Downers Grove, IL Friday Cruise Night Photo Dump

"Where have all the lightweights gone?" (sniderjadam09)
06/13/2014 at 23:23 • Filed to: CRUISE NIGHTS, VW, PORSCHE, BAJA BUG, COBRA, PANTERA

The featured theme? Air cooled vehicles!

The Downers Grove weekly cruise night is one that attracts one of the most diverse sets of cars on a weekly basis in the Chicagoland area. Tonight's was no exception.

There was not one but two Baja Bugs here!

There were also a pair of DeTomaso Panteras, both very different in nature.

This one, a '73, was more stock in nature.

This one, a '74, is a serious resto-mod. Some light mods have been made to the motor and exhaust, suspension parts replaced with lighter, more adjustable ones, improved brakes, upgraded seats, and both the rear decklid and front bonnet were made from carbon fiber. It resulted in a 700# diet!

More air-cooled Porsche action

A great-looking Karmann-Ghia (also 1/2. The other one, a convertible, wasn't in as good a shape.)

A little mixture of everything: Classic luxury, hot rod's 2nd wind, classic Porsches, and good ol' muscle cars.

Some new Italians even decided to crash the party a little bit!

Not to mention a Cobra (replica)...

...and a Little Red Wagon (replica)

Something else I saw lurking around was an EXTREMELY mean-sounding Porsche 928 I suspect has a SBC swap. This is 15 minutes from where I work, so I suspect this will be a frequent stop on my way home on Friday nights!

DISCUSSION (26)

Brian Silvestro > Where have all the lightweights gone?
06/13/2014 at 23:27

You found the lightweights!

(I've been wanting to make a joke like that for so long)

Manuél Ferrari > Brian Silvestro
06/13/2014 at 23:28

I've been to Downers Grove

Nice town

Didn't even know they have cool car meets

Brian Silvestro > Manuél Ferrari
06/13/2014 at 23:29

Neither did I!

Stef Schrader > Where have all the lightweights gone?
06/13/2014 at 23:33

Aircool ALL the things!

Blondude > Where have all the lightweights gone?
06/13/2014 at 23:33

Yup, definitely going next time.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > Manuél Ferrari
06/13/2014 at 23:38

It's every Friday night over the summer (I think they call off the 4th of July weekend because of a carnival downtown).

Manuél Ferrari > Where have all the lightweights gone?
06/13/2014 at 23:41

Nice!

I wish we a Brick House Tavern where I live. I know it's probably just OK to you guys cause Chicago has the best food ever. But it would be top shelf in OC

Manuél Ferrari > Where have all the lightweights gone?
06/13/2014 at 23:48

BTW air cooled car meet ups need to happen MORE

So cool to see air cooled cars, busses and sports cars hanging out together

Where have all the lightweights gone? > Where have all the lightweights gone?
06/13/2014 at 23:49

There was one car I failed to include in my main post: this clean-looking NSX! It's for sale, too!

Kinja'd!!!

Where have all the lightweights gone? > Manuél Ferrari
06/13/2014 at 23:51

I've driven by there but haven't gone yet. I usually go to Portillo's right across the street for lunch.

Manuél Ferrari > Where have all the lightweights gone?
06/13/2014 at 23:54

I thought it was really good

I just always like the restaurants that mix semi decent food and good beer

Where have all the lightweights gone? > Manuél Ferrari
06/14/2014 at 00:05

Next time you're in town, I'll take you to my watering hole. It's a beer geek's heaven. Their food is delicious and their beer menu is amazing all year round.

tromoly > Where have all the lightweights gone?
06/14/2014 at 00:09

Mmmmm, Portillo's..... You have no idea how bad I wanted Portillo's while in Peoria for school, when I came back up north after graduating I ate there a few days in a row and it was glorious.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > tromoly
06/14/2014 at 00:11

I did that when I went to NIU until they built one on the outskirts of town.

Manuél Ferrari > Where have all the lightweights gone?
06/14/2014 at 00:15

I go there for work sometimes so I'll take you up on that!

Let me know if you ever come to So Cal

I'll steal one of the old man's lightweights to go for a ride in

Where have all the lightweights gone? > Manuél Ferrari
06/14/2014 at 00:22

I'll be in SoCal next month (7/16-7/22). I'll be going to Irvine's C&C on the 19th.

Manuél Ferrari > Where have all the lightweights gone?
06/14/2014 at 00:23

No way!

I'm down to go to C & C

Where have all the lightweights gone? > Manuél Ferrari
06/14/2014 at 00:24

I've been talking with MrTheEngineer from Vegas, and he might be in town the same time.

Manuél Ferrari > Where have all the lightweights gone?
06/14/2014 at 00:27

Nice!

CAR_IS_MI > Where have all the lightweights gone?
06/14/2014 at 01:18

Why couldn't I have to travel to Chicago for work when this was going on. No, they send me when its negative a billion degrees and the city is getting hit with consecutive snow storms.

Looks like a whole lot of air-cooled-good-ness was there

JGrabowMSt > Where have all the lightweights gone?
06/16/2014 at 12:02

OMG dat little red wagon. If only my Magnum was red....Unfortunately, I'm not going to repaint it just for that.

The Real Unsharer > Where have all the lightweights gone?
06/16/2014 at 12:07

I walk through the Cruise Night every Friday as I make my way to the parking garage from the train. I need to bring my nice camera next time to get some shots!

shop-teacher > Where have all the lightweights gone?
06/16/2014 at 12:08

I'll have to take my Buick out to that one of these days. I live a couple towns away, so its very close.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > The Real Unsharer
06/16/2014 at 12:22

And let me know when you're going so we can meet up!

Mercedes Streeter > Where have all the lightweights gone?
06/16/2014 at 13:35

Imports? Count me in!!!

Where have all the lightweights gone? > Mercedes Streeter
06/16/2014 at 14:06

If I remember correctly, I went to an import night last year. Someone had an Austin Healey and someone else had a Jaguar XK140.