Well, that’s certainly one way to advertise a tire shop. Forget ordinary roadside signs and colorful banners.
This business has an 18-foot fiberglass woman standing outside, and she’s been turning heads for decades. The unusual figure arrived in 1965 after the shop’s owner purchased her at auction.
Originally created as part of a tire advertising campaign, she eventually received a colorful superhero-inspired makeover.
Today, her star-spangled outfit and towering presence make her one of New Jersey’s more unusual roadside attractions.
Drivers passing along the busy highway might need a second glance to figure out exactly what they’re seeing. And honestly, who could blame them?
A giant woman holding a tire isn’t exactly something you encounter during an ordinary afternoon errand. Sometimes the strangest roadside discoveries make the most memorable stops.
A Giant Who Steals the Whole Roadside
Some landmarks whisper, but this one practically waves you down. A splash of red, white, and blue rises above the traffic, and suddenly the ordinary drive along the Black Horse Pike gets a lot more fun.
She stands outside Werbany Tire Town, a working tire shop in Blackwood. Cars roll in for new tires and repairs while she keeps her cheerful watch over the lot.
Honestly, it is hard to look anywhere else.
Her name today is Nitro Girl. She is made of fiberglass, she is around 18 feet tall, and she has the confident pose of someone who knows she is the star of the block.
Kids point. Drivers slow down.
Even grown-ups crack a smile.
What I love most is how unexpected she feels. You come for a quick stop or simply pass by, and there she is, bright and bold, as if a comic book hero decided to take a job in tire sales.
Bring your camera, and give yourself a few extra minutes. She is worth a proper look from every angle.
Born as a Uniroyal Gal
Here is a fun bit of history. Nitro Girl did not start out as a superhero at all.
She began life as a standard Uniroyal Gal, one of the giant fiberglass figures made by International Fiberglass in California during the 1960s.
Those statues had one big job. They were built to grab attention for Uniroyal tire dealers, and they did it by being impossible to ignore.
A giant lady by the road? Yes, people noticed.
Back then, her outfit was much calmer. She wore a green top and a turquoise skirt, a neat and stylish look that some folks compared to the fashion of Jackie Kennedy.
Pretty classy for a tire ad.
Over the years she picked up nicknames like The Doll and Miss Uniroyal. Each name hints at how people around town saw her, a friendly figure rather than just a sign.
Knowing her roots makes the visit richer. When you look up at her today, try picturing that softer, 1960s version standing in the very same spot.
It is a neat little time trip.
Sold at Auction and Brought Home in 1965
Imagine raising your hand at an auction and walking away with an 18-foot woman. That is basically what happened here, and I still find it wonderfully wild.
In 1965, the owner of the tire shop bought the towering statue at auction. It was a bold move.
Plenty of people buy furniture or old tools at auctions, but a giant fiberglass figure is a whole different level of shopping.
She went up right outside the business, holding her pose as a big, eye-catching advertisement for tires. Almost overnight, the shop had something no other place nearby could match.
The best part? The decision lasted.
Many roadside giants from that era were moved, sold again, or lost over time. This one stayed put, which says a lot about how much she has meant to the business and to the people who drive past every day.
Next time you are at a yard sale or auction, remember her story. You never know which odd purchase might become a local legend that outlives everyone expecting it to be a passing joke.
The Makeover That Changed Everything
Even giants need a fresh look now and then. In 2007, the statue got a full makeover, and wow, did it change her personality.
Two local artists were brought in to repaint her. Instead of simply touching up the old green and turquoise, they reimagined her completely.
The new style mixes the spirit of Supergirl and Wonder Woman into one patriotic hero.
Her colors became a bold red, white, and blue. Stars now sparkle in her hair and across her skirt.
White go-go boots finish the outfit, giving her a playful, almost groovy flair that still feels like the 1960s.
I think the makeover was clever because it kept her shape and history while giving her fresh energy. She did not lose her charm.
She simply got braver.
When you visit, take a close look at the details. The stars and boots are easy to miss from a moving car, but up close you can really appreciate the work that went into turning a classic tire ad into a roadside superhero.
Why She Is Called Nitro Girl
Names matter, and this one is smarter than it first sounds. Nitro Girl is not just a catchy superhero title.
It is a wink at something the shop actually does.
Werbany Tire Town fills tires with nitrogen instead of regular air. Nitrogen is often used because it tends to leak out more slowly, which can help tires hold steady pressure for longer.
So the name ties her right back to the service bays behind her.
Look at her chest and you will spot a winged capital W. That emblem stands for the shop, kind of like a hero’s logo.
It makes her feel like the official guardian of the place.
Fun fact time. Not many old roadside statues get a brand-new identity that fits a modern business so neatly.
Most just get repainted in their original colors. She got a whole new backstory.
Here is a handy tip while you are thinking about tires. Checking your tire pressure once a month is an easy habit, and your car, your wallet, and your safety will thank you.
One of the Rarest Roadside Ladies Around
Most people have heard of the Muffler Men. Those are the giant fiberglass guys who once held mufflers, hot dogs, or axes along American highways.
Their female cousins, though, are a lot harder to find.
The Uniroyal Gals were made in much smaller numbers. Today, fewer than a dozen are known to still be standing anywhere.
That makes every surviving one a pretty special sight.
Nitro Girl stands out even more. She is considered the only female figure of this kind in the entire Northeast.
If you live anywhere from Maine down to New Jersey, this is your best chance to see one without a very long drive.
For road trip collectors, that is a big deal. Some travelers make lists of every fiberglass giant they can find, and she is a must-check box on many of them.
So when you snap your photo, know that you are capturing something genuinely rare. It is not every day you get to stand beside a piece of history this unusual, this tall, and this cheerful.
Still a Real Tire Shop Behind Her
Behind all the superhero sparkle, there is a hardworking shop doing everyday car care. That mix of quirky and practical is part of the charm.
Werbany Tire Town handles things like tire replacement, tire repairs, valve stems, and oil changes. They even carry some used tires, which can help if you just need something to get you by.
It is the kind of place locals stop at when a nail ends up where it should not be.
The shop keeps weekday hours, opening early in the morning and closing in the afternoon. It is closed on Saturdays and Sundays, so plan around that if you need service.
A smart tip before any tire visit? Call ahead to check if your size is in stock and ask for a price upfront.
That simple step saves time and avoids surprises at any shop.
Even if your tires are fine, it is fun to see a statue still doing her original job. She has been advertising tires for decades, and she is still on duty.
Why This Quirky Stop Belongs on Your List
Big famous attractions are great, but the small surprises are what people talk about later. A giant superhero lady at a tire shop is exactly that kind of story.
She reminds us of a time when businesses dreamed big, literally. Instead of a plain sign, they bought towering figures that made families pull over and stare.
That playful spirit is easy to love, even today.
She also fits nicely into a South Jersey road day. Blackwood sits along a busy route, so a quick stop to admire her can break up a drive without much effort.
Ten minutes, a few photos, lots of smiles.
I think the real magic is how she connects the past to now. From Uniroyal Gal to patriotic hero, her journey shows that old things can stay fresh with a little imagination.
So if you find yourself cruising through New Jersey, look for the flash of stars and white boots. You can find her standing proudly at Werbany Tire Town, 1337 N Black Horse Pike, Blackwood, NJ 08012.
