AAMCO
Encyclopedia
AAMCO is an American transmission
-repair franchise
founded by Robert Morgan and Anthony A. Martino
(who used the first letter of each name to form the names AAMCO and later MAACO
) during 1963 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. Martino eventually ended his affiliation to manage the MAACO
autobody-shop franchise, but Morgan stayed on with his son, Keith Morgan, succeeding him as CEO.
AAMCO has been known to be confused with Amoco
, a former brand of gasoline service stations now owned by BP
, and with AMMCO, a line of brake lathes by Hennessy Industries, Inc.
On March 8, 2006, American Capital (owner of competitor Cottman Transmission
) purchased AAMCO Transmissions.
The first AAMCO franchise opened during September 1963 in Newark, New Jersey. With the direction of Robert Morgan, the business has expanded to franchises across North America. Today, AAMCO is the world’s largest franchise system of transmission specialists. AAMCO has about 800 franchises open in the United States
, Canada
, and Puerto Rico
.
An AAMCO radio commercial was the topic of an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm
where Larry David, unfamiliar with the commercials, mistook the car horn for a real driver honking at him. The ensuing conflict and his coincidental relationship with an AAMCO franchise owner become the plot for the episode.
The song "Jessica" has recently been used as background music during the commercial.
Transmission (mechanics)
A machine consists of a power source and a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Merriam-Webster defines transmission as: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a...
-repair franchise
Franchising
Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
founded by Robert Morgan and Anthony A. Martino
Anthony A. Martino
Anthony A. Martino, founder, chairman and CEO of Maaco Collision Repair & Auto Painting, began his career in 1957 with a repair shop specializing in automatic transmission repair. He named his company AAMCO Transmissions, and began franchising in 1962...
(who used the first letter of each name to form the names AAMCO and later MAACO
MAACO
MAACO Collision Repair & Auto Painting is an American franchisor of auto painting and collision repair shops based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1972 by Anthony A. Martino and Daniel I. Rhode. Maaco's reputation is low pricing and questionable quality...
) during 1963 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. Martino eventually ended his affiliation to manage the MAACO
MAACO
MAACO Collision Repair & Auto Painting is an American franchisor of auto painting and collision repair shops based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1972 by Anthony A. Martino and Daniel I. Rhode. Maaco's reputation is low pricing and questionable quality...
autobody-shop franchise, but Morgan stayed on with his son, Keith Morgan, succeeding him as CEO.
AAMCO has been known to be confused with Amoco
Amoco
Amoco Corporation, originally Standard Oil Company , was a global chemical and oil company, founded in 1889 around a refinery located in Whiting, Indiana, United States....
, a former brand of gasoline service stations now owned by BP
BP
BP p.l.c. is a global oil and gas company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest energy company and fourth-largest company in the world measured by revenues and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors"...
, and with AMMCO, a line of brake lathes by Hennessy Industries, Inc.
On March 8, 2006, American Capital (owner of competitor Cottman Transmission
Cottman Transmission
The first Cottman Transmission Center was established in 1962 and the company later expanded to hundreds of locations throughout the United States and Canada. It was named after Cottman Avenue in northeast Philadelphia. Cottman continues to operate hundreds of car repair centers throughout the...
) purchased AAMCO Transmissions.
The first AAMCO franchise opened during September 1963 in Newark, New Jersey. With the direction of Robert Morgan, the business has expanded to franchises across North America. Today, AAMCO is the world’s largest franchise system of transmission specialists. AAMCO has about 800 franchises open in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
.
In popular culture
AAMCO is also known for its distinctive television and radio commercials, which end with a voice saying "AAMCO, double-A [car horn beeps twice] M-C-O."An AAMCO radio commercial was the topic of an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Curb Your Enthusiasm is an American comedy television series produced and broadcast by HBO, which premiered on October 15, 2000. As of 2011, it has completed 80 episodes over eight seasons. The series was created by Seinfeld co-creator Larry David, who stars as a fictionalized version of himself...
where Larry David, unfamiliar with the commercials, mistook the car horn for a real driver honking at him. The ensuing conflict and his coincidental relationship with an AAMCO franchise owner become the plot for the episode.
The song "Jessica" has recently been used as background music during the commercial.