IGA of Texas chartered.

1953

Armistice ends Korean War.

1954

General Motors introduces 2-seater Corvette.

First organizational meeting held in Joplin, Mo., to form national independent repair association.

1955

First national independent repair association (IGOA) chartered.

1956

Ford introduces the two-seat Thunderbird.

President Eisenhower signs the Interstate Highway Act.

First IGOA national convention in Wichita, Kan.

1959

Fin-laden Cadillacs reach 200 inches long.

1961

IGOA moves national association headquarters from Tulsa, Okla., to Chicago.

1964

Ford introduces the Mustang.

1967

GM produces its 100 millionth car, a Chevrolet Impala.

1969

Neil Armstrong walks on the moon.

1970

Clean Air Act passed.

1971

IGOA launches first national voluntary technician certification program, the National Automotive Technician Certification Board (NATCB), now known as ASE.

1972

First Transmeet held, which later combined with CARS in 1989.

1973

ABAA merges with IGOA to become Automotive Service Councils (ASC).

IGA of Texas becomes IASA.

Association federal credit union chartered.

ASA opens Washington, D.C., office and hires Don Randall as legislative representative.

1974

NATCB and NIASE merge to form one nationwide certification program.

ASC forms National Automotive Education Foundation (NATEF).

1978

Federal Trade Commission rules in associationÍs favor on wholesale parts price.

1979

Lee Iacocca elected chairman and CEO of Chrysler.

1981

Major domestic carmakers introduce computer-controlled engines nationally.

1982

Groundbreaking ceremony.

Toyota introduces the Camry.

1983

First International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE) is held in Nashville, Tenn.

First Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS).

1985

Nissan produces its first U.S.-built car, the Sentra.

1986

Merger of Independent Automotive Service Association (IASA) and Automotive Service Councils (ASC) forms the Automotive Service Association (ASA).

First issue of AutoInc.

1988

The ASA charter board of directors served from September 1986 to February 1988.

Automotive Management Institute chartered.

ASA establishes first strategic plan.

1989

The Berlin Wall comes down.

Allen Richey retires; Bud Merwin appointed ASA president and chief staff executive.

1990

Bud Merwin and Don Randall, ASA Washington, D.C., representative, meet with President and Mrs. Bush in the nation's capitol.

Clean Air Act amendments of 1990 passed.

1991

ASA publishes its first annual report.

1993

Randall retires, Bob Redding hired as ASAÍs Washingon, D.C., representative.

1995

ASA launches Web site on Internet.

1996

Proclamation read into Congressional Record in tribute to ASAÍs 45th anniversary.

NACE selected by U.S. Department of Commerce as one of 20 tradeshows to participate in its International Buyers Program.

AutoInc. produces first NACE Online Daily.

1997

Tradeshow Week magazine ranks NACE 96th on list of the top 200 U.S. tradeshows.

ASA launches NACE Web site.

ASA Web site named Select Site by Dow Jones Business Directory.

Held in Las Vegas, NACE attendance reaches all-time high.

1998

ASA Information Center is launched to provide members with information electronically regarding the automotive repair industry.

Merwin retires; Walter Trapp is named as ASA president and chief staff executive.

Freedom of Choice membership structure is introduced.

1999

NACE is again selected by the U.S. Department of Commerce to participate in the departmentÍs 2000 International Buyer Program (IBP), a distinction shared by only 22 other U.S. trade shows.

The Independent Garage Owners of North Carolina (IGONC) becomes an ASA affiliate.

ASAÍs Web site is selected as one of 10 featured sites by the editors of 4anything.com.

2000

ASA redesigns Web site.

ASA begins national radio advertising campaign to promote its member shops to the motoring public.

AutoInc. selected as key site by Links2Go.com, ranking it among the top 35 automobile magazines on the Internet.

ASA-South Dakota becomes an ASA affiliate.

ASA sponsors I/M Forum prior to CARS.

2001

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) recognizes ASAÍs contributions to public awareness and outreach efforts for the DOT Auto Safety Hotline.

Autobody Craftsman Association (ACA) becomes an ASA affiliate.

Headlinespot.com selected AutoInc. as one of the best and most noteworthy news resources online.