Is JC Whitney Still in Business? Where the Iconic Brand Lives Today

Yes, JC Whitney still operates, though it no longer runs as the standalone mail-order retailer many people remember. Today, the brand lives under CarParts.com, with its own brand pages, product listings, and a separate performance-focused storefront experience. That change didn’t erase the name. It shifted where and how customers buy it.

This shift traces back to a broader corporate transition. U.S. Auto Parts (now CarParts.com) acquired the Whitney Automotive Group in 2010, which included JC Whitney. Years later, CarParts.com folded the JC Whitney storefront into its main shopping experience. Shoppers now find JC Whitney products through CarParts.com rather than through an independent catalog-first business.

JC Whitney’s Storied History

JC Whitney’s story begins in 1915, when the company started in Chicago as the Warshawsky Company. Over time, it became a familiar source for aftermarket parts and accessories, especially for people who preferred to do their own repairs. This early role shaped the brand’s reputation: it served customers looking for hard-to-find components long before online parts shopping existed.By 1934, the company pursued a distinct mail-order strategy. It published one of the early automotive parts catalogs and helped normalize the idea of ordering parts straight to your door. This tradition later became the brand’s cultural footprint, which is why some customers still talk about JC Whitney with the same tone they reserve for old tool brands or long-gone local parts stores. Many enthusiasts still fondly remember the JC Whitney company catalog, because it shaped how generations of DIYers browsed, compared, and bought parts.

The company’s ownership history explains why the question keeps coming up. The 2010 acquisition put JC Whitney under the same corporate roof as what later became CarParts.com. This move brought the brand into a larger e-commerce strategy, which gradually changed how the name showed up to shoppers.

JC Whitney’s Brand Legacy

JC Whitney’s identity has always centered on practical parts and garage staples. The current brand pages emphasize replacement parts built for fit and function, with a focus on craftsmanship. You see the same emphasis reflected across common product types, where customers tend to buy based on whether a part fits cleanly and fixes a real problem.

The brand made parts easier to find, and it kept that relevance by staying anchored in everyday repairs.

JC Whitney also still connects with enthusiasts, just in a different format. The CarParts.com hub page presents the brand through modern shopping categories like brakes, suspension, mirrors, and tools. The JC Whitney Performance experience pushes harder into enthusiast-adjacent categories and a more specialized browse path.

Popular Parts From JC Whitney

If you’re shopping for JC Whitney parts, the strongest picks usually fall into the “fix the problem and move on” category. These are the kinds of parts that tend to make a noticeable difference right away, especially for older vehicles.

Suspension components (struts and related parts) often draw interest because worn suspension changes how a car feels every day. A fresh setup can reduce bounce, tighten handling, and bring braking feel back to normal.

Charging-system parts (alternators) appeal for a simple reason: failure can strand you. People often replace an alternator after seeing battery warnings, dimming lights, or repeated dead batteries.

Air and fuel metering sensors (mass air flow sensors) show up frequently in DIY repair lists because they can cause rough running and poor mileage. Buyers typically want a straightforward replacement that restores normal drivability.

Emissions-related sensors (oxygen sensors) attract shoppers who deal with check-engine lights tied to fuel trims or catalyst efficiency. Those repairs often sit at the intersection of drivability and inspection requirements, so people tend to want a clear, predictable fix.

Starters fall into the “replace it once” bucket. When a starter begins failing, most drivers want the quickest path back to consistent starts, especially if the problem appears intermittently.

Popular Tools From JC Whitney

JC Whitney’s tools follow the same practical pattern as its parts. They target the jobs most DIYers actually do, especially if you work in a driveway or a small garage.

Floor jacks sit near the top of that list because they change what you can safely do at home. A good jack makes tire work, brake jobs, and undercar checks easier to approach without improvising.

Creepers sound optional until you spend time sliding on concrete. People buy them to reduce strain and move more easily under the car during fluid changes and basic underbody work.

Trim panel tools stay popular because they cost little and prevent clipped plastics from turning into a mess. Even occasional DIYers pick them up because they pay for themselves quickly when you avoid broken retainers and scuffed panels.

JC Whitney is still operational, but it’s part of CarParts.com rather than a standalone catalog retailer. This change reflects how people shop for parts today, not a disappearance of the name. If you remember the old  catalogs, you’ll recognize the same idea in today’s virtual storefront: make common repairs and projects easier to tackle without hunting for obscure sources.