CARLISLE, PA (June, 2007) – If there's one thing that regular attendees can say about the ever-evolving Carlisle All-Ford event, it's that no matter how many hundreds of different Fords, Lincolns and Mercurys of all vintages you get to see each year – the number of Mustangs on the show field seems to be growing faster than the annual event itself!
The Carlisle All-Ford Nationals, held on the first weekend in June each year, draws the Ford faithful to central Pennsylvania for a three-day Blue Oval love fest that has made it one of the largest events of its kind on the planet. With nearly 3,000 Ford-produced vehicles on the show field being admired by some 50,000 attendees, as well as more than 1,200 vendors selling all sorts of Ford-related cars, parts, accessories and memorabilia, it's no wonder the All-Ford festival on the Carlisle Fairgrounds has become one of the must-see car spectacles of the year.
Each successive year for the past 13 features different themes and celebrates select vehicle "anniversaries" – all while bringing together what is perhaps the most eclectic assemblage of Ford-produced vehicles in the world. But no matter what Ford car or club is headlining, there are always more and more rows of Mustangs of every possible variation – from first-generation resto-mods to Shelbys, Bosses, and Machs, from Mustang IIs and Fox bodies to late-model GTs, Bullitts and SVT Cobras. Regulars are treated to a unique view inside Ford product history – which is why folks keep coming back year after year: If you don't see it here, it likely doesn't exist anymore.
Ford Motor Company took the huge grassroots marketing opportunity at Carlisle quite seriously for the 2007 show, with a variety of special displays and support staff. Headlining was the hot new Mustang-based Interceptor Concept (Ford's 400-horsepower futuristic muscle sedan), along with the car's chief designer, Andreas Nilsson. Also in the Carlisle Fairgrounds' showroom was the Reflex Concept, with its bold design and advanced, 65 mpg diesel-electric hybrid powertrain. (We overheard showgoers comment that Reflex seems to take a page out of the original Mustang's playbook – that a small, stylish, sporty and yet economical car would have widespread appeal in today's marketplace.)
Also on the grounds were the Ford Truck folks and their Super Duty Power Tour, the Ford Challenge display, a Hybrid Technology presentation by Ford Hybrid Applications Manager Gil Portalatin, and even a "New Car Test Drives" program sponsored by the regional Ford dealers, providing on-site Ride 'n' Drive opportunities of the 2007 Fusion and Edge for show attendees.
The thousands of Ford fans in attendance had a variety of other attractions to check out, especially a special gathering for Mustang Mach 1s and the Fox-Body convertible "Feature Cars." The show also included a 40th Anniversary exhibit and Invitational Display for the Mercury Cougar (the Mustang's sister car), plus the 25th anniversary of the Ford EXP and Mercury LN7 (remember those front-drivers, Escort owners?), as well as the 50th anniversary of the Edsel and Ranchero.
Fans of the Starsky & Hutch TV show not only saw more than two dozen of the rare, limited-edition 1976 red-and-white Gran Torinos entered on the show field, but also were treated to a special guest appearance by Antonio Fargas, the actor who played "Huggy Bear" on the '70s undercover cops series. If racing is your thing, you had the chance to meet NASCAR legends David Pearson and Bud Moore, as well as former Ford drag racing star Al Joniec – and a couple of his race-ready Cobra Jet Mustangs.
Thanks to Ford's yearlong celebration of the '32 Deuce, there was plenty of "vintage tin" on display all over the show grounds, including "A Rare Pair." This duo of a 1929 Model A Sedan and a '29 Model A Closed Cab Truck were purchased as siblings in 1929, separated for years and then recovered and lovingly restored almost 80 years later.
Weekend activities at Carlisle are geared to include the whole family: For kids there are attractions like a Kids at Carlisle "Ride 'n' Drive" with battery powered cars, trucks and bikes, plus caricature-drawing, model-car building and face-painting. Moms can skip traversing the acres of cars and displays if they wish to head over to the Women's Oasis, where things like crafts, free massages and manicures, wine-tasting and basket bingo are taking place.
Everyone else heads for the show field, display barns and tents, car corral, manufacturers midway, massive swap meet and the vast assemblage of food vendors behind the grandstands. There's also a rock crawl demonstration and on-site dyno testing, as well as the annual burnout contest, beauty contest, wing-eating contest and even a show car raffle sponsored by Carlisle Events, all winding up with the big awards parade on Sunday. To put it simply, it's anything and everything "Ford" for three, fun-filled days.
From Galaxies to Edsels, from Fairlanes to Falcons and Pintos – and just about everything in-between, if Ford built and sold it, you'll experience it at Carlisle. And, of course, Mustang will be there in force!
Story and photos by John M. Clor, Ford Performance Group. (John is also a columnist for Mustang Enthusiast magazine and author of The Mustang Dynasty, due out this fall from Chronicle Books.)
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