Better Beaters - Building Cars and Daily Drivers

 Turlock Swap Meet January 25th. 2026.

I had been feeling a bit under the weather but I decided to drive the 100 miles to the swap meet. Upon arrival I felt good enough to walk all around the fairgrounds. As this was the second day of the meet, many vendors had already left the day before. There were many vendors packing up to leave even as I arrived at around 10:30. The grounds looked pretty empty, quite a contrast to when I went there last September. Maybe this trip would be a complete waste of time.

The first vendor I looked at had some pretty fair prices. He had a front bumper for a '66 Mustang for 25 bucks. It was straight and the chrome was in fair condition. It could be cleaned up and polished and would be appropriate to use on a driver.

That was nice, but the only thing that I was really looking for was a Mayflower hubcap for my Plymouth. 

I didn't realize that this was a different hub cap until several months
after I brought my car home.

My car had three matching Mayflower hub caps and this ship's stern view cap. Immediately after entering the fairgrounds I did a thorough search of the nearest vendors in the animal stall area. 

Sure enough, I looked in a box that had several other hubcaps piled inside. I saw a bit of the ship peeking out from under the pile. I dug the cap out and it was exactly what I was looking for. Or at least I hoped that it was. I should have taken a picture of the proper cap and kept it on my phone as reference. This is a good idea that never occurred to me before, but I grew up without cell phones, we used to make a written list. The photo is a much better idea as it provides a visual reference. You can't depend on the vendor to know the exact fitment for all their various items, unless they are a specialist. Many times the vendor doesn't even have an exact idea of what they have in their inventory.

The cap that I found wasn't dented up or rusty, it was mostly dirty. Like it had been sitting in that junk box for a long time. I could see that it would probably clean up pretty good.

I asked the lady at the front of the space "how much?" She replied three dollars. As I was digging out the money she asked her husband, who had just exited their trailer, how much she should have asked for the hubcap. He replied that she should have said five bucks. I handed her a five and she said she would get my change. I told her not to bother, I thought that five bucks was a fair price.

When she said that it would probably clean up, I answered that it looks okay. If I find another better one I'll get that one too. This is also a good strategy, if you find an item that you can use, even if it's not in the best condition, buy it if it is offered  at a good price. You can always replace it if you find one in better shape.  

My experience at the meet was getting off to a good start. This is why you go to swap meets. Sometimes you find exactly what you need at a bargain price.

After cleaning and polishing it, it fit right in with the other
hubcaps. In style and condition.

The main field on the grass was pretty empty, maybe only ten percent of what was there last Summer. 

Nonetheless, I walked up and down every row, Then I went out into the dirt area and went up and down the almost completely empty rows. I suppose the lesson is to attend on the first day, though when vendors are getting ready to leave, they are prone to make some really big price cuts. Back in my own vendor days, I had some really good sales right as I was beginning to pack up. 

There were a few nice cars for sale, and they were priced accordingly. There were also a few junky projects and they all seemed to be way over priced.

This black wiring conduit will really clean things up.

Earlier I had passed a vendor that was selling wire conduit by the foot. While it doesn't look authentic, it looks a lot better than the spiral plastic type or wrapping wires in electrical tape. On my way out of the fairgrounds I went back to buy some. He had some Painless Wiring products on display, and had three different sizes available; the smallest was 1.00 per ft. The next size was 1.50 per ft. The largest size was 2.00 per ft. I bought ten feet of each. I cost me 45.00.

A couple of days later, I went on the internet and checked the prices. It seems that I got a pretty good deal on this item.

I had found a similar type of conduit at my local O'Rielly's auto parts store. I plan to clean up the wiring under the hood and other places that are readily visible.

It's true that there are costs in attending a swap meet that is a considerable distance from home. There is an entry fee for buyers and of course there is the gas that is used on the drive. On the other hand, this particular series of events is pretty well known for having a good selection of items at reasonable prices. Besides, attending swap meets is a form of entertainment for me. I find going to swap meets to be more enjoyable than attending the average car show.

It's early in the year, but I constantly scan the listings on the California Car Culture website for future events. There is another swap meet that is held up the road in Galt, and there are four swaps in Turlock during the year. I also saw a motorcycle swap up in the Sacramento area. The Antique Motorcycle club will probably have a few as well as at their main Western Nationals in Dixon. My plan is to attend those also. 

I'll try to get there earlier, next time.