I'm thinking about driving to PA from here (Vermont) to attend either the Hershey or Carlisle Shows this fall. Both are about a ten to twelve hour drive away. Has anyone attended either of these? I'm going down not only to look for and at trucks like my own ('53 slowly heading toward stock rebuild), but also maybe to pick up some miscelleneous parts. I'm looking for a tailgate, hood hinges, valve cover for a 215 I-6, and little odds and ends. I've also got some extra bits and pieces that I'm thinking I'll throw in the pack of my van when I head down...maybe I can sell or trade them in the parking lot? Does it sound like it makes sense to put in twenty plus hours to make the round trip? I don't know anything about either show, and so I may have completely unrealistic expectations.

 

I've been to both shows. I live near baltimore so it's only about 2 hours to each one for me. If you want Ford parts, you might want to hold out until next years All Ford show at Carlisle. The fall show is good but they have a little bit of everything from soda machines to anything else you might want. I usually try to make the spring, all ford, all truck and fall shows at carlisle. they have car corals at all their shows. The cars on display are anywhere from original resto's to mod's. The major vendors at the all ford show are either universal vendors (i.e. maguires, goodyear, vintage tire etc..) or all ford vendors(i.e.dennis carpenter, classic auto parts, etc...) The fall show could be all sorts of vendors.

The Hershey show, I only went to once, seemed a little more stuffed shirt crowd. They had some cool stuff there, but it just seemed a little more of the polo shirt and sweater around the neck crowd in stead of the t-shirt & jeans or cut offs crowd. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I can only handle so much of Thurston Howell the 3rd. The vendors are about the same as at the fall Carlisle show. There is a variety of them.

Hope this helps.

 

I spent a day at the Fall Hershey show last year. One day was not enough time. Huge show. I only made it through about half of the swap area. However, if you are looking for trucks you may be disappointed. I found absolutely no 48-50 Ford trucks. There were maybe six Ford pickups there from the 50's and a couple of panel trucks.

If you plan to go to Hershey try to get there before the last day. Most of the vendors do the Carlisle show then move on down the road to Hershey. After two weeks a lot of them have had enough and skip the last day

Craig

 

hey there , where in the state of vermont are you? iam at the southern end . as for carlisle it has been quite a while since i have been there , great show , nice vendor selection . as for hershey i can not comment i have never been to that show . however i can tell you at either show be prepared to do a lot of walking .lol. if you go you will be hooked .good luck

 

I went to the Fall Carlisle 2 years ago and it was amazing. It took most of a day just to get through the car corral. I definitely want to go back to another Carlisle event. I'd like to check Hershey out someday as well.

 

never been to Fall Carlisle or Hershey but they are huge. I have been to the Carlisle Truck Nats the last several summers. I recommend that because it is just trucks, downside is that it includes the darn loud lowriding riceburners!

Others say they prefer the All Ford Nats because it is all Fords (cars and trucks), but you'll have to wait for next year of course,

abe

 

I think you should go to the shows. They are great fun and I've seen many truck vendors there. In the spring I picked up rust free southwest fenders, doors, and running boards for my 55 plus I bought ab bunch of stuff from the big store vendors (the dennis carpenter types). The corral is a lot of fun as well and that can take almost a day. Plus it changes constantly as cars are sold and wainting list cars come in. I live in the baltimore area and I look forward to the spring and fall shows all year, I save up my vacation all year for it.

The post about the stuffy-ness of the Hershey show is agreed also. I think part of that is because they are part of the AACA group and that tends to attract the stuffies. The hershey show I think is bigger, but a sa result you have to wade through vedors for just about any car ever made domestic and foeign. Also it has been my experience that the vendors are also less likely to wheel and deal, the prices seem higher and they like to stick to the prices. But if you are a car/truck addict like me it is a great fix and the location is very scenic and just feels good to be there if that makes any sense. You should definitely check out the car show part of it, as there are cars you'll probably never again see in your life. Also the car corral protion of Hershey is unequalled. You can find anything there.

Another show you might want to cehck out is the Englishtown NJ show which is a week before Carlisle. I went to the spring show and while it was not as big as the Hershey and Carlisle shows, ot was big enought to fell like it was worht the drive.

Either way bring comfy shoes you will do a ton of walking. I waer a pedometer each day I go just for fun to see how far I walk in a day and I usually average about 25 miles a day but I get there at sun-up and I leave after dark, I just love it so much.

 

If you do the Hershey thing try to stop in Hummelstown and check the shop and projects at Posies, they are on Duke St, it's worth the time. (If you look closely on Main St you might see the Hummelstown Funeral Home and Furniture Store)

 

Do they mind if you jsut drop in? I've always wanted to stop by there.

 

Posie is an old friend of mine, he's open for business everyday and has a nice little customer center, drop in, buy a t-shirt, enjoy yourself!