For one hundred years, Beck/Arnley has been providing premium OE quality parts for vehicles. Beginning with motorcycle parts in 1914 and transitioning to import vehicles in the 1950’s, they understand parts and deliver the OE quality that matches what was originally on the vehicle.
Beck Arnley headquarters are located just south of Nashville in Smyrna, Tennessee. Along with their HQ, they have an expansive distribution center in Smyrna and multiple strategically located distribution centers.
Through their channel partners, Beck/Arnley distributes premium OE quality parts for import vehicles. While most of company's competitors have only a few product lines, Beck/Arnley provides over 23,000 parts for 80 makes and nearly 1,800 models.
They focus on seven major categories: Engine Parts and Filtration, Brake and Chassis, Engine Management, Clutch and Driveline, Cooling Systems, Electrical, and their newest line which is OE Quality Fluids. With their offering growing constantly, they make great efforts to satisfy growing market trends and meet the needs of company's customers. Beck Arnley understands parts and they strive to make sure that the part that is in their box is not only OE Quality but it matches what was on the car originally.
Beck/Arnley’s parts match the correct form, fit, and functionality of OE parts for each individual application. They want to make sure that the part in their box matches the part that originally came on the car. To ensure this happens, they have product managers that examine every part for every import make and model to make sure that the part they are supplying is OE Quality. They call their method part-by-part sourcing. With a network of hundreds of manufacturers, they find that top manufacturer for each part, not each product line. As an example, they don’t have one single source for filters like some companies do. Instead, they understand that a German manufacturer may have filters that are closer to an OE match for a Mercedes air filter than a source in Japan that specializes in Asian makes. They find the best source for EACH part. This takes more staff and time on their part, but it’s the only way to ensure OE fit, form, and function for every application.
Sometimes they do more than provide you with the right part. In many cases, Beck/Arnley makes the installation easier by adding product enhancements and kits and sets. This saves time, money and reduces comebacks.
For Asian and European vehicles, Beck/Arnley provides OE quality parts from around the world. They use over 400 manufacturers working with a database of over 800 sources. Beck/Arnley product specialists and experienced sourcing experts follow a unique research, analysis and procurement process known as Application Specific Sourcing. Using proven global sourcing expertise, they source parts that meet the form, fit, function and performance of OE.
Having OE Quality parts matters. Why? The answer is simple – why would you risk your vehicle’s integrity by using low quality parts? Many people don’t realize how different some auto parts for the exact same application can be. Below is an example of a stabilizer link. You see the OE (original to the car) Stabilizer Link, a Beck/Arnley Stabilizer Link, and a “Brand X” Stabilizer Link. The visible differences are very noticeable. This could result in unwanted wear on other suspension parts and risk your vehicle’s stability while driving.
Beck Distributing Corp. was founded in 1914 in New York City by a young man in his 20’s named Irving Beck. He saw a future in accessories and spare parts for motorcycles, which were starting to become popular. He started importing motorcycle accessories such as leather helmets, goggles, white scarves, leather gauntlets and riding suits.
When WWI broke out, he landed a contract to supply US Army with sidecars made in Australia for dispatch riders who provided communications on the battlefield. He had made his first big sale. After the war was over, Irving started to follow the rapidly growing motorcycle market with a catalog of repair parts and accessories. He established his headquarters at 68 East 131st street in Harlem section of New York City. His eight story building was soon filled with goods that he imported from England and other countries.
By the beginning of WWII, Beck Distributing was established as one of the leading suppliers of motorcycle parts and accessories in the US. Focused on British bikes such as Triumph, AJS, Norton-Villiers, they also cataloged parts for American bikes such as Harley-Davidson and Indian.
After the war, Americans had money to spend and wanted something new and different than the cars coming out of Detroit. A few British cars started trickling down from Canada such as the Austin Devon, Dorset, Morris Minor and then in 1947 the first MG-TC Roadster. Direct importing was soon established and the MG-TC and the MG-TD started the import sports car craze. British car makers were anxious to find U.S. distribution for their parts, so they went directly to the successful motorcycle parts distributor they had been selling for years – Beck Distributing. Beck was now in the auto parts business! Sports cars such as MGs were rode hard and needed a considerable amount of maintenance. Typically, these small 1250cc engines needed a valve job at 15,000-20,000 miles and at 40,000-50,000 often needed a complete overhaul. That was good news for Irving Beck! His business thrived and in the mid 50’s he started looking for more distribution. One of the first was Brigham-St. John, Inc. founded in 1954 in Los Angeles. Randy St. John, a partner in that firm, would later become President of Beck/Arnley Worldparts. Another was HNB Foreign Car Parts in Chicago, who opened its doors in 1960 under the ownership of Matt and Bob Niesen. The business rapidly expanded.
After the initial flood of British cars came the French – the Renault Dauphine, Peugeot, Simca and Citroen. Then the VW Beetle came in early 60’s. This car, more than any other, changed the automotive world forever. Over ten million Beetles were sold in the U.S. The birth of the Bug also spurred furious competition for the parts business, where none had been before, and suddenly it became an industry.