O'Brien Truckers

O'Brien Truckers is a renowned company specializing in the production and distribution of custom car accessories and hot rod parts. Established in 1978 by its founders, Dennis and Lynn O'Brien, the company began its journey by offering the "No Club Lone Wolf" car club plaque. This initial product gained significant popularity, leading to the expansion of their product line to include custom-made plaques, belt buckles, and finned aluminum engine accessories.

Impressively, O'Brien Truckers has ventured into the custom-made side of the business, selling over 180,000 custom car club plaques and belt buckles to more than 3,000 car clubs worldwide. This remarkable achievement showcases the widespread appeal and recognition of O'Brien Truckers within the automotive enthusiast community. Photo courtesy of Dennis O'Brien - O'Brien Truckers.

In the late 1990s, Dennis bought the 8000 original patterns for 8000 different car club plaque plaques from the original pattern maker Larree Phelan of Chicago Metal Craft. "Over the years, I have repopped literally thousands of copies using these original patterns," Dennis told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama in 2023. Dennis also acquired the original 4100 patterns for all the plaques made by the Speed Gems company in the 1950s and the 1960s in the 1990s and has made thousands of reproductions using them as well. Photo courtesy of Dennis O'Brien - O'Brien Truckers.

The original pattern used to make the Road Runners of Florissants plaque. This was one of the patterns that Dennis bought from Chicago Metal Craft. O'Brien Truckers has a search engine on his website that allows you to search by name, city, state, and logo to see if he has a plaque made in the 1950s or the 1960s. Click here to check it out. Photo courtesy of Dennis O'Brien - O'Brien Truckers.

O'Brien Truckers is a renowned company in Charlton, Massachusetts, specializing in the production and distribution of custom car accessories and hot rod parts. Established in 1978 by its founders, Dennis and Lynn O'Brien, the company began its journey by offering the "No Club Lone Wolf" car club plaque. This initial product gained significant popularity, leading to the expansion of their product line to include custom-made plaques, belt buckles, and finned aluminum engine accessories.

No Club Lone Wolf

Dennis O'Brien's first creation was the "No Club Lone Wolf" (NCLW) car club plaque. This plaque was meticulously crafted by pouring aluminum into a small pot in their old barn located in North Grafton, Massachusetts. Surprisingly, even after all these years, the NCLW plaque remains one of their top-selling items among the stock plaques and toppers. Over time, O'Brien Truckers has extended its NCLW range to include T-shirts, sweatshirts, satin embroidered jackets, hats, hat pins, key chains, and various other accessories such as belt buckles, small plaques, toppers, lake pipe caps, ornaments, and wind chimes.

More Than 180 000 Plaques Produced and Sold Worldwide

Impressively, the company has ventured into the custom-made side of the business, selling over 180,000 custom car club plaques and belt buckles to more than 3,000 car clubs worldwide. This remarkable achievement showcases the widespread appeal and recognition of O'Brien Truckers within the automotive enthusiast community.

Finned Aluminum Products

During the 1980s, O'Brien Truckers expanded its product offerings to include a line of finned aluminum products, which consisted of valley covers, air cleaners, fuel filter covers, regulator covers, spark plug covers, HEMI valve covers, Hildebrandt oil filters, TPI air cleaners, coil covers, HEI distributor covers, radiator cap covers, lake pipe caps in various styles, hot rod parts, and many other items. These finely crafted aluminum accessories gained a reputation for their quality and distinctive aesthetic appeal, becoming highly sought after by hot rod enthusiasts.

The World's Largest Car Club Plaque and Pattern Collection

In the 1990s, in a significant development, O'Brien Truckers acquired the original patterns from two car club plaque manufacturers of the 1950s and 1960s, Speed Gems of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Chicago Metal Craft of Port Chicago, California. This acquisition added 4,100 patterns from Speed Gems and 8,000 patterns from Chicago Metal Craft, significantly expanding their collection. Combining these patterns with the ones developed by O'Brien Truckers since its inception in 1978, the company proudly boasts the world's largest collection of over 15,000 car club plaques and patterns. "Over the years, I have repopped literally thousands of copies using these original patterns," Dennis told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama in 2023.

Development of New Products

Since the year 2000, O'Brien Truckers has continued to diversify its product line. The company introduced cast aluminum backing plates and Buick-like drums to replicate the appearance of traditional drum brake-equipped early Ford vehicles. Additionally, they have expanded their range to include new air cleaners, hot rod parts, and various other products. These additions have enhanced the company's offerings, although car club plaques, belt buckles, and key chain orders for car clubs and associations remain a significant part of their business.

The Business Expands

In 2000, O'Brien Truckers relocated their aluminum headquarters from a small kitchen in North Grafton, Massachusetts, to a purpose-built facility in Charlton, Massachusetts, fulfilling Dennis's dream. The new 9,000-square-foot research and development and manufacturing facility serves as the company's headquarters, where Dennis manages the day-to-day operations, designs new parts, and ensures the highest quality standards for their valued customers.

Keeping History Alive

Today, O'Brien Truckers continues to be a leading provider of custom car accessories and hot rod parts, with an unwavering commitment to craftsmanship and customer satisfaction. With a rich history dating back to 1978, the company's dedication to producing high-quality products and its extensive collection of car club plaques and patterns have solidified its reputation as a trusted and respected name within the automotive community.

Car Club Plaque Search Engine

O'Brien Truckers has a search engine on their website that allows you to search by name, city, state, and logo to see if he has a plaque made in the 1950s or the 1960s. Click here to check it out.

Contact Information

O'Brien Truckers
29 A Young Road
Charlton, MA 01507

Phone: (508) 248-1555
Email: info@obrientruckers.com
Website: www.obrientruckers.com