Peculiar artwork draws customers to Kennett business

KENNETT, Mo. — A trip to Branson, Missouri, resulted in an idea for a couple that has resulted in an increase in business after only a few days — a car covered with license plates and a giant metal chicken in their parking lot.

While Gayla Willett was on vacation, her husband, Chuck, saw a car covered in memorabilia. They also happened upon a metal chicken sculpture that caught his eye, so the couple returned from vacation with one of their own, she said.

Unknown to her, the wheels were turning in her husband’s mind. It was not long before he presented his idea to her.

“We purchased the contents of storage buildings and had collected many license plates,” Gayla Willett said. “He told me that he planned on buying a car and covering it in license plates.”

That is what he did, too. He used many of the license plates he already had, and he found the rest of them on eBay.

“He made sure that he had all 50 states on the car and then some other signs, such as a Beale Street sign,” she said.

The Camaro belonged to someone locally, and according to Gayla, it does run. It can be found in the parking lot of Finders Keepers at 1800 Independence St. in Kennett.

“Someone bet me money to drive it to work, and I said, ‘Absolutely not,’” she said with a laugh. “You would not believe the people that have stopped in and asked about the car, and it has only been out there a few days.”

Pertinent address:

1800 Independence St., Kennett, Mo.