Portland, Oregon – March 25, 2014 –Import Parts Distribution (IPD) is pleased to announce that it has been acquired by Stuart Hockman, who is also the company’s new President.
IPD is a Volvo Automotive Parts Specialist that was founded by Richard Gordon in 1963. IPD began with humble beginnings on the racetrack. In an effort to finance his racing aspirations, Richard began developing aftermarket performance parts for Volvos. IPD quickly evolved into a leading retailer of OEM, aftermarket and specialty products for the Volvo automotive community.
Stuart (Stu) Hockman’s career in the automotive parts business started in 1976 when a close friend introduced him to a gentlemen by the name of Peter Neuwirth. Peter was the son of an icon in the auto parts business, George Neuwirth, founder of Geon Industries that later became BAP/GEON. Peter left his family business to develop a fairly new concept that involved starting an import distributing company that would sell wholesale to the repair shops all over the USA. Peter’s business plan made sense to Stu so he accepted Peter’s invitation to become a partner in the new company. This chance meeting was the beginning of IMPAC.
One of the very first car lines Stu imported was none other than Volvo and accordingly, this was the start of his long association with Swedish clients all over the USA and Europe. Not long into his career, Stu heard about a company called IPD in Portland, Oregon, that was primarily selling Swedish replacement and performance parts to the retail public. A short time later, IPD became his number one client for his entire career. Richard and Stu had a lot in common in that they were both true blue car enthusiasts. Both had a passion for racing. Richard raced a Volvo 142e and Stu raced an English Elva Courier Mk II over 10 years.
In 1994, IMPAC merge with another company and became WORLDPAC. Over the next 18 years, WORLDPAC experienced a period of unprecedented growth that would be the envy of any corporation. Stu retired at the end of 2012 after seeing his original company grow and get sold several times. Soon after, Stu discovered an opportunity that would eventually lead him to have a chance of a lifetime to purchase IPD. Needless to say, he jumped at this opportunity, as he’s spent his entire career involved with Swedish Parts. “I now have a chance to take my many years of experience and knowledge in the import parts business in a brand new direction. For me, this was a marriage made in heaven. I look forward to utilizing my many years of experience and business contacts to take the great company that is IPD to the next level, and then some.”
IPD holds true to the values that were instilled by Richard Gordon and will continue to do so through this exciting transition. As always, IPD will continue to provide the quality products, exemplary customer service and knowledge that the automotive community has come to expect.
New owner/president
More news as it's available...
