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Route 66 Muffler Men: Collect them all
LIVINGSTON, Ill.--I see that you have a mint condition Rocket Firing Boba Fett action figure. That's pretty cool, but not as cool as my fully restored Gemini Giant with all accessories, astronaut helmet, and rocket ship intact.
I'm collecting Route 66 Muffler Men for the Geek's Guide to Route 66. These massive fiberglass statues dominate the parking lots and roadside attractions where they live. They all come from the common birthplace of the now defunct International Fiberglass in Venice, Calif., during the 1960s. As impressive as they look standing in place, imagine seeing one trucking down the highway on its way to a new home.
Roadside America has a handy spotter's guide to get you oriented when starting your own Muffler Man collection. I bagged three Muffler Men in one day of driving on Illinois's extensive chunk of the Mother Road. I was going to have them mounted on plaques for my living room but couldn't find a willing taxidermist.
Gemini Giant This bad boy is a reminder of the days when the Space Age was upon us and all things rocket-related were cool. The Gemini Giant holds down the fort at the Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington, Ill. He weighs 500 pounds and is a towering 28 feet tall. That's more than 27 feet taller than your average action figure.
Bunyon's Statue The Gemini Giant's twin brother hefts a honkin' huge hot dog just down the road in Atlanta, Ill. He once stood sentinel over a cafe in the town, but decided to stick around after the the diner closed. Really, who's going to tell a 500-pound man with a hot dog that he can't hang out?… Read more
