Fall Carlisle: From Pre-War ’74 to a 47-Year Success Story for Car Enthusiasts
Fall Carlisle, or more specifically, Fall Carlisle Collector Car Flea Market & Corral is set for its 47th annual show Sept. 29-Oct. 3 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. It all started as “Post War '74”, an event for enthusiasts of more-recent vehicles than the Pre-War car shows that dotted America at the time.
Car buddies, Bill Miller and Chip Miller (no relation), founded Carlisle Events in 1974 for "car guys and girls just like them." Before their enterprise, there were few options nationwide for those car people interested in restoring or showing 1950s‐ or 1960s‐era cars. That all changed when Chip Miller and Bill Miller Jr., became friends through a mutual interest in cars of the 1950s. Together, they began going to car shows and automotive flea markets, where like‐minded individuals would hunt for parts and accessories to restore their vehicles. A need for these events became obvious to these two men in 1973. Until that time, the only cars that were considered worthy of collecting were pre‐WWII automobiles. That was until “Post War ’74”.
Co-founder and co-owner of Carlisle Events, Bill Miller, Jr. said the notion of this event began in 1973. “The president of the new car club, The Milestone Car Society, asked me if I could bring a special car to their booth at the AACA Fall Swap Meet in Hershey, PA,” he said. “My friend Chip Miller had a 1954 Corvette that he wanted to sell, so we brought that and put it in the booth. Of course, at that time, there were no cell phones, so Chip put his business card on the windshield with the price and a note saying he would be back every hour on the hour if someone was interested.”
Miller continued, “ When we returned to the booth, the business card was on the floor of the car instead of the windshield so Chip thought someone was interested in the car and didn't want anyone else to see the card and just threw it on the floor. A few minutes later someone in a golf cart pulled up and asked who owned the car. Chip thought that this was the person interested in the purchase. When Chip approached him, he said that Chip was not allowed to sell the car in the swap meet because it was not an antique car.”
Miller said that being in their 20s, and with the car being 20 years old, they thought it was an old car, but AACA rules at that time stated that the car had to be 35 years old or older. Miller remarked, “They got a little testy with us and we snapped back and they made us remove the car from the show. After we took the car to the parking lot and returned to the show Chip said, ‘Isn't it a shame that we can't show cars that we like at a car show?’ I said that we should start a car show for cars that we liked, so we each put up $500, drew up a partnership and the next season started a car show for cars after the second World War, and ‘Postwar '74’ was born.”
Miller said they chose the week before the Fall Hershey Swap Meet because they thought that people coming to Hershey could just spend another few days and attend both events.
He added, “The biggest obstacle was finding a location that we could afford, we looked at three locations and picked the Carlisle Fairgrounds because it was the least expensive. It was better dumb luck than good management. Carlisle is the Keystone of the Keystone state as Route 11, Route 81 and the Turnpike intersects here and it is the perfect location for people traveling any distance North, South, East or West .”
On September 26, 1974, on the rented Carlisle Fairgrounds, "Post War '74" took place. It was the very first car event promoted by the company. In a year still remembered for gas lines and inflation, nearly 600 vendors set up in more than 800 spaces, and 13,000 spectators paid the $1 admission to sample their wares.
Within a few years, the Carlisle Fairgrounds had become a Mecca for collector car enthusiasts all over the world. The runaway success of what became known as Fall Carlisle led to a similar spring event in 1977. In short order, they became complete sellouts for vendor and car corral.
Miller did not expect the success and the 47-year growth. “We did it strictly as a hobby event,” he said, “and didn't look for it to flourish like it did and turn into a business. We were happy that it did because there is no better business that working in the hobby that you love.”
Regarding event growth, Miller said, “We grew so fast each year that we ran by the seat of our pants. We made changes on the fly, often when the show was in progress. Everyone rolled with the punches because the vendors were doing a huge business and the spectators were having fun. The biggest problem came from the owners of the Fairgrounds as they would build a building right in the middle of our swap area and not consult us before they did it. We would arrive at the grounds weeks before the show only to find the grounds changed. Back to the drawing board and make quick changes. So we bought the Fairgrounds.”
The show has changed over the years, of course, and Miller said much has to do with merchandize. “New old stock (NOS) merchandise has given way to reproduction merchandise. Now NOS merchandise is harder to find and has become quite valuable. Being a vendor is very hard work and many new generations of the vendors’ families don't want to pursue the same tasks that their parents did. But the hobby is still alive and well and the shows are booming this year after everyone has gotten out again.”
After 47 Fall Carlisle shows Miller sees some very real high points, including celebrity guest stars. Miller said, “We have had so many big names from the hobby at our events. Carroll Shelby, Richard Petty, Kyle Petty, Linda Vaughn – ‘Miss Hurst’, Bruce Larson, The Tuetels of Orange County Choppers fame, all of the Dukes of Hazzard stars, Bill Goldberg, Chip Foose, Hailie Deegan (NASCAR driver), Gallagher -- the comedian, Bobby Allison and Cindy Williams (of Laverne and Shirley), just to name a few.”
The success of Fall Carlisle led to other shows and Miller recalled, “As our flea market-only shows grew we started single-marque shows, Ford, GM, Chrysler, Truck Import, Corvette, and of course our auctions, which are a huge success. Even now, our Florida auctions draw thousands of people and hundreds of cars to Lakeland, Florida twice a year. Our single-marque shows grew every year as we set record attendance of show cars. People love to interact with like minded car owners so they can learn more about the hobby.”
Last year was tough, but he sees a rebound in sight. “The pandemic was certainly a challenge,” he said. “We did all the CDC requirements, as did every other business, and made it through. Our future is bright because we try to stay on top of the market. We want the shows to appeal to all ages and genders. We do something for the young, the older men and women, and especially for the kids, as they are the future of the hobby.
Miller loves the events and the people who come to them. “The car people are the greatest people in the world,” he said. “We raise thousands of dollars for charities every year. When you realize that about one half a million people pass through these grounds every year and we don't have any problems what better testament could you have to the quality people of the car hobby.”
Fall Carlisle is the last event of the calendar year for Carlisle Events and marks the end of the Carlisle based show and automotive flea market season. This massive automotive flea market is one of the best opportunities to get your hands on all things automotive before the winter non-picking blues kicks in. With 8,100 spaces of vendors selling a vast array of automotive parts, accessories, cars, collectibles and memorabilia, it's almost certain that you won't go home empty handed. Accompanying the automotive flea market and car corral is the Manufacturers Midway featuring the latest and greatest products and services, and a two-day auction presented by Carlisle Auctions across the street.
> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.
Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>
Car buddies, Bill Miller and Chip Miller (no relation), founded Carlisle Events in 1974 for "car guys and girls just like them." Before their enterprise, there were few options nationwide for those car people interested in restoring or showing 1950s‐ or 1960s‐era cars. That all changed when Chip Miller and Bill Miller Jr., became friends through a mutual interest in cars of the 1950s. Together, they began going to car shows and automotive flea markets, where like‐minded individuals would hunt for parts and accessories to restore their vehicles. A need for these events became obvious to these two men in 1973. Until that time, the only cars that were considered worthy of collecting were pre‐WWII automobiles. That was until “Post War ’74”.
Co-founder and co-owner of Carlisle Events, Bill Miller, Jr. said the notion of this event began in 1973. “The president of the new car club, The Milestone Car Society, asked me if I could bring a special car to their booth at the AACA Fall Swap Meet in Hershey, PA,” he said. “My friend Chip Miller had a 1954 Corvette that he wanted to sell, so we brought that and put it in the booth. Of course, at that time, there were no cell phones, so Chip put his business card on the windshield with the price and a note saying he would be back every hour on the hour if someone was interested.”
Miller continued, “ When we returned to the booth, the business card was on the floor of the car instead of the windshield so Chip thought someone was interested in the car and didn't want anyone else to see the card and just threw it on the floor. A few minutes later someone in a golf cart pulled up and asked who owned the car. Chip thought that this was the person interested in the purchase. When Chip approached him, he said that Chip was not allowed to sell the car in the swap meet because it was not an antique car.”
Miller said that being in their 20s, and with the car being 20 years old, they thought it was an old car, but AACA rules at that time stated that the car had to be 35 years old or older. Miller remarked, “They got a little testy with us and we snapped back and they made us remove the car from the show. After we took the car to the parking lot and returned to the show Chip said, ‘Isn't it a shame that we can't show cars that we like at a car show?’ I said that we should start a car show for cars that we liked, so we each put up $500, drew up a partnership and the next season started a car show for cars after the second World War, and ‘Postwar '74’ was born.”
Miller said they chose the week before the Fall Hershey Swap Meet because they thought that people coming to Hershey could just spend another few days and attend both events.
He added, “The biggest obstacle was finding a location that we could afford, we looked at three locations and picked the Carlisle Fairgrounds because it was the least expensive. It was better dumb luck than good management. Carlisle is the Keystone of the Keystone state as Route 11, Route 81 and the Turnpike intersects here and it is the perfect location for people traveling any distance North, South, East or West .”
On September 26, 1974, on the rented Carlisle Fairgrounds, "Post War '74" took place. It was the very first car event promoted by the company. In a year still remembered for gas lines and inflation, nearly 600 vendors set up in more than 800 spaces, and 13,000 spectators paid the $1 admission to sample their wares.
Within a few years, the Carlisle Fairgrounds had become a Mecca for collector car enthusiasts all over the world. The runaway success of what became known as Fall Carlisle led to a similar spring event in 1977. In short order, they became complete sellouts for vendor and car corral.
Miller did not expect the success and the 47-year growth. “We did it strictly as a hobby event,” he said, “and didn't look for it to flourish like it did and turn into a business. We were happy that it did because there is no better business that working in the hobby that you love.”
Regarding event growth, Miller said, “We grew so fast each year that we ran by the seat of our pants. We made changes on the fly, often when the show was in progress. Everyone rolled with the punches because the vendors were doing a huge business and the spectators were having fun. The biggest problem came from the owners of the Fairgrounds as they would build a building right in the middle of our swap area and not consult us before they did it. We would arrive at the grounds weeks before the show only to find the grounds changed. Back to the drawing board and make quick changes. So we bought the Fairgrounds.”
The show has changed over the years, of course, and Miller said much has to do with merchandize. “New old stock (NOS) merchandise has given way to reproduction merchandise. Now NOS merchandise is harder to find and has become quite valuable. Being a vendor is very hard work and many new generations of the vendors’ families don't want to pursue the same tasks that their parents did. But the hobby is still alive and well and the shows are booming this year after everyone has gotten out again.”
After 47 Fall Carlisle shows Miller sees some very real high points, including celebrity guest stars. Miller said, “We have had so many big names from the hobby at our events. Carroll Shelby, Richard Petty, Kyle Petty, Linda Vaughn – ‘Miss Hurst’, Bruce Larson, The Tuetels of Orange County Choppers fame, all of the Dukes of Hazzard stars, Bill Goldberg, Chip Foose, Hailie Deegan (NASCAR driver), Gallagher -- the comedian, Bobby Allison and Cindy Williams (of Laverne and Shirley), just to name a few.”
The success of Fall Carlisle led to other shows and Miller recalled, “As our flea market-only shows grew we started single-marque shows, Ford, GM, Chrysler, Truck Import, Corvette, and of course our auctions, which are a huge success. Even now, our Florida auctions draw thousands of people and hundreds of cars to Lakeland, Florida twice a year. Our single-marque shows grew every year as we set record attendance of show cars. People love to interact with like minded car owners so they can learn more about the hobby.”
Last year was tough, but he sees a rebound in sight. “The pandemic was certainly a challenge,” he said. “We did all the CDC requirements, as did every other business, and made it through. Our future is bright because we try to stay on top of the market. We want the shows to appeal to all ages and genders. We do something for the young, the older men and women, and especially for the kids, as they are the future of the hobby.
Miller loves the events and the people who come to them. “The car people are the greatest people in the world,” he said. “We raise thousands of dollars for charities every year. When you realize that about one half a million people pass through these grounds every year and we don't have any problems what better testament could you have to the quality people of the car hobby.”
Fall Carlisle is the last event of the calendar year for Carlisle Events and marks the end of the Carlisle based show and automotive flea market season. This massive automotive flea market is one of the best opportunities to get your hands on all things automotive before the winter non-picking blues kicks in. With 8,100 spaces of vendors selling a vast array of automotive parts, accessories, cars, collectibles and memorabilia, it's almost certain that you won't go home empty handed. Accompanying the automotive flea market and car corral is the Manufacturers Midway featuring the latest and greatest products and services, and a two-day auction presented by Carlisle Auctions across the street.
> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.
Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>
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