Route 66 in the News

Town's Claim to Fame For Sale

2008-04-14 21:49:14

CHICAGO, Ill. - A towering sculpture of eight cars made famous in the movie "Wayne's World" is up for sale on eBay.

Just in case these are the final days of the Spindle at the Cermak Plaza in Berwyn, lovers of the eight-foot tower of cars were out taking pictures Monday, but Aaron Curran wanted more.

"It's just something that I saw every day and I had a really good buddy who does tattoos," Curran said. "He asked if I wanted anything specifically and I said I want that."

For others who want the Spindle, you can do one better than Curran – you can buy it. It's posted on eBay where the developers are selling the sculpture to make way for a Walgreen's. It's all yours for $50,000 plus another $100,000 to ship the 50-foot sculpture.

So far there are no bidders.

The sculpture will be on the auction site until Thursday. If no one buys it, supporters have come up with yet another plan to save the spindle.

Berwyn residents are divided on what to do with the structure, which is covered with rust and pigeon droppings. It was supposed to be dismantled last year to make way for a pharmacy, but preservation groups formed and protested.

John Fay is with the Arts Project in Berwyn. He says one proposed lot is on the corner of Gunderson and Ogden avenues. The plan is to convince the owners of the sculpture to donate the Spindle to the city, and then raise the money to have it relocated.

"Put it on a vacant lot and make a small park along Route 66," Fay suggested.

"It's a piece of public art," Fay added. "It really speaks to Berwyn and it's been an icon for many years."

"When they first put it up it looked good, but now it's a pile of junk," one man said.

The Spindle -- also known as the "Car Kabob" and the "Eight Car Pileup" -- draws fans of the 1992 comedy starring Mike Myers and Dana Carvey.

California artist Dustin Shuler built the piece in 1989.

~CBS2Chicago.com