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Posted by Val on February 17th, 2009 at 8:48 pm | Permalink | No Comments » |
More silly sites from the 2009 Chicago Auto Show…
Transformers Car.
Rock Band II: The Car
Tricycle Car.
Rubber Duck-Filled Car.
Smart Car.
Event: 2009 Chicago Auto Show
Location: McCormick Place, 2301 South Martin Luther King Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60616
Cost: Adults $10, Seniors (62 and older) $5, Children (age 7-12) $5, Children (age 0-6) Free.
Date: February 15, 2009 (The yearly event runs until February 22, 2009 — February 13-21, 10:00AM-10:00PM; February 22, 10:00-8:00PM)
2009 Chicago Auto Show – Part 2 | No Comments » |
Posted by Val on February 16th, 2009 at 11:17 pm | Permalink | No Comments » |
Don’t you love old cars? The cool colors, the fun lines, the unique angles! Despite all the retro throwbacks that have come on the market in recent years (my absolute favorite being the new Dodge Challenger) they certainly don’t make them like they used to!
Each year at The 2009 Chicago Auto Show (going on NOW until February 22) the Volo Auto Museum sets up a display of some of their collectible cars. While I have yet to make a trek out to the museum itself, their display always provides a unique glimpse into what the museum is all about. Here is a selection of classic cars from their collection this year:
“1914 Ford Model Speedster — Early in the history of the automobile all the cars were open. This one is a custom built speedster. Very sporty and stylish.”
“1936 Auburn Boattail Speedster — a wealthy playboys car of the 1930′s. Note the golf bag door behind the passenger door. Built for the rich and movie stars to drive to country clubs”
“1961 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster — The corvette was created as an economical sports car for young adults. Built in limited numbers.”
“1969 Shelby GT 500 — Very Rare, only 335 built. It was also Carroll Shelby’s favorite. Because government regulations and insurance company’s Carroll Shelby decided to end the Shelby Mustang in the fall of 1969.”
Event: 2009 Chicago Auto Show
Location: McCormick Place, 2301 South Martin Luther King Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60616
Cost: Adults $10, Seniors (62 and older) $5, Children (age 7-12) $5, Children (age 0-6) Free.
Date: February 15, 2009 (The yearly event runs until February 22, 2009 — February 13-21, 10:00AM-10:00PM; February 22, 10:00-8:00PM)
Site: Volo Auto Museum
Location: 27582 Volo Village Road, Volo, IL 60073
Cost: Admission is $9 for adults, $7 for seniors, veterans with Veterans Universal Access ID and active personnel with military ID, $5 for children 5-12 and free for kids under 5 and military personnel in uniform. Special group rates are available.
Hours: The museum is open six days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Closed Mondays (open Memorial Day and Labor Day), Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Date: February 15, 2009
p.s. Later this week I will be featuring some more photos of silly sites from this year’s Chicago Auto Show!
p.p.s. Later this week I will ALSO be featuring some silly sites from the Chicago Auto show of years past!
Volo Auto Museum at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show | No Comments » |
Posted by Val on February 4th, 2009 at 8:22 pm | Permalink | 2 Comments » |
What do you get when you mix a spider with a beetle?
This large spider in Avoca, IA is a Volkswagen bug with legs! I saw him this summer on my road trip to Mount Rushmore!
Site: Huge Spider made from a Volkswagen Beetle
Location: Chestnut Street, Avoca, IA
Cost: Free to see.
Hours: Visible at all hours.
Date: September 1, 2008
Giant Spider made from a Volkswagen Beetle | 2 Comments » |
Posted by Val on May 5th, 2008 at 8:49 pm | Permalink | No Comments » |
It is a sad day in Silly America. On Friday night, with no warning, the Berwyn Spindle, the car kabob, cars on a spike, was torn down.
All that is left right now is a stump and soon that will be cleared away too to make room for a Walgreens.
From what I’ve seen and heard the top two cars may have been saved before the rest was ruthlessly chopped down. We’ll see if anything ever comes of those.
For now, Silly Americans, we’ll bid adieu to our tower of cars. It will be sadly missed.
The Spindle – Gone | No Comments » |
Posted by Val on April 15th, 2008 at 9:52 pm | Permalink | No Comments » |
I’ve talked about it before…but it’s looking more and more official every day.
The Spindle aka cars on a stick aka car kabob will soon be torn down.
Created in 1989 by Dustin Shuler, the Spindle has graced Cermak Plaza in Berwyn, IL for almost as long as I’ve been alive. The sculpture towers above the parked cars in the lot, showcasing vehicles from the late 60s to early 80s impaled on a 50-foot spike. To me, it’s best known as being my first real glimpse of roadside oddities, to others it is probably best known for its cameo in the Wayne’s World film.
Unfortunately, the years (and birds) haven’t been kind to the sculpture, which has been plagues with rust (and feces) for years. Now, the Spindle has a problem that no mechanic can fix: Walgreens.
Yes, my silly American friends, Berwyn now plans to tear down the iconic kabob to put up a brand new Walgreens. Plans have been in place for a while now, and despite efforts of multiple organizations to save it (it’s been estimated that it will take $300,000 to move it), it looks like the Spindles fate is futile.
Alas, in what seems like a last-ditch effort, the Spindle is up on eBay. While I’d hate to see it go from my backyard of Berwyn, it would be nice to think that the cars have found a proper home amongst the roadside attractions of America. So…if you have an extra $150,000 to spare… , bid on!
Site: The Spindle
Location: Cermak Plaza, Cermak and Harlem, Berwyn, IL
Admission: Free to see…$150,000+ to purchase
Date: August 12, 2007
Berwyn Spindle For Sale – Own the Car Kabob | No Comments » |
