The Carlisle Ford Nationals in Pennsylvania is a can’t-miss event for anyone who loves everything the Ford Motor Company has to offer
This year, I had actually planned to take a break. After attending three other events that turned into long weekends, I figured it was time to stay home. But as the event drew closer and the excitement started building, I simply couldn’t stay away.
The Ford Nationals is one of those rare events where you can see vehicles you didn’t even know Ford built. It’s also a place where friends reconnect, clubs gather, and enthusiasts from all over the country come together to celebrate the hobby. Once again, I pulled double duty by covering the event for Mustang Driver while also representing Retro Stangs. Retro Stangs is a community I started with a few close friends after retiring from Mustang Week. I wanted to build something on my own terms for people who enjoy the hobby and everything retro. While our primary focus is 1979-2004 Mustangs, everyone is welcome, and ownership isn’t required to be part of the community.
For me, one of the most exciting parts of the event was seeing all the Broncos, as they were one of the featured vehicles for 2026. Each year, Carlisle highlights specific models or generations of Ford vehicles, giving attendees a chance to see some truly unique displays.
We arrived around midday on Thursday with one goal in mind: hit the swap meet hard. According to my watch, I walked nearly eight miles covering aisle after aisle in search of SN95 Mustang parts. Another favorite area of mine is the car corral, where vehicles are offered for sale. This year, I came across a low-mileage 1988 Ford van and immediately started thinking about how it would make a great road-trip vehicle. As I made my way around the fairgrounds, I spotted multiple Mustang GTDs. The RTR Vehicles crew was on hand showcasing some of the coolest modern Mustangs and Broncos around.
Steve Saleen was there meeting fans, and Shelby American had an impressive display featuring rows of Shelby Mustangs. One display I particularly enjoyed was the Roush Performance exhibit, which featured a collection of older Roush Mustangs and gave attendees a chance to look back at the company’s impact on Mustang performance over the years.
One of the unexpected highlights was the Starsky & Hutch Torino display. It was hard to miss the cars cruising around the fairgrounds with their sirens blaring. They definitely grabbed attention everywhere they went.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to see the burnout contest in person, but judging by the photos and reactions from attendees, it looked like another crowd favorite and a fitting way to add even more excitement to an already action-packed weekend.
For me, there were two standout vehicles at the event that checked all the right boxes. The first was Lewis Wilkinson’s 1986 Mustang coupe, and the second was Thomas Madej’s SN95 Cobra. Looking at the Cobra, everyone assumed it was an ultra-low-mileage survivor. As it turns out, the car had somewhere in the 70,000-mile range, though I can’t recall the exact number. Regardless, the condition of the car was absolutely amazing and a testament to how well it had been cared for over the years.
For those interested in seeing all of the class winners from this year’s event, the complete winners list can be found ist can be found HERE.
As I was finishing this article, I learned that Retro Stangs finished seventh in the Top Club Challenge. Considering the number of clubs that attend the Ford Nationals each year, we were very happy with that result and appreciate everyone who registered with the club.The 2027 Carlisle Ford Nationals is scheduled for June 4-6, 2027. If you’re a Ford enthusiast, you already know this is the all-Ford show to be at. Whether you’re hunting parts, checking out the latest vehicles from Ford, catching up with old friends, or simply enjoying thousands of Blue Oval vehicles in one place, Carlisle continues to deliver year after year.
