As a compliment to Garth's AMC Pacer, a lucky eBay bidder with some extra cash can also snag this Chicago area landmark – The Spindle – as seen in the Wayne's World movie. The eight-car kabob is a 50-foot sculpture commissioned by Berwyn, Illinois shopping center Cermak Plaza and created by artist Dustin Shuler in 1989. It is a quirky feature loved by some, but believed to be an eyesore by many. The vehicles skewered on the stake, from the bottom up, are an unknown Mercury, Ford LTD, Ford Mustang, Mercury Capri, Ford Escort, a BMW once belonging to the shopping center owner and a VW Beatle. It seems that the landmark has generated a lot of attention recently since Cermak Plaza is due for renovation and the sculpture is not a part of the plans. Fans have initiated a movement to save The Spindle from destruction, but so far its future is up in the air. This auction must be a method to determine whether some outside party might fork over the cash for relocation. Otherwise it looks like the cars might be headed for the junkyard.
[Source: eBay]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
brent @ Apr 14th 2008 7:41AM
You seem to have missed what looks like a late-'70s/early '80s Olds Cutty (I learned that pronunciation from couch time wasted watching MTV's "Pimp My Ride") -- or some other variant. It's on top of the Ford LTD.
brent @ Apr 14th 2008 7:43AM
Woops...just read the eBay entry...evidently, it's an '81 Pontiac Grand Prix -- close enough, I guess.
Shakatar @ Apr 14th 2008 9:31AM
The eBay list is a bit off. The GP is a 78 - 80 model. I can't tell exactly which year it is from any pictures, however.
Robert @ Apr 14th 2008 7:42AM
what an ugly monument
Allan @ Apr 14th 2008 7:56AM
I think you're reading the wrong blog.
Robert @ Apr 14th 2008 12:57PM
No im reading autoblog its just an ugly...art I think fools call this
Avinash machado @ Apr 14th 2008 8:27AM
The automobile skyscraper or automobile high rise.
Hank @ Apr 14th 2008 8:54AM
How does the (back then) ubiquitous Mercury Grand Marquis qualify as unknown? Every grandmother in the country owned one.
Blake @ Apr 14th 2008 9:51AM
Also, "VW Beatle"? Is it Ringo?
Benfolio @ Apr 14th 2008 9:19AM
Holes pre-drilled for ice fishing!!
JayP @ Apr 14th 2008 9:29AM
My HOA would hate this.
So would my wife.
I'm gonna make a bid.
Craig @ Apr 14th 2008 10:04AM
I believe that's a first gen 3 series. Really though - misspelling the Beetle, and not knowing that's probably the best selling Mercury model? Someone's off the ball... [office space]Someone has a case of the Mondays.[/office space]
FSM @ Apr 14th 2008 10:11AM
Man, I'll bet this is one of those auctions where they screw you BIG TIME on the shipping and handling. Perhaps we can get them to send it via USPS Media Mail?
Leader @ Apr 14th 2008 10:55AM
That would be "complement." Not compliment.
BrokenMonkey @ Apr 14th 2008 11:42AM
This article has more errors than you can shake a Spindle at!
k.w.a @ Apr 14th 2008 11:00AM
haha,
this monument is so horribly tacky. it would be cool if it were in front of a junkyard or something, but at a shopping center? that's just out of place
ricotubbs @ Apr 14th 2008 12:06PM
Hey, how 'bout those shipping costs...$100,000! I'm pretty sure somebody could save some cash and build their own car kabob for that much money. (Zero bids so far in case you're interested.)
Jeff @ Apr 14th 2008 12:11PM
Junking the Spindle would be about as sacreligious as yanking the Cadillacs out of the ground at Cadillac Ranch. What's next, are they going to tear down Wrigley Field?
Leaf @ Apr 14th 2008 12:20PM
The spindle is a suburban landmark! Come on, what else is worth visiting in BERWYN?
Until 6 months ago I admired the spindle every day on the way to work, it's a flamboyant sculpture that deserves to be preserved.
Also, "It is a quirky feature loved by some, but believed to be an eyesore by many." is false! There is an outspoken minority (mostly middle aged women) who whine about it, but most people from that area are fond of it.
Noe @ Apr 14th 2008 4:20PM
very true i live in cicero the town next to berwyn and i pass by it all the time going to the mall. I've always liked it.