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[[Image:Southern Comfort Conversions Logo.jpg|right]]
[[Image:Southern Comfort Conversions Logo.jpg|right]]


'''Southern Comfort Conversions, Inc.''' was a vehicle customizer located most recently at 4680 [[Pinson Valley Parkway]] near the intersection of [[Carson Road]] in the [[Pinson Valley Industrial Park]] in [[Center Point]]. At one time it was the largest pickup truck, van and SUV customizer in the United States. Southern Comfort conversions were sold in all 50 states and in countries across the world.
'''Southern Comfort Conversions, Inc.''' (originally '''AAA Auto Truck and Trailer''') was a custom vehicle manufacturer founded by [[Rod McSweeney]] in [[1979]]. The company got its start in [[Oneonta]] rebuilding van chassis for companies like Krispy Kreme and Frito-Lay, but moved into the business of customizing passenger vans for resale. It changed its name in [[1986]] and moved its headquarters to 7769 [[Gadsden Highway]] in [[Trussville]].


==History==
In [[2006]], Southern Comfort purchased Centurion Vehicles of White Pigeon, Michigan, a licensed upfitter of Starcraft Conversions. With the acquisition, Southern Comfort became the largest pickup truck, van and SUV customizer in the United States with vehicles sold in all 50 states and in countries around the world.
Southern Comfort was began in [[1979]] by [[Rod McSweeney]] as a personal hobby. This hobby would grow into a full-scale conversion business in [[Oneonta]] called '''AAA Auto Truck and Trailer'''.  Originally, the company served as a remanufacturer of van chassis for companies like Krispy Kreme and Frito Lay. By the mid-1980s, McSweeney began purchasing and customizing new vans, and then selling the vans back to the new car dealers. Because of this, the company shifted its focus to upfitting and re-named itself Southern Comfort Conversions in [[1986]].  The company moved its headquarters and main operating facility at 7769 [[Gadsden Highway]] in [[Trussville]], and  adjacent to the [[Amerex Corporation]], until the move to larger facilities in Center Point in 2006.  


==Acquisitions==
Late that year, the company relocated to a new 532,000 square foot facility 4680 [[Pinson Valley Parkway]] near the intersection of [[Carson Road]] in the [[Pinson Valley Industrial Park]] in [[Center Point]]. A ribbon-cutting was held on [[November 17]], 2006 with [[Governor of Alabama|Governor]] [[Bob Riley]] and [[Center Point Mayor]] [[Tom Henderson]] in attendance.  
In 2006, Southern Comfort purchased Centurion Vehicles of White Pigeon, Michigan, a licensed upfitter of Starcraft Conversions.  This acquisition pushed Southern Comfort into the top spot in the country for truck, van and SUV customizers.


==New Facility==
Within a year, however, an economic downturn led McSweeney to sell the company, which then employed around 200 people, to a private equity firm. That company decided to shut down its Southern Comfort division in [[2009]].
After almost 12 years at its previous locations in Trussville and [[Oneonta]], the corporate offices and all production operations of Southern Comfort Conversions were relocated to a state-of-the-art 532,000 square foot facility in the Pinson Valley Industrial Park in Center Point. The new location was the largest and most advanced facility for automobile conversions in the world.  A grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony was held on [[November 17]], [[2006]], and was attended by Governor [[Bob Riley]] and Center Point mayor [[Tom Henderson]], and the public was given a tour of the new facility.  


==Takeover and downturn==
McSweeney and his wife still owned the previous facility in Trussville. Along his sons [[Matt McSweeney|Matt]] and [[Michael McSweeney|Michael]], McSweeney founded [[MCM Custom Vehicles]] in 2009 with many of the long-time Southern Comfort employees. That business grew into a family of related businesses re-incorporated in [[2012]] under the banner of [[McSweeeny Holdings]].  
In 2007, a majority of the company was sold to a private equity firm. At the time, Southern Comfort had over 200 employees and provided vehicles to dealerships throughout the Southeastern United States, as well as selected regions in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and the West. In [[2009]], due to the auto industry downturn and rising gas prices during the Great Recession, the majority owner decided to pull the plug on Southern Comfort.
 
McSweeney and his wife still owned the previous facility in Trussville. Along his sons [[Matt McSweeney|Matt]] and [[Michael McSweeney|Michael]], McSweeney founded [[MCM Custom Vehicles]] in 2009 with many of the long-time Southern Comfort employees. MCM Customs offers many of the same services as Southern Comfort, but on a smaller scale.


==References==
==References==
* Southern Comfort Conversions, About Us. Accessed 31 Jan 2007 [http://www.scomfort.com/].
* "[http://www.scomfort.com/ About Us]" at scomfort.com - accessed January 31, 2007
* "Southern Comfort Conversions Announces Open House/Ribbon-Cutting Ceremonies Attended by Governor Bob Riley", Yahoo Finance, accessed 31 Jan 2007[http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/061117/clf007.html?.v=70]
* "[http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/061117/clf007.html?.v=70 Southern Comfort Conversions Announces Open House/Ribbon-Cutting Ceremonies Attended by Governor Bob Riley]". Yahoo Finance - accessed January 31, 2007
* Kent, Dawn (March 27, 2011) "Back in the black: MCM rebuilds its vehicle rebuilding business." ''Birmingham News''
* Kent, Dawn (March 27, 2011) "Back in the black: MCM rebuilds its vehicle rebuilding business." {{BN}}


==External Links==
==External Links==
* [http://www.scomfort.com/ Southern Comfort Conversions, Inc.] official website
* [http://www.scomfort.com/ Southern Comfort Conversions] website


[[Category:Trussville]]
[[Category:Major private companies]]
[[Category:Gadsden Highway]]
[[Category:Auto manufacturers]]
[[Category:Center Point]]
[[Category:Pinson Valley Parkway|4680]]
[[Category:1979 establishments]]
[[Category:1979 establishments]]
[[Category:2009 disestablishments]]
[[Category:2009 disestablishments]]
[[Category:Gadsden Highway]]
[[Category:Pinson Valley Industrial Park]]

Revision as of 10:34, 10 September 2015

Southern Comfort Conversions Logo.jpg

Southern Comfort Conversions, Inc. (originally AAA Auto Truck and Trailer) was a custom vehicle manufacturer founded by Rod McSweeney in 1979. The company got its start in Oneonta rebuilding van chassis for companies like Krispy Kreme and Frito-Lay, but moved into the business of customizing passenger vans for resale. It changed its name in 1986 and moved its headquarters to 7769 Gadsden Highway in Trussville.

In 2006, Southern Comfort purchased Centurion Vehicles of White Pigeon, Michigan, a licensed upfitter of Starcraft Conversions. With the acquisition, Southern Comfort became the largest pickup truck, van and SUV customizer in the United States with vehicles sold in all 50 states and in countries around the world.

Late that year, the company relocated to a new 532,000 square foot facility 4680 Pinson Valley Parkway near the intersection of Carson Road in the Pinson Valley Industrial Park in Center Point. A ribbon-cutting was held on November 17, 2006 with Governor Bob Riley and Center Point Mayor Tom Henderson in attendance.

Within a year, however, an economic downturn led McSweeney to sell the company, which then employed around 200 people, to a private equity firm. That company decided to shut down its Southern Comfort division in 2009.

McSweeney and his wife still owned the previous facility in Trussville. Along his sons Matt and Michael, McSweeney founded MCM Custom Vehicles in 2009 with many of the long-time Southern Comfort employees. That business grew into a family of related businesses re-incorporated in 2012 under the banner of McSweeeny Holdings.

References

External Links

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