One of the programs at Carlisle Events that we feel might be misunderstood by many is our Featured Vehicle Display program (formerly known as the Invitational Display). To begin, while the term “Invitational Display” might sound more prestigious, we realized it was misleading and probably prevented people from participating. The reality is, most vehicles are not invited; the owners apply for consideration. We felt it was important to clarify that with a name change because many folks thought the only way to participate in the display was to be invited. To apply for a Featured Vehicle Display at any Carlisle Events car show, visit CarlisleFeatures.com for the application and additional information.
While there isn’t a hard deadline to apply, the sooner you apply, the better. Each Event Manager works on their own timeline. Some vehicles are selected as soon as the application process opens, and the absolute final selections are generally made about 60 days prior to the show. The application process generally opens about one month after the prior year’s show, and the earlier someone submits, the better.
I personally wait until about 90 days before the show to start making selections, though other events may have a different process. My reasoning for this is that I want to have the biggest pool of vehicles possible. I do this because I believe it makes for the best possible display. It would be much easier to look at the applications on a regular basis and, every time a qualified vehicle submits, select it. Once all the slots are filled, my work would be done. However, I fully believe that by waiting and having a larger pool of applicants, I can create the best display possible.
The next step is the actual selection of vehicles. The approaches are many and varied. Each Event Manager has his or her own criteria, and each show also has unique circumstances which factor into the process. Some shows will receive upwards of 300 applications and only as few as 60–65 spaces are available. Other shows might only receive 60–70 applications, which might be barely enough to fill all available slots. That’s when we make a push for more vehicles, get creative with layouts, call friends, or find other means to fill the spaces. The end goal is a display that looks great, and we will go to great lengths to make sure we deliver.
While I might wait until closer to the show to make selections, I do not recommend waiting to apply for any of our shows. It’s very helpful for us to have plenty of time to review the applications. It also allows us to try to develop a plan for the display. The “plan” is different from the “theme” in that the theme describes the type of vehicles that will be featured in a particular display. The theme is established first, then we announce it and begin to build the display. The “plan” involves the actual vehicles, and that typically evolves over time. For example, we might notice a developing trend within a theme.
At the 2025 Carlisle Chrysler Nationals we were celebrating the 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A. While reviewing the applications early on, we noticed that we had two Challenger T/As that were factory two-tone cars, meaning the roof was painted a different color than the body. According to the guys who run the registries for Chrysler’s Trans Am cars, only three are known to have been built. Armed with this information, we were able to secure the third car, and the only three known factory two-tone (painted roof) Challenger T/As were displayed together, likely for the first time ever! This was never part of the original plan, but it elevated the display to the next level.
One thing I think all the Event Managers can agree on is that it’s not always the nicest or best vehicle that gets selected. That might sound odd at first, but we often look for variety. It could be a variety of colors, options, or even styles/trends. In other words, we’re not always looking for perfectly restored examples, the rarest, the most valuable, nor SEMA-level builds. Sometimes we like to mix it up and include Survivors, barn finds, Day 2, “oddballs,” race cars, etc. We might even pick something bizarre. If you really want to get our attention, show us something we’ve never seen before!
What sets a vehicle apart from the rest? You tell us! Vehicles with a noteworthy race history, a famous prior owner, or some other pedigree will often rise to the top. Same goes for if it was used in a TV show or a movie. We really have a soft spot for prototypes, pre-production, one-off vehicles, test mules, forgotten models, pilot cars, etc. If you have a car or truck that paced the Indy 500 (or other race or track), we want to know. Does your ride have a story? We’ve all encountered some incredible stories when reviewing applications; we want to hear yours. Beyond the actual vehicles, this hobby is ultimately about people. If your vehicle has a personal story, a connection to a family member or a close friend, tell us in your application.
One of the biggest things we hope to convey here is that we encourage people to apply for our Featured Vehicle Displays. We also don’t want people to be offended if they aren’t selected, so be prepared for rejection. Choosing vehicles for any display is one of the most difficult parts of what we do. We never want anyone to be upset, but the reality is we just don’t have room for every vehicle that applies. Most importantly, just because your vehicle wasn’t accepted does not mean it wasn’t deemed to be “good enough.” We would love to feature all of them, but we do have to make decisions. Most of the time, we step back and look at all the applications for a particular display and select the ones that best represent the theme, provide the most diversity, and make for the best possible display.
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