Springfield, Illinois: Lauterbach Tire Muffler Man
Flag-carrying giant has been standing at this business since 1978. His head was blown off by a tornado in 2006, but the locally-famous "Lauterbach Giant" was quickly re-capitated.
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A tornado hit Springfield, IL on Sunday night (March 12, 2006) causing heavy destruction to the southern end of town. While there appear to have been no casualties, the Lauterbach Tire Muffler Man did not weather the storm well. From a picture published in the State Journal-Register (the local paper), he appears to have been decapitated. I haven't seen the damage personally, but the bar next door lost its roof.
[Patrick Pospisek, 03/14/2006]Sad to report that it looks like Lauterbach Tire Muffler Man didn't survive the tornado that hit Springfield, IL last night, he lost his head. Still no word on if the big pink elephant, who was located in the parking lot of Goodwill, just down from Muffler Man, made it through the storm okay.
[Martha Bussard, 03/13/2006]Several people sent links to photos of the decapitated muffler man, still standing, and of his head being retrieved. Laird Carter reports the pink elephant was knocked over, but doesn't appear to be destroyed.
An update to the update from 1998: The Giant Pink Elephant, which used to reside at the nearby Goodwill shop, is now located almost directly across the street from the Lauterbach Tire Man, at the Famous Liquors store. A great way to see two sights at once! The Giant Pink Elephant is holding a giant martini in his trunk
[Doug Shevlin, 09/09/2002]The Lauterbach man has taken on a patriotic spin. Instead of a tire, he's now holding an American flag.
[Jenn, 10/29/2001]The Lauterbach Tire Man in Springfield, IL, is no longer "Gandalf the White," as previously reported. He now sports a standard brown beard and typical uniform, with "Lauterbach" painted in bold yellow letters down the side of his blue pants. He is also wearing a pair of nice tan hiking boots. I believe his shirt is white.
[Emily Priddy, 04/16/2000][Previous 5 items] Page of 3 [Next 1 items]
Lauterbach Tire Muffler Man
Lauterbach Tire
- Address:
- 1569 Wabash Ave., Springfield, IL
- Directions:
- Lauterbach Tire. On the southwest side of the city, on Wabash Ave./Hwy 54, five blocks west of MacArthur Ave. On the north side.
- Phone:
- 217-546-2600
- RA Rates:
- Worth a Detour
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March 30, 2006: The head has been reattached to the Lauterbach Muffler Man. Chuck McCue reports: "The city delayed the annual St. Patrick's Day parade until the 25th because of all the weather, and the City Power crew who 'rescued' the head displayed it prominently on the front of their float." March 15, 2006: Chuck McCue reports the head was found "about a block away behind what was left of the Barrelhead Restaurant and Bar. "