The Motor Bookstore
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersRichardson, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
The Motor Bookstore firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Motor Bookstore
- Legal name
- Isite Enterprises, Inc.
- Website
- https://themotorbookstore.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Motor Bookstore industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Automotive Repair Manuals
- NAICS
- Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers (459)
- SIC
- Retail-Auto & Home Supply Stores (5531)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Motorsports & Powersports Gear & Accessories Retail (CRAMABAN)
Keywords
Where The Motor Bookstore is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Richardson
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Motor Bookstore business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Personnel
Revenue model
- Product Sales - Repair and Service Manuals: One-time sale of physical and digital DIY repair manuals, service manuals, how-to books, and factory OEM manuals for vehicles including cars, trucks, motorcycles, ATVs, tractors, boats, RVs, and power equipment. Products are sold at various price points ranging from approximately $20 to $500+ depending on the manual type and depth of coverage.
- Motorhead Gear and Accessories: Sale of automotive-themed merchandise including tin signs, motorsports calendars, spare tire covers, LED lighted clocks, neon clocks, and gift items.
- Gift Certificates: Sale of gift certificates for the store, allowing customers to purchase manuals and merchandise as gifts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free Shipping (US48 Contiguous States) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Standard US Shipping |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Military/LEO/Fire/EMT Discount |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Personal Watercraft Manuals |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | RV & Camper Manuals |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Snowmobile Manuals |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
The Motor Bookstore product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Motor Bookstore is an online retailer specializing in do-it-yourself (DIY) automotive and powersport repair manuals, OEM factory service literature, how-to books, and automotive-themed enthusiast merchandise. The company sells physical and digital manuals from multiple publishers (Haynes, Chilton, Clymer, Bentley, Seloc, ATSG, Detroit Iron, I&T) covering cars, trucks, motorcycles, ATVs, tractors, marine engines, personal watercraft, snowmobiles, RVs, and outdoor power equipment. They serve primarily individual DIY mechanics, vehicle restorers, and enthusiast hobbyists through their own BigCommerce-powered e-commerce website.
Product overview
The Motor Bookstore is an e-commerce retailer specializing in DIY (do-it-yourself) repair manuals and how-to literature for motor vehicles and equipment. The company operates as a single e-commerce platform offering a comprehensive catalog organized across multiple product categories: Service & Repair Manuals (including Chilton, Haynes, Clymer, OEM Factory, Bentley Publishers, ATSG, Seloc Marine, Detroit Iron, and I&T branded manuals for cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles/ATVs, tractors, marine, personal watercraft, snowmobiles, RVs, and power equipment), How-To Books (covering engine rebuilding, high-performance, transmissions, brakes/suspension, electrical, auto body/paint, car restoration, hot rods, welding, and auto racing), and Motorhead Gear (automotive-themed merchandise including tin signs, clocks, calendars, and gift items). The company also offers OEM factory manuals both in print and CD formats, as well as professional-grade manuals through its Autodata Pro line. The core value proposition centers on providing step-by-step procedural documentation with detailed diagrams and photographs to enable DIY mechanics to perform vehicle maintenance and repairs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Chilton Manuals Chilton automotive repair manuals providing reliable vehicle service information for do-it-yourself mechanics and professional technicians, with origins dating back to 1896.
- Haynes Manuals Haynes Publishing's DIY repair manuals founded in 1960, covering maintenance and repair of automotive vehicles with detailed diagrams and photographs based on actual vehicle strip-down procedures.
- Clymer Repair Manuals Clymer publishes maintenance and repair manuals for motorcycles, ATVs, tractors, marine motors, and snowmobiles with clear text and detailed illustrations.
- OEM Factory Shop Manuals Factory passenger car shop manuals written by the original vehicle manufacturer, providing in-depth repair guides for domestic cars from the early 1900s to the late 1970s, available in print and CD formats.
- Bentley Publishers Manuals DIY workshop manuals published by Bentley Publishers, known for comprehensive automotive repair and service documentation for various vehicle makes and models.
- ATSG Transmission Manuals Automatic Transmission Service Group technical manuals focused on transmission repair and diagnostic procedures for automotive professionals and enthusiasts.
- Seloc Marine Manuals Marine repair manuals covering outboard motors, stern drives, and boat engines with step-by-step procedures for DIY marine maintenance.
- Detroit Iron Shop Manuals Detroit Iron Information Systems factory shop manuals for classic American vehicles, primarily covering Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler products.
- I&T Service Manuals Farm tractor shop manuals by I&T (Intertec) published by Clymer/Haynes, allowing restoration and repair of older farm tractor components at home.
- Car Repair Manuals DIY car repair manuals covering all major makes and models including Acura, BMW, Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo, and many more.
- Truck Shop Manuals Pickup truck and SUV repair manuals covering Chevy/GMC, Dodge, Ford, Jeep, Land Rover/Range Rover, Mazda, Nissan, Toyota, and other major manufacturers.
- Van Repair Manuals Minivan and full-size cargo van repair manuals covering Chevy/GMC, Dodge/Chrysler/Plymouth, Ford, Honda, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Toyota, and Volkswagen Van/Bus.
- Motorcycle & ATV Repair Manuals Motorcycle and ATV repair manuals covering Aprilia, Arctic Cat, BMW, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Polaris, Suzuki, Triumph, Yamaha, and other major brands.
- Tractor Manuals Farm tractor repair manuals covering Allis-Chalmers, Case, Ford/Fordson, International Harvester, John Deere, Kubota, Massey-Ferguson, Oliver, White, Yanmar, and other major brands.
- Marine Outboard & Inboard Manuals Outboard motor repair manuals and shop manuals for stern drives covering Chrysler, Evinrude/Johnson, Honda, Mercury/Mariner, Suzuki, Volvo Penta, Yamaha, and other marine brands.
- Personal Watercraft Repair Manuals Personal watercraft and Jet Ski repair manuals covering Kawasaki, Polaris, Sea-Doo, and Yamaha models.
- Snowmobile Repair Manuals Snowmobile repair manuals covering Arctic Cat, Ski-Doo, and Polaris models from the 1980s era.
- RV & Camper Repair Manuals Recreation vehicle and camper repair manuals covering Ford, Volkswagen EuroVan, Dodge, and GMC motorhome chassis, along with buyers guides and restoration materials.
- Power Equipment Repair Manuals Lawn and outdoor equipment repair books covering generators, lawn mowers, power equipment, and utility engines including Stihl, Yamaha, and Craftsman.
- How-To Books (Automotive) Automotive how-to books covering Engine Rebuilding, High-Performance, Transmission, Brakes/Suspension/Differentials, Electrical, Auto Body & Paint, Car Restoration, Hot Rods & Customs, Welding & Fabrication, and Auto Racing.
- Motorhead Gear Automotive-themed merchandise including Tin Signs, Motorsport Calendars, Spare Tire Covers, LED Lighted Clocks, Gift Ideas for Men, and Neon Clocks.
- Autodata Pro Professional Manuals Autodata Professional Manuals designed for professional mechanics or knowledgeable DIYers seeking comprehensive automotive repair resources for repeated use.
- Engine Rebuilding Books Engine building, blueprinting, and modifying manuals covering Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Acura, VW, and other manufacturers, including carburetor rebuild and fuel injection guides.
- Factory Manuals on CD Factory shop manuals available on CD format, primarily for domestic makes and models with some import coverage, providing a digital alternative to printed OEM guides.
- Gift Certificates Gift certificate program allowing customers to purchase gift cards redeemable on the company's DIY literature and motorhead gear selection.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 1,000,000 DIY customers served since 1997
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Motor Bookstore
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Motor Bookstore technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
The Motor Bookstore partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Haynes PublishingcoreHaynes Publishing is a key publisher of DIY repair manuals, founded in 1960. Their Haynes Owner's Workshop Manuals set the standard for automotive repair guides, featuring step-by-step procedures based on actual vehicle teardowns. The Motor Bookstore is a proud seller of Haynes manuals, offering them at competitive prices with fast shipping.
- Chilton (Cengage)coreChilton Manuals have origins dating back to 1896 and are renowned for providing reliable and accurate automotive repair information. Now owned by Cengage, the Chilton brand continues to be a reputable source for automotive enthusiasts and professionals. The Motor Bookstore offers the complete Chilton lineup for do-it-yourself print manuals.
- Clymer ManualscoreHeadquartered in Newbury Park, CA, Clymer Repair Manuals publishes maintenance and repair manuals for motorcycles, ATVs, tractors, marine motors, snowmobiles and more. Clymer is part of Haynes North America, Inc. Their manuals feature accurate, clear text combined with detailed illustrations for safe and efficient vehicle servicing.
- Bentley PublisherscoreBentley Publishers is a leading publisher of automotive repair and service manuals, known for their comprehensive DIY workshop manuals. The Motor Bookstore carries Bentley DIY workshop manuals alongside their other publisher offerings.
- Seloc MarinecoreSeloc Marine publishes repair and maintenance manuals for marine engines and personal watercraft. The Motor Bookstore offers Seloc manuals for outboard motors, stern drives, and watercraft including Jet Ski manuals.
- Shopper ApprovedminorThird-party review platform used by The Motor Bookstore to display verified customer reviews. The company showcases over 25,000 5-star reviews through this platform.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Motor Bookstore competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bentley Publishers: Bentley Publishers produces comprehensive DIY workshop manuals for European and import vehicles; the company sells direct through its own website and is both a partner and a direct competitor in the high-end import DIY manual segment.
- Chilton (Cengage): Chilton is a longstanding DIY automotive repair manual brand owned by Cengage and another core publisher partner of The Motor Bookstore; Chilton sells direct to consumers in the same product category, making it a direct peer.
- Haynes Manuals (Haynes Publishing): Haynes Publishing is the originator of the Haynes Owner's Workshop Manual format and one of The Motor Bookstore's core publisher partners; Haynes also sells direct to consumers, making it a direct peer in the DIY repair manual category for cars, motorcycles, and ATVs.
- Seloc Marine: Seloc publishes marine engine, outboard, stern drive, and personal watercraft repair manuals and sells direct to consumers; it directly competes with The Motor Bookstore in the marine DIY manual segment.
- Clymer Manuals: Clymer publishes DIY repair manuals for motorcycles, ATVs, marine, snowmobiles, and tractors and is now part of Haynes North America; it is both a partner and a direct competitor to The Motor Bookstore in the powersports and equipment manual category.
Emerging players
- Pelican Parts: Pelican Parts is a specialty retailer of Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, and Volkswagen parts that also carries technical manuals and how-to content; it overlaps with The Motor Bookstore's import-vehicle enthusiast customer base and DIY reference offering.
Others
- eBay Motors: eBay is a global marketplace where new and used automotive repair manuals from the same publishers are widely sold by third parties; it is an indirect competitor for customers seeking manuals, particularly older and rare OEM factory manuals.
Broad incumbents
- Summit Racing Equipment: Summit Racing is a large US-based high-performance and racing parts retailer that also stocks DIY manuals and how-to books; it is a broader incumbent competing for the same enthusiast DIY customer wallet.
- Jegs High Performance: Jegs is a large mail-order and online retailer of automotive performance parts and accessories that also carries automotive manuals; it competes with The Motor Bookstore for hot-rod, racing, and restoration enthusiasts.
- Amazon (Books & Auto Manuals): Amazon is the largest online retailer of DIY automotive, motorcycle, and equipment repair manuals and competes with The Motor Bookstore on selection, price, and Prime shipping for the same publisher catalogs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Motor Bookstore social profiles
Digital presenceThe Motor Bookstore financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Motor Bookstore leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The Motor Bookstore funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Motor Bookstore M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Motor Bookstore
What does The Motor Bookstore do?
The Motor Bookstore is an online retailer specializing in do-it-yourself (DIY) automotive and powersport repair manuals, OEM factory service literature, how-to books, and automotive-themed enthusiast merchandise. The company sells physical and digital manuals from multiple publishers (Haynes, Chilton, Clymer, Bentley, Seloc, ATSG, Detroit Iron, I&T) covering cars, trucks, motorcycles, ATVs, tractors, marine engines, personal watercraft, snowmobiles, RVs, and outdoor power equipment. They serve primarily individual DIY mechanics, vehicle restorers, and enthusiast hobbyists through their own BigCommerce-powered e-commerce website.
Is The Motor Bookstore a public or private company?
The Motor Bookstore is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was The Motor Bookstore founded?
The Motor Bookstore was founded in 1997. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Motor Bookstore based?
The Motor Bookstore is headquartered in Richardson, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Motor Bookstore make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Product Sales - Repair and Service Manuals are the primary driver. The others are motorhead Gear and Accessories and gift Certificates.
Who are The Motor Bookstore's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bentley Publishers, Chilton (Cengage), Haynes Manuals (Haynes Publishing), Seloc Marine and Clymer Manuals. Pelican Parts is listed as an emerging player. eBay Motors is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Summit Racing Equipment, Jegs High Performance and Amazon (Books & Auto Manuals).
Does The Motor Bookstore have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Motor Bookstore.
What industry is The Motor Bookstore in?
The Motor Bookstore's product category is Automotive Repair Manuals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMABAN, Motorsports & Powersports Gear & Accessories Retail. Its NAICS code is 459 and its SIC code is 5531.