Our History

Calgary's Minit-Tune & Brake Auto Centres has been family owned and operated for more than 23 years. Our dependable services are CAA approved and BBB accredited. Our parent company has an even longer history of reliable repairs and service.

In the late 1970s, Roy Shand and Sam Amlani foresaw the void in the automotive aftermarket as neighbourhood gas stations with service bays were being replaced by self-service gas bars.

This transition offered qualified mechanics and entrepreneurs an opportunity in the marketplace to offer convenient, dependable, service-oriented maintenance outlets. The gap in the marketplace was further assisted by rising gasoline costs and the appearance of more cars per capita than ever before.

Specialty automotive shops began appearing in the marketplace. Familiar names such as Aamco, Speedy and Midas entered the market with heavy emphasis on service and efficiency. The rising costs of both purchasing and maintaining vehicles encouraged a new effort to prolong the life of the family automobile in a reliable, economic fashion.

Minit-Tune & Brake Auto Centres defined a market for qualified technicians to service vehicles offering the consumer a "while you wait, work or shop" service. Benefits include:

• Using only name-brand parts

• Fixed advertised prices posted in the waiting room

• A 20,000 km or twelve month guarantee

Minit-Tune & Brake Auto Centres offer comprehensive car care from people who have earned your community's trust.

Sam Amlani, President of Minit-Tune & Brake Auto Centres is a licensed mechanic. He is a former franchise owner who doubled the sales volume of his Richmond location in three years, then sold the franchise to join the firm's headquarters in 1981.

Sam's mechanical abilities, his skills in promotion and first-hand experience as a franchise owner serve him well as Minit-Tune's public relations man. Sam's mechanical insight can be heard on Vancouver radio station CKNW (980 AM), on a show which encourages listeners to call in and ask Sam questions pertaining to vehicle maintenance. As the "auto expert" on CKNW, Sam maintains a high profile for Minit-Tune & Brake Auto Centres.