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International Fiberglass Giant Men Statues (page 3)

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The first Midas Muffler shop opened in 1956. I don't know how many of these statues were built in the 1960s for the chain. There are at least three that survive. They were probably all produced with mufflers originally. Despite the misnomer of "Muffler Man," very few actually held them.

Midas Muffler King
Metairie, LA (now Atlanta, IL)
This Midas Muffler King statue is located at Clearview Auto Title. His beard has been painted over in favor of a mustache. The statue in Metairie stood in front of a Midas Muffler shop in New Orleans until it was moved here in 1974. Shortly after these photos were taken in 2010, the statue was repainted. He now has gold pants and a black shirt with a fleur-de-lis on the chest. During Hurricane Isaac in 2012, the statue was knocked over and his head was removed. The statue was still in storage in 2015. In 2021, the statue was sold to American Giants in Illinois. The statue will be restored and displayed at the American Giants Museum. [map]

Midas Muffler King
Newport News, VA
This Midas Muffler King statue has been located at Auto Muffler King since the mid-1960s. I assume it was originally a Midas Muffler shop. The statue was repainted in 2007 (bottom photos above). [map]

There is another Midas Muffler King with a crown in Unger, WV.

Giant Man
Escondido, CA
This Giant Man is installed in front of Joor Muffler Service. The statue was purchased at a trade show in the 1960s and has been installed here since then. This muffler appears to be one of the optional International Fiberglass stock accessories. I don't know if this shop was ever part of the Midas Muffler chain. At one time, the statue was dressed as a giant pumpkin for Halloween and in a Santa outfit for Christmas. I don't know if that is still done. However, in 2013, he was dressed in a cap and vest for a local bike race. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Giant Man
Dallas, TX

2017:
2020:
This Giant Man is located at Brothers Mufflers. The store opened around 1966 as Bud and Ken's. I believe this statue was installed here then. This statue also holds what appears to be an International Fiberglass muffler. The brothers had a falling out and the name was changed to Bud & Ben's. Ken went on to open muffler shops of his own. The name of this shop is now Reyes Mufflers. In 2018, the statue's clothes were painted blue. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Giant Man
Springfield, MO
This modern, custom Giant Man was created by Mark Cline from molds of a vintage statue and installed here in 2020. "Carl the Chef" was produced for the Route 66 Food Truck Park and Diner which closed in 2022. The statue remains. [map]

Giant Man
Kansas City, MO
 Giant Man
St. Robert, MO
This modern Giant Man in Kansas City was created by Mark Cline around 2019 for the owner of Atomic Collision. He plans to paint the statue, attach a giant spray can, and install it on the roof. [map]

This modern Giant Man in St. Robert was created by Mark Cline for the Putt Pirates mini golf course. The statue was installed in 2021. In 2024, the statue's head was blown off. A new head was created by Cline and installed later that year. For more, see this website. [map]

I don't know if Mr. Bendo was the name of a chain of muffler shops or if this was just the name of the chain's mascot. The name "Bendo" came from a device developed in the early 1960s that could bend a new muffler tailpipe to match the identical shape of an old one. I don't know if the company that produced these devices suggested that shops buy these statues. There are three surviving statues with this unique hand positions and bearing the "Bendo" name. I don't know if there were others. The right arm is raised like International Fiberglass' Indian model. However, the hand is closed around an iron bar. The bar is meant to represent a muffler tailpipe. These statues all wore a red shirt and white pants.

Mr. Bendo
Chicago, IL (now Blue Ridge, GA)
2001:
 2007:
 2010:
2021:
The Mr. Bendo in Chicago was installed at Ced's Auto Service. In 2010, the statue's upper torso was knocked off in a storm (third photo). The owner planned to repair him. However, in 2013, the statue remained broken. The upper torso was in storage but the head was missing. In 2014, Ced's closed and the lower torso disappeared from the roof. In 2015, the head was recovered and the statue was completely restored and moved to Free Time Hobbies in Blue Ridge, GA. The statue held a model airplane in his raised hand. The statue was known as "Mr. Hobby." In 2020, the hobby store closed and a dentist moved into the building. The statue was repainted in blue scrubs and given a giant toothbrush. For more, see this website. [map]

Mr. Bendo
Sioux Falls, SD
2006:
 2011:

2022:
This Mr. Bendo statue was shipped by rail from California to Buck's Muffler in 1963. The statue's head was damaged in transit. It was installed headless in front of the shop for a few months until the head was repaired. In 1965, Buck's moved and the statue was brought along. Like the other original Mr. Bendo statues, he holds a tailpipe.

In 2010, a driver crashed into the statue and broke his right leg. It was repaired and a leg cast with signatures was installed in the office. The statue was also repainted at the same time. His white shirt is now red. In the past, the statue was sometimes dressed in an Elvis costume but I don't believe he is anymore. In 2017, the store was put up for sale. In 2018, the statue was moved to Automotive Brake & Exhaust. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Mr. Bendo
Indianapolis, IN

2001 and 2005:
2009:
This Mr. Bendo statue has been at Ralph's Mufflers since the 1960s. It was repainted around 2009. After International Fiberglass had closed, the owner made a mold from this statue and had two others produced for his other muffler shops. However, city zoning laws did not allow them to be displayed. The statues and mold remained in storage until they were sold to American Giants. The two statues are now installed in Dallas, GA and Cleveland, MO (both described below). [map]

Mr. Bendo
Dallas, GA
This Mr. Bendo was one of the statues in storage in Indianapolis as described above. It is now located at Atlantis Plumbing with many other statues. The owner, Michael Whitman, painted the statue in typical Bunyan red and blue. Normally, these statues were painted with a rust-colored shirt and white pants. [map]

Mr. Bendo
Cleveland, MO
This Mr. Bendo was one of the statues in storage in Indianapolis as described above. In 2016, it was installed at Stone's Last Resort.

Mr. Bendo
San Angelo, TX
This Mr. Bendo statue is unusual in that it has the standard one-up/one-down hands versus the raised arm. This appears to be original since the fiberglass muffler is also original. Originally, the statue stood in downtown San Angelo at Fillip Automotive. It has been at this residential location since 1989. For more, see this website. [map]

More International Fiberglass Giant Men:
West Memphis, AR [gone]
Roseville, IL [gone]
Lynn, MA [gone]
Cassopolis, MI: 1, 2
Cleveland, MO
Gilford, NH [gone]
Coopersburg, PA
East Troy, WI
Levuka, SK [map]
Caguas, Puerto Rico [now in storage in New Jersey]

Replica International Fiberglass Giant Men:
Berwyn, IL

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