A black-and-white animation still of an old O’Reilly Auto Parts television commercial.
The O’Reilly Red Van was born in 1978 and was the first animated character in the automotive industry, quickly becoming a staple of O’Reilly Auto Parts history. A vibrant red van with bright eyes and a friendly smile, the Red Van was modeled after our delivery vehicles at the time and became a symbol of our excellent customer service, fast professional delivery, and dedication to keeping our customers on the road. The van’s tenure was less than two decades, and this iconic mascot for the Company quickly grew in popularity among auto enthusiasts and O’Reilly customers of all ages.
The Red Van was gaining traction, adoration, and recognition, all thanks to animated commercials that brought regional personality to the beloved mascot. Before we knew it, our little van was cruising everywhere: from newspaper advertisements and professional customer promotional items to in-store aisle markers. The van was even used as a patch on team member uniforms before we introduced the O’Reilly green shirt.
On the phone, a team member wears an O’Reilly uniform shirt with a patch featuring Sherman the Van.
After its previous marketing success, it was time to bring the Red Van’s playful, unique presence to life. Four running and driving Red Vans on go-kart chassis with fiberglass bodies were built to attend parades, sporting and community charity events, as well as O’Reilly store grand openings.
While the Red Van was ever-present to show the support of Team O’Reilly throughout the late 1970s and 80s, it was quietly retired in the early 90s when the Company was set to go public.
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A photo published in Springfield-News Leader in 1978 depicts smiling O'Reilly team members standing next to a go-kart-sized Sherman.
An O'Reilly Auto Parts ad displaying Sherman in outer space near our then-slogan, "Our Prices Bring You In, Our People Bring You Back".
As we reflect on over 67 years in business, we have also realized that the Red Van is long overdue for a proper comeback. We’re tuning up, topping off fluids, and preparing for the trip of a lifetime — Introducing: Sherman! Named after the very first O'Reilly Auto Parts location at 403 Sherman Avenue in Springfield, Missouri, we are confident that Sherman will continue to share the O'Reilly legacy.
