Shirley, Massachusetts - Muffler Man

This Indian was bought by my dad in 1986 when Benson Wild Animal Farm was closing down. My mom used to go there as a child and convinced him it would be a good investment. He bought the Indian along with a buffalo. My dad was the owner of many popular night clubs, including the Mohawk Club. He sold the club when it wasn't doing too well, but a year later bought it again because the previous owner went bankrupt. So he closed down the club and turned it into McNiff Real Estate and Mohawk Village Motors, which he owned up until his death in February, 2004.

The Indian fell down once and as a senior prank, the local high school students stole the arm. It was down for a while until we got a new arm, but is back up now with a new paint job! [K.M., 05/02/2005]

This is a pic of the big Indian in front of Mohawk Village Motors. It doesn't look like a reworked muffler man and is a bit different from other big Indians I've seen; it appears to have been molded just as seen here. [David Carlson, 06/29/2004]

I believe that there is a refurbished muffler man located just west of Shirley Center, MA on Route 2A. It is located between a realty office (Mcniff, Stanley - Mc Niff Real Estate 280 Great Rd, Shirley, MA 01464) and junk yard which I believe are owned by the same person. [Robert Eloi, 06/23/2003]

[RA: April 2004 update - An anonymous tipster writes:"Stanley McNiff of McNiff Real Estate has passed away this year. The Indian is still standing."]

I think this is a MM Indian ... he's located in front of Mohawk Motors in Shirley MA, about 4-5 miles west of Ayer center on Route 2A. One arm raised in salute, one arm straight down, looks like a pretty fresh coat of paint. [Susan G., 04/26/2001]

There used to be a nightclub called the "Mohawk" which was near Fort Devens in central Massachusetts. In front of the club was what may be a muffler man! I no longer live in the area, but would love to know if he's still there. [Denise Tremblay, 10/05/2000]