Please note: photos from the Portland Swap Meet, which is right next door at the Portland Expo Center, will be coming tomorrow.

The

takes place through the end of this weekend at Portland International Raceway. Walking along the track, one can find almost anything imaginable related to vintage domestic cars (and a few foreign models as well) – parts, memorabilia, tools – and of course entire vehicles themselves. These range from lovingly restored example ready to be driven home to complete basket cases in desperate need of a kind and ambitious soul to take on their restoration.

Hard-to-find parts and amazing bargains can still be found even in today’s world of online retailers. One man told a story of buying some parts at a past meet just because he thought they looked interesting, only to discover later that they were rare and much sought-after

components. He later sold them for twice what he’d paid.

Bill Thatcher, who specializes in Ford Truck parts for models from 1957-1960, said he skips Craigslist and eBay entirely, preferring the person-to-person nature of swap meets. “This is all I do,” he said, and it’s been more than enough for him for more than 15 years.

On Friday, under unexpectedly sunny skies, PIR was packed. People walked, rode bikes, or motored around the track in golf carts or on Segways, searching for a particular item or just taking in the sights. Dogs relaxed outside of their owners’ booths, perhaps wondering what so many humans found fascinating about cars that weren’t even in motion. Hopefully at least one person acquired that last piece of the puzzle to a restoration project that may soon finally be finished.