Hershey...How was it??????

T

todd j

Member
Just curious as to how the swap meet was this year at Hershey. Lots of vendors? When I was there 2 yrs. ago it seemed like there were more cars parked in the vendor spots than there were vendors. I am interested to see how much longer it will go on.

Let me know your thoughts and how it was in 2025.

Thanks
 
I spent 3 full days at Hershey. Just my opinion: Looked like about 20% of the spaces were either empty or used for parking. On Wednesday, most of the tables stayed covered all morning. I walked 2.5 full fields with Doug Linden and 2 fields with Matteo Riordan and both said, it wasn't as full this year. Since this was my first time at Hershey, I have no reference. However, it did not seem that much bigger than the annual January swap in Turlock.

Either way, I had fun. I got to meet SO many people! Absolutely blessed to have had the opportunity to meet so many great people, take selfies, sign autographs, shake hands, and put so many faces to the names. That was the best part! Wow, so many fantastic people!!
 
ronn said:
I agree with PS but would say 35% of spaces are parking or empty. and thats being kind.
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As I sift through all the Hershey video footage, I agree with you. My estimate of empty spaces was woefully low. I believe you are a lot closer, and agree you are being kind in your estimate.
 
I've been attending since 1970 when the isles could be crowded elbow to elbow.

Definitely all the fields had less 'shoppers'. I wonder if it is the same with later car venues ? I've heard with hot rods & muscle cars, they don't pull the same interest as years ago.

Interest now in the latest thumb toys ?
 
As a long time vendor, I used to tell folks that most sales happen between 9:30-11:30 AM and 1:30-4:00 PM. This year .................and only speaking for myself ...................... both time periods were off. Afternoons were WAY OFF. This trend has been happening since COVID. Many folks now attend for the "sport" of the hobby, not because they necessarily need something. Of course, speaking for MOST Model A people, they can find most everything they need online. So, my opinion ................ they are there to be in "old car heaven" for a few days. Walking the Car Corral one can see more vehicles of all shapes and sizes than any local car show they will attend at home. The camaraderie of being at Hershey is still there if you buy something or not. Yes, the crowds are down, the vendor pool is smaller, the price of attending (hotels, food, gas, etc) is up. The cars we see in the Car Corral and at the Hershey Car Show are leaning "newer" than most of us would like to acknowledge. All this, and the fact that we're not getting any younger adds up to the Hershey of TODAY.
 
We had our usual four swap spaces in the Chocolate Field (just up the row from the MAFCA tent). The four spaces opposite us were used for parking or were vacant, so all of the people who came down our row came over to our spaces and shopped.

We were even open on Wednesday morning during the light/spitting rain......so many customers stopping in to briefly shelter under our tents.

So it was another great year for us. As always, our well priced petroliana sold well, with lots of people stopping by all days. Even had buyers stopping by as we were packing up on Thursday.

...and best of all were all of our friends (both from the USA and Europe) and visitors who stopped by to chat and catch up.....priceless.

Brad in Maryland
 
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I've never been and probably won't go.
I am retired and have the time, I'm not squeezed financially, but watching the YouTube videos that people have posted and seeing the asking prices for just about anything, my reaction is naaaaaaw.


In 1974 I was going to go, and Fast Freddie a local antique car enthusiast said to me then. 'Why? You won't be able to afford anything anyway.' We live a thousand miles away so it is not a quick day trip.
I never forgot Freddie's advice then, and looks like it is still good advice today:p


Plus looking at the pictures of petroliana collectibles a side hobby of mine, they had tons of repop crap that has no value and the few original items I saw were stupid money, not worth anything close to what they were asking.
 
I didn't go to Hershey this year - haven't been since covid, to be truthful. I'm sorry I didn't go - I always enjoy the camaraderie, looking for and buying stuff, and haggling with sellers. And then there's hanging out with my group in the evenings. It costs money to go, but it's worth it!!

Dave
 
In 1970 the field area was small and yes it could be crowded and every year there have been vendors that said they couldn’t sell much and there have always been years that I didn’t feel like I could find “good “ things and there have been areas since the fields were expanded beyond the original one field that had sparse traffic.
There were areas and times that were crowded this past Hershey and areas that had few people too.
I was asked in the past by a professional dealer what I considered a successful show and my reply was 50% by weight or volume which I usually achieved.
As I walk I also look in trash cans and for free offerings at the end of the show.
Found a carburetor in the trash that had a 5$ price tag took it back to the booth and added a 2 to make it 25$ and sold it within a hour.
Most of what I was looking for I found at reasonable prices but there was also the same items for unreasonable prices.
I you just sit at your booth talking to a group of your friends without paying attention to the people looking at your stuff making it hard for them to get your attention your sales will be low — people will walk on because they don’t want to bother you many times.
At the booths I stay at there will be several cars parked and the things I brought may not be in front of my car so it looks like I am just parking.
A lot of the big companies don’t setup anymore I think because of tax issues.
Hershey has always gone through cycles of great and just ok,hot,cold too much sun,too much rain .
Could it be improved— yes but it’s still great.
 
I have been going since 1966. This year I was mostly at a space selling things that belonged to a friend who died recently. We did okay, about half of what I wanted to do, but that was my goal that may not have been realistic.

It's always fun and this year was no different. One gauge I have for how many people were there is how crowded the bridge is between the Giant Center and the Chocolate fields. Not as crowded as it seemed in the past. The car corral was half full.

I saw quite a bit of Model A and T stuff in the areas I perused, so I think the quality was good. It's great to be out and talk to people and meet up with old friends. I always stay for the car show on the last day and it's enjoyable. Not enough Model A's however. I usually bring mine, but didn't this year. I will post some pics later.
 
I was at Hershey this year and for the first time in a long time I was there last year as well. The assessment of 25-35% open spaces is on par with what I saw myself however I thought it was a bit fuller this year, might have been the time is was on the field though. I found an original 1928-29 dash lamp, not a repop, that was fully redone and replated and looked brand new. Also found a solid 7 tooth steering box for almost nothing, and that is the last thing I need to get my early 29 Tudor complete. For me those two made the trip worthwhile.
 
As a first time attendee, To me it seemed extraordinary. I started with a visit to the museum which was awesome. The flea market was great. The Friday show cars were gorgeous. I searched for and was lucky to find Paul Shinn, what a nice guy. MAFCA Had a tent but it was not listed in the index so needed a bit of a lucky search. Ate a good Philly cheese steak. I'll try to post some photos. I'd say there were about 10 model A's among the Friday show cars.
 

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Brad in Germany said:
We had our usual four swap spaces in the Chocolate Field (just up the row from the MAFCA tent). The four spaces opposite us were used for parking or were vacant, so all of the people who came down our row came over to our spaces and shopped.

We were even open on Wednesday morning during the light/spitting rain......so many customers stopping in to briefly shelter under our tents.

So it was another great year for us. As always, our well priced petroliana sold well, with lots of people stopping by all days. Even had buyers stopping by as we were packing up on Thursday.

Brad in Maryland
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I agree with you, Brad. In my opinion, it was one of the better Hershey's in recent years. I've been going for 45 years and I'll turn 55 in Dec.
 
This was my 57th trip!! We broke even with our sales of (A) parts. There were dry periods with no traffic. But we will be back if the 'phone doesn't ring.
 
Could be mhsprecher. I have all the other bits I need to get it ready for installation on order now and I will be starting on it soon. Thanks again!
 
Thanks, Guys, for the replies. I may try to make it next year. I don't need anything for my cars that I can't buy on-line but I enjoy meeting the people and looking for that "one special do-dad" that I must have.
 
Take a look at the article in the next AA magazine. They used to always show pictures down crowded rows full of people pulling carts and wagons. That is a thing of the past.
 
I went for the first time and mostly filled my wagon in a couple hours on Tuesday afternoon. A lot of people covered and packed up an hour or two early because they were worried about rain. I only made it through about 65% of the north chocolate field.
 
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