Black and white photos from 100 years of history hang in the R.T. Clapp Knoxville waiting area.
2014 marks the 100th Anniversary of R.T. Clapp Car Care Center in Knoxville, Tennessee. What started as a battery company in 1914, R.T. Clapp has since developed into one of the premier automotive repair and diagnostic service centers in the greater Knoxville area.
Current owner, Jeff Hendrickson, started his career at a full-service filling station while attending high school, and later attending auto mechanics and marketing classes. While attending college, and working at several automotive centers and local dealerships, Jeff entered the independent automotive market and purchased R.T. Clapp Knoxville in 2010 from business partners Rob Vandergriff, Valerie White and Barry Scarborough, who retain ownership of R.T. Clapp’s Oak Ridge location.
R.T. Clapp Knoxville is one of the largest repair facilities in the Knoxville area. Located at 2045 East Magnolia Avenue, R.T. Clapp has 18 service bays and 15,000 square feet of work space on a two-acre lot. The facility regularly upgrades their diagnostic equipment, provides internet service history records and offers free shuttle service while their customer’s vehicle is being repaired. The facility has ten employees, including three ASE-Certified technicians and one ASE Master Technician. R.T. Clapp encourages their technicians to advance their ASE training and to attend additional training classes in their area.
R.T. Clapp Knoxville has been an installer of JASPER remanufactured gas engines, transmissions and differentials since 1992. Jeff says JASPER products are of consistent quality. “They stand behind their nationwide warranty,” he said. “This reduces shop liability, and is the best value for the shop and for the customers.”
Congratulations to R.T. Clapp Knoxville for providing a century of service to the automotive community. Their business philosophy of standing behind the work they provide, a continued quest for raving fans and building lasting customer relationships, will keep them committed to excellence for the next 100 years.