Bob Toia, the founder and longtime operator of Gratiot Auto Supply, a former giant in the world of aftermarket parts sales, has died at the age of 95. There are few companies in the performance that began as humbly and grew to such a size as Gratiot did during its heydey of the mid 1950s to early 1970s. Linda Vaughn was posing in their ads, and the company name could be found on everything from Top Fuelers to Indy Cars.
The Detroit-based home store was known as the nerve center of the gearhead scene in the Motor City, and at any point, racing and hot rodding legends would walk through the doors to buy, mingle, or hang out with Toia, who we understand was quite a character in his own right.
Like man of his ilk, it sounds as though Toia lived the lives and had the fun of ten men. He sold the company in the 1980s and after that sale, things were never really the same.
The list of racers and cool cars that either got help or sponsorship from Gratiot Auto Supply is probably too long to list, but suffice it to say that if you were fast in the Detroit area, Bob was your pal.
