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Auto enthusiasts get into gear at Winter Swap Meet in Marietta

The 12th Annual Winter Swap Meet was held at the Washington County Fair Grounds Saturday. The event, which was sponsored by the Country Roads T & A Ford Club, specialized in antique car parts, and vendors could be seen selling parts, car bodies, complete cars and accessories for early Ford, Dodge, Chevrolet and other makes. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)

MARIETTA — Finding parts for antique cars can be challenging, especially the early cars.

Some parts can be purchased through commercial vendors, but others are rare and may require traveling far distances to find.

To help locals who restore cars or collect old parts, the 12th Annual Winter Swap Meet was held at the Washington County Fair Grounds Saturday.

The event, which was sponsored by the Country Roads T & A Ford Club, specialized in antique car parts, and vendors could be seen selling parts, car bodies, complete cars and accessories for early Ford, Dodge, Chevrolet and other makes.

“This is more of a family event than a sale,” said Tom Moorehead, who was in town from Kentucky for the event. “We haven’t missed a single gathering (except during the pandemic).”

The 12th Annual Winter Swap Meet was held at the Washington County Fair Grounds Saturday. The event, which was sponsored by the Country Roads T & A Ford Club, specialized in antique car parts, and vendors could be seen selling parts, car bodies, complete cars and accessories for early Ford, Dodge, Chevrolet and other makes. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)

Moorehead said that each year they hope to see more young enthusiasts join in the day’s fun.

Moorehead was not exaggerating the family bonds of the hobby. Another group set up was the Lucius’. Deanna Lucius explained that they first got interested in repairing parts when her two sons started the hobby a few years back.

“My husband and I joined them, then eventually took over and now our daughter is learning along side us,” she said. Lucius said he youngest son is interested in learning as well, but at 12 he isn’t quite ready to repair the pieces they sell.

“We specialize in repairing the magneto field coils,” she said. (Those supply the voltage for the ignition system.)

Lucius explained the process.

The 12th Annual Winter Swap Meet was held at the Washington County Fair Grounds Saturday. The event, which was sponsored by the Country Roads T & A Ford Club, specialized in antique car parts, and vendors could be seen selling parts, car bodies, complete cars and accessories for early Ford, Dodge, Chevrolet and other makes. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)

“Castings are stripped, sandblasted and checked for flatness; then a new terminal block is installed and new copper wound with three milliliter teflon tape that is resistant to high temperatures, abrasion, and chemicals. Then it is wrapped with cotton, tested for polarity and magnetic attraction, vacuum dipped in high quality electrical varnish and baked.”

Not everyone was selling parts however.

Jamie Eaton owner of Woodwork in Vienna, brought out tool display cases.

“The boxes are designed to display the original tools to come with a model A,” he said.

Gathering complete sets is hard, but Eaton said some in the area do have them, or go to meets looking for their missing pieces.

The 12th Annual Winter Swap Meet was held at the Washington County Fair Grounds Saturday. The event, which was sponsored by the Country Roads T & A Ford Club, specialized in antique car parts, and vendors could be seen selling parts, car bodies, complete cars and accessories for early Ford, Dodge, Chevrolet and other makes. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)

Madeline Scarborough can be reached at mscarborough@newsandsentinel.com

The 12th Annual Winter Swap Meet was held at the Washington County Fair Grounds Saturday. The event, which was sponsored by the Country Roads T & A Ford Club, specialized in antique car parts, and vendors could be seen selling parts, car bodies, complete cars and accessories for early Ford, Dodge, Chevrolet and other makes. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)

The 12th Annual Winter Swap Meet was held at the Washington County Fair Grounds Saturday. The event, which was sponsored by the Country Roads T & A Ford Club, specialized in antique car parts, and vendors could be seen selling parts, car bodies, complete cars and accessories for early Ford, Dodge, Chevrolet and other makes. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)

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