Hot Springs, Arkansas: Muffler Men: Tow Truck Driver, Spock

The second publicly accessible Texaco Big Friend is standing tall in its spectacularly restored splendor at Driven Towing and Recovery. He now lives alongside Lee Woods' three other Muffler Men: an original Bunyan, a Chevron Man, and a Mark-Cline-created Tow Man.

The waving Cowboy Muffler Man -- that once stood at the late Glenn Goode's place in Gainesville, Texas (and more recently at Preservation Acres in Augusta, Kansas), has recently found its way to Lee Woods' Driven Towing and Recovery Facility. He is the fifth Muffler Man to join Lee's rapidly expanding collection.

A great attraction with three Muffler Men: a refurbished Chevron giant (formally Spock), a new tow truck driver, and an unrestored Bunyan. Also at the location is assorted service station signage, two Sinclair dinosaurs, vintage A and W Root Beer family members, McDonald's characters, and old cars.

Lee Woods (the owner) is a great tour guide, and has plans to add more giant statues. This place is awesome.

Lee and his son were both so nice and knowledgeable about the Muffler Men. They have three complete men, over 40 gas station signs, original McDonald's Playland items, and a plethora of other artifacts. They have lots of things planned for the future that they are currently working on. My entire family thoroughly enjoyed this.

The owner has two intact Muffler Men plus the Spock Muffler Man, which has been moved here and is being restored. Two hundred vintage signs are being erected. He has many other items, too (Superman in a booth, McDonald's playground equipment, a Pegasus, several restored autos). He is super friendly and showed me around. Easy to find.