Walker Automotive history

In 1929, the Ajax Auto Parts Company took over.

By 1931 world car production had reached 36 million, a virtually unlimited source of income for Walker.

The company's next breakthrough came in 1953 with the introduction of the first aluminized steel muffler, at a time when the United States accounted for a mere six percent of the world's population yet owned 60 percent of the world's automobiles.

1960: Harry Walker Jr. joins Barnes Motor & Parts Company.

The company initiated work on emission-control devices in conjunction with the California Motor Vehicle Pollution Control Board and in 1962 came out with crankcase parts, the forefather of catalytic converters.

The following year Walker produced catalytic reactor systems for new vehicles and in 1964 perfected the devices while coming out with another industry first--the chambered pipe.

By 1966 United States passenger car registrations reached 78 million, along with 16 million trucks and buses.

A worldwide conglomerate primarily known for its gasoline stations throughout the United States, Tenneco acquired Walker in 1967.

In 1969, the corporation took over the Tenneco concern.

W. Foster Walker, III, joined the business in 1970 after U. S. Army service and continues today as President and CEO of the corporation.

After much discussion and study, Mercedes-Benz agreed to award a franchise to Walker Oldsmobile Company, Inc., in 1974.

In 1984 the company introduced the Walker Advantage muffler with Absorbite, and this product brought the Walker name firmly into the limelight.

1985: Walker Automotive Supply, Inc is formed, splitting apart from Barnes Motor & Parts Company.

After trademarking its latest technology, Walker's design teams produced another breakthrough in 1987 with the debut of the DynoMax Performance Exhaust line.

In 1988 Walker celebrated 100 years of business, marking its dominance of the design, engineering, production, and sales of automobile exhaust systems including catalytic converters, mufflers, tubular manifolds, pipes and entire stainless steel exhaust systems.

1990’s: Company grows to 7 stores.

The company closed 1992 with sales of over $850 million and nearly 6,100 employees worldwide.

One example of the latter came in 1994 when the company's plant in Hebron, Ohio, the largest of its 11 North American plants, was forced to close after Ford took its tailpipe and muffler needs in-house.

With international operations already established in Australia, Canada, China, Europe, Mexico, and South Africa, at the end of the summer of 1996, Walker was poised to conquer the South American automotive industry.

Another new agreement named Walker as the exhaust systems supplier for a new Saturn sedan, scheduled for introduction in 1999.

2000’s: Company grows to 14 stores under the Parts Plus banner.

2009: Walker Automotive Supply partners with NAPA. Lee Walker joins the company.

2010: Expanded to first Down East locations, adding stores in Morehead City, Cedar Point, New Bern and Otway.

Drew Walker joins in 2015.

2018: Walker acquires Barnes Motor & Parts Co.