Visual Description: Pay no attention to the license plate!
THCCA = CATCH, CIYTH = ITCHY, PRAROL = PARLOR, MREEEG = EMERGE — Giving us: CACICHARORERE
Clue/Question: When Nate Sherman started Midas Muffler in 1956, it was a great – – –
Answer: “CAR–REAR“ CHOICE
(Another great stinky pun! Semi-tough too! I got it, and love it, because I’m an “ass-man”! Some guys are breast-men, some like the lower curves. Rump, rear, bottom, derriere, butt, buns, can, booty, tuchus, tush . . . or badonkadonk, a shapely heinie will bring a shiny . . . smile to my face, every time! “I said Lord take me downtown, I’m just lookin’ for some tush!”
All of today’s clue words are familiar old friends. Three of the jumbles appear to be new, with “prarol” having definitely been used before. None slowed me up any. The answer letter layout though was another story. It took me a little while to see the pun. I thought it was going to be CAR something. But, just what was the question. After ticking off CAR I saw REAR. And of course, that left me with CICHOE, which gave me CHOICE. Definitely NOT a gimme!
Cool cartoon. I liked the 50’s cars. Not sure who the guy in the suit, with the hair is. And, I don’t know the meaning behind ALLSHKUP. Is it an anagram of the hair guy’s name? Is it some kind of Hebrew, or Yiddish? Hey! Wait a minute! That’s Elvis! And, the plate is short for “All Shook Up”! Now, I get it. Another reference to 1956! Good going, Jeff. Be well and do good, friends.) — YUR
Images courtesy of Google
Unclerave's Wordy Weblog 
I got this one, but it took me 5.5 minutes. A tough challenge with lots to sort through. I discounted the use of CAR because it was in the cartoon dialogue, making it something of a red herring in reverse; they don’t *usually* use a word in both the cartoon and the final answer, but I kept it in mind, just in case, and of course, ultimately needed it. Other good possibilities for the final answer for a muffler repair chain with these clues that I sorted through included EAR, CARE, and CAREER.
I see we may be embarking on another run of tough puzzles. They soften us up with a streak of gimmes and then get nasty on our rear ends.
Good puzzle guys. Well done.
I totally missed the vanity license plate. Good catch Unc!
Rumble on all!
At first, I thought the vanity plate was a jumble, but after looking at it for awhile, I got the Elvis connection with the guy on the left. 😀