When the balmy spring weather turns towards the heat of summer, there's one thing we always look forward to-the Carlisle All-Ford Nationals in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Held at the Carlisle Fairgrounds, this was the 13th year of the All-Ford Nats. The event never ceases to impress, with special guests from all corners of Ford performance and manufacturing as well as special invitational and anniversary displays. This year's All-Ford show was no different, with special guests David Pearson and Bud Moore of NASCAR fame in attendance, along with TV star Antonio Fargas who played Huggy Bear on the '70s hit Starsky & Hutch (with his own Starsky & Hutch edition Torino display). Ford drag racer Al Joniec joined the celebrity list, too, with a display of his race cars.
It was a banner year for anniversaries as well. All over the Carlisle Fairgrounds were special displays such as the large gathering for the 40th anniversary of the Mercury Cougar inside building Y and adjacent to the Carlisle grandstands. In addition, 2007 marked the 50th anniversary of the Edsel and the Ranchero. There was the 25th anniversary of Ford's mid-'80s fun two-seater, the EXP, and its sister line, the Mercury LN7. Each year special display areas at the fairgrounds are offered to select vehicle lines, and for 2007, all years of the Mach 1 Mustang were invited to park in one location near Gate 1.
Ford had a much larger presence at the Nats than in years past. Besides the usual Ford Racing Performance Parts display and new-model exhibition from local dealers, Ford stepped up in a big way by bringing several concept vehicles, including Ford's hot Interceptor concept based off of the new S197 Mustang platform and recently displayed at the North American International Auto Show.
Ford also brought out its Super Duty Power Tour with a cutaway F-series Super Duty for everyone to inspect. Show attendees lined up for testdrives in Ford's newest sellers, including the Edge crossover, the Fusion, and more. Throw in the usual All-Ford show fun-the chicken-wing-eating contest; the burnout competition; the more than 2,000 display cars from the '20s to present day; and rows upon rows of new, used, and N.O.S. parts for your project vehicle-and you can see why attending the Carlisle All-Ford Nationals is tops on our list. Be sure to check out our Web site for more great photos.
 With 82 acres of fairgrounds,...  With 82 acres of fairgrounds, you better be wearing comfortable walking shoes. Don't forget a hat, plenty of water, and that li'l red wagon to haul your parts back to the car. |  Daniel Bauer's '55 Ranch Wagon...  Daniel Bauer's '55 Ranch Wagon was one of the first show vehicles we stumbled upon, and man, what a great display. While tastefully modified, Daniel's wagon looked ready for the great open road, towing a classic Airstream aluminum trailer. |  Notice the rare Thermador...  Notice the rare Thermador car cooler hanging from the window. The Thermador used water-soaked fabric that was rotated into the unit's air stream to deliver cool air through the window opening. Daniel's unit has even been painted to match his wagon. |
 It wasn't all horsepower and...  It wasn't all horsepower and roses in the '70s, but Ford and its various divisions did their best to make the cars look fast. Steve Schrimscher's '73 Mercury Montego GT is a rare Merc and appeared ready to cruise or show. |  Ford's '57-'59 Skyliner retractable...  Ford's '57-'59 Skyliner retractable hardtop may have not been a great sales success, but with its steel roof panel displayed midway between open and closed, there's no denying the allure of one parked at a show. There were several fine examples on display at the Carlisle Fairgrounds this year. Come on, Ford, build a two-door Crown Vic with a retractable top and add it to your retro-car series! |  The mobile dyno was screaming...  The mobile dyno was screaming all weekend with Ford iron of just about every decade. When we happened by on Friday morning, Danny Breaden was blowing the cobwebs out of his 390-powered '64 Galaxie. The FE pumped out 308 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque. |
 While the majority of Mustang...  While the majority of Mustang show fields these days are overrun with '05-'07 Mustangs, it was great to see certain years and models displayed together, such as the die-hard Mustang IIs. Another display you couldn't miss was the Yellow Mustang Registry. While predominantly late-model in registrations, the YMR welcomes all years of yellow Mustangs. |  If there's one predictable...  If there's one predictable event that happens every year at the Carlisle All-Ford Nats, it's the Friday rainstorms. Everyone in attendance lucked out with nary a drop on Friday and just a light sprinkle on Saturday. With the typical rains in mind, this vendor certainly has his pricing structure set up for a hefty profit. |  The Mach 1 Reunion display...  The Mach 1 Reunion display was drool-inducing for fans of this model. From base Windsor cars to CJ Ram Air models and everything in between-including the '03/'04 Mach versions-there were Mach 1s literally in every direction. |