Do you remember the towering sculpture of eight cars made famous in the movie “Wayne’s World?” (Click here to refresh your memory.)
The Spindle a.k.a. the “Car Kabob” and the “Eight Car Pileup” has been a landmark in the Chicago suburb of Berwyn for nearly two decades. Each year thousands of tourist travel to the city to view the eyesore… I mean sculpture… that features eight cars from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s skewered on a massive metal spike.
The structure is covered with rust and bird droppings, yet residents in Berwyn say thanks to the 1992 comedy starring Mike Myers and Dana Carvey, the Spindle helped put the city on the map and they don’t want it removed. The love for the piece runs so deep that a preservation group was formed shortly after the landmark was slated for demolition last year. The group sponsored vigorous protests and the Walgreens that was supposed to replace the Spindle was forced to go elsewhere… and the “Car Kabob” lived to see another day.
Then, it happened.
Money got the best of the Spindle’s owner and earlier this month the “Car Kabob” went up for sale on eBay.
Bids opened at $50,000 and the auction closed late last week. The eBay listing informed bidders that it would cost $100,000 to ship the 50-foot structure.
So does the Spindle have a new owner?
EBay won’t say. The “Car Kabob” is no longer listed on the Internet auction site, but managers there won’t confirm what the future holds for the monstrosity.
When I know you’ll know. In the meantime, if you placed a bid to purchase the hefty piece of movie memorabilia, please feel free to comment.
Finally, as long as we’re asking what Mike Myers would think about the sale of the Spindle I would be curious to know what he has to say about the rumors that Tom Brady’s lady is up for the female lead in the fourth installment of “Austin Powers.”
According to The Boston Globe, supermodel Gisele Bündchen, who has appeared in “The Devil Wears Prada” and “Taxi,” is being considered to play opposite Myers in the film.
If the rumors are true the 27-year-old Brazilian beauty would follow in the footsteps of former “Austin Powers” hotties, Elizabeth Hurley, Heather Graham and Beyoncé.