Mini Spindle Replica

When anyone ever asks me what sparked my love of roadside attractions, I always say this: The Spindle. The crusty cars on a spike in a Berwyn shopping complex were a huge part of my childhood and sparked my curiosity for what other big weird things are out there. So much so that I still have my “Save the Spindle” magnet stuck on my fridge. While that roadside attraction may be long gone, I recently got to visit it in spirit, taking a trip to see the new Mini Spindle Replica in Berwyn, Illinois.

Created in 1989 by Dustin Shuler, The Spindle (AKA the Car Kabob AKA Cars on a Spike) had graced the shopping center at Cermak Plaza in Berwyn for nineteen years. The spindle sculpture towered above the parked cars in the lot, showcasing eight vehicles from the late 1960s to early 1980s impaled on a 50-foot spike. To me, this Illinois roadside attraction was best known as being my first real glimpse of roadside oddities, to others it is probably best known for its cameo in the Bohemian Rhapsody scene in the Wayne’s World film (along with the Chicago Eye Care Indian).

Sadly, in 2008, the roadside attraction was bulldozed to make way for a Walgreens.

Fourteen years later, the Spindle has returned to Berwyn, Illinois. At least, sort of.

In 2022, a mini Spindle replica was erected outside of Paisans Pizzeria in Berwyn.

Artist Pete Gamen created a 23-foot-tall version of the car kabob using fiberglass go-karts to replace the cars. They have been sealed up to prevent rust and an accumulation of pigeon poop, two elements that wreaked havoc on the original.

This new roadside attraction is smaller than the original and has seven cars instead of eight. It is also branded with logos for Paisans and Enjoy Illinois on the top red Beetle. But, while nothing will ever be the same as the original, it’s a fun roadside attraction to visit, especially if you, like me, still have fond memories of the original Spindle.

The miniature Spindle, along with a new Cigars & Stipes Muffler Man just down the block, were both paid for with a Route 66-related state grant in support of the highway’s centennial in 2026.

Photos of the Mini Spindle Replica in Berwyn, Illinois

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Roadside Attractions Near the Mini Spindle Replica