Autojumbles

Another reason is probably the disappearance af small motor factors that would have got rid of stock, and no dealers keep spares stock, then that has then become obsolete, and then sold off.
Ebay has a lot to answer to, and, of course the main problem 99% of the stuff we want is Finite, and is very unlikely to be remade,

The North East restoration club in Washington near Sunderland have started having them monthly through the summer so we've gone from non to several in a year or two.

I don't think i've ever been to a proper autojumble. Theres never been one locally to anywhere i've lived.

Newark used to be my regular. In fact back in the early 00's I was going to Newark, buying stuff and popping it on eBay and selling to USA for a delightful mark up The yanks don't want toilet paper though.

The Internet has opened up the market and displays your wares to needy buyers nationally and internationally - so by default means there's potential for better prices without the risk of spending a day in the pouring rain whilst "auld Ted" hangs on to last knockings to bid a fiver on the Morris Minor parts. Equally how many buyers are there for those Intermotor Rotor arms for a V4 Ford engine, let alone contact set for Hyundai Stellar & Pony

Equally those stashes of NOS spares are rarer(and often deemed more modern in context of many buyers - example I have a stack of Primera P11 brake pads amongst my hoards) and often the desirable higher value bits are sold via the Web to secure best money(and as noted with local motor factors disappearing and less stock on hand in stores means less products cascading through).


For me, Newark & Lincoln(Hemswell) are the 2 obvious one locally. Newark as outlined so eloquently elsewhere sells all manner of tat not that closely related to automotive topics that I haven't been in ages because I can't find what I need.

Hemswell, lot smaller and it was free entry in a classic and not marred to the same extent with non motoring tat(although one guy did have fishing tackle on his stall). Wandered around twice in little more than an hour and saw little interesting stuff and nothing I needed(granted most of my needs are USA related so I can't be too harsh)

Frustrating I have a stack of stuff(70/80s mainly) I need to shift so I will need to attend at least one autojumble(and that might be Newark😬) next year in the aim of clearing the decks but I really struggle to be bothered if I'm honest.

But over time, it will hopefully increase in value . . . . maybe . . . .

We went this year and this is our frustration too. Aside brochures, we found nothing of use. Not even a waterpump or thermostat which are the sorts of things brought in bulk by some. I go for tools more than parts these days.

I appreciate the rarity/quirkiness of the majority of the items on sale but the prices being asked for some parts was insane, which is otherwise scrap stuck in their drawer and will forever be at the prices observed. I'm not saying give stuff away, but even just a few years ago a voltmeter was a few £. I think some care needs to be taken to recognize that just because an item is old, it isn't automatically hugely valuable. I guess this may have something to do with the cost to pitch for the individual, the distance they travel to sell it.

Our local car and coffee shop tried a swap meet last year which I was hugely excited for but sadly only 3-4 stalls arrived all of which where trying to sell very valuable porsche parts/branded clothes which is their aspirational customer base but not actually the people who frequent swapmeets or most of their customers I don't think. They have an Aston Valkyrie spider in the foyer so that should give an idea who they're aiming at.

The best autojumble I have been to sadly was the last one before they stopped doing it. The slough swapmeet (held in Newbury),