The Obi’s Story

Our company started 69 years ago on March 1, 1954. It all began in a small service station & auto repair garage in Jacksonville, Florida. Edward L. Obi, Sr. founded Obi’s Auto Repair & Parts company. He specialized in both major and minor auto repairs. Obi’s also had a small remanufacturing room to rebuild its own brand of rebuilt auto parts: carburetors, starters, alternators, generators, fuel pumps, master cylinders, water pumps and more.

In 1968 Obi’s became the first Datsun (now known as Nissan) dealer in America. In 1971, we were the first Subaru dealer in the U.S. so that is how our love of cars and auto parts business was born.

In the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s our brand (Obi Re-manufactured Products) were boxed and sold in our auto parts stores. We also manufactured alternators, carburetors, generators, starters and other auto parts. Eddie took over the family business in the 80’s after his Dad retired. In 1995 he founded National Carburetors to remanufacture carburetors. At one time the company had the largest carburetor core bank in the U.S. We shipped under many brand names per our wholesale customer’s request. If you bought a carburetor from your local parts store, it probably came from us.

Almost seventy years later, the Obi brothers are still in the automotive business. Sam and Harrison own and operate AA Automotive one of the largest auto repair shops in Jacksonville.

Eddie built and operated Napa Auto Care in St. Augustine. This business closed due to covid 19. So then Obi Mobile Car Repair Service in St. Augustine began 2021. Now our grand opening of Obi’s Garage 54 and Car Storage. Obi motorsports, and Obi Automotive Car, Truck, & RV Repair. Will be March 15, 2023, at 125 Dobbs Business Circle # 501 St. Augustine, Florida 32086.