Earl is a 14-foot Muffler Man standing along Historic Route 66 in Granite City, a larger-than-life figure that has watched over travelers as a symbol of America’s car culture and the city’s working-class identity. Muffler Men, born in the 1960s, were fiberglass giants made to attract attention from the road and advertised businesses ranging from tire shops to burger stands; across the country, each developed its own name, story, and purpose and became a cherished icon of Americana. Earl stands at O’Brien Tire and Auto Care, established in 1906 and identified as the oldest and longest-running tire and auto repair center along the entire Route 66. He is named for the patriarch of the Buenger family, the fourth Granite City family to own the station. O’Brien has been in the Buenger family for 55 years as of 2025 and is currently operated by the family’s third generation, continuing more than a century of trusted auto care.
