With Fall Carlisle and its two-day classic and collector car auction now in the rear-view mirror, Carlisle Events and Carlisle Auctions can now look back on an amazingly successful season. For Fall Carlisle (September 28-October 2) at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds, it was all about bringing the automotive community together one last time, while the auction team spent September 29-30 connecting bidders and buyers with decades of classic and collector cars.
Despite the official mid-week start for Fall Carlisle, the fun actually started earlier in the week with Bill Miller, co-founder of Carlisle Events, hosting a two-day collectibles and merchandise auction. Thousands upon thousands of items sold and became part of not only the Fall Carlisle automotive flea market, but future events like it for years to come.
Once the gates opened on Wednesday the 28th, however; Fall Carlisle was officially up and running. New at Fall Carlisle in 2022 was the Shop Art Gallery within Building T. There, creative artists showcased works forged from repurposed car parts and/or automotive themed art, including wood carved motorcycles. Items were also for sale, with some even finding new homes. In addition, the AACA Car Club parked front and center on the stage to showcase a half dozen cars, plus promote their events, and club membership. In addition, vendors had the chance to come together to celebrate the hobby and reminisce as part of an appreciation dinner held on Saturday night, October 1.
While Fall Carlisle was happening on the fairgrounds, just a few blocks west, Carlisle Auctions was once again hitting an auction style home run. The auction tallied more than $5.4 million in sales, with a 63% sales percentage. The top seller was a 1969 Pontiac Trans Am ($98,280), with the top five sellers totaling $421,460. In addition, the Bill Miller auction continued with 20 of his lots crossing the block on the 29th, while enthusiast Dave Ferro moved nine vehicles from his collection on Friday the 30th. One of Bill’s lots, a 1954 Kaiser Darrin, was the #4 top selling car.
Fall Carlisle had a few hurdles too, as the remnants of Hurricane Ian brought rain on Saturday and Sunday. While that did dampen the shopping frenzy outdoors, the indoor car auction on Thursday and Friday, combined with the overall success of events between January and August, positioned this year as one of the best ever at Carlisle. This includes multiple record-setting Showfield/Fun Field turnouts.
The year started strong with two indoor January events, Auto Mania in Allentown and the Winter Auto Expo in Carlisle, followed by the official launch of the 2022 year and Spring Carlisle. From there, it was a near record-setting Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals, the biggest car show ever hosted at Carlisle with the Carlisle Ford Nationals (3,454), a top 5 Carlisle GM Nationals, record setting Carlisle Chrysler Nationals (3,101), record setting Carlisle Truck Nationals (2,595), AND a record setting Corvettes at Carlisle (2,926). In addition, with one collector car auction remaining, Carlisle Auctions can already tout its year as a success, tallying nearly $15 million in sales to date.
Finally, thanks to Carlisle area Lions Clubs and the generous donations of guests all season, Carlisle Events was able to donate $10,000 to the Carlisle branch of the Salvation Army in support of Ukrainian Humanitarian relief efforts.
While all the Pennsylvania automotive fun has concluded for 2022, Carlisle Auctions still has one more event remaining. The Lakeland Fall Collector Car Auction returns to the SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus in Florida November 10-11 for two days and 400+ lots of in person auction excitement. Planned lots will span decades and include the ever-popular All-Truck Hour on November 10 at approximately 1:30 p.m.
Complete details on all things Carlisle Events for 2023 as well as Carlisle Auctions are available online at either CarlisleEvents.com or CarlisleAuctions.com. Save the date(s) because 2023 gets going with Auto Mania at the Allentown Fairgrounds on January 20.
