American Giants
Thanks for visiting American Giants. My Muffler Man interest was born in early 2011, and what started out as a bit of fun grew into a real passion for tracking down and finding muffler men and sharing their stories. American Giants was launched in January of 2013, first the website and then in June the first episode came out on youtube. In 2014 American Giants started doing restorations until we handed that over to (Re)Giant in 2023 but still are actively involved. These days we are your go to for purchase, selling and transporting the giants and are here to advise on all your Muffler Man questions. Contact us: info@usagiants.co
The Crew
Joel Baker is the founder of American Giants. In addition to his full time job, he keeps the website running and does all the research for future articles and episodes. He also produces and edits each episode . He has been working with muffler men since January of 2011 and currently has visited 150 of the giants. Joel also owns and manages American Giants Restoration
Michael Younkin is owner/operator if (Re) Giant and runs the restoration shop and keeps the restorations top notch and moving along. His skills in restoration and fiberglass have been invaluable and are featured in many of our restorations. Not only does Michael do all our fiberglass repair work but he also helps build the internal structures that support these giants.
Will Worf works for (Re)Giant as a contract welder and painter. He welds all the internal support structures we make and also does all the priming and base coat painting for us. He also is a big help in the early stages of restoration with the hours of sanding that are needed get back down to the gel coat. Will wears many hats and is a huge help in the shop.
Ademar Neto has worked with Joel since 2006, and also works now with American Giants. He helps plan the trips and also has done some field work on his own during his business travels. He is often a camera man and is seen during many of the episodes. He is a driver when the crew goes on road trips and also handles lighting, set design and most of the graphics for the show. Neto has also designed American Giants post cards as well as many of the graphics we use. He also travels with Joel to pick up Muffler Men and Texaco Big Friends for restoration and helps as a driver for the long trips.
Bo Carnaghi was featured often in early youtube episodes and added allot of the flavor to each episode of American Giants and his casual and sometimes indifferent attitude towards muffler men add a nice contrast to Joel’s intense interest and curiosity in them. Bo is still a close friend and consultant for American Giants but no longer appears in the episodes.
American Giants is produced by Stone Baker a video production company.
[NOTE: ALL PHOTOS ON THIS SITE ARE COPYRIGHTED USAGIANTS.com or by those who have let me post them on my site — Pictures are not to be used without written permission for any purpose including blogs, and Pinterest. If you are interested in sharing a picture simply link to my site or write and ask permission. Thanks.]
American Giants - Muffler Men 
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I have driven past the “BP” muffler man in Elmsford NY and wondered about it’s back story…I am a big fan of road trips and vintage americana, perhaps I will go check out some more! I think I have seen some muffler men up in Lake George and in California now that I think about it. What a nice distraction to my humdrum work day, now I can think about open roads, pit stops, and ice cream cones!
http://www.cc.com/video-clips/6we8r4/the-colbert-report-difference-makers—nitro-girl
Don’t know if you’ve ever seen this or not
No, thanks for sharing!
I am on a journey, from ca Detroit.
Stopping at some of the giants. I have some pictures , I don’t use Instagram where can I send them to you where do I post them
Thanks hot rod ed
HI! My name is Bobbi and I am currently the new curator at Carnegie Art Center. We are working on a project to make story boards for our two muffler men we acquired as a gift from Dennis Hopper Art Trust. I have info for La Salsa Man but not much on Mobile Man. If you could give me more info on Mobile Man, I would appreciate it. You can send to: dodgecityarts@outlook.com.
Thank you!
Are these “muffler men” still made in the USA? Who is a major manufacturer?
Hi The Howard Giant from Maine was my father’s! We just ran across your video on you tube. The giant was part of a Chevron ad campaign, my Dad was A Chevron sales rep for a lot of years. Chevron had 2 of them. When the giant became dated they told him to destroy it. He stood him up in our back field when we were kids!
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Who do I talk to about who has all of these figures?
My daughter is heartbroken. She is 10 this year and has been attending every year for 7 years. She only goes for the figures, animals, and great old buildings. We were unaware that it was being sold and we were in shock when we found out. This week while we are in lake George 😦
Please contact me with what figures you have left.
I noticed on the Carpetbagger’s YouTube show that a guy in New York has an Indian head (and leg) in his backyard collection. Here is the link if you want to check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ1-HmL2yiQ.
Thanks so much, I enjoyed that!
I might have a giant for you. Call me at 217-725-1671. Thanks, Tim
I currently have a cheif indian for sale completely restored 2020. If anyone is looking for a original muffler man completely restored. Please contact me 3134777636. I can make arrangements to deliver. Asking price 40k. Thanks Pat
Hello, Regarding the “Halfwit” statue you just received from Lake Ozark Mo. My gosh,
I was surprised to hear him called the ‘Halfwit”. I was his one time owner – before Joe Page
and after his original purchaser, Walt Tietmeyer of Dogpatch. We just called him the hillbilly.
In these times “halfwit” is such a “bad” word to use – is there any way you could just call
him the “hillbilly” which doesn’t carry the bad connotations halfwit does. Loved, loved the
work you did on Chief Bagnell and am looking forward to seeing the hillbilly back in Lake
Ozark.
Thanks for your consideration of this matter. Linda Berchem, Old Time Photos, Lake Ozark.
If u would like to sell your giant let me know looking for one 3095400204 thanks aaron
You wrecked it. As shown on your twatter page. The ORIGINAL giant had RED HAIR AND A RED MUSTACHE AND BEARD BEFORE YOU TOUCHED IT.. Way to go to “change’ the coloring.. shame on you. Black hair? Why? You Woke history eraser.
The Paul Bunyan you had on video o found on fb…https://fb.watch/hjNWiq7v74/
Originally was Danbury Fair in Connecticut (fair ran from 1869 to 1981) my older friend remember Paul Bunyan in the 1950..
The fair was sold so the land could be used for now the Danbury Fair Mall on same spot as the fair..
Thank you for bringing back one of my fondness memory of the fair for me in 1970 till it closed Paul was sold like many artifacts some had said a person from WI one the bid to buy him it nice to see the lumberjack of 72 yrs looking so good
The Lake Ozark Chief Osage is part of the mobile game Pokémon Go as a place for people to stop and play. The description mentions your show. You might add a brief written description or history of “Muffler Men” on your About page. My mistake if I just didn’t spot it. Thank you for your work on Chief Osage! That whole area was getting a bit run down, it’s nice to see it getting a cleaner image, and the Chief is a big part of that!
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On west 16th st in Indianapolis is Mr Bendo
Been there since the 70’s
Also on state road 67 about 15 miles northeast of Indy is a small town of Pendleton
In frout of a liquor store is a pink elephant wearing black glasses Also been there a long time
Enjoyed program featuring your works on CBS Sunday morning
Good Day! I can totally appreciate your interest in, and extremely hard work for; the amazing ‘giants’ of the advertising ’past’. Thank you for bringing this to a renewed life on “Sunday Morning”. I currently life in SWFL, where we have a giant “Big John” who once held court for the grocery store of the same name. He now resides in the plaza where the store once was, and was damaged during Hurricane Ian. I was hoping that, if time and interest allows; you could extend your findings to the awesome animals that have been used. My parents live near Panama City where there was a massive bull outside a steak restaurant. I’m not sure what happened after Hurricane Michael & Covid but he has to be somewhere?! Thanx again for bringing this, back out to light and to touch the nostalgia in our souls. Sincerely, Pam
Have you seen “Bill’s Truck Stop” on I-85 near Linwood, NC?
http://www.carolinaxroads.com/2021/01/bills-truck-stop-linwood.html
Hi! My name is Mike Messer and I am really good friends with Aaron Kewish who has a giant at his Water Works building in Galva Illinois! I am seriously interested the Corey statue located in New Castle Indiana! I live on the original Lincoln Highway in Ashton Illinois and would love to have him on the original Lincoln Highway route! My phone number is 815 262 9599 and email is afcbb1@hotmail.com! Thanks for your time!
I had no idea there was a Muffler Man in nearby Dade City. I have to go see it. The other three in the Tampa area that I’ve seen are now nowhere to be found (US 41 in Riverview, Fletcher Ave in Tampa and Gall Ave in Zephyrhills).
word on the street is that the Gemini giant in Wilmington is being sold, will you guys be involved?