Getting Lit and Low with the Custom Cars at Wekfest Chicago

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05-04-2025

Almost anything goes at Wekfest Chicago. The group ahead of me in line wore hoodies celebrating the Tesla Cybertruck (though there were no Teslas in attendance), vintage Corvettes, and Honda's Japanese culture. The show was in a rather dull area of Navy Pier, a windowless exhibition hall, though the entry line did have a window overlooking the crashing waves of Lake Michigan as a storm rolled in. We were lucky to be inside on this late March weekend.
Though Wekfest participants must apply to display their cars, the show itself doesn't discriminate by make or model. Still, there were very few American cars willing to brave the typical Midwestern spring weather forecast. In fact, there were more NSXs in attendance than American cars. To be fair, though, that's based on combined Acura- and Honda-badged NSXs, compared to a combination of every Detroit brand. Similarly, German cars are a minority in the Chicago import scene. While a few vintage BMWs were clustered together and a couple VW Beetles made an appearance, the more contemporary examples were scattered, almost hidden, among the Japanese-dominant car clubs.
There was a strong Honda showing at Wekfest, especially in terms of clean hot hatch-era cars with mostly-tasteful modifications. And, surprisingly, Motocompactos. See the color-coordinated Honda Motocompacto scooter basking in the glow of the Civic's underbody lighting? These zippy little suitcases were everywhere on the show floor. According to Jon Martinez, an attendee from Oak Grove Village, IL, there are even homegrown shops offering mods, like custom seats and carbon-fiber fenders. 'It has a following,' said Martinez. 'The original, in the '80s, in Japan, people knew about it, and they knew this one was coming out, an electric version of it.'
This trio of super clean Chicago-based BMW E30s wants to welcome you to the 'hood.
It's hard to miss Joey Jacobs's Audi A4 Avant, which made the trek from Rochester, MI. The bagged wagon and matching trailer sat low on customized Vossen VLE-1 wheels, two of the 400 sets in existence, according to Jacobs. The DIY yellow accents took Jacobs about 70 hours of work with his vinyl cutter. Next up, the trailer will get a battery unit, a TV, and an air conditioner, so Jacobs won't have to spring for a hotel when he attends out-of-state car shows.
We love an unusual wagon, and this Toyota Mark II fills the bill perfectly.
When you see a Honda Civic, there's probably a Motocompacto nearby. They're the new go-to accessory for Honda owners.
This Toyota Estima, the only van on the show floor, was imported a year ago by Allen Castillo of Chicago, rust-free and with just 45,000 miles. We think this daily driver is on the subtle side despite the bronze TRD wheels, but Castillo says it's an attention magnet. 'People feel it, families see it and say, 'That's super cool, I've never seen a cool minivan before.' It's more relatable than a sports car,' said Castillo. 'I love minivans, especially quirky Japanese minivans. There's a U.S. variant of this car, but they're so hard to get clean now.'
Allen Castillo's Toyota Supra lives in the shadow of his Estima. Like all of Castillo's cars, the Supra is right-hand drive. Castillo says that compared to the Estima, the Supra doesn't get nearly as much attention from passerby despite the anime decals and pink wheels.
Apparently, this is a thing — but why? 'I always liked R8s, the turbo, no-bumper look,' said owner Jason Green of Orland Park, IL. 'It spoke to me on some level, in a way I can't vocalize, but I love the look of it.'
Anthony Rojas of Chicago can't wait to get his 2000 Toyota 4Runner out on the trails. It's his sixth 4Runner in eight years, because he said he gets bored fast. Rojas noted it's rare to see other off-road vehicles at a show like Wekfest, though he happened to park next to a similarly-outfitted Lexus SUV. 'The type of event that it is, it's more import cars,' he said. 'There's no car show for us. I was an import guy before I got into the off-road [culture]. Honda, JDM.'
The cheeseheads sent their best. Wisconsin's coolest license plate is, undoubtedly, the Road America plate. This Historical plate is a close second, however, and showed up on a number of clean vintage Hondas, like this CRX
Carlos Gonzalez of Chicago wasn't fazed that there were few other Blue Ovals to keep company with his 2015 Ford Roush RS1 Mustang. Gonzalez bought the Mustang new, and has since added airbags and tuned it for 413 wheel horsepower and 433 wheel torque.
Gonzalez was at the show with his 3-year-old son, who watched cartoons on a tablet perched in the trunk, between the candy-colored taillights. 'He loves it, said Gonzalez. 'I nicknamed the car Roushy, so he always asks for Roushy. When it comes to the other parents in day care, yeah, [the Mustang stands out]. The teachers know me. I'm the one with the car.'
Chrome pipes, a beefy roof rack, and a couple of remote control doppelgängers helped this yellow Volkswagen Beetle stand out from the crowd.
This Acura TSX is a proud member of the wagon contingent, and it made a cheery contrast to the gray Chicago skies.
Even among the strong Honda showing, this teal hatchback stood out thanks to its high-vis painted engine and bronze wheels, a color combination that takes us back in time.
These immaculate, period-correct Borbet Type-As are serving up better deep dish than any tourist-friendly Chicago pizza chain.
Import trucks, like this Datsun, easily outnumbered their domestic counterparts. The GMC Sierra in the background was a lone wolf.
The Audi R8's never been particularly subtle, but it's hard to decide if this example is overkill, or just right.
It's been a minute since we've seen such clean Recaro racing buckets, complete with a nostalgic geometric print.
A Volvo Cross Country with a cozy pull-out kitchen setup and a custom trailer fabricated from an Audi wagon? We'd be down to share a campsite with these guys anytime.
Patience makes perfect when it comes to this 1958 VW Beetle, considering the trifecta of the car's age, the body's patina, and the perfectly fitted two-tone polished and black Porsche Fuchs wheels.
All Toyotas of the Midwest? That's a bold claim, but the brand certainly had a strong showing, with tons of clean, well-loved examples from the U.S. market and overseas
This 1991 Mazda B2200 pickup truck shows that a good tailgate party has universal appeal.
This 1991 Honda Civic wagon is part of a well-rounded family that includes the Ruckus scooter on the trailer, and of course, the requisite Motocompacto.
Look at this freakin' adorable baby blue Nissan Pao. A sliding ragtop! Those itty-bitty wheels! It's so tiny, it shouldn't be out on its own.
As American as the Golden Arches, this 2005 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 was one of the rare delegates from the Big Three.
This 1982 Toyota Starlet came from halfway around the world and is exactly my age, yet I could only dream of being this clean.
We weren't kidding about the Motocompactos.
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