Michelin
Man - Tubular shaped man (a.k.a. "Bibendum," or "Old
Bib") made from tires who first appeared in 1898 ads for the Michelin Company.
According to advertising legend, the Michelin brothers Edouard
and Andre were inspired by a display of tires stacked one on top
another while they attended a tire exhibition in Lyon, France.
With the help of an artist named O'Galup, the image of the
Michelin Man was born. Its nickname "Bibendum" comes from an
early ad caption stating "Nunc est bibendum," a Latin phrase
meaning "Now is the time to drink." (The ad showed the Michelin
Man drinking down a beverage filled with spikes, nails, glass,
etc. to show that its product was tough and could withstand the
rigors of the open road). The original Bibendum wore glasses and
smoked a cigar.