The Long Beach Hi-Performance Swap Meet, held at Veteran’s Stadium in Long Beach, California, on 14 different Sundays per year, is often looked at as the little brother to the world famous Pomona Swap Meet. Put on by Topping Events, the Long Beach Swap Meet is a must see for those looking for vintage, classic, musclecar, truck, or race parts. As far as I’m concerned, it’s the charming, better looking, and more talented little brother. The Long Beach Hi-Performance Swap Meet was started in 1983 with only 7 vendors, but has grown to more than 600 each month during the year. And whether you are buying or selling, both of which we’ve done, you will enjoy it. The location is completely paved, well organized and has plenty of parking. But if you are going, and driving your hot rod, here is a little trick known by the regulars: don’t park in the regular lot, drive right in and tell them you are parking in the Car Corral. Yes, it’s designed to be the place to buy and sell cool cars, but it’s free for Pre-1972 vehicles (you just pay a normal entry fee), becomes a great car show, and is a shorter walk back to the car with the loot you just scored.

One of the other things that makes the Long Beach Swap Meet great is that it’s every single month, and is even held twice in March and November. It’s also one of the few swap meets that is still purely gearhead centric. You’ll find the occasional beer signs and garage art, but the real meat of the place is car parts and tools with just a little automobilia thrown in for color. And don’t forget, the Long Beach Hi Performance Swap Meet is home to the World’s Greatest Used Tool Salesman, Russ the Tool Guy. We have bought tools of all kinds from Russ, who only sells American-made, high-quality tools. Most are older stuff that makes you giddy, and all have been serviced and cleaned to provide years of worry-free wrenching. Russ is a must see.

So, if you are in the neighborhood, and want to have a great swap meet experience, the Long Beach Hi Performance Swap Meet is for you. Located in Long Beach, it’s an easy drive for most, and is close to multiple airports here in So-Cal. And if you’re into bikes, Topping Events puts on the So-Cal Cycle Show and Swap Meet in the same spot once a month as well.  Below you’ll find the schedule. For more information, and the complete schedule of other Topping events, visit the web site.  See you there!

2009 Long Beach Swap Meet Schedule
March 1
March 22
April 12
May 10
June 14
July 12
August 9
September 13
October 11
November 8
November 29
December 13