Porsche Club of America’s PA Swap Meet Gets Big Boost for 2021
World’s largest Porsche-only swap meet moved to the Carlisle Fairgrounds to accommodate more cars and vendors than ever before.
The Central PA Region of the Porsche Club of America has hosted an annual Porsche-only swap meet for almost 50 years. After many years of holding the event in Hershey, Pennsylvannia, the sweetest place on earth! It was time for a change. Due to COVID-19, there was no swap meet for 2020 and this year they decided they needed more space.
So, the event was moved to the Carlisle Fairgrounds. Why is more space needed? Well, this is not exactly a neighborhood garage sale. This event draws over 600 vendors, and about 1,000 Porsches from all over the world. After a year of cancellations and virtual shows, it was wonderful to see cars and people in person again.
Every Porsche part you can imagine, is up for sale, trade or barter at the annual swap meet. There is a judged car show ring, and a car corral for owners to sell their Porsches if they desire. The cars for sale run the gamut from entry level project cars to fully restored 356 Speedsters.
Personally, I was on the hunt for the Porsche wallet and key fob to complete the luggage set for my 40 Jahre 911. Sadly, I struck out this year. Although I didn’t find exactly what I was looking for, there is no shortage of parts or memorabilia for sale at this event. You could arrive at the event with nothing and buy enough parts to build an entire Porsche 911 SC if you wanted to.
The venue not only changed this year, but so did the date. Typically, the event is held in mid-April but this year it was on May 1. That small shift might have worked in our favor. If you are familiar with this event and have attended in years past, you know that it typically rains every year. This time we were faced with a cool start, but a nice sunny and dry day. The weather certainly brought out the enthusiasts in droves.
Riesentoter is my local PCA region. We are neighbors to the host Central PA region. About 30 Porsches from Riesentoter members met up at a local movie theater, remember those? After some chit chat and downing our share of coffee and doughnuts provided by our club President it was time to caravan to Carlisle. I was given the honor of leading our convoy on the 105-mile trek to the swap meet.
It was both exciting and a bit intimidating to look in my rear view and see dozens of Porsches lined up behind me. We all made it safe and sound and without any stops by the men in blue. Upon arrival we were guided to the Porsche-only parking section. Imagine going to your local shopping mall and every car in the lot is a Porsche. It is a bit surreal.
Just walking through the rows of parked Porsches is enough of a show. Every model and color and option you can imagine is here. Many owners are hanging around their cars for a bit so you can chat with them about their car and any modifications they have done. This is the largest gathering of Porsches in the USA. It is a fantastic opportunity to get some ideas for your own ride or just drool over someone else’s.
Of course, there is much more to see. Row and rows of vendors are on hand. From well-known and established brands such as Fabspeed. To the enthusiast who has just been collecting parts over the years. Need a wheel, a clock, a bumper, an engine?
Well, you have come to the right place. Bring cash and bring a buddy with a truck so you can haul all of your finds back home. I have been coming to this event since 2002, and every year I see something that I have never seen before. It can actually be a bit overwhelming.
If you don’t want to buy any individual parts, but would rather purchase an entire car, the swap meet has you covered. There is a Porsche corral section where owners can park and display their vehicles that they are looking to sell. This place can be dangerous for your wallet.
Because I have no self-discipline, I left my wallet at home just to be safe. One thing that won’t cost you any money is voting in the people’s choice concours. And while it is free to vote, the decision won’t be easy as all the cars are well presented.
By about 1:30 in the afternoon, I had my fill of jumbo hot dogs and Porsche parts and began to make my way back to my car. In conclusion, the event was fantastic as always. A wonderful drive with fellow Porsche enthusiasts. Porsche parts shopping. Chatting with friendly vendors and fellow owners. And we didn’t even need an umbrella this year. Is there a better way to spend a Saturday in May?
If you have never made it to this event before, block this time of year for the event in 2022. You will not be disappointed. If you have been to this swap meet before, let us know your favorite memories in the Rennlist forums.
Photos: Joe Kucinski
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