Oregon is a rainy place, but starting around May, the sun starts to peek out, and the days turn from grim to bright. There are two local events that capitalize on that change and mark the start of the Pacific Northwest’s car season: the pair of Portland Swap Meets in early April, and the Portland Transmission show — always the Saturday before Mothers’ Day.
Portland Transmission has been hosting this spring show since 1983, when just 28 cars showed up. It’s grown exponentially every year since, and this year’s event seemed larger than ever, with over six square blocks of cars taking over the east side of Portland. The registered show only accounted for a portion of the cars at the event, and there’s no year limit or make restriction here, which makes for some fantastic car spotting — if you’re willing to walk.
The best part about Portland Transmission? It’s an early morning show, with it all but wrapped by 11 am. It makes for some interesting shots, with the morning sun casting long shadows between buildings in one of Portland’s old industrial districts. Here are some of my favorite photos from this year’s event.
