Gathering Of The Mopar Faithful: 2026 Carlisle Chrysler Nationals

If you’re a Mopar guy, the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals is one show you must attend before you die. Held at the Carlisle Fairgrounds in central Pennsylvania, not too far from Gettysburg, where the blue and grey duked it out some 160 years ago, this show only gets better year after year. Neither the blistering temps nor downpours could dissuade the over 60,000 attendees that came through the gates, and over 3000 cool Mopar machines inhabited the fairgrounds.

The well-organized show field at the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals was neatly laid out by all the numerous Mopar body styles over the past 70 years. This included a diverse collection of vintage muscle, modern-era machines, trucks, vans, and just about anything else a Pentastar was attached to. And there’s the swap meet with its endless rows of over 3000 vendors selling everything from engines, blocks, intakes, sheetmetal, trim, emblems, interior seats, literature, collectables, and much more.

The Carlisle Chrysler Nationals is, beyond everything else, about great cars and finding the hard parts to finish your build. It’s been that way since the beginning.

There was the usual array of project cars in various states of disrepair, but for those with less ambition to restore, but still want a cool ride they can turn the key and drive, Carlisle’s Used Car Pavilion had a massive selection of restored and survivor to be haggled over.

In Carlisle tradition, they celebrate major nameplate milestones and anniversaries of vehicles that had a major impact in the Mopar automotive landscape. This year, both the Dodge Charger and Chrysler’s 426 Street HEMI turned 60, and Carlisle had great examples of Chargers throughout the decades along with 1966 Street HEMI-powered Plymouth Belvederes, Satellites, and Dodge Coronets and Chargers. There was even a display that acknowledged 100 years of the Chrysler Imperial.

This year’s event celebrated 60 years of the Street Hemi, and there was a display from the National Hemi Owners Association to help commemorate it.

For those who have fond memories of the late 1970s, Carlisle even assembled a display area that paid tribute to the “Dodge Adult Toys” marking program that acknowledged the cool Power Wagons, Little Red Express and Warlock pickups along the Ramcharger SUV and Street Van. There were also Volare and Aspen Street Kit Cars to round up the display of Chrysler’s last gasp of performance before the bankruptcy and Iacocca era.

A celebration of Mopar’s “Adult Toys” and 50 years of the star-crossed F-bodies (Dodge Aspen and Plymouth Volare) had vehicles on display you’re not likely to see anywhere else.

“As much as I love my classic Mopar muscle cars, I really enjoyed working on the Dodge Adult Toys and the F-Body 50th anniversary displays,” said Ed Buczeskie, Carlisle Show Manager. “I was familiar with most of the Adult Toys packages but I had never even heard of the Viking Special. On top of that, most of the trucks in that display were true Survivors.

“The Mopar F-Body cars offered some really cool packages and we had some really rare colors and options in that display. The icing on the cake was having a true Kit Car in the tent. Then we topped it off with a Super Coupe go kart!”

This Barracuda won the Rolling Burnout competition.

The Mopar Survivors Display also drew a collection of cool, original Mopars that survived the ravages of time and abusive owners over the past decades.

Claudia Abel, 1984’s Miss Direct Connection, found a seat with a good view on top of this Superbird’s wing.

Of course, there were Mopar Racing Legends on hand to tell tall tales of the good old days and provide historical first-hand knowledge of the golden era of drag racing. These included Buddy Martin, Herb McCandless, The Ramchargers, and Paul Rossi, while Miss Direct Connection 1984, Claudia Abel, was on hand to sign autographs and take pictures. Even Joe Zolper from TV’s Garage Squad was on hand to take in all the Mopar goodness.

Drag racer Herb McCandless and Buddy Martin (right) regale fans with tales from drag racing’s golden era in front of a legit Sox & Martin ’Cuda. (Photo by David Hakim)

Dodge even sent their Charger Product Manager, Ashton Munoz, and did massive burnouts and donuts in the 2026 Charger Scat Pack in the new ‘Purple Haze’ color. (Make sure to check out our earlier review on the next-generation Charger).

The Carlisle Chrysler Nationals has once again proved that the Mopar community is built on more than just cars — it is built on friendships, memories, and a shared appreciation for the Chrysler brands that have shaped automotive culture for more than a century.

Celebrating 60 years of the Charger, from this ’66 Hemi to the most famous of them all.

The 2027 Carlisle Chrysler Nationals will return to the Carlisle Fairgrounds July 9–11. Enthusiasts can expect another celebration filled with incredible vehicles, exciting displays, automotive vendors, and the same Mopar passion that has made this event a must-attend destination. For 2027, the feature showcases 60 years of the Plymouth GTX and Dodge Coronet R/T along with the 1967 RO & WO Street HEMI Super Stockers.