U.S. Auto Parts, an online provider of automotive parts and accessories, has signed a deal to acquire Chicago-based Whitney Automotive Group for $27.5 million.

U.S. Auto Parts will also assume approximately $11 million in trade-related and other payables from the deal and take over the company’s $10 million distribution center, which holds about $15 million in auto parts inventory.

Best known for the JC Whitney brand, The Whitney Automotive Group is a 95-year-old company whose brand portfolio includes stylintrucks.com, carparts.com, allbikesupershop.com and jcwhitney.com. The acquisition will allow U.S. Autoparts to expand into new product lines, with parts for ATVs, RVs and motorcycles as well as niche segments for Jeep, VW and truck enthusiasts, the company said.

U.S. Auto Parts said acquisition of the Illinois distribution center will allow them to complete a three-distribution center network that will allow 95 percent of U.S. customers to receive parts within two days.

The deal is expected to close this month. Both companies will be fully integrated by sometime in 2011, the companies said.

jwernau@tribune.com