Events Coverage
Event: 2009 Carlisle Import & Kit/Replica Nationals
By by: George Achorn, photos by author
May 22, 2009, 14:15

The Carlisle Import and Kit/Replicar Nationals is pretty much unlike any other car show you might attend. It’s not held on a prestigious racetrack or a swank golf course, but on the fairgrounds outside a Pennsylvania college town. As its rather awkward name suggests, any non-domestic brand is welcome, though that rule is even fairly flexible given the inordinate number of Fieros that attend every year.


For Volvo owners, the Carlisle show isn’t just about lining a bunch of cars up in a neat little row to display; many come down and spend the weekend camping in a nearby field and hanging out with other Volvo fanatics. Whether or not the show is judged is up to the organizing owners and, as has become typical of this event, the focus is the social nature and not the handing out of awards. The VCOA does an impressive job organizing this event, which is supported by owners who tend to congregate on several Volvo websites.


The mix of cars this year was perhaps more diverse than ever. The usual vintage Swedish iron was on hand along with Irv Gordon’s two million mile 1800. The club also brought an XC60 to represent the newer vehicles, but they certainly weren’t the only ones. Several heavily modified P2 cars were there (mostly Rs), as well as several C30s.


The 850 and first-generation 70-series crowd continues to grow. Some cars are familiar faces and have been seen here year after year, while even more new examples also made a showing this year.


Vendors ranged as well. Several peddlers of vintage Volvo parts could be found in the main vendor area, while EuroSportTuning had smartly set up a tent in the middle of the Volvo field and was selling a few parts, including a very cool, adjustable carbon fiber strut tower brace for the 850.

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