Just got back from the Import/Kit-Car show at Carlisle, and WOW!! I have
absolutely no money left. It was enormously impressive, and great to see
the cars I am trying to repair in their "correct" condition.
Here's a list of "bargains" (we'll see when I put them on the car(s)).
Top for MGB - $159 (only about $20 off)
Used twin HIF4s, linkage, heat shield, intake manifold - $50 (clean)
Top for Spitfire - $75
Chrome front bumper for MGB - $50 new (you could get a usable but
ugly one for $5!)
Panel Rheostat w/knob, reverse light lens, misc fasteners - $10
Turn signal switch for B (ours doesn't click back after turn) - $15.
Owner's Manuals $12 each car
Lindsey Porter books under $30 each (DIY Resto, Improving and Modifying)\
1 pair '73 front bumper overriders $28
'73 grill slightly dented - $10
Extremely misc. handfull of top hardware - $5
and so on.
The drawback of the show (besides spending hundreds of $$) is that now
I know what I REALLY want (MGA, MGTD, A-H 3000, Jags, etc.) And I am
sunburnt and sore... <g>
Some tips which helped us immensely:
1) Make a list! I put together a list of parts we needed, and the Seven
Enterprises and Roadster Factory prices on each item. This helped prioritize
the purchases, so we didn't spend all our money on other stuff first.
2) Intercoms... FM headsets allowed the two of us to split up and regroup,
without having to wait in a given spot. These do suffer from interference...
a neighborhood baby monitor kept breaking squelch. Not a problem when
actually communicating, though.
3) Notepad. The booths are numbered. Do a quick sweep and write down
items of interest. You may find better deals farther up the hill, but if
you do NOT, you will absolutely NOT find your way back without notes.
This is especially true if you sweep Friday and buy Saturday. We started
with $100 for a good pair of HS4s, with manifold, etc, and breathers. BY
the end of the day we had $50 for the carbs/manifold, and $10 for 3 breathers.
And they were HIF4s, which is what I wanted anyway.
4) Flash camera. A one-shot automatic camera with flash demand... you don't
want to spend a lot of time focusing, and the flash fills in dark engine
compartments, etc. Very educational to have pictures of concours vehicles.
Things we learned:
1) If it is too good to be true, it probably isn't. This is especially
true of complex stuff like carbs. We saw a $35 pair of HS6s which had
breathers, etc. but were totally locked up.
2) A portable chair would be great.
3) Paying $7.50 for a hamburger, drink, and fries doesn't mean it will
be edible.
4) If you see something ONCE in the sweep, and you need it, buy it right
away. It won't be there long if it is any good. The price might go down
the next day, but the vendor may have disappeared completely, too. We
had this problem with a vendor who had all the Trunions and other tiny
parts anyone would want. He wasn't there Sunday at all.
5) A portable chair would be super.
6) Ask! Many of the vendors (and more of the customers) have been
working with these cars and parts a long time. Many are enthusiasts as
well, and have fun helping. Of course, if they can sell you a two
way articulated grubnut at the same time, even better. We took pictures
of cars in the customer parking lots as well as the show lots, and
learned there too.
7) Sunscreen is essential.
8) Bring film and pain-reliever... the cost on-field is something else.
9) A good third of the vendors leave early. Depends on whether they make
their money quick... they all have junk to take back with them. Sunday
is therefore NOT the time to shop, unless you are spending fun money.
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