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California Muffler Men

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Babe
San Jose, CA
Babe, the San Jose Muffler Man, stands in front of Babe's Mufflers. This guy has been here since the 1960s. He usually holds a muffler but was holding a hockey stick in the first photo as a tribute to the San Jose Sharks which play at an arena just down the street. There was talk of Babe's Muffler closing in 2006 and the building being demolished for housing. However, they were still operating in 2008 when these photos were taken. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [first photo thanks Mark Comstock]

Muffler Man
Escondido, CA
 Muffler Man
Hayward, CA
The Escondido Muffler Man holds a giant muffler in front of Joor Muffler Service. He was purchased at a trade show in the 1960s and has been installed here ever since. For Halloween, he is dressed as a giant pumpkin and during the Christmas season he wears a Santa suit. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

The Hayward Muffler Man originally held a muffler. Later, he held a giant scrub brush when the business was a car wash. When these photos were taken in 2008, the building behind him was occupied by Tyre Treds. The statue was sold and removed in 2011. It was then restored and in 2013 installed at Bell Plastics.

Chicken Boy
Highland Park, CA
 Muffler Man
Los Angeles, CA
The Chicken Boy is a classic Bunyan type Muffler Man with a chicken head. He stood on top of a building in downtown Los Angeles and held a bucket to advertise the fried chicken place below. When the restaurant closed in 1984, he was saved and put into storage. In 2007, he was restored and put back on display. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4.

This Muffler Man in Los Angeles stands behind the fence at Orozco Locks & Key Service. His nickname "Sergio" is written on his chest. For more, see this website.

Muffler Man
Merced, CA
 Muffler Man
El Monte, CA
The Merced Muffler Man stands in front of the Agricultural Museum. He once held a large mallet and was accompanied by a giant rat when he was installed at a pest control company. He was moved here in the early 1990s. For more, see this website.

The El Monte Muffler Man stands in front of the El Monte Sign Co. He is nicknamed "Edwin". This muffler man was once installed at a mini golf course in Duarte, CA and still holds his club. He has been here since at least 1999. For more, see this website.

Muffler Man
Carson, CA
 Muffler Man
Willits, CA
The Carson Muffler Man also carried a golf club when these photos were taken in 2008. This statue has been located next to the freeway at the Dominguez Hills Golf Course since around 1975. He was painted black at one time but after public uproar, he was repainted Caucasian white. The statue used to be painted entirely green for St. Patrick's Day each year. In 2013, the golf course closed and the Muffler Man's club is now missing. For more, see this website.

The Willits Muffler Man is installed at the Willits Rodeo Grounds. He holds a branding iron with a "W" on the end. He has been here since at least the 1970s. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Muffler Man
Los Angeles, CA
2008:
 2012:
This Los Angeles Muffler Man is installed in front of Tony's Transmissions. He has been painted with a darker than normal complexion and has a pencil-thin mustache. This statue is one of the rarer bowtie wearing types. Around 2010, Tony's Transmissions moved to a new location. The Muffler Man was moved with them. The car that he holds has been damaged.

Muffler Man
Van Nuys, CA
This Van Nuys Muffler Man is mounted high on a pole in front of Tune Up Masters. His beard was painted over by new owners in 2001. He has been here since at least the 1970s when there was a tire store on this lot.

Muffler Man
Malibu, CA
This Muffler Man once wore a cap and held a giant hamburger when the restaurant below him was known as Frostie Freeze. When the restaurant became La Salsa in 1987, he was transformed by Bob Wade into La Salsa Man. A moustache was added and a sombrero was fashioned out of the top hamburger bun. The top of his head was used for the bowl of chips. A blanket was attached to his shoulder and his boots were painted to look like huarache sandals. The bottom bun became a platter holding a beer bottle and food. The food tray has been empty since around 2006. For more, see this website.

Indian Muffler Man
Bakersfield, CA
This Indian Muffler Man is located next to Ethel's Old Corral Cafe. The statue originally stood at a traffic circle in front of a tire store. He was later moved to Standard Junior High School where he was to be the mascot for the school's "Warriors" sports teams. However, after 17 years in a vacant lot, it never happened. He was then moved to his current location. For more, see this website.

VIP Man
Los Angeles, CA
This VIP Man has been installed on the roof of VIP Tire & Automotive since around 1971. This statue is a match for the Staff Guy at Magic Forest in Lake George, NY. There is another one at Funspot USA in Kissimmee, FL. They may have been modeled after the Texaco Big Friend statues. They are about ten feet tall. For more, see this website.

More California Muffler Men:
Bunyan: 1, 2 (was Dunsmuir; moving to Hat Creek]
Bunyan (Jackson)
Cowboy: 1, 2 (Livermore)
Dennis Hopper's Muffler Men copies: 1, 2, 3 (Los Angeles)
Bunyan: 1, 2 (Mecca) [gone]
Bunyan (Mentone)
Indian (Van Nuys) [gone]

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