What are shop manuals worth?

I have a chance to pick up a large bulk quantity of Ford (and Lincoln/ Mercury) shop manuals- several hundred.

These are old school shop manuals, year and model specific. Almost entirely Ford, in like new condition. Mostly late model- within the last 8 years.

The LAST thing I want is a pile of several hundred shop manuals taking up space. I don't even OWN a Ford.

But, If I could turn 25% of them around at a pretty nice price, 25% at a GRM friendly price, and then bulk unload the remaining ones for next to nothing, it might be worth my time.

So, take a guess... What's the street value of shop manuals? What's a decent GRM price? Do they have a value to someone as a single bulk purchase?

Whenever I try and sell a manual I cant give it away. Whenever I buy a manual I have to pay top dollar. Maybe your luck be better than mine.

And I mean factory manuals, not Haynes/Chilton. Those things are beyond worthless.

There's a section of ebay devoted to shop manuals. Spend a few minutes checking out some auction results.

I bought a carload of Mazda manuals from a shop that was cleaning out. Paid next to nothing. About 7 of them paid for the whole lot, I kept a couple for myself and sold a handful of the others. Some got pulped.

It all depends on what the car is.

As I recall, for some reason 90s+ Ford manuals are relatively big money and hard to pirate. Like $50-$150 for a complete set (for the car) in good shape.

I have a 54 Studebaker shop manual...

If its a manual that hasn't been scanned and put on line, its worth something to somebody, somewhere, at some time. You just need to find that person.

I think there's a TR2 manual at the shop somewhere, too.

I have a pile of 80s Chrysler k-car/2.2/2.5 and 3.3 specific manuals somewhere.

I got them all hoping to sell few, all still here.

That said if you have anything interesting from Ford and have a need for some k-car manuals let me know

all depends on the vehicle. i'd guess trucks and mustangs and vics and the like that people like to work on will do well while run of the mill crapmobiles you'll end up using to heat your house.

Absolutely nothin'. (Say it again, y'all)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQHUAJTZqF0

( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kkv50SSWNM )

patgizz wrote: all depends on the vehicle. i'd guess trucks and mustangs and vics and the like that people like to work on will do well while run of the mill crapmobiles you'll end up using to heat your house.

I just checked as I haven't had to hunt one down lately, Focus shop manuals (full set) are going for ~$70 on ebay.

Old English language Renault shop manuals sell for $50-100 depending on condition and which car they're for. Obviously Ford stuff isn't going to be that esoteric, but there is a definitely a market out there for the less common stuff.

Back when I had a '99 Taurus I would've given my left nut for a factory shop manual. The Chilton's I had was completely worthless and the forums for that car were mainly clueless.

I see a lot of these at 1/2 price books. the official factory ones don't seem to bring a lot of money.

If you get any older ones, I could use a 2000 Mustang and an 2005 Taurus. I don't know the values, but there isn't a Chilton made for the Taurus, so around Bentley price.

Keith Tanner wrote: There's a section of ebay devoted to shop manuals. Spend a few minutes checking out some auction results. I bought a carload of Mazda manuals from a shop that was cleaning out. Paid next to nothing. About 7 of them paid for the whole lot, I kept a couple for myself and sold a handful of the others. Some got pulped. It all depends on what the car is.

This.

Plus most older vehicles everything that becomes a problem is well documented on the forums. I'd pass.

Kenny_McCormic wrote: As I recall, for some reason 90s+ Ford manuals are relatively big money and hard to pirate. Like $50-$150 for a complete set (for the car) in good shape.

I paid just shy of $100 used for my Focus manual... Aftermarket manuals were thin enough to read in two sittings on the throne, and didn't even acknowledge the SVT's existence.

If you're checking on ebay, you've got to check the 'sold' listings in the Advanced section. That's the real deal, not the other listings.

z31maniac wrote:

Keith Tanner wrote: There's a section of ebay devoted to shop manuals. Spend a few minutes checking out some auction results. I bought a carload of Mazda manuals from a shop that was cleaning out. Paid next to nothing. About 7 of them paid for the whole lot, I kept a couple for myself and sold a handful of the others. Some got pulped. It all depends on what the car is.

This. Plus most older vehicles everything that becomes a problem is well documented on the forums. I'd pass.

I'll take a factory manual over an amateur forum post any day. I buy the manual for every car I own. Which reminds me - anyone need the manual for a 1989 Toyota truck?

When I had my wagon I bought an Escort/Tracer shop manual. It was more expensive than I expected. So it could be worth it.

I tried to give away a good condition Jeep "J" series manual.

No takers.

Anybody want a KJ manual ?