Background
Hortons Books Limited is a family owned and operated business that opened in 1997. Originally started by motoring enthusiasts Mike and Ben Horton, the father and son team set up Hortons Books to meet the growing demand for out of print motoring books and brochures, both the obscure and difficult to source new publications, in addition to the more mainstream current and new releases.
After devoting more than 10 years to the business, Mike retired leaving Ben and his wife Jennifer in full ownership and control of the company. Under this guidance the business has made great strides in the last four years. The first of which was the move to a brand new dedicated premises and the latest being the release of this all new website, the first time Hortons has had a fully operational ecommerce website since the company’s inception.
Overview
Hortons Books are the leading suppliers of out-of-print and new motoring literature. Our vast inventory includes; rare and limited editions, numerous out of print books and most new motoring titles currently available worldwide. We are fastidious about condition and are confident that you will not be disappointed with the condition of any item you purchase from us. We pride ourselves on finding and supplying the rarest motoring books and brochures ever published. We have a stock of circa 12,000 books and sales brochures that will eventually be made available on this website. We simply ask that you contact us if there is a book that you require, as we may well stock it, or know where we can source a copy.
Website
Please keep visiting our website regularly as this is just the start of our online offering. Having at last achieved what at times seemed to be impossible, we now have images of over 3500 books and brochures and over the coming weeks and months we will continue to add these products as quickly as possible with thorough descriptions and honest appraisals as you will see from our current listings. It is our intention to list only those books that are currently in stock, so if you see it on the website, it is available. We will remove any sold books until a replacement is sought. Please do not forget that the website represents a fraction of our current stock, so please just ask!
Enquiries
We have a stock of circa 12,000 books and sales brochures, so obviously we have a lot of work to do to add this to our website, but give us time! In the mean time, if there is a particular title you are looking for or, you require a book on a particular subject area, please do not hesitate to contact us either via telephone or email and we will confirm the price, availability and provide images if required.
Book Search
We offer a free book search service whereby you can submit the details of the publication you are searching for and if it is not currently available, we will work on a best endeavours basis to find an example for you. This may take some time for the rarer publications, but we do not give up! We actively and regularly review the ‘wants’ list to ensure we fill as many gaps in peoples’ collections as possible. Please advise if you manage to source a copy yourself so that we can remove your search from the list. We do not charge for this service so there is nothing to lose!
Opening Hours
Whilst we are a full time business and keep regular opening hours of 9:00 – 18:00 during the week, we do travel a great deal, either to exhibit at events, or on buying trips to track down the more elusive literature and source the new obscure titles that do not become commonly available.
Visitors
We welcome visitors to our premises on the edge of the beautiful Wiltshire town of Marlborough. Why not make a day of it and enjoy the local scenery and delights of Marlborough High Street’s specialist shops, and array of fantastic restaurants and cafes? Please always telephone in advance to ensure that we will be open to avoid a wasted journey.
Valuations
We can provide a fully documented valuation of any collection. This information may be used to decide on how to proceed with the library in the future, for insurance purposes or possibly to commence the sale of part or all of the collection. We provide a detailed inventory and a current market retail price for every item at the time of valuation. The cost of undertaking such projects simply depends on the size and complexity of the collection. Please contact us for further details.
Please note it is not advisable to use the current prices on our website for valuation purposes, as the value of such items is changeable and in many cases increases significantly on an almost month by month basis. You may be under insured if you do not instruct a full valuation by professionals.
Thinking of Selling?
Please contact us whether you are considering selling a single item or an entire collection. We are active buyers of motoring libraries and related ephemera and strive to provide a swift decision and a fair market price for all items we purchase.