EXHIBIT 32.1


                     Statement of Chief Executive Officer of
                              GENUINE PARTS COMPANY
                       Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
                             As Adopted Pursuant to
                  Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


         In connection with the Quarterly Report of Genuine Parts Company (the
"Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2004 as filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I,
Thomas C. Gallagher, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company,
certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to the best of my knowledge:

         1)       The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section
                  13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

         2)       The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in
                  all material respects, the financial condition and results of
                  operations of the Company.


     /s/ Thomas C. Gallagher
- -----------------------------
Thomas C. Gallagher
President and Chief Executive Officer
November 1, 2004


A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has been provided to Genuine Parts Company and will
be retained by Genuine Parts Company and furnished to the Securities and
Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.