German Auto Specialists was incorporated in 1981, in a warehouse along the Schuylkill River in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. John H. Brownell, Jr. and John O. Roberts, the two principles of the organization, met and became friends while working together for a former employer who specialized in used Mercedes Benz parts. A deal was struck in 1981 to purchase the assets of the existing business from their employer and the business was born.

A few short years later, the warehouse was sold for redevelopment and German Auto Specialists relocated to a prime spot on Ridge Pike in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania where business it conducted today.

Over the course of the first few years the used parts business gave way to routine repairs and restorations using new parts. Business boomed during the early 80's as German Auto Specialists positioned themselves as a leader in federalizing imported German vehicles. As this market began to shrink German Auto retooled to meet the repair and maintenance demands of a growing European car market.

To meet these needs would require a great deal of training, information and technical know how. The Robert Bosch Corporation responsible for many of the systems found under the hood of European vehicles recognized this need and developed the Authorized Bosch Service Center program. German Auto was one of the first shops in the area to achieve this accreditation, which provides the resources for training, technical information and warranty service on all Bosch systems and products.

German Auto Specialists has just entered its third decade and remains one of the areas premier independent repair facilities for European vehicles, as well as a comprehensive source for restoration of vintage Mercedes Benz cars.