Entry No. 41 — the Oklahoma City file — filed under: giant statue
G&M Body Shop Giant Transformers (Optimus Prime & Bumblebee)
Body shop owner Mike McCubbin imported raw Transformer statues from Thailand, spent a year dismantling and rebuilding them to his standards, then craned a 22-ft Optimus Prime onto the east end of town and a ~20-ft Bumblebee onto the west — free to view 24/7, rain or shine, with the stated mission of protecting Stillwater from Decepticons. Both statues are listed on Oklahoma's official tourism site and draw steady visitors as documented roadside attractions.
The story
Most body shop owners stick to pulling dents and arguing with insurance adjusters, but Mike McCubbin had a more pressing tactical concern: defending Stillwater from Decepticons. In 2015, he imported raw, scrap-metal Transformer statues directly from Thailand to stand guard over his two G&M Body Shop locations. But rather than just bolting them to the gravel straight out of the shipping container, McCubbin spent a full year completely dismantling and rebuilding them to his own auto-body standards before craning them into position.
The result is a pair of multi-ton Autobots bookending the town along State Highway 51 (6th Avenue). On the east side, a 22-foot Optimus Prime keeps watch near Jardot Road. On the west side, a roughly 20-foot Bumblebee anchors the opposing shop lot. There are no velvet ropes, admission booths, or gift shops—just two towering metal sentinels silently overseeing tire rotations, tow trucks, and daily commute traffic.
What it's like
Cruising 6th Avenue feels like any standard commercial drag until two stories of scrap metal and automotive paint loom up over the auto glass. Because both statues sit right on the operational lots of G&M Body Shop, you'll be pulling up alongside customer vehicles and working repair bays. Park clear of the shop doors, grab your photos, and be mindful that this is an active business during work hours. You don't need to go inside or clear it with anyone in the office—just shoot your pics and move on. Daylight is strongly recommended, as ambient nighttime street lighting won't do the metal fabrication justice.
The move: Drive Route 66-style across Stillwater's 6th Ave corridor: stop at the Bumblebee on the west side for photos, then cruise the full length of 6th to find Optimus Prime on the east end — bookending the strip — then grab food or a beer downtown and debate which statue is more impressive.
📍 Before you go Both robots stand along 6th Ave, which doubles as Highway 51 — the same road runs the width of town and links the two. Optimus Prime guards the east end at 2207 E. 6th, just past Jardot Road on the south side; Bumblebee holds the west end near 5104 W. 6th on the north side. Each sits at a working G&M body shop, fully visible from the street, so park briefly and be respectful of an active business — no need to go inside. They're free and up year-round, but daylight makes for far better photos than headlights. Bookend a Stillwater run by grabbing food or a drink downtown, or swing past the OSU campus between stops.
- 📍 Stillwater
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 2207 E. 6th Ave (Optimus Prime) & 5104 W. 6th Ave (Bumblebee), Stillwater, OK 74074
Hours: Mined 2026-06-07 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- OSU Insect Adventure (live bug petting zoo) — After marveling at giant metal Autobots along 6th Ave, head to the OSU campus to handle real giant arthropods at Oklahoma's only live bug petting zoo.
- Elmer McCurdy's Grave — Pair Stillwater's roadside giant metal guardians with a trip south to Guthrie to see the grave of the embalmed train robber whose corpse spent 65 years as a traveling attraction.
- POPS 66 — Continue the oversized roadside theme by trading scrap-metal Transformers for a 66-foot neon soda bottle and hundreds of rare pop flavors along Route 66.
Good to know
How much does it cost to see the Transformers?
It is completely free. Both statues sit outdoors on the shop lots and can be viewed without paying a dime.
Where are the two statues located?
Optimus Prime stands on the east side of town at 2207 E. 6th Ave (near Jardot Road). Bumblebee guards the west side at 5104 W. 6th Ave. State Highway 51 connects them directly.
Do I need to visit during body shop business hours?
No. The statues are permanently installed outside and visible 24/7, though visiting during daylight hours yields far better photos than relying on headlights.
Do I need to check in at the front desk before taking photos?
No check-in required. Just pull off the road safely, respect the active work areas, and shoot your pictures.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Roadside America · travelok.com · Tripadvisor · kfor.com
last checked: 2026-06-07