Their stock has been stagnant for the past seven years, and they are only now returning to profitability. JC Whitney is the brainchild of Israel Warshawsky, a Lithuanian immigrant who at that time saw a lack of affordable and accessible replacement parts. I bought alot of stuff from the old catalog in the 1980s through 1990s including an entire exhaust system (from catalytic converter back) including the muffler for a 1977 Plymouth Volare 4dr with a slant six motor. Learn how your comment data is processed.
15 yeas ago, I bought tires for old Allstate-Puch motorbike, and vintage-style seatbelts for a ’60 Mercedes from J C Whitney. But I don’t know if anybody I knew actually ordered anything. Accessories were often not so good. Thanks.
-Nate. The large metal made me swoon! No wonder they were losing so much money, sending out year after year of catalogs to people who may never have purchased anything. I still keep one or two of their old catalogs for nostalgia and wondered what became of the company.
I bought a lot of stuff from them and Super Shops in the 80s. Now an in-house brand of CarParts.com, JC Whitney offers a lineup of top-quality parts ranging from mirror covers to electrical components like lights, turn indicators, and more. Here’s a quick buyer’s guide on the new JC Whitney parts and accessories you can buy: Improve your vision at night with premium fog lights designed to replace the original equipment (OE) fog lamps of your truck. Enhance your brake lights and tail lights with replacement JC Whitney tail lights. I got my first subscription to Motor Trend around 1960 when I was 10. We’ll give you the right parts to do the things you love—and to do them better! I’m guessing based on the landscape that VW Beetles are few and far between these days. I never actually bought anything since by the 80s I was using specialist parts retailers for my water cooled VWs. Interiors are just the beginning, however, as the JC Whitney catalog also gives you everything you need to bulk up your vehicle’s body as well. The MICE! It was the “nerd” types who went there weekly as teens to load up on odds and ends, who later when they were older would go back for a decent mid priced reel to reel deck or turntable later on who drove the place. …makes me want to buy an old Bug and fix it up…. Indeed, the most common reaction I got from people when I told them I worked at JC Whitney fell into two categories: “My Dad used to buy from you,” and “You guys are still around?” Not the kind of word association you want for your brand. We didn’t have anything to compare in Canada.
They come with the necessary hardware and are relatively easy to install. Other than the name, there is no longer any connection to the Chicago-based company founded by Israel Warshawsky 102 years ago. IIRC, I was surprised the spark plug anti-foul protectors actually did work, but since my ’68 chevy was a rolling mosquito screen, I thought I’d take a chance. I had no idea they were having troubles that long ago. Not to mention the high probability that cutting into wires to add stuff like Winky the Cat would invariably short-out brake/taillights in the process. As for losing stations in the country, They all did that. Warshawsky died in 1997, and by 2002, the company was sold to Riverside Capital, which later formed the Whitney Automotive Group (WAG) to encompass other holdings like CarParts.com. Online shopping is a breeze here at JC Whitney.
. I also had so much fun honking it every chance I had with my HS buddies. First, go to the JC Whitney website. Eligible for Free Shipping . While we had numerous potential suitors come through our doors (including most of the major brick-and-mortar auto parts resellers), in the end, the outcome was the worst-case scenario I outlined above. He gave a couple of them to me and I’ve been occasionally enjoying them ever since.
Whether you’re looking for body-painted, chrome-plated, or textured black covers, JC Whitney has got you covered. Hope the product I just ordered will get here on time. JC Whitney turn signal lights come with a 90-day return policy and are priced at around $24 to $37.
The most recent “Warshawsky” catalog I could find on eBay was 1981’s; Tom, can you shed any more light on how long (and in what ways) “Warshawsky” continued as a thing? The same option was presented on the order blank, just above or below the hilariously inflated “E-Z Rate” shipping based on merchandise value. Subscribe to our email newsletter to receive promotions, helpful DIY articles, and special offers. Your email address will not be published. Winky would have been right at home on the rear parcel shelf of a red 1958 Plymouth Fury. Or econo-grade MotoMaster mufflers and tires. You work in junk yards or resurrect long abandoned vehicles for a living and you get plenty like this . This is why cleaning the deck and inspecting underneath covers is important, so they'll be no surprises when you go to start the engine. Now a brand of its own, JC Whitney continues to provide customers with high-quality auto replacement parts supported by CarParts.com’s improved vehicle selector and shopping tools. I might have to fumigate it, as it’s been sitting for years. However, the brand continued to age and failed to appeal to younger demographics. Too bad they couldn’t make it. Now if only getting the old one out was as easy as getting the new one. Never ordered from JCW but I do remember the seedy Warshawsky muffler shop on the wrong side of downtown Rockford. The selection includes lights with clear and smoked lenses with chrome interiors for around $21 to $35. I always felt like an active participant in the integration, and not just watching from the sidelines. Our finger has been on the pulse of the industry while selling the best aftermarket auto parts for over a century.
The quality seemed to be OK for the price in most cases.
JC Whitney’s growing line of parts includes turn signal lights for Chevrolet, GMC, and Toyota trucks.