Origins: Motoring Community Roots
The Swap Meet traces its beginnings to the late 1950s in Tennessee, when antique auto enthusiasts first gathered for swap meets. By the mid-1960s, Arkansas’s vintage car community embraced the tradition, evolving into the annual Petit Jean Show & Swap Meet we know today.
In 1968, the Mid‑America Old‑Time Auto Association (MOTAA) selected the Museum of Automobiles atop Petit Jean Mountain as its permanent venue, making it the hub for one of the nation’s oldest vintage‑car events.
The Venue: Museum of Automobiles
At the heart of the event is the Museum of Automobiles, founded in 1964 by Winthrop Rockefeller. Built with an innovative tensile‑cable roof design, the museum offers an open, airy exhibition space and holds a collection that spans 1904 to 1981, including the only surviving 1923 Climber Touring Car built in Arkansas.
A sweeping architectural landmark in its own right, the museum was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.
The Event Experience
- Held annually in June, the Petit Jean Swap Meet & Car Show draws hundreds of vendors and thousands of collectors and enthusiasts from around the country.
- Open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and organized by both MOTAA and the Museum of Automobiles.
Community and Collector Culture
This event is a generational tradition. Families and collectors of all ages stroll the grounds, sharing stories while hunting for vintage car parts, memorabilia, and more. Expect to find vendors offering antique auto restoration supplies, signage, license plates, auto literature, crafts, and funnel cakes.
Nestled atop Arkansas’s scenic Petit Jean Mountain, the Petit Jean Swap Meet & Car Show represents more than just an auto event, it’s a living legacy of vintage automotive culture, community, and discovery.
The Origins & Evolution:
From humble beginnings in late‑1950s Tennessee, the swap meet tradition found a permanent home in Arkansas when the Museum of Automobiles welcomed the Mid‑America Old‑Time Auto Association in 1968. Since then, it’s become a flagship event for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
Meet the Museum:
Established in 1964 by Winthrop Rockefeller, the Museum of Automobiles showcases rare vehicles, including Arkansas’s only Climber Touring Car, amid striking mid‑century architecture. Its tensile‑cable roof and open interiors create a gracious backdrop for both display and community gatherings.
What Happens Each June:
This show and swap-meet can host over 500 vendors, a car corral, open car show, and dozens of vendors offering parts, memorabilia, and vintage collectibles. From Model A shows to arts & crafts and classic car competitions, it’s a sensory feast for gearheads.
Why It Matters to Collectors:
- Community Connection: Three generations of families often attend, trading tales and parts.
- Rare Finds: You’ll discover everything from Model A bits to roadside signage and nostalgic brochures.
- Unforgettable Ambiance: Auto culture, southern hospitality, and mountain vistas combine to create a one‑of‑a‑kind experience for collectors.
Plan for multi-day fun! Combine event browsing with hiking, camper stays, or a getaway at Petit Jean State Park. The nearby Mather Lodge and museum grounds provide ideal spots for relaxing after a day of automotive hunting
