Cruise Nights Kick Off with a Crowd

These days, many motorists are looking for compact, fuel-efficient vehicles.

That wasn’t the case back in the late 1940s when Powel Crosley got an idea that was a bit ahead of its time. 

“He had the wrong car at the wrong time,” said resident Vern Kujath, who brought his restored 1947 Crosley pickup truck to the in downtown Plainfield. Only about 4,000 of the vehicles were ever made, Kujath said.

Kujath was just one of the classic car enthusiasts who congregated along Lockport Street on Tuesday night, showing off his compact truck.

Kujath said it took three years to restore the truck, which sold for about $900 back in 1947.

“It’s just a real unique vehicle,” he said.

Other unique cars — including the 1957 Thunderbird owned by celebrity guest Mark Giangreco of ABC-7—were on display Tuesday night.

Cruise Nights, hosted by , are from 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Sept. 4. For a list of upcoming Cruise Night themes, click here.

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