 
Photos by the author1. Long lines formed at the entrances to the buildings at the Ohio Expo Center as car hobbyists with the familiar blue oval stamped on their foreheads waited patiently for the doors to open for the "Largest All-Ford Indoor Event" in the world. It's sponsored by the 150-member Mid-Ohio Ford Club. 
2. In the car corral, which occupies about half of a huge open-sided shelter, there were dozens of Fords, Mercurys, Lincolns, etc. for sale, such as this red-on-red '62 Thunderbird convertible. The 89,000-mile Bird carried the 390 V-8, automatic, power steering and brakes, power windows, etc. Seller Bryan Fearer was asking $6,500 for his intriguing project.3. Superb single-tone all-white '55 Ford Victoria two-door hardtop was loaded with V-8, automatic, power steering, continental kit, etc. J.C. Webb, Mt. Vernon, Ohio, wanted $22, 000 for his 61,000-mile California car. It's painful parting with such a beauty, but Webb also owns a convertible version of the same car. 
4. It was chilly outside, as demonstrated by the snow and ice on cars as they arrived at the show. This 1929 Ford Model A two-door sedan carried in chunks of ice on its running boards(4a). The car itself was priced at $10,500. |
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by Bob Stevens Ford lovers from hundreds of miles away rely on the Mid-Ohio Ford Club's Spring Swap as the official season opener for the Ford camp in the Midwest. And no wonder. It's huge ... the largest indoor Ford meet in the world, almost the largest Ford meet of any type. Spread over four buildings at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio, hosting 1,472 vendor spaces covering 11 acres, the swap meet is truly mind-boggling. A full day is insufficient to cover the four buildings, even for someone who is a spirited walker and knows what he needs.
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5. The swap meet, as usual, was overflowing with vintage Ford parts and accessories. One of the more unusual items was this nifty little Rotunda alternator tester, which was price at $350. It appeared to be out of the '60s. 6. A lighted Gulf sign in excellent condition was priced at $375 out in the swap meet. 7. White '68 Mercury Cougar coupe, a black-plate California pony car, had the 289-cid V-8 and automatic for power, a blue interior, etc. Owner Dick Dieringer, Marietta, Ohio, was asking $6,500 for his spritely cat. 8. One of the most exciting offerings in the cars for sale corral was this gleaming black '40 Ford coupe owned by Mac Van Pelt, Batavia, Ohio. Restored in 1977 in Kansas, the coupe has an85-hp flathead V-o8 with three-speed manual featuring a new-for1940 "Finger Tip" column shift, optional hot water, etc. Turn signals, seat belts, 12-volt electrics, dual exhaust, maroon cloth upholstery and some extra bright work are among the non-original items on the car. It was priced at $20,900. 9. The always charming ringmaster for the annual circus known as the Columbus Spring Swap is Bob Cochran, who is seen here in a brief moment of respite between dousing flames in one emergency after another somewhere on the grounds. "The state police got a little testy this year as our show crowd had freeway traffic halted at the Expo exit and backed up for miles in either direction," he said. The Mid-Ohio Ford Club does an excellent job hosting the world's biggest indoor Ford event, no small task to be sure. The club needs all of its 150 members to make sure things run smoothly. | |
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