When buying used cars, the most authoritative resource you can use is the Kelley Blue Book. This is the most recognized pricing guide for the industry when it comes to buying new and used cars. But how much do you actually know about the Kelley Blue Book and how it came to be so important? Here are a few facts about the KBB that you may be interested to know.
• Kelley Blue Book is based in Irvine, California.
• “Blue book” and “blue book value” are trademarked references and they are synonymous with the market value of cars.
• The company began as the Kelley Car Company in Los Angeles in 1918. At the time, it was just another car dealership. It was founded by Les Kelley, a businessman born in Arkansas. He employed his 13-year-old brother, Buster.
• To buy inventory, Kelley would send around a list of various cars and the price he was willing to pay for each car. After awhile, this became a source of pricing for used cars in the LA area.
• The first KBB was published in 1926. It began to flourish as a trusted source for used car prices following World War II.
• KBB’s website was launched in 1995.
Those are just a few facts about the Kelley Blue Book publication and how it came to be. Consult it before buying used cars and you may save hundreds or thousands of dollars on your purchase!
