If you’re traveling on Route 66 you’ll find roadside attractions of every sort. There are museums, murals, world’s largest things, and historical sites at every turn. But there is one type of roadside attraction that particularly stands out among the rest: the muffler man. Route 66 Muffler Man Roadside Attractions can be found in every state of The Mother Road. So keep your eyes peeled for these gentle giants!
What are Muffler Man Roadside Attractions?
Muffler men roadside attractions are fiberglass giants who stand anywhere from 14 to 25 feet tall. Each has a similar design and was built between 1963 and 1972 by International Fiberglass in Venice, California. With signature stances, these big men stood outside of muffler shops and other businesses to call attention from the road. As advertising icons, these fiberglass giants often held specific props or tools, reflecting the businesses they represented, whether it was a muffler, axe, hot dog, or other specialty item.
In the 1960s International Fiberglass also produced a female version, now known as The Uniroyal Gal. These giant women were originally commissioned by Uniroyal Tires to stand outside and advertise their businesses. Thought to be inspired by Jackie Kennedy, the Uniroyal Gal was more of a fashion icon, and came with a choice of outfit: a skirt or a bikini.
Can’t get enough muffler men? Check out our Silly America Muffler Man Guide to find even more of these roadside attractions, both on Route 66 and off!
Muffler Men Along Route 66
As Route 66 gained popularity as a travel route, several Muffler Man statues popped up along its path. These roadside giants became iconic landmarks, capturing the attention of passersby and adding to the allure of the Mother Road.
Though many of these Muffler Man statues were originally designed as advertising gimmicks, they have transcended their commercial roots to become beloved roadside attractions. Their presence along Route 66 adds to the nostalgic and whimsical ambiance of the historic highway, inviting travelers to stop, snap photos, and indulge in the kitschy charm of these larger-than-life figures.
Even today, the allure of the muffler man is like no other. When new businesses on The Mother Road want to attract customers, they turn to the muffler man. While many of the Route 66 muffler men are original International Fiberglass creations as old as the road itself, many of the new ones are created by Virginia artist Mark Cline of Enchanted Castle Studios. Cline uses molds of original muffler men to create new custom creations that reflect the modern businesses’ vintage charms.
Muffler Man Roadside Attractions on Route 66
If you’re looking to find Muffler Man Roadside Attractions on Route 66, you don’t have to drive far. Here are all the muffler men (and Uniroyal Gals) you’ll see on your road trip on the Mother Road. Search for all the best muffler men and add them to your road trip itinerary!
Muffler Man at Cigars & Stripes BBQ Lounge
Berwyn, Illinois
This new muffler man was made by Mark Cline in 2022 from a mold made from a 1960s Muffler Man. The giant is found smoking a cigar and holding a fried chicken wing and a bottle of hot sauce on the roof of a local restaurant and bar.
Gemini Giant
Wilmington, Illinois
The Gemini Giant in Wilmington, Illinois is a 28-foot tall muffler man who once stood on Route 66 outside the Launching Pad restaurant. The Route 66 roadside attraction weighs 438 pounds: not counting his base and the giant 8-foot rocket he holds in his hands! This muffler man has stood over Route 66 since the 1960s!
Carl’s Ice Cream Muffler Man
Normal, Illinois
The Carl’s Ice Cream Muffler Man in Normal, Illinois, is a 15-foot-tall twist on the classic muffler man roadside attraction. Carl stands proudly outside Carl’s Ice Cream Factory, dressed in sharp white pants, a red collared shirt with his name on the chest, and a soda jerk hat. In one hand, he holds up a cheeseburger, and in the other, a soft-serve ice cream cone complete with a friendly smile.
Marge the Waitress Uniroyal Gal
Normal, Illinois
Joining Carl in 2025, Marge the Waitress is a customized Uniroyal Gal ready to take your order (she recommends a chunky!). The towering fiberglass woman (she’s a few feet taller than her companion) wears a red skirt, white shirt, and a car-hop cap. At her hip, she clasps an order pad with one hand and, in the other, holds up a whipped-cream topped milkshake high into the air.
Paul Bunyon Hot Dog Muffler Man
Atlanta, Illinois
In 1966 this muffler man was erected in Cicero, Illinois at a hot dog and burger restaurant named Bunyon’s hot dog stand. Due to his roots this giant hot dog muffler man (a modified Paul Bunyan statue) is known locally as “The Bunyon Giant.” In 2002 the restaurant closed and “Tall Paul” was restored and relocated to Route 66 park in Atlanta, Illinois.
Texaco Big Friend
Atlanta, Illinois
The Texaco Big Friend is unique among his peers with its signature stance (one arm bet up and the other bent to the front, palm up), impressive size (24-feet tall), and standard issue Texaco uniform (a green branded jumpsuit and service cap). This roadside attraction was originally created as part of a marketing campaign for Texaco. Unfortunately, after the campaign was cut short, all of the commissioned giants were ordered to be destroyed. Luckily, though rare, at least a few were spared and today you can still find some remnants of the attractions, whether in parts or in full. But out of the original 300, only about 6 are known to exist today. One of those is now on display at the American Giants Museum in Atlanta, Illinois.
Snerd Giant
Atlanta, Illinois
The Snerd Muffler Man in Atlanta, Illinois was the first muffler man installed outside of the American Giants Museum in 2023. The “Mortimer Snerd” muffler man (also known as the Happy Half Wit) has a wide goofy grin on a mug reminiscent of Mad Magazine’s Alfred E. Neuman.
Phillips 66 Cowboy
Atlanta, Illinois
This Stetson-hat-wearing, gun-slinging muffler man was created in the mid-1960s as part of Phillips 66 petroleum’s ad campaign for “the gasoline that won the west.” This one was found in Georgia by American Giants’s Joel Baker, restored by Mark Cline, and added to the American Giants Museum in 2025.
Carpet Viking
Atlanta, Illinois
Carpet Vikings were crafted in the late 1960s to advertise Viking Carpet stores. This one originally stood in front of a store in Delmar, Maryland and is now poised next to the American Giants Museum, on loan from Benjamin and Thomas Gabrysiak of New Jersey.
Lumi Giant Uniroyal Gal
Atlanta, Illinois
Lumi is a Giant Uniroyal Gal that has found a home outside Country-Aire Restaurant in Atlanta, Illinois.
Lumi, a nearly 20-foot-tall female fiberglass giant holding a pie, was added Friday at the Country Aire Restaurant in Atlanta. Designed after one of the restaurant owners, the 19-foot tall fiberglass fiant holds up an Illinois State Fair Champion Baker award winning apple pie. Take some selfies then head inside to try a slice of pie for yourself!
Shell Station Muffler Man Head
Atlanta, Illinois
Discover this Muffler Man Head at a Shell Station in Atlanta. In a hallway leading to the restrooms and Dairy Queen Grill & Chill, you’ll find a mural celebrating the town’s highlights, featuring the Palms Grill, the smiley water tower, a Route 66 shield, and the phrase “Welcoming the World with a Smile!” But what really brings it to life is a bright red display case housing an authentic, full-sized Muffler Man head!
Lauterbach Giant
Springfield, Illinois
The American flag waving Lauterbach Muffler Man (also known as the The Lauterbach Tire Muffler Man or the Lauterbach Giant) in Springfield, Illinois has stood in the parking lot outside Lauterbach Tire & Auto Service since 1978. He lost his head in a tornado in 2006 but has since been restored.
Big Ron Muffler Man
Springfield, Illinois
Big Ron is a 30-foot tall custom fiberglass giant found outside Route 66 Motorheads Bar and Grill in Springfield, Illinois. The burly figure sports a Motorheads hat and sunglasses and his unique figure was crafted with arms outstretched above his head, so as to “hold up” the already-standing World’s Largest Route 66 Shield.
Harley Davidson Muffler Man
Livingston, Illinois
The Harley Davidson Muffler Man can be found at the Pink Elephant Antique Mall in Livingston, Illinois. The Livingston Muffler Man is one of the smaller scale versions of this roadside attraction type at 15-feet tall. The bearded man is currently painted with blue pants and a bright orange shirt that reads “Harley Davidson” across the chest.
Earl the Mechanic Muffler Man
Granite City, Illinois
Standing 14 feet tall, Earl the Mechanic Muffler Man greets visitors wearing a blue-and-white striped work shirt and clutching an adjustable wrench and a rag. Standing proudly outside O’Brien Tire and Auto Care (the oldest and longest-running tire and auto repair shop along all of Route 66) Earl serves as the official welcoming figure of Granite City. Named after the family patriarch, this custom Muffler Man, crafted by artist Mark Cline, was installed on Route 66 in June 2025.
Rusty the Sledgehammer Muffler Man
Granite City, Illinois
Standing 20 feet tall, Rusty the Sledgehammer Muffler Man was crafted by Mark Cline in 2025. Wearing a hard hat and wielding a hefty sledgehammer, Rusty proudly represents the hardworking spirit of Granite City’s blue-collar community. Beside him rests a lunch box stamped with “Made in America,” underscoring the tribute he embodies to every dedicated worker in town.
Mega Mayor Muffler Man
St. Robert, Missouri
What do you do when you already own one of the weirdest stops on Route 66? Add more weird! And what better way to do that than by adding a muffler man roadside attraction. Better yet, a custom made muffler man modeled after yourself. Find the Mega Mayor Muffler Man in St Roberts, Missouri, just outside Putt Pirates Mini Golf at Uranus, Missouri.
Big A the Texaco Giant Muffler Man
Galena, Kansas
The owner of Gearhead Curios in Galena, Kansas, commissioned a new 20-foot-tall Muffler Man called “Big A the Texaco Giant” from fiberglass artist Mark Cline. Erected in September 2024, it is the first muffler man on Route 66 in Kansas. The modified Texaco Giant is the perfect addition to this former Texaco station turned souvenir shop.
Big Bill: Mobil 1 Muffler Man With Suitcase
Vinita, Oklahoma
The Big Bill muffler man was created in 2023 as a promotion for Mobile 1 Oil. Later in 2023 it moved to the Hi-Way Cafe in Vinita. The giant stands next to a giant suitcase covered in stickers.
Chef Muffler Man
Vinita, Oklahoma
The Route 66 Food Truck Park opened in Springfield, Missouri in February 2020. The spot featured food trucks with a variety of different cuisines, a full-service bar, and this giant Chef Muffler Man, affectionately named Carl, out front. Unfortunately, the park closed in 2022, but the chef lives on on Route 66. In 2025, he moved down the road to the Hi-Way Cafe in Vinita.
Buck Atom Space Cowboy Muffler Man
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios on 66 opened on Route 66 in 2018. The quirky souvenir shop is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma in a repurposed classic 1950’s PEMCO gas station. A year after opening the shop’s mascot, a space cowboy named Buck Atom, was brought to life in the most spectacular of ways: with a giant fiberglass Buck Atom Space Cowboy Muffler Man.
Stella Atom Space Cowgirl Uniroyal Gal
Tulsa, Oklahoma
The Uniroyal Gal is a sister to its Muffler Man counterpart. The Stella Atom Space Cowgirl Uniroyal Gal is a custom-built roadside attraction by Mark Cline that is also located at Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios. She’s dressed up in a cowboy hat and boots and carries a lasso and ray gun!
Meadow Gold Mack
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Meadow Gold Mack is a 20-foot tall muffler man installed outside its namesake shopping center (Meadow Gold Mack’s Route 66 Outpost) on Route 66 in Tulsa. Unlike Buck and Stella across the street, this muffler man is a refurbished original from the 1960s who once was found in Illinois.
Cowboy Bob Muffler Man
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Cowboy Bob is a new, 21-foot-tall muffler man decked out from head to toe in honky tonk western wear. He dons a cowboy hat, bolo tie, and cowboy boots and strums an oversized guitar. Find this mascot outside of 66 Collective/Buck’s Vintage on 66.
Rosie the Riveter Giant
Tulsa, Oklahoma
This Uniroyal Gal pays tribute to the Tulsa women who took charge during World War II and who inspired the famous Rosie the Riveter “We Can Do It!” posters. The 19-foot-tall Rosie the Riveter Uniroyal Gal takes on her poster-woman’s persona in a blue jumpsuit, red bandana, and muscle-worthy pose.
Native American Muffler Man
Calumet, Oklahoma
This Native American Muffler Man once stood outside Howe Motors, a Nissan dealership in Clinton, Oklahoma. In 2010, he was relocated to Indian Trading Post & Art in Calumet, where he now welcomes visitors along the Mother Road.
Muffler Men Cutouts
Calumet, Oklahoma
There are plenty of muffler men on Route 66. But this one comes with a twist. The Muffler Men Cutouts (Giants Display) in Calumet, Oklahoma feature three 18-foot tall giant cutouts that line the side of the road: a traditional Bunyan muffler man holding an ax, modeled after one found in Flagstaff, Arizona; a Uniroyal Gal; and a green-wearing gas station attendant who breaks out of the traditional static pose to dance the twist.
2nd Amendment Cowboy
Amarillo, Texas
The 2nd Amendment Cowboy muffler man is a roadside attraction in Amarillo, Texas. It’s hard to miss this giant man with a controversial message, located just down the road from the famed Cadillac Ranch on Route 66.
Lumberjack Mutant Muffler Man
Albuquerque, New Mexico
This unusually-shaped muffler man lives on top of May Cafe, a Vietnamese restaurant in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Dude Man – Cowboy Muffler Man
Gallup, New Mexico
Known as “Dude Man” by locals, the cowboy muffler man in Gallup stands on the roof of John’s Used Cars. The fiberglass giant wears blue pants, a red and white western button up shirt, and a white stetson cowboy hat. Around his waist is a holster packed with a pistol. And, if you look closely, you’ll spot a few bullet holes he’s endured over the years.
Lumberjack Muffler Man #1
Flagstaff, Arizona
Built in 1962, this muffler man is thought to be the very first of the many muffler men that once graced the roadside of America and Route 66. Produced by Bob Prewitt and Prewitt Fiberglass Animals in 1962, the giant was a fixture at Lumberjack Café (nee Paul Bunyan Café) on Milton Road throughout the 1960s and 70s. The restaurant and roadside attractions were even visible in the 1969 movie Easy Rider.
Lumberjack Muffler Man #2
Flagstaff, Arizona
There are two muffler men at NAU who were relocated to campus and were found at Lumberjack Stadium until 1979. After that they moved to their current location at J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome. The second muffler man used to be located inside, watching over the court. But is now also outside the stadium.
Chicken Boy Statue
Los Angeles, California
Chicken Boy was originally installed on the roof of L.A.’s Chicken Boy restaurant in 1969. The customized International Fiberglass muffler man was all man below the neck and all chicken from the neck up. When the restaurant closed in the 1980s and the building was set for demolition, artist Amy Inouye, a great admirer of the fiberglass bird boy, rescued it from demise. She kept this iconic California roadside attraction safe in storage until 2007 when she found “The Statue of Liberty of Los Angeles” a new home, on top of a building she owns right on Route 66.
More Muffler Men on Route 66
American Giants Museum in Atlanta, Illinois
Muffler men are so popular on Route 66 that they now have their very own museum devoted to them. Visit the American Giants Museum in Atlanta, Illinois to learn more about International Fiberglass, peruse exhibits on muffler man and other fiberglass advertising icons like the Texaco Big Friend, and find a restored Half-Wit muffler man, Phillips 66 Cowboy, Carpet Viking, and other heads and body parts.
The museum was created by muffler man enthusiast and historian, Joel Baker and had its official grand opening in May 2024.
Route 66 Experience at the Illinois State Fairgrounds
The Route 66 Experience at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois takes visitors on a walkthrough of the highlights of all 421 miles and 92 communities on Illinois Route 66.
A Muffler Man exhibit pays homage to all the best Route 66 Muffler Men in Illinois. The spotlight of the display is a giant futuristic muffler man made of bent-metal tubes (not fiberglass) and carrying a light-up American flag, which was also designed by Ace Sign.
In front of the muffler man are plaques devoted to all the muffler men on and near Illinois Route 66.
Route 66 Muffler Man Map
Find all your favorite fiberglass giants with this Route 66 Muffler Man Map.
