Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals: 11 Unusual, Special, and Rare Cars That Caught Our Attention

Each year, the Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals showcase some real automotive gems—and the 2025 edition was no exception.

Once again, we made our way to the massive grassy showgrounds to uncover vehicles that were at times rare, sometimes odd-looking, but always unusual, exceptional, and niche.

The show is also a chance to see the work of passionate owners who bring a great deal of creativity to their builds. That was certainly the case with the proud owner of a Volvo 740 SE converted into a pickup, and the Saab 900 pulling a matching Saab-900 trailer.

Several imported vehicles were also spotted, meaning models that were never officially sold in the North American market.

1986 Opel Rekord E

At the Opel booth, this 1986 Rekord E caught our attention. As you can see, it’s been styled to look like a German police car. Beyond the decorative elements, it features a Georgia license plate that reads “POL1ZEI.”

1957 Fiat 1100

The 1957 Fiat 1100 is far from your average sedan. One of its highlights is the use of rear-hinged front suicide doors.

2002 Lancia Thesis

Lancia hasn’t sold cars in North America since 1982, making this 2002 Thesis an extremely rare sight on this side of the Atlantic. Under the hood is a 3.0L V6 engine sourced from Alfa Romeo.

Trabant

A symbol of East Germany, the tiny Trabant was produced from 1957 to 1991. It originally featured a two-cylinder, two-stroke engine, but later versions adopted a four-cylinder, four-stroke powerplant.

Volvo 740 SE “Pickup”

Here’s what happens when a Volvo enthusiast needs a pickup and has a flair for customization. This Volvo 740 SE has been transformed into a pickup truck—perhaps it could be called the Volcamino or Volranchero. The owner cleverly reused the original tailgate to separate the cab from the bed.

Saab 900 with Saab-900 Trailer

What do you do when you’re a die-hard Saab 900 fan and need a trailer? You build one out of another Saab 900, of course. The owner even added a Saab 96 grille to the front of the trailer for extra flair.

1988 Subaru RX

Few cars better capture late-1980s style than this well-preserved 1988 Subaru RX. It sported factory wheels, period-correct side skirts, and a spoiler. It also came equipped with Subaru’s four-wheel drive system.

1989 Yugo GVL

In the late ’80s, the Yugo was known as one of the cheapest new cars available in North America. It’s impressive to see a surviving example today. The brand originated in Yugoslavia, now Serbia.

1989 Sterling 827 SLI

Sterling, a British brand under the Rover Group, only sold a few thousand cars annually in the U.S. between 1987 and 1991.

1996 Volkswagen Polo Harlequin

North Americans may recall the mismatched panel Volkswagen Golf Harlequin, which was produced in very limited numbers and is now quite collectible. The Polo Harlequin is even rarer here, as the Polo was never sold in our market.

Dodge Magnum with Chrysler 300 Front End

In addition to imports, this show also featured its fair share of modified vehicles. This Dodge Magnum was one of them, fitted with the front end of a Chrysler 300, making for an unusual blend of both models.

Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals 2025

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