Photo Galleries: 2011 Carlisle Import Nationals

May 24, 2011 - 12:43:27 PM

We would never dream of missing the annual Carlisle Import Kit and Replicar Nationals in the heart of Pennsylvania. As with every year, 2011 did not disappoint. The turnout was great and it was good to see a few older project cars progressing and a few others brand new to the scene. Unfortunately, our own 2011 S60 T6 project car showed up to our Chicago office in the afternoon on the Friday before the show, so it wasn't able to make its first scheduled appearance. But there's always next year, right?

A few other brand new S60s did show up to the show though, making up for our completely stock car's absence. Overall, as with most Carlisle shows, the selection of cars from Volvo's current range of models was a bit slim, mostly made of up various XC models and a handful of C30s. S60Rs and V70Rs generally dominate the Carlisle scene, along with 850s, but this year there was a good showing of historic Volvos as well. A few Amazons showed up, a number of P1800s, and even a couple PV544s.



Carlisle isn't just about the cars, though. It's a community show and one where everyone tries to avoid getting too serious. Owners of Volvo 240s seemed to lead the way in that regard, taking the prize for most creative mods on the show field. One 240 had the underside of its hood painted like an angry face with the crossbraces breaking up the various facial features. The best, however, was the "Brickerator," a 240 with its trunk converted into a kegerator. Two different taps rose up from the rear end and kept party going by providing refreshment throughout the day.

Nope, not a single dull moment got in the way of another entertaining Carlisle meet. As a company, Volvo may still be working its way out of some pretty tumultuous times, but as a community, Volvo is as strong as ever. With more R-design products coming and power bumps being added, we hope Volvos will find their way into the garages of even more enthusiasts so we can keep coming back to this same field in Pennsylvania for years to come.