"When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: Paul Newman, and a ride home." —Ponyboy Curtis, The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton

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From time to time we're asked, "what does the 'Pb' in Pb European stand for? Lead? Peanut butter? What?" The answer: Ponyboy. Are you familiar with S. E. Hinton's, The Outsiders? Ponyboy Curtis is the main character of this coming-of-age novel first published in 1967.

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So, why did we name our company after a seemingly arbitrary fictional character? In short, when pregnant with our daughter, we referred to her as Ponyboy. Pb European Service then, in many ways, is a testament to her, to our family, and to the success of what we love doing—coming to work each day to provide the best service to you, our customers, and for your Volkswagens and Audis. And anybody who has ever sat around on a Saturday afternoon thinking of promising business names knows it can be quite a process. The right name can help to propel a business to success while the wrong can in some way contribute to its downfall. Pb European Service, we felt, was the best name for our small, family-owned business, and a legacy we hope to leave behind for our Ponyboy, her siblings, and in the hearts of our customers.

 

If you've not read The Outsiders, we highly recommend you do. The story is as relevant today as it was when written and published.