Bob Kelley, who turned the Kelley Blue Book, a price list published by his family’s used-car dealership, into one of the world’s leading authorities on cars, trucks, motorcycles and pretty much anything else that gets you from point A to point B, died on May 28 at his home in Indian Wells, Calif., east of Los Angeles.
The Kelley Blue Book started in 1926 at the Kelley Kar Co., a Los Angeles dealership founded by Mr. Kelley’s father, Sidney, and an uncle, Leslie Kelley.
Mr. Kelley joined the company after the end of World War II, a prime time to get into the used-car business.
The war had put an end to new-car production, and it would be several years before automakers could meet the demand.
He was initially in charge of both valuations on new inventory and compiling the book, and he brought a jeweler’s eye to the job.
Persons:
Bob Kelley, Kelley, Charlie Vogelheim, Kelley Kar, Kelley’s, Sidney, Leslie Kelley
Organizations:
Kelley, Kelley Kar Co
Locations:
Indian Wells, Calif, Los Angeles