A Brief History of the Portland Swap Meet

Founded in 1964, the Portland Swap Meet is one of Oregon’s longest-running and most celebrated automotive traditions. What began as a modest gathering organized by local car enthusiasts has grown into one of the largest indoor and outdoor automotive swap meets on the West Coast.

The event was created by a coalition of dedicated antique and classic car clubs whose shared goal was simple: to provide a place where enthusiasts could gather to buy, sell, trade, and celebrate automotive history. That cooperative spirit remains at the heart of the Swap Meet today, which continues to be organized and staffed by volunteers from six local clubs devoted to preserving automotive heritage.


Held annually each spring at the Portland Expo Center, the Portland Swap Meet quickly became a regional destination. Long before online marketplaces existed, collectors and restorers traveled from across the Pacific Northwest—and beyond—to search for hard-to-find parts, classic vehicles, and automobilia. Over time, countless restoration projects were launched or completed thanks to discoveries made while walking the aisles of the meet.

Beyond commerce, the Swap Meet has always been about community. It is a place where generations of car lovers reconnect, share stories, pass along knowledge, and celebrate craftsmanship. The exchange of parts is matched by an exchange of experience, preserving skills and traditions that might otherwise be lost.

As technology has changed how vehicles and parts are bought and sold, the Portland Swap Meet has evolved as well. Today, it stands not only as a marketplace, but as a living celebration of automotive culture—bringing together collectors, hobbyists, families, and first-time visitors who share an appreciation for history on wheels.

Now marking more than six decades of continuous operation, the Portland Swap Meet remains a proud Portland tradition. Rooted in volunteerism, sustained by community, and driven by passion, it continues to honor the past while welcoming new generations into the world of automotive enthusiasm.