OUR STORY
Someone had an idea. An idea to do something better. Something that had never been done before. Chestien Wynn devised a formula that actually changed the chemistry of metal, making it better able to withstand friction and wear. He’d fill glass bottles with it and sell it to local service stations. He called it “Wynn’s® Friction Proofing Oil.” 80 years later, Wynn’s® is the preeminent line of automotive care products on the market.
And we’re just getting started. What began in a single garage has grown to hundreds of thousands across the world. Proof that some of the best ideas in the world happen right here.
1940
It wasn’t long before Chestien
had to hire a salesman so he
could devote his time to
producing and bottling.
However, World War II began
and operations resumed in
1946.
1947
Son Carl E. Wynn joins the
company and moves production
into his two car garage and the
company was incorporated
under the name Wynn Oil
Company. An average of 40
cases of products per day was produced. That year, Wynn
sponsors the first of many race
cars and drivers.
1948
Fire destroyed the two car
garage but shortly after,
operations resumed at Azusa,
California.
1939
Chestien Wynn, a 70 year old
retired attorney with an interest
in lubrication chemistry,
discovered a formula he named
“Wynn’s® Friction Proofing” Oil.
This surface treatment for metal
actually changed the chemistry
of the metal, making it softer
and better able to withstand
friction and wear.
Chestien would mix a batch of his product in his one car garage workshop, fill and label glass bottles with it and sell them to the local service stations and garages. Motorists, who used the products once, wanted another bottle of it.
1940
It wasn’t long before Chestien
had to hire a salesman so he
could devote his time to
producing and bottling.
However, World War II began
and operations resumed in
1946.
1947
Son Carl E. Wynn joins the
company and moves production
into his two car garage and the
company was incorporated
under the name Wynn Oil
Company. An average of 40
cases of products per day was produced. That year, Wynn
sponsors the first of many race
cars and drivers.
1948
Fire destroyed the two car
garage but shortly after,
operations resumed at Azusa,
California.
Johnnie Parsons, driving the Friction Proofing Special, won the Indianapolis 500 race.
Year long Twin Car tests were conducted to demonstrate that the product reduces wear and fuel consumption over a 100,000 mile test period.
Established a new world’s land speed record on the Bonnesville Salt Flats by the Wynn’s® Friction Proofing “Streamliner” continued the company’s high performance publicity.
Wynn’s® products prominently featured in the movies. “The Birds”, 1963, one of Alfred Hitchcock’s famous suspense films. And in Jerry Lewis’ movie “The Family Jewels”, 1965.
Don Garlits, superstar of the developing sport of drag racing, voluntarily used Wynn’s® Friction Proofing which led to a company sponsorship of his car and long term relationship.
In 1972 Wynn’s® products were used by NASA on lunar missions to protect critical equipment in extreme heat and cold.
“The Jerk”, a comedy film starring Steve Martin, featured Wynn’s® X-Tend products.
Wynn’s® Xtend Supreme Plus Oil Supplement is introduced
This 962 IMSA prototype, numbered F01 (HR3F), was purchased new from the Porsche factory by the Hotchkis family and its racing team carrying sponsorship and the livery of the Wynn’s® Engine Oil Products Company. It was tested at Watkins Glen, New York, by the late Al Holbert prior to the mid-season Camel Continental 500 on July 6, 1986 where it qualified 13th and finished 8th. However, early in its IMSA career, the car was in an accident at Miami and set aside until it was extensively repaired in 1989. In 1990 the original and newly rebuilt tub, F01 (HR3R) and F02 (HR3FR), debuted at the 24 Hours of Daytona. and raced for the rest of the 1990 and 1991 seasons. After 1991, the Wynn’s® 962 was retired from active duty until 1997, when it returned to the track as a formidable vintage racer.
1992
General Motors approves
Wynn’s® patented engine coolant recycling systems (DU-
ALL).
1995
Chrysler approves Wynn’s®
patented engine coolant
recycling system.
Audi/VW approves Wynn’s® Fuel System Tune-up and Injection System Purge.
Exclusive contract signed with Dow Chemical North America for on-site coolant recycling inhibitor chemicals.
1998
A new Wynn’s® Power Steering
Flush Machine is introduced
that is extremely portable, quick
and easy vehicle hook-up,
durable and very economical.
Service can be completed in
less than 15 minutes.
1999
Wynn’s® TranServe® II+
Automatic Transmission Flush
Machine is the first and only
transmission flush machine approved by General Motors for use by their dealers!
In 2005 Wynn’s® became part of the Performance Polymers division of Illinois Tool Works. Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW) designs and produces an array of highly engineered fasteners and components, equipment and consumable systems, and specialty products and equipment for customers around the world. A Fortune 200 diversified manufacturing company with more than 90 years of history, ITW Performance Polymers produces and sells adhesives and sealants to original equipment manufacturers. They also sell maintenance/repair products directly and through a worldwide network of distributors. Major markets include industrial repair and maintenance, automotive, transportation, marine, manufactured housing, solid surface, construction, and automotive aftermarket.
In celebration of the 80th Anniversary Wynn’s® focused on it’s auto racing heritage and partnered with Keating Motorsports and Mercedes-AMG on the No. 33 GT3 in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship series and Keating Motorsports on the #85 Ford GT in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Wynn’s® has a storied history in auto racing and is the preeminent line of automotive care products on the market, and that hasn’t changed in 80 years. During the celebrations, Wynn’s® focused on growing brand recognition and working with distributor partners to grow the business larger than ever before.