AAMCO Transmissions Inc. 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 ) in 1957 in Philadelphia . Martino eventually ended his affiliation with AAMCO to manage the MAACO autobody-shop franchise, but Morgan stayed on with his son, Keith Morgan, succeeding him as CEO.
17-456: In 2006, the company was acquired by American Capital. In January 2017, American Driveline Systems, the franchiser of the AAMCO and Cottman Transmission and Total Auto Care brands, was acquired by Transom Capital Group. In October of the same year, Icahn Enterprises L.P. (NASDAQ: IEP) announced it had acquired American Driveline Systems through a wholly-owned subsidiary. Aamco has consistently ranked on
34-595: A center on Roosevelt Boulevard . From there, the chain grew locally. As the 1960s and 1970s progressed, the chain expanded along the East Coast and throughout the Gulf Coast states, reaching 81 shops in 1977. In 1979, Silva retired and sold the company to three of his employees - Michael Ambrose, Edward Kelly and James Corkran. The company expanded to a few hundred locations throughout the United States and Canada and became
51-463: A national chain of transmission repair stores branded as AAMCO. Martino was receptive to the idea, and the shops operated in cooperation with Silva and DeLutz were rebranded as AAMCO. The first franchise was not sold until 1963, when an AAMCO shop was opened by Ivan and Jack Ginninger in Newark, New Jersey . In March 2006, AAMCO merged with Cottman Transmission, and American Capital purchased AAMCO and moved
68-415: A national chain of transmission repair stores branded as AAMCO. Martino was receptive to the idea, and the shops operated in cooperation with Silva and DeLutz were rebranded as AAMCO. The first franchise was not sold until 1963, when an AAMCO shop was opened by Ivan and Jack Ginninger in Newark, New Jersey . In March 2006, AAMCO merged with Cottman Transmission, and American Capital purchased AAMCO and moved
85-645: Is an American transmission -repair franchise and company-owned automotive service centers headquartered in Horsham, Pennsylvania . As of 2020 there are 52 locations in 23 states in the United States and Canada . The company is owned by American Capital and American Driveline Systems, Inc. is the parent company. Cottman was founded by Richard Silva in 1962. In 1957, Anthony A. Martino founded an automatic transmission repair shop in Philadelphia . Soon after opening
102-632: The Entrepreneurs Franchise 500 Anthony A. Martino started repairing automatic transmissions from leased space in an Esso shop in Philadelphia. In 1957, he founded the Anthony A. Martino Company, or AAMCO in Philadelphia, under the name AAMCO Auto and Truck Repair. This name was chosen not only to reflect the initials of the founder, but also to make it appear higher in the Yellow pages listings of
119-413: The Entrepreneurs Franchise 500 Anthony A. Martino started repairing automatic transmissions from leased space in an Esso shop in Philadelphia. In 1957, he founded the Anthony A. Martino Company, or AAMCO in Philadelphia, under the name AAMCO Auto and Truck Repair. This name was chosen not only to reflect the initials of the founder, but also to make it appear higher in the Yellow pages listings of
136-493: The United States, Canada. 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." The company has made heavy use of celebrity spokespeople in its advertising, and was one of the first to use a celebrity spokesperson in a television ad. Zsa Zsa Gabor was the company's first paid spokesperson. Cottman Transmission and Total Auto Care Cottman Transmission and Total Auto Care
153-528: The company from 2005 to 2008. AAMCO Transmissions AAMCO Transmissions Inc. 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 ) in 1957 in Philadelphia . Martino eventually ended his affiliation with AAMCO to manage the MAACO autobody-shop franchise, but Morgan stayed on with his son, Keith Morgan, succeeding him as CEO. In 2006,
170-401: The company was acquired by American Capital. In January 2017, American Driveline Systems, the franchiser of the AAMCO and Cottman Transmission and Total Auto Care brands, was acquired by Transom Capital Group. In October of the same year, Icahn Enterprises L.P. (NASDAQ: IEP) announced it had acquired American Driveline Systems through a wholly-owned subsidiary. Aamco has consistently ranked on
187-413: The day. Along with partners Richard Silva and Walter D'lutz', Martino opened several other shops in the Philadelphia area. Owing to the complexity and failure rate of automatic transmissions of the day, Martino quickly decided to drop the "Auto and Truck Repair", and focus solely on transmissions, where the company would stay focused until 2007. In 1962, Robert Morgan approached Martino with the concept of
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#1733086013256204-412: The day. Along with partners Richard Silva and Walter D'lutz', Martino opened several other shops in the Philadelphia area. Owing to the complexity and failure rate of automatic transmissions of the day, Martino quickly decided to drop the "Auto and Truck Repair", and focus solely on transmissions, where the company would stay focused until 2007. In 1962, Robert Morgan approached Martino with the concept of
221-406: The headquarters from Philadelphia to nearby Horsham, Pennsylvania . Owing in part to the increased reliability of automatic transmissions, and thus the lengthened repair cycle, in the mid-2000s, the company rebranded to AAMCO Transmissions and Total Car Care. Today, AAMCO is the world's largest franchisor of transmission specialists and car repair shops , operating over 600 franchise stores in
238-405: The headquarters from Philadelphia to nearby Horsham, Pennsylvania . Owing in part to the increased reliability of automatic transmissions, and thus the lengthened repair cycle, in the mid-2000s, the company rebranded to AAMCO Transmissions and Total Car Care. Today, AAMCO is the world's largest franchisor of transmission specialists and car repair shops , operating over 600 franchise stores in
255-438: The nation's second-largest chain of transmission repair shops. In April 2004, American Capital invested $ 46 million in the acquisition of Cottman Transmission and purchased the company for $ 77.3 million including the investment. In 2006, its parent holding company, American Driveline Systems, Inc. acquired AAMCO Transmissions as part of their portfolio and it was combined with the company. Now It operates totally separated under
272-401: The same owner and parent holding company. Cottman Transmission and Total Auto Care celebrated its 50th anniversary of business in 2012. Cottman Transmission and Total Auto Care specializes in every phase of automotive repair and maintenance including a specialization in servicing both automatic and manual transmissions. Former American footballer Terry Bradshaw was the spokesperson for
289-485: The shop, he partnered with two friends, Richard Silva and Walter DeLutz to expand operations. Together, they opened numerous transmission centers in and around Philadelphia. In 1962, the men divided their stores with Silva's center becoming the first Cottman Transmission Center which was named after Cottman Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia . In 1964, Silva sold his first franchise to an entrepreneur who opened
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