Andy Chase

12/30/2001 - 15130 Whittier Blvd
Whittier, California

12/30/2001 - El Monte Sign Company

2710 Santa Anita Ave • El Monte, California

The El Monte sign company has taken good care of this specimen, outfitting him with a pair of crisp bluejeans and a polo shirt sporting the company name, topped off by a jaunty white baseball cap. In his hands he holds a golf club.

This is the first Muffler Man I've had the privilege of being able to walk right up to; the Van Nuys and Malibu men are mounted on tall poles, making them inaccessible. You get a much better appreciation for their sheer size.

12/30/2001 - El Monte Sign Company

2710 Santa Anita Ave • El Monte, California

Another shot of the golfclub-wielding El Monte Sign Company Muffler Man.

Even in a full-body shot at ground level, it's difficult to appreciate his scale. Note the chainlink fence at the back of the lot, and figure it's about 7 or 8 feet. He's pretty damn tall.

12/30/2001 - 15130 Whittier Blvd • Whittier, California

The first Muffler Man I've seen in greater Los Angeles who is actually holding a muffler.

Sherman Way at Sepulveda Boulevard, Van Nuys, California

This is the same Muffler Man I shot a little over two years ago. Until I got up close, I didn't realize that not only had his kerchief been repainted, but his beard has been painted over with skin color; only the dastardly pencil moustache remains.

From a distance all you can see is his lantern jaw, but up close the flesh colored ridges of his beard look terrible.

22800 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, California

03/06/2001 - La Salsa Restaurant - 22800 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, California

You'll have to forgive me for not labelling this photo Latino Muffler Man; the giant fiberglass statue is clearly standing outside of a Mexican restaurant.

In Malibu, of all places.

09/26/1999 - Sherman Way near Sepulveda Blvd, Van Nuys, California.

Much has been written about Muffler Men, but I've only seen three in the wild. You may have noticed the Muffler Man who shows up briefly in the opening credits of The Sopranos.