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List of muffler men

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This is a list of muffler men, large molded fiberglass advertising icons.[1]

Arizona

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Arkansas

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  • "Lee the Tow Man", custom-built for Driven Towing and Recovery in Hot Springs.
  • "Big John", Driven Towing and Recovery, Hot Springs. This muffler man was originally in St. George, Utah from 1964 to 2001. It was transported to Cheshire, Connecticut, then to Bache, Oklahoma in 2019, before being brought to Hot Springs in 2022.[3]
  • "Muffler Mr. Spock", Driven Towing and Recovery, Hot Springs. Depicts Spock from Star Trek.

California

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Big Mike, Hayward, California
  • "Big Mike", formerly at Big Mike's Muffler, Hayward.
  • "Babe Royer" at Babe's Lightning & Muffler in San Jose.
  • "Chicken Boy" in Highland Park.[4]
  • "El Salsero" muffler man at 22800 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu[4]
  • "Edwin", a golfer, at El Monte Sign Company, 2710 Santa Anita Avenue, El Monte.
  • "The Big Man", originally a lumberjack with axe at the intersection of highways 88 and 104 (Lower Ridge Road), in Martell.
  • "The Guy," a race car driver holding a checkered flag, off the 405 freeway, at the west coast Porsche Experience Center in Carson. Originally a golfer for the Dominguez Golf Course.[4][5]
  • Unnamed, King's Auto Repair in Compton.
  • "Sergio," at Automotive Alley in Boyle Heights.
  • "Tony" at Tony's Transmissions in City Terrace.[4]
  • "Kevin" at Tuneup Masters in Van Nuys.
  • "Joor Muffler Man" at Joor Muffler in Escondido.[4]
  • "The Indian Warrior" at Ethel's Old Corral Cafe in Bakersfield.[6]
  • "Rodeo Man" in Livermore.

Colorado

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  • "Trailer Park Cowboy" at Rustic Ranch Mobile Home Park, 5565 Federal Blvd., Denver.
  • "Ranch Cowboy" stands guard with a pitchfork at Lazy T Ranch, 12765 N. 63rd St., Longmont.[7]
  • "Greeley Muffler Man" in front of Just Bob's Auto, 500 1st Ave, Greeley.

Connecticut

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  • When the 26-foot "Muffler Man" Paul Bunyan was erected in front of a Cheshire lumber business in the 1980s, the town objected to the statue, citing that it was a violation of town codes given its substantial height. Finding no limitation on flagpole height on the books, the owners of the statue replaced Bunyan's axe with an American flag.[8]
  • "Big Bob", Norwich. A cowboy muffler man with an American flag and cowboy hat that has been in Norwich since the mid-1960s. For his first 20 years he was on the other side of town. Previously belonged to amusement park owner Alex Cohen. The owners of Surplus Unlimited bought Big Bob in 1982.

Florida

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Kansas

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  • Muffler Man in front of Brown's Tire in Wichita.

Indiana

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  • Paul Bunyan, MacAllister Rental outside of Muncie. The Paul Bunyan stands outside the main building, facing towards Interstate 69.
  • Ralph's Muffler shop in Indianapolis.

Idaho

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  • The World's Largest Janitor, "Big Don", at the Museum of Clean in Pocatello.
  • The "lumberjack" at Heyburn Elementary School in St. Maries.[9][10]

Illinois

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Iowa

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  • Giant "Phil", Williamsburg. A Phillips 66 Cowboy, Muffler Man, once stood at the Landmark Truck Stop in Williamsburg, at the intersection of I-80 and IA-149. It appears on a vintage postcard and possibly now stands with a large fiberglass bull in Waukon.[12]

Louisiana

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  • In front of Topps Western World, 3003 Topps Trail, Bossier City (facing I-20, near exit 23).

Maine

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  • Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox in J. Eugene Boivin Park, Rumford.

Massachusetts

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  • Plantation Man, Chicopee. It was originally made for a restaurant in Framingham, then as Uncle Sam for a car dealership in Springfield. As of 2013, it was being auctioned and its future was uncertain.[13][14]
  • There is a Muffler Man with a large ax and lumberman's hard hat at the entrance to Valley Tree Service on the east side of Route 97 in Groveland.
  • A muffler man depicted in rural attire and baseball cap stands at Green Valley Equipment Company, on Route 43 in Hancock.[15][16]

Michigan

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  • Greg E. Normous: Golfer, stands at a putt putt golf course, named for Greg Norman, 23 Mile Road, New Baltimore.
  • Golf Giant: Golfer at driving range, 1/2 mile west of Greg E. Normous, New Baltimore.[17]
  • Manistique: Paul Bunyan statue at Manistique Chamber of Commmerce Visitor Center.[18]

Mississippi

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• Muffler Man (Held two bags of "groceries" at Giant Food Stores, painted as a clerk in the 1960s) now at Boom City Fireworks, 9199 HY 61, Walls.

Missouri

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  • Bunyan (a Mr. Bendo): Stones Last Resort, Cleveland.
  • Bunyan (no job too big): Skyline Motors Tractor Trailer Repair, Foristell.
  • Injun Joe and Country Bumpkin: Bagnell Dam Strip, Lake Ozark. (One was gone from 2013 until 2024 but suffered damage a few weeks after returning.[19])
  • Muffler Man: Chief Wappalese: Chaonia Landing Resort and Marina, Lake Wappapello.
  • Cowboy Muffler Man (in pieces): Croft Automotive and Trailer, Valley Park.
  • Muffler Man (custom designed as a chef and erected in 2020) Route 66 Food-Truck Park (corner of St Louis St and Delaware Ave), Springfield.
  • Mega Major: Opposite Uranus Fudge Factory, 14400 Hwy Z, St. Robert.

Montana

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  • There is a muffler man in front of the tire store on Montana Avenue in Billings.
Casino Dude
  • Casino Dude Muffler Man at Fort Rockvale Restaurant and Casino in Joliet.
  • Muffler Man at Plentywood.

Nebraska

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  • "Indian" in the stockade behind Fort Cody Trading Post has been a fixture along I-80 for decades at North Platte, exit 177.
Fort Cody

New Jersey

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Barnacle Bill

New Mexico

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May Cafe

New York

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  • Gas station in Westchester County 135 N Saw Mill River Road, Elmsford (yellow shirt, green pants).
  • Mountain Air Campground 1265 Lake Ave, Lake Luzerne (red shirt, blue pants).
  • Camp Bullowa Boy Scout Camp, Rockland County (classic Paul Bunyan, red shirt with blue pants and ax).
Muffler Man

North Carolina

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  • Bradsher Landscape Supply, Raleigh (blue jeans and baseball cap).[21]
Rocky Mount, North Carolina

North Dakota

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  • Chieftain Motel, Carrington (figure is a Native American with upraised arm)

Oklahoma

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  • Buck Atom the Space Cowboy, Tulsa.[22]
  • Native American with arm stretched out at Indian Trading Post in Calumet.

Oregon

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  • Harvey the Giant Rabbit (originally The Texaco Big Friend) in Reedville.[23]

Pennsylvania

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Giant chip at the Inside Scoop Ice Cream Shop

South Dakota

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  • Automotive Brake & Exhaust, Sioux Falls - 'Mr. Bendo', arm upraised holding an exhaust pipe in one hand.
  • Full Throttle Saloon (new location), 'Windover Willie' originally from Winnemucca, Nevada. Located at 19942 Hwy 79, Vale - Cowboy holding a cigar in his left hand and a mug of beer in his right.

Texas

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Red McCombs
  • Red McCombs Big Chief in downtown San Antonio.
  • Mr. Bendo, Paul Bunyan, at San Angelo.
  • Glenn Goode and Mary Jean Goode's "Big People!": Cowboy, two Big Johns and a Uniroyal Gal in Gainesville.
  • Happy The Halfwit at Kenn's Muffler Shop in Beaumont.
  • 2nd Amendment Cowboy at Cadillac RV Park in Amarillo.
  • Wine Garage, east of Fredericksburg on US-290.
  • A giant with an Alfred E. Neuman head holds an absurdly large muffler at Ken's Muffler and Brake in Dallas.

Tennessee

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Native American in chinos
  • Native American in Chinos - Beside Sad Sam's at Exit 112 off of I-65, near Cross Plains.
  • Pal's, Kingsport - Man carrying a hamburger.
  • Muffler Man at Four Way Mufflers & Motors, 1368 E Broadway, Gallatin.

Utah

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  • "Big John", a coal miner on South Main Street in front of the Helper Civic Auditorium and city library (formerly the city hall) in Helper.
  • "Mr. Spock," a muffler man repainted to resemble Mr. Spock sits atop a business in Salt Lake City.

Virginia

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Chincoteaque Viking
  • Chincoteague Viking, Chincoteague Island.
  • Auto Muffler King at 5835 Jefferson Avenue in Newport News.
  • Williamson Road Service Center at 3110 Williamson Road, Roanoke.
  • Coeburn Red Oak Trading Company.

Washington

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  • Paul Bunyan, Shelton.[24]
  • One on the roof of the SSA Marine building, 1105 Hewitt Avenue, Everett.
  • 22-foot cowboy muffler man on Highway 12, lower east Pomeroy.

Wisconsin

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Gus's Giant Muffler Man, in front of a restaurant, with neons lit, dusk
Gus's Drive-In, East Troy, WI
  • Bulik's Amusement Center, Spooner - Cowboy.
  • Fasco Appliance, Oshkosh - Paul Bunyan.
  • Larry the Logroller, a 22-foot (6.7 m) a logroller muffler man with a pike pole in Wabeno.[26]

References

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  1. ^ "Muncie, IN Equipment Rental | MacAllister Rentals". www.macallisterrentals.com. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  2. ^ "Tucson, AZ - Big Ed - Muffler Man". Roadside America. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Hot Springs, AR - Muffler Man: Bunyan". RoadsideAmerica.com. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e Kabar, Kim (January–February 2012). "Men at Work". Westways. Automobile Club of Southern California. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  5. ^ "Carson, CA - Muffler Man". October 18, 2013.
  6. ^ "Best Roadside Attractions Near Los Angeles - CBS Los Angeles". CBS News. January 30, 2016.
  7. ^ "Longmont, CO - Muffler Man".
  8. ^ Muffler Man - Bunyan, Of Necessity, a Patriot
  9. ^ "St. Maries, Idaho: Paul Bunyan - Big Friend". Roadside America.com. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
  10. ^ Heyburn Elementary (Official Website) Retrieved June 12, 2015
  11. ^ Dave Hoekstra (June 4, 2012). "Hot dog merchant who brought giant Paul Bunyan statue to Route 66 dead at 89". Chicago Sun-Times.
  12. ^ "Missing Muffler Men | American Giants – Muffler Men". Archived from the original on 2015-02-11. Retrieved 2015-02-11.
  13. ^ Kinney, Jim (November 13, 2013). "Chicopee's Plantation Inn, with Plantation Man, to be sold at auction Friday". masslive.com. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  14. ^ Kinney, Jim (November 15, 2013). "Plantation Man to stay in Greater Springfield, buyer says; Chicopee motel and land fail to sell". masslive.com. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  15. ^ "Hancock, MA - Muffler Man - The Big Man". RoadsideAmerica.com. Retrieved 2019-01-02.
  16. ^ "The Green Valley Equipment Giant". American Giants - Muffler Men. 2016-12-09. Retrieved 2019-01-02.
  17. ^ "New Baltimore, MI - Muffler Man: Greg E. Normous". RoadsideAmerica.com.
  18. ^ "Six Places in Michigan That Have Paul Bunyan Statues". 99wfmk.com.
  19. ^ "Dimwits Damage Beloved 'Ozark Halfwit' Statue On The Bagnell Dam Strip". LakeExpo.com. 2024-05-14. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  20. ^ "Roadside Attractions Map - The Muffler Men". www.roadsideamerica.com. Retrieved 2017-01-30.
  21. ^ "Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum: The Legend Of The Raleigh Giant". June 24, 2014.
  22. ^ "Tulsa's own Muffler Man, Buck Atom, to tower over Route 66".
  23. ^ Brink, Benjamin (February 14, 2014). "Harvey, Aloha's giant rabbit, is a landmark that has fans across the country". OregonLive. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  24. ^ Wilson-Edge, Eric (March 9, 2014). "Shelton's Paul Bunyan Statue is as Mysterious as its Fabled Namesake". ThurstonTalk.
  25. ^ "Gus's Drive-In: The Muffler Man".
  26. ^ Simonson, Robert (August 14, 2019). "A Road Trip to the Fiberglass Frontier of Northern Wisconsin". The New York Times.
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