Two LaFayette businesses are hosting a cruise-in for car buffs on Saturday, June 2.

Elite Custom Paint and Body teamed with One Eleven restaurant to host the event on the downtown square.

Michael Lovelady, owner of One Eleven, mentioned the idea to his friend Wolfgang Geiger, owner of Elite Custom. Geiger has worked on many car show vehicles.

“I remember when we used to do informal cruise-ins back in the seventies,” Lovelady said.

“Some of my customers have been asking me about putting on a car show,” Geiger said.

In 2009 Geiger built a replica of “Eleanor,” a Ford Mustang Shelby from the movie “Gone in 60 Seconds.” Geiger’s restoration required $40,000 in parts for the eye-catching vehicle, which was raffled off by the Vietnam Veterans Alliance Chapter 12.

“People took tons of pictures when they saw (Eleanor) during our test drives around LaFayette,” Geiger said.

The two sponsors are hoping for similar enthusiasm for the car show.

Geiger’s current project is a “Super Bandit,” a modernized restoration of a 1977 Pontiac Trans-Am popularized in the Burt Reynolds classic “Smokey and the Bandit.”

He plans to showcase the vehicle in an Atlanta car show in August.

One of Geiger’s customers, Mike Scoggins, will bring “Cheyenne,” a 1966 Ford Shelby Mustang, to the cruise-in.

Other customers who will compete in the car show include Billy Ray, who is bringing “Rebecca,” a 1972 Corvette, and Howard Messy with a 1966 Belvedere named “Judy,” after his late wife.

Lovelady will bring several cars from his collection, including a 1975 Chevy Monte Carlo Landau, 1972 Ford Pinto station wagon, and two 1973 Ford Mustang convertibles.

Gearheads can register their rides for free the day of the event, before the noon start time.

Trophies will be given in three categories: best restoration, best restored modification, and best original.

Winston Marsh, owner of a local auto body shop, will be the head judge.

The day will feature food, fun and fellowship until 5 p.m.

Both Geiger and Lovelady are anticipating that nearly 100 vehicles may take part.

Lovelady has approached the city council about continuing the event on the first Saturday of each month. The event could serve as a fundraiser for the restoration of a city-owned 1926 firetruck.

If the first cruise-in is successful, Lovelady will present the concept in late June to the LaFayette Downtown Development Authority to make it a monthly gathering.