In 1958, a cowboy by the name of Bob Prewitt designed a new light-weight horse trailer and built a fiberglass horse to stand in it as a promotional feature. But more people wanted to buy the horse than the trailer! He set up a company and began making fiberglass cows, bears, roosters and cowboys on bucking broncos.
In 1962, he got a request to build a giant lumberjack which ended up at the Paul Bunyan Cafe in Flagstaff AZ. He did so (with help), but it wasn't his thing. So in 1963, he sold the business (and mold) to Steve Dashew, owner of International Fiberglass, a boat building company looking to expand during the slower production winter months. He expanded the idea from lumberjacks to anything anybody needed.
The Phillips 66 Cowboy was created as promotional attractions and placed in front of gas stations and various automotive shops. His hands were made to hold a giant muffler (hence the nickname of Muffler Man).
In 1973, oil prices quadrupled, which led to higher gas prices. People began switching to more fuel efficient Japanese and European cars. American car dealers, gas stations and auto repair shops were hit by the recession and demand for the fiberglass giants dropped. Dashew stopped producing in 1974, sold the company in 1976, and destroyed all the molds for the large statues.
Over the years, the remaining statues were moved around, repainted and adapted to different businesses. In 2018, fiberglass artist Mark Cline (at Enchanted Castle Studios in Natural Bridge, Virginia) gathered up some fragments and made a new mold of the body. New Muffler Men could now be born!
-- CALIFORNIA --
Joor Man in Escondido - He was in the middle of getting a new paint job. He's stood here since the 1960s. He sometimes gets to wear holiday outfits.
Big Josh in Joshua Tree - He used to stand in Mecca, CA. He got a new head in 2014 and arrived here in 2018.
-- COLORADO --
Muffler Man head in Boulder - He hangs upside-down from the rafters inside the Dark Horse Bar and Grill. His history is unclear, but it's suggested he was used in a movie and repainted for that purpose.
-- ILLINOIS --
Bunyon Giant in Atlanta - The 19-foot giant originally was purchased in 1966 by Bunyon's hotdog stand in Cicero (Illinois). The stand closed in 2002 and he was moved here the following year.
The town was filled with memorabilia of him ... posters, a bobblehead, fridge magnets.
Soda Jerk in Macon - The 16-foot-tall statues was created in 2010 by Mark Cline and stands in front Krekel's.
Carl in Normal - The 15-foot statue is a more modern Muffler Man version made by Mark Cline. He stands in front of Carl's Ice Cream on Route 66.
Muffler Man in Springfield - He arrived in Springfield in 1962 in front of a tire business. He was then sold to a cafe and motel in Farmersville. After they closed in 1978, he eventually found it way into the parking lot of Lauterbach Tire & Auto Services.
-- KANSAS --
Big Charlie Jay in Hutchinson - The 1950s-style "greaser" stands on top of a 1948 Dodge farm truck near Hutch Vintage Market. He was made by Mark Cline in 2022.
Muffler Man in Wichita - He stands outside of Brown's Tire and Custom Wheel Center.
-- MISSOURI --
Chief Wappalese at Chaonia Landing Resort and Marina - He stands overlooking the shores of Lake Wappapello, as a proud symbol of the Chaonia people. The large chief was previously named Chief Sagamore when he stood outside the War Drum restaurant in Sikeston. He later stood over the entrance to the Southeast Missouri State University football stadium.
Carl the Chef in Springfield - He was made by Mark Cline in 2020 and stands along old Route 66 (his belt buckle reads "Route 66") in front of a fairly new food truck park.
Mega Mayor in Uranus - Mark Cline built this one in 2021 in the image of self-elected mayor Louie Keen of the tourist town of Uranus. He stands outside the Putt Pirates mini golf course. Apparently he was beheaded by a severe wind storm on April 2, 2024... just one week before I visited him. Fortunately it's said that Mark Cline will make a new head.
A photo of the damaged head from the Uranus Fudge Factory and General Store Facebook page
-- NEBRASKA --
Indian in North Platte - He stands within the stockaded back section of the Fort Cody Trading Post. He supposedly once stood at a gas station across the street but was purchased by the Fort owners for $100 and repainted to look like a Native American.
The shape of his bow tie from in his service station days is still visible.
-- NEW MEXICO --
Cowboy in Gallup - Standing on the roof of John's Used Cars, this original Muffler Man is sometimes given the nickname of Dude Man. As I was posing with him, a man (apparently the owner) told me he'd purchased him some 20 years ago from a place down the street for $7,000. He recently got offered $25,000 to sell him but he turned it down. The statue's home is here, he said.
-- OKLAHOMA --
Buck Atom Space Cowboy in Tulsa - He began life in the 1960s in Calgary, Alberta, but ended up getting shattered in a Canadian jukyard. His fragments were brought to Virginia in 2018 and used by Mark Cline to make a mold of the body. The character of space cowboy Buck was merged with the Muffler Man body and arrived here in 2019.
-- PENNSYLVANIA --
Big Chip in Coopersburg - He was also built by Mark Cline using his mold and arrived here in 2018.