The husband and wife team (Scott & Beth Buenger) at O’Brien Tire and Auto in Granite City have added a new giant to their collection, and his name is Earl. O’Brien Tire had already been attracting tourists traveling along Route 66 in Illinois to see the famous Giant Tire standing in front of the oldest auto repair shop on Route 66.
In late June of 2025, a new “Muffler Man” giant statue named Earl was installed at the business and instantly became a new attraction for Route 66 Travelers.
Scott & Beth Buenger are the current owners and their family has been operating the business since 1970.
“Named as a homage to our father who died in 2023, Earl serves as a friendly greeter when visitors come into Granite City on their way to St. Louis. We invite visitors to stop at our vintage-looking auto repair shop for a selfie with our giant tire and with Earl, come on in and chat and see how a century old garage serves its customers. We also encourage visitors to be sure to allow time to visit the city’s fabulous Neon Park, several Route 66-inspired murals, and find the other Giants speckled throughout town,” said Beth Buenger, co-owner.
The business opened in 1906 and has been operating continuously for 119 years. O’Brien is rated #1 in the Metro St. Louis area and is staffed by a Master ASE technician, with a 3-year nationwide warranty. The Business was honored with the “BusinessRate” Best of 2024 Granite City – Auto Repair Shop last year. They are located at 3924 Nameoki Road (Old Route 66) in Granite City. Phone is (618) 876-7616, and hours of operation are Mon – Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
