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I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in Saab Tire & Automotive. We are a one-location, family-owned and operated firm located just to the east of the downtown Birmingham financial district. Founded by Mr. & Mrs Charles E. Saab, Sr. in 1958, we have enjoyed many years of excellent business relationships with our customers, suppliers, and employees. Saab Tire & Automotive has grown and survived through hard work, adaptation to changing markets and trends, and understanding that the basis to all good business is establishing trust between the merchant and the consumer. Mr. Saab (nicknamed "Porky" from his professional fighting days), was born the 9th of 12 children in East Thomas (near Pratt City in NW Birmingham) on September 18, 1915. His father died when he was 13 and left the family with little or nothing right before the start of the Great Depression. Porky had been carrying newspapers and hanging out at the Boys Club, when a guy named Dave Evans spotted him and introduced him to boxing.
For the next seven years, from age 13 to age 20, Porky made a living as a professional boxer (called a "prize-fighter" in those days). He fought over 140 professional fights and rose to a ranking of the number four ranked Welterweight in the world. He retired from the game and lived in Washington, DC until the advent of World War II, when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. Returning back to Birmingham after the war, he and his bride first opened a small grocery store on Southside at 6th Avenue South and 32nd Street. After a few years in the grocery business, Porky and Louis David Started Surplus Tire Sales at 1029 1st Avenue, North. The partnership did not last long, as Mr. David bought out Porky's share of the business after a year and a half. He went to work for another old Birmingham tire company, Southern Rubber, for a brief period of time. Not being able to make enough money to support his young family, Mrs. Saab encouraged him to start a tire company of his own. So with $500, an old pickup truck, a screwdriver and a hand-spreader to inspect the inside of used tires, Saab Tire Company was born in 1958. The original location was behind the old 7-UP bottling plant on 3rd Avenue, West, on a 50' by 50' rented hole-in-the-wall. Within a year, Porky Saab relocated to an old building behind Cash & Carry Building Supply at 8th Avenue, North and 13th Street. In 1961, he was able to purchase the old ACME oil company lot and buildings on the western half of the present location at 3000 5th Avenue, North (now known as Messer-Airport Highway.)
As times were hard after wartime and new tires were difficult to come by and expensive, Porky started out primarily as a wholesale casing supplier to large retreaders in the Southeast. As new tires became more plentiful and economical in the 1960's, the product emphasis moved towards high-quality "Blue Ribbon" used tires. We were still mainly a wholesaler, bur Porky became known for giving such good deals that he was developing quite a retail customer base without really trying to do so. During the early 1970's, the domestic tire market began to change rapidly. The "Blue Ribbon" used tire was replaced by the "new car factory take-off or changeover". With the advent of the radial tire and the early manufacturing problems associated with it, there ensued a large supply of major brand domestic "takeoffs" and "blemished" tires. Porky was able to provide 100% tread depth radial tires to his customers at a fraction of new cost--and did so at the rate of two trailer loads per month. And he still did this on a wholesale or cash & carry basis--Saab Tire Company had still not even mounted or balanced the first tire. In December of 1973, Charles E. Saab, Jr. joined his parents full time in the family business. We started selling quite a few new tires, primarily major domestic brands and one private label, Delta. Strongly against Porky's wishes, we bought a Coats 20/20 tire mounting machine, a Bada bubble balancer, a Walker floor jack, and a 4-way lug nut wrench--and began to install the tires outside in three bays lined off in the parking lot.
A major step in the growth came in 1977, when the present 10,000 square foot warehouse and sales office facility was built along with an 8-bay 2500 square foot tire service center. Although Mr. Porky did not like it, we did find that people worked a little better inside rather than out in the weather--the equipment held up a little better too! As customer needs and expectations grew, so did tire service response. We got into steering and suspension work and began doing wheel alignments in yet another 4-bay, 2500 square foot expansion in 1981. We had the sale motto of "All Major Brands". We could find a tire for you if no one else could. In 1980, we became the Birmingham area distributor for Eldorado Tire Company. This gave us great pricing on a broad mass market appeal tire that was manufactured by Cooper Tire & Rubber Company. As the eighties progressed, survival was the name of the game for the independent tire dealer. As competition from national chain stores, mass merchandisers, and price clubs grew, professional and personalized service became the only avenue left open to the small tire service store. As Birmingham grew and moved towards the suburbs, the need for a new "horse" to ride became increasingly apparent. The concept of complete automotive service to fleet vehicles for businesses looked very good. The demands of achieving this goal are very high. Fleet customers need a quick turnaround on service; invoicing and billing needs became exceedingly more complex; and automobiles and light trucks became increasingly more sophisticated. Many things needed to be done to keep pace with tomorrow. We installed a sophisticated point-of-sale fully interfaced computerized accounting system in 1986; put a strong emphasis NIASE (National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence) certification of technicians; and continued to upgrade and modernize our equipment. In 1990, we negotiated a long term lease on the western half block of our present location and added a 6-bay dedicated brake shop and a 3-bay dedicated quick oil change. It only seemed natural that we changed our d.b.a. to "Saab Tire & Quick Oil Change." Mr. Charles E. Saab, Sr. passed away in 1992 after battling his final fight with Alzheimer's disease for 10 years. At the time, the responsibility of President passed to Charles E. Saab, Jr. With the help of his wife, Elizabeth (Betsy, or Becky as many people know her), we added four more service bays in 1998 to bring us to the total number of 24, which may be the largest independent automotive repair facility in the state. At this time, we began doing business as "Saab Tire & Automotive." We now have 10 ASE certified technicians on our staff, 3 of which are Master Techs. We continue to study, train, and adapt to the ever-changing automotive repair trends and technology. Although no single area of service can be said to be unimportant, it was the tire that got us rolling to begin with. The tire is where the vehicle meets the road and it needs to be understood and cared for by someone who understands this relationship. You would be hard pressed to find anyone that can do this any better than we can. We at Saab Tire & Automotive have made a lifelong commitment to the future of this company, its customers, employees and suppliers; one that requires all facets of the firm working together to ensure its continued growth and success.
It is hoped that this thumbnail sketch of our firm's history will be helpful and informative. Success is a journey, not a destination. We have enjoyed the ride--we hope that you have too. Charles E. Saab, Jr. 2001
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