big purchases. It probably helps that it occurs in the doldrums of winter when nothing much else automotive-wise is happening. As luck would have it, the event has always seemed to correspond with a break in the weather, which makes spotting Curbside Classic material in the parking lot like shooting fish in a barrel. Follow along to see the 2015 edition highlights.

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We will start our tour outside as there are always several punters trying to flog their project vehicles without having to pay an entrance to the meet. This pair of 1962 Dodge stations wagons are prime examples. Closest to the camera is a 330, and a 440 sits at the front of the long trailer.

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The bodies looked weathered but solid. The interiors were predictably rough from long term storage. The 440 sports a Montana license plate which might be a hint of where this pair has been hiding the last couple of decades. The information sign tells us they were both V8, automatic and power steering-equipped cars. Both were offered engineless at $1,500 each, with a 413 or 440 available for separate purchase from the same seller.

1941 Ford Super

Perhaps the pair of Dodges look too complete and you would rather have more of a challenge? This nearby 1941 Ford Super Deluxe offers up a reasonable looking shell but with enough missing parts to offer the opportunity of spending many evenings of chasing down obscure parts.

1941 Ford Super Delux

The interior shows plenty of damage received from long-term outdoor storage and missing side windows. The steering wheel has held up remarkably well however.

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This one had a $1,000 asking price and languished for a few weeks after on the local classified site. The price eventually dropped to $750 before the ad disappeared. Perhaps the missing rear axle presented too much of a transport challenge to potential buyers.

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A couple of generations of Chevrolet Suburbans parked next to each other.

 

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This Chevrolet Apache 32 pickup truck combines both old and new in one vehicle. It has the classic body on a more modern chassis.

Chevrolet Apache 32 interior

It even had a modern (late 90s?) dashboard swapped in. The interior is one of my favorite aspects of a classic vehicle, so I am not sure I would have made the interior swap myself, but it looked well executed.

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A retired Cadillac hearse spots an obligatory skull vanity license plate.

1963 Oldsmobile Starfire

This slightly battered 1963 Oldsmobile Starfire two-door will hopefully make a nice project for someone.

1963 Oldsmobile Starfire (5)

It has obviously been sitting a long time, since moss like this takes decades to appear on stationary vehicles here in dry Southern Alberta.

1953 Ford Customline

Taking a break from GM vehicles for a moment, here we can see a nice 1953 Ford Customline with a Volkswagen van and a 1960 Studebaker Lark in the background.

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The Lark VIII was a V8 car that had been saved from a scrap metal recycling yard and was looking for a new owner.

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This slightly worn but still solid looking Fox body Mustang sported the important GT trim level and 5.0 badges. These earlier, sealed beam-equipped examples are getting a little thin on the ground.

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The interior is very red but also in nice, well preserved condition. A manual gearbox is a welcome sight and should offer decent performance with that V8 engine.

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Here is one you do not see too often on this continent. No, not a Lexus, but a right-hand-drive, Japanese market Toyota Altezza–the first one I have come across, as it is an unusual choice of car to import.

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A couple of older trailers were stored on the grounds. For some reason the smaller fiberglass ones have always held an appeal for me. While this one is not a Boler, it is in the same style as those iconic little trailers. The Boler ones are actually quite collectible and command a premium price. Sadly, the compact size would not make it very usable for my family of five. We will stick with our less visually interesting but more practical large tent trailer.

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Another project car on a trailer: A 1960 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight sedan with a seemingly very reasonable $1,100 asking price.

Honda Civic 1

These swap meets are usually dominated by domestic metal, so I do not have much to offer the fan of classic Japanese cars. Maybe this once common but now rare Honda Civic station wagon will suffice. It even has old fashioned leaf springs at the rear to fit in with the old time muscle cars.

Oldsmobile Firenza

I do not ever recall these J-body Oldsmobile Firenzas being particularly common even when new, but they must be legitimately rare these days. This one even sports a surprise…

Oldsmobile Firenza interior

a manual gearbox! Thus equipped it has to be at almost unicorn status. Oldsmobile Firenza rear

The rear bears a resemblance to the more common Ciera. Hang on for the next installment when we leave the parking area and enter the swap meet itself.