Corvette Expo near Knoxville, TN

[Stephen B.]

Re: Corvette Expo near Knoxville, TN

One of the great things for me about this show is its a convenient place to pick up name brand reproduction parts from major vendors and most of the time save money, Example being Al Knock interiors. It may not be too late to order from such vendors and pick up at the show. Save shipping ,sales tax, and perhaps get a discount too.
Stephen Barrett (21558) 59,66,71,73

[Joe R.]

Re: Corvette Expo near Knoxville, TN

I have attended the Corvette Expo since the mid 70's and have seen it go from one of the best swap meets in the country. It started in the Jacobs building at Chilhowee Park and developed into a great outdoor swap meet. Times are a changing and the Cooper's have tried to change with the times. They have cut it to one meet a year and changed the venue to a more family atmosphere in the Pidgeon Forge area. Places for the girls to shop and many wonderful restaurants for the evening meal. Gotta hand it to them for they have tried. And there will be further changes coming up that will effect their shows.
Not just the Corvette Expo has been effected by the economy, but E-bay and other outlets for parts has effected the outdoor swap meets including Carlisle. If you notice, Bloomington swap meet is dead, done, stick a fork in it!
The way business is done is on-line, the internet! Every major company has their own website with ordering made easy. No, you can't get good used parts from the major companies but reproductions have had a major hand in reducing the size of the outdoor swap meets.
OK, my hats off to the people that have tried to preserve the outdoor swap meets. They are fun for an old geeze (like me).
JR

[Dick W.]

Re: Corvette Expo near Knoxville, TN

The first Expo I attended, almost 30 years ago, was in a tobacco warehouse on a hill side. They moved down the hill to an extremely large tobacco warehouse that swollowed the semi's, the small vendors like me, and had plenty of room left over. That worked well until the Worlds Fair came to Knoxville. From what I understand the warehouses were converted into housing for fair attendees. Expo moved to Chilhowie Park for almost 20 years before moving to Sevierville, the present location.

As JR stated, the mode of doing business has changed for most vendors. Sales tax issues, cost of vendor spaces, cost of equipment and operating it has made the swap meets unprofitable for all but a few vendors. Sad, but a sign of the times.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Corvette Expo near Knoxville, TN

The first Expo I attended, almost 30 years ago, was in a tobacco warehouse on a hill side. They moved down the hill to an extremely large tobacco warehouse that swallowed the semi's, the small vendors like me, and had plenty of room left over. That worked well until the Worlds Fair came to Knoxville. From what I understand the warehouses were converted into housing for fair attendees. Expo moved to Chilhowie Park for almost 20 years before moving to Sevierville, the present location.

As JR stated, the mode of doing business has changed for most vendors. Sales tax issues, cost of vendor spaces, cost of equipment and operating it has made the swap meets unprofitable for all but a few vendors. Sad, but a sign of the times.

DICK
You are old like me. When it was in the tobacco warehouse it was great. They had a lot of Corvettes for sale & parts. It was the first big show of the year. It was spring there when it was still winter in Indiana. God those were the days
KEN

[Dan M.]

Re: Corvette Expo near Knoxville, TN

I also last attended the Corvette Expo when it was at Chillhowie Park. Haven't been to the Expo since it moved to the East TN hills but was looking forward to going this year.

Now I'm not sure I would find it like it was 20 years ago.

Sad story I guess.

[Tom H.]

Re: Corvette Expo near Knoxville, TN

Hey guys ! Come on down to TN, make the best of it and have fun ! It is what it is. The people make it fun. Hope to see you all there. Hopefully it will be nice and sunny, as many of us are ready !!!

[Joe R.]

Re: Corvette Expo near Knoxville, TN

Tom,

Ditto for me!!!!! Great attitude and that is what makes Corvettes FUN!!!! It's about 40% cars and about 60% people!!!!!
The good thing about Corvette Expo is bringing the family and having a good time.
Yeah, I would like to make a bunch of money at Expo but it just ain't gonna happen. Not in these times!

JR

[Ridge K.]

Re: Corvette Expo near Knoxville, TN

Just dug out my old 20th anniversary shirt from the Expo.

The first year was 1977. Way before internet auctions were taking over classic car parts sales...

Ridge

[Russ T.]

Re: Corvette Expo near Knoxville, TN

Attended Knoxville Expo twice a year for 20 years and watched a gradual decline in quality used parts for sale by vendors.

When show moved from Knoxville to Pigeon Forge, it transformed from an "old car" guy's (with a variety of old cars) show to a "resort" car show with an emphasis on shopping, dining, water parks, etc. I tried it one time and never went back. Just not my bag.

I heard that the fall show was an auction only, held mainly so the sponsors could keep their spot reserved for next year. Appears the spring show is the only one with any merit. Some vendors I know just go there to hand out catalogs, nothing else.

Good luck with your decision. I would only go to this show if I wanted to buy T-shirts, wax, jewelry or jackets, some repro parts. Carlisle would seem like a much better alternative.

[Michael M.]

Re: Corvette Expo near Knoxville, TN

I may go anyway just to check it out. I have some bumpers I will need to pick up at Knox Custom Chrome, so I can combine trips.

[Ridge K.]

Re: Corvette Expo near Knoxville, TN

I may go anyway just to check it out. I have some bumpers I will need to pick up at Knox Custom Chrome, so I can combine trips.

To me, all Corvette shows are good, ...... it's just that some are better than others.

I've heard that before, but just can't remember what was being discussed.
Ridge.