Ford Trucks at Fall Carlisle Wrap up Car Show Season in Style

By Brett Foote - October 16, 2019

Fall Carlisle symbolically marks the end of car show season each year, but Ford fans didn’t come away disappointed.

For most, fall is a mixed bag. It brings with it relief from the blazing heat, the return of football, and a host of fun outdoor activities. But on the flip side, fall also means going back to school, no more family vacations, and saddest of all, the end of car show season. The same rings true for Fall Carlisle, the very last central Pennsylvania-based event on the record-breaking Carlisle Events slate for 2019. But judging by the incredible representation of Ford trucks, you could certainly say that at least this seemingly somber occasion sent car show season out with a bang.

Like every other event on the Carlisle calendar, Fall Carlisle holds a certain prestige among automotive enthusiasts. Unlike the others, however, this one focuses a bit more on its swap meet. So if you’re in the market for a cool old Ford truck or that elusive hard-to-find piece to complete your restoration, chances are it was here. Over the course of five days, the Carlisle Fairgrounds were packed with seemingly endless rows of booths filled to the brim with anything you can think of.

And even if you weren’t in the market for a new Ford truck project or part, there were plenty of other reasons to attend Fall Carlisle. Over 1,000 vehicles of all makes and models lined the car corral beginning at 7 a.m. on Wednesday. And the influx of folks hoping to snag a spot in the grass didn’t relent the entire length of the extended weekend. This, despite some crazy weather that featured record-breaking heat on opening day turning to a cold rain on day two.

For those looking for the best deals on new parts, Fall Carlisle offered up plenty of great discounts. Vendors were keen to present show-only specials that aren’t available anywhere else. So while we’re steadily moving toward the online shopping experience, a trip to the fairgrounds certainly saved a bunch of attendees some serious cash.

Those looking for a little hammer-banging action certainly didn’t come away disappointed, either. Auction vehicles were on display at the nearby Carlisle Expo Center ahead of the prime time action on Thursday and Friday night. Over 500 vehicles ultimately crossed the block, and over 50% of them sold. Total sales reached a whopping $3.6-million.

Despite our love for fall, we’re obviously sad to see car show season come to an end. And for many of us, it’s also time to park our prized Ford trucks and break out the winter beaters. But while we’re shoveling our driveways and swapping on those winter tires, there’s also plenty to look forward to in 2020.

Fortunately, we won’t have to wait long for car show season to start back up. Auto Mania returns to the Allentown Fairgrounds on January 17-19. And then, we’ll be able to thaw out in Lakeland, Florida for Winter Autofest on February 21-23. So perhaps we shouldn’t think of this as the end of car show season, after all. Maybe we should just consider it a short break in the action!