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volume 23 issue 2 | 2008
Rock&Rod
Gearhead
Billy F Gibbons spills on his
hot rod and custom car fixation
INSIDE: ACDelco’s 2008 Promotions | How Autos Transformed America
ACDelco Techconnect.com
BECAUSE A TORQUE WRENCH
WILL ONLY GET YOU SO FAR
IN THIS BUSINESS.
Pneumatic drills. Spindle nut sockets. Flex head ratchets. You depend on the best tools of the trade to get the job done right.
But you won’t get anywhere without trustworthy parts to go with them. Depend on ACDelco. With over 100,000 quality parts
for most vehicles on the road today, ACDelco helps your shop go the distance. Find out more at acdelcotechconnect.com and
see why we’re an industry leader.
For the latest ACDelco information, tool up with our free monthly ISC newsletter.
800-ACDelco
/
acdelcotechconnect.com
CONTENTS
COVER and this page: PHOTOs BY david perry
DEPARTMENTS
FEATURES
14 ROCK & ROD GEARHEAD
A passion for one-of-a-kind cars has made
ZZ Top’s Billy F Gibbons as famous in the
hot rod world as he is to rock ’n’ roll fans
24 BEING GREEN
ACDelco’s remanufactured parts not only make smart
business sense, they’re also environmentally friendly
28 THE AUTOMOBILE’S BIG BANG
How a common means of transportation
created a very different America
4 briefs
8 product news
10 events
12 TSS TOOLS
20 REAL RESULTS
23 5 MINUTES WITH
32 smart moves
34 one more thing
PUBLISHING STAFF Senior Editor Lori Bremerkamp | Art Director Rebecca Yops | Art Supervisor Todd Kraemer
Project Manager Jacquie Lauth | Account Manager Iole Whiteford | Project Coordinator Nik Arini
Production/Circulation Lynn Sarosik | Managing Director Jeremy Morris | Account Director Angelo Acord
Intune is published for ACDelco, General Motors Corp., by Campbell-Ewald Publishing, 30400 Van Dyke
Ave., Warren, MI 48093. General Motors is an equal-opportunity employer. Manuscripts and photographs
are submitted at the sender’s risk. Please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of material. Submission of letters implies the right to edit and publish. Copyright ©2008 by Campbell-Ewald
Publishing. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
INTUNE ADVISORY BOARD
ACDelco Marketing Director Nancy McLean
ACDelco Advertising Manager Chris Brandt
ACDelco Advertising Specialist Renee David
acdelco.com | 800.acdelco 3
briefs
126
Repair Clinic
Benefits Shelter
Residents
two austin, texas–based ACDelco
accounts recently partnered with other members
of the Texas Independent Automotive Association
(TIAA) in a community service project that helped
women in need.
Total Service Support (TSS) member Oak Hill
Automotive joined nine other ISCs to provide tuneups, oil changes and repairs to 11 vehicles owned by
women living at SafePlace, a local shelter for abused
women. A-Line Auto Parts, a division of ACDelco
WD Arnold Oil Co., donated parts and staff time.
The event involved more than 85 technicians
and vocational students from two high schools.
The women’s vehicles were inspected days before
the event so A-Line and other donors could provide
appropriate parts.
It was the Austin TIAA chapter’s fourth repair
clinic for SafePlace, a nonprofit organization. Oak
Hill Automotive, which has been involved all four
years, had five of its seven employees volunteering
their time at the event. “We continue to participate
because it’s an easy way for us to help make a
difference,” says Oak Hill owner Hank Amor.
Kurt Filbert, A-Line installer sales manager, likes
how the event unites businesses that normally compete with each other. “Each year, it brings together
technicians from shops all over the area who work
side by side toward a common goal,” he says. n
Oak hill automotive
technician Dylan
Spivey installs
shocks on a
vehicle during
the safeplace
repair clinic.
The new part numbers added to the ACDelco Steering
and Drive product line (36). Kit components are made of OEM
quality materials and come with easy-to-follow instructions.
Contact your local ACDelco sales representative for more info.
TSS Scholarships Awarded
ACDelco has Once again awarded nationwide scholarships through its
2007 Total Service Support (TSS) Educational Scholarship Program.
Congratulations to the following recipients:
Dependents of TSS owners who will each receive a
$3,000 scholarship:
Alex Bush sponsored by Custom Auto Inc. in Elma, Wash.
Daniel Coffey sponsored by Auto Master of Hickory in Hickory, N.C.
Alisha Monsibais sponsored by Darrell’s Automotive in Bakersfield, Calif.
Michael Ragan sponsored by Old Hickory Car Care in Jackson, Tenn.
Expand your shop’s reach
Timothy Higgs sponsored by Terry’s Automotive in Olympia, Wash.
Four tips for organizing a community service event in your area:
James Sarros sponsored by Autoworks Service Center in Okeechobee, Fla.
Brian Lapointe sponsored by Ray’s Auto Service in Haverhill, Mass.
Chris Steiner sponsored by Mt. Eaton Auto Care in Mt. Eaton, Ohio
• Talk to your employees first. Will they support the cause?
The recipients of scholarships for the 2008 program year will be determined
• Enlist the support of your local ACDelco sales representative
in April, with winners notified in May. Applications for the 2009 program are
coffee and food for volunteers.
4 INTUNE Issue 2 | 2008
photo: lee roberts
• Partner with a local automotive association to expand your reach.
• Ask ACDelco WDs to donate parts and ask local restaurants to provide
ACDelco E-STORE
Launches
TSS members can now
order marketing, sales
and service materials
anytime through the
recently launched Webbased ACDelco e-Store
accessible at https://
acdelcoestore.com.
Merchandise available
includes point-of-sale
items, trade brochures,
sell sheets and posters,
plus warranty, TSS Program, Alliance Jobber
Program and Key Fleet
Program materials. Contact your ACDelco WD
to order banners, battery
and wiper display racks,
parts cabinets, and the
ACDelco battery tester.
Tiffany Cannon sponsored by Auto Aid in Sylvania, Ga.
TSS technicians who will each receive a $2,500 scholarship:
to recruit other shops.
[QUICK HITS]
being accepted through March 31, 2009. Contact your local ACDelco sales
representative or visit acdelcotechconnect.com for complete details.
new tss
guidelines
available
ACDelco has updated
its TSS Program
eligibility requirements
for 2008. Read up on
them by logging on to
acdelcotechconnect.com,
selecting the Total
Service Support tab
and clicking on the
Administration link at
the top of the page.
acdelco.com | 800.acdelco 5
BRIEFS
Save Time & Money!
UCoat It
Discount Offer
ucoat it,® Provider of highly durable,
professional-grade epoxy floor coating systems you can
easily apply yourself, is offering Total Service Support
(TSS) members a 10-percent discount on its products.
UCoat It floor coating systems are designed
for high-traffic and high-abuse automotive service
areas, tire centers and race shops, providing
optimal chemical resistance and product durability
while creating the impression of a cleaner, more
professional-looking shop.
Sales are based on the initial purchase of a
UCoat It Kit — which is designed for a 575-squarefoot area — with material-only extender packs for
larger areas. Optional high-gloss urethane topcoat
systems also can be purchased in kits and materialonly extender packs. Call 800-826-2848 or visit
UCoatIt.com for more information. n
High quality, professional
tools when ordinary tools
just won’t work!
SPX Kent-Moore, OTC and
Miller Special Tools:
• Enhance shop productivity
• Boost profitability of your shop
• Increase vehicle turnaround time
• Improved customer satisfaction
Ucoat It floor
coating systems
come in multiple
colors and finish
options to fit
virtually any décor.
1-800-345-2233
http://gmspecialservicetools.spx.com
http://millerspecialtools.spx.com
http://fordspecialtools.com
Lifetime Warranty excludes electronic diagnostic tools
got phone?
CH-48027
Digital Remote PressureVacuum Gauge
• Maximizes
diagnostic
efficiency
• Improves technician
performance when
servicing vehicle
fuel systems
AN SPX BRAND
AN SPX BRAND
AN SPX BRAND
Wii promo boosts business
ACDelco congratulates the 1,425 winners of
the “Wii Wish You a Happy Holiday”
promotion for collectively increasing their
then you need our on-hold messages for your business
ACDelco purchases by 70 percent during the
two-month incentive. Log on to the ACDelco
Incentives site (www.acdelco.programhq.com)
for a complete list of prize recipients.
Based on the success of the Wii promotion,
ACDelco is running three similar promotions in
2008. Visit the ACDelco Incentives site
for details of the promotion currently
413 s.e. 1st avenue
hallandale beach, fl 33009
www.americanimpact.com
under way. Remember, the best way to stay
apprised of promotional standings in this type
photo: joe vaughn
call fred spieler at 1.800.664.6534 today and ask
about the ACDelco discount program specifically
created and approved by ACDelco
of program is to provide your e-mail address
on this site.
acdelco.com | 800.acdelco 7
product news
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Rising Potential
Window regulators give
acdelco product lineup a boost
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photo: joe vaughn
when acdelco introduced a new series of window
regulators for GM vehicles last fall, it opened up a whole new avenue
of business for shops around the country.
The regulators — each a series of gears and pulleys designed to help raise
and lower power or manual windows — are the latest addition to ACDelco’s
automotive motors line. They are expected to draw business to shops, which
previously had to refer customers to GM dealerships for the parts.
ACDelco product analyst Kevin Smith says the regulators are easy to
install and shorten labor time for technicians through their compatibility
with ACDelco window motors. They can be sold along with a window motor or separately, depending on customer need.
“The customer and installer now have a series of
options,” Smith says. “Instead of replacing everything,
they can assess what needs to be done and replace the
motor, the regulator or both.”
He adds that approximately 430 new SKUs were
created for the regulators — the largest count
for GM vehicles. The regulator line covers
virtually all GM makes and models
from 1966 to 2008 and comes
with a one-year warranty.
Smith says installation
is a simple “plug and go”
with no adapters, wire
c u t t i n g or s p l i c i n g
required. The new part
numbers are classified
as front or rear and lefthand and right-hand via
EPIC or the paper catalog.
“When you position the
regulators to customers, remind
them that all parts are original equipment
and were created specifically to be compatible
with their vehicle,” Smith says.
C ont act you r loc a l ACDelco sa le s
representative or refer to the 2007 Auto­
motive Motors and Regulators Catalog (Part
18A-100-07) for more information. n
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8 INTUNE Issue 2 | 2008
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events
What if Fuel
Grew on Trees?
photo this page: phil berg, photoS opposite page: getty images
alternate fuels are a reality at the
north american international auto show
10 INTUNE Issue 2 | 2008
our most successful automotive pioneers
shared an early 20th-century vision that cars would
eventually run on vegetable oil, and the useless byproduct of refined lubricating oil, called gasoline,
would be pretty much worthless.
Today, everything but gasoline is considered
an “alternate fuel” — and it was one of the most
important topics at this year’s North American
International Auto Show, held Jan. 19–27 in Detroit.
For the first time, the Detroit show reflected
more interest in ethanol and super-efficient, clean
new diesel fuel than gasoline. Scenarios presented
at the Motor City’s annual show included ethanol
from corn and soybeans; diesel from cooking oil,
natural gas and biomass; fast-charging electric
outlets; and natural gas hookups. Many global
automakers, including GM, focused on these
energy alternatives.
“As a business necessity, we must develop alternative sources of propulsion, based on alternative
sources of energy, in order to meet the world’s growing
demand for our products,” says GM chairman and
CEO Rick Wagoner. “This is a huge assignment. But
it’s also an extraordinary opportunity.”
One opportunity focuses on biofuels, such as
E85 and cellulosic ethanol. At the Detroit auto show,
Wagoner announced GM is partnering with Coskata
Inc. of Warrenville, Ill., which has developed a proprietary process to produce ethanol at a projected cost of
less than $1 per gallon. Coskata expects to have a commercial demonstration plant up and running in early
2009, with a facility capable of producing 50 to 100
million gallons of ethanol a year functional by 2011.
However, those figures are still a drop in the 140billion-gallon bucket of gasoline Americans currently
use per year, according to the U.S. government’s
Energy Information Administration.
Automakers are hopeful though, as evidenced by
the new ethanol Saab wagon GM displayed and the
diesel engines to come in a few years from Acura,
Kia, Mitsubishi and Subaru. Even famed sports
car maker Ferrari debuted a concept F430 Spider
powered by vegetable oil–derived ethanol that it
claims is more powerful than a gasoline version. n
Opposite: Mazda’s
ethanol-powered
endurance race
car. This page
(clockwise
from top left):
Toyota’s display
promotes their
environmental
concerns;
a cutaway
demonstration
model of the F6
DM car from BYD
Company LTD.; the
Ferrari F430 Spider
BioFuel Concept
car; a Chrysler
FlexFuel vehicle.
acdelco.com | 800.acdelco 11
TSS TOOLS
Pinpoint the problem
in seconds.
Get them out the door
in minutes.
Fresh
Merchandise
NEW TSS PREFERRED VENDOR OFFERING
SHOPS INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS, IDEAS
12 INTUNE issue 2 | 2008
fmr, acdelco’s new Total Service Support
(TSS) preferred vendor for merchandising, has
selected Barb Hendrickson as account manager for
all ACDelco merchandising activity. Hendrickson
and many of her Design Incentives customer service
representatives are joining forces with FMR to
enhance the way you select promotional products
and support materials for your business.
FMR, a Fenton, Mich.–based company, was recently
named a TSS preferred vendor in an effort to streamline
services, lower prices and create efficiencies in the merchandising arena. But to make the transition seamless for
shops, FMR has enlisted many of the promotional experts
at Design Incentives to continue to support ACDelco
accounts under the new “ACDelco Merchandising Headquarters” structure, offering customer service, taking
orders and assisting with your promotional needs in a
multiyear agreement with FMR.
“It made sense to consider the relationships
Design Incentives had established with customers,”
says Bill Lennox, FMR executive brand strategist.
“We really respect what they’ve done in the past and
now we feel we can offer the great customer service
Design Incentives is known for, plus some new
innovative benefits.”
Great products and service are a top priority for
FMR, which recently unveiled an e-commerce Web
site (acdelcomerchandise.com) where you can shop
for items from the company’s print catalog and order
them online — a new benefit to ACDelco accounts.
An interactive Promotion Planning Calendar also
will be debuting on the site. The calendar will allow
ACDelco accounts to tie in to national and regional
promotional events. It also will include suggestions for
merchandising tools, business-to-business promotions,
support apparel and incentives for sales performance.
For more information about, or to order,
promot iona l idea s a nd product s, v isit t he
acdelcomerchan­d ise.com site, call 888-600-3065
or e-mail [email protected]. n
As a world leader in the automotive service industry, Bosch Diagnostics has a
long history of helping technicians diagnose vehicle problems. With eight Top
20 Tool Awards, our expanded product line provides increased capabilities to
ensure faster vehicle turnover and higher customer satisfaction. Which means
photo: Joe vaughn
There’s a big
benefit to having
useful items with
your shop name on
them in customers’
hands when they
decide to get their
vehicle repaired.
return business. From scan tools to a comprehensive engine analyzer, Bosch
is the only name you need to know in diagnostics. For more information call
800.321.4889 or visit boschdiagnostics.com.
©2008 Robert Bosch LLC. USA all rights reserved.
Rock&Rod
Gearhead
a passion for one-of-a-kind cars has made
zz top’s billy f gibbons as famous in the
hot rod world as he is to rock ’n’ roll fans
Cool cars are
as much a part of ZZ Top guitarist/vocalist
Billy F Gibbons’ larger-than-life persona as is his trademark foot-long facial hair, ever-present
sunglasses and outrageous custom guitars. It could even be argued that one hot rod in particular
played a central role in helping boost the band’s popularity in the mid-1980s.
After ZZ Top achieved success in the 1970s with its singular, swaggering style of blues-based rock,
many of the band’s contemporaries were supplanted by a fresh crop of video-friendly pop stars in the
MTV-dominated era of the early ’80s. But ZZ Top’s career suddenly shifted into high gear, fueled
in part by a series of popular videos in which the main attraction — along with a bevy of beautiful
women — was Gibbon’s own famous red Eliminator Coupe, based on a 1933 Ford Coupe.
by DOUG NEWCOMB
photos by david perry
14 INTUNE issue 2 | 2008
cars and guitars
Including the Eliminator in a trio of wildly popular
music videos and naming the band’s best-selling
album ever after the car wasn’t merely a marketing
gimmick: Gibbons has been obsessed with cars even
longer than he has been infatuated with guitars and
music. “It started with my first three words I ever
spoke: Ford, Chevrolet and Cadillac,” he recalls.
At 58, Gibbons’ passion for all things automotive
is still just as strong. “To this day, hot rodding remains
for me a measure of personality — a statement of personal expression,” he says. “The palette provided with
vehicles can become an extension of one’s character
bounding on art. And it’s an art that rolls.”
Gibbons’ innovative vehicular creations have
had as much lasting influence on the hot rod and
custom car worlds as he and his band’s songs have
had on rock music. Whereas ZZ Top’s hits are
in heavy rotation on classic-rock radio, Gibbons’
unique whips — including the Eliminator
16 INTUNE issue 2 | 2008
Coupe, Leapin’ Limo, CadZZilla, Mambo Coupe,
Kopperhed and Slampala — have developed into
significant reference points for anyone steeped in
the custom-car culture of the past quarter-century.
The fact that he’s commissioned so many fantasy
rides — and that so many have become hits on the hot
rod circuit — has marked Gibbons as an innovator
in addition to a hard-core car fanatic. The latter may
explain why he has a hard time playing favorites.
{
Opposite: Gibbons’
Eliminator Coupe
(Top) and CadZZilla
(Bottom) are two
of the best-known
vehicles in his
impressive
collection.
“the palette provided with
vehicles can become an
extension of one’s character
bounding on art. And it’s
an art that rolls.”
Quizzed on which vehicle in his substantial stable
is his most preferred, Gibbons emphatically replies,
“All of ’em!” It’s simply not a matter of agonizing
over which one gets attention or his hands around
acdelco.com | 800.acdelco 17
Above: the
slampala looks
like a clean ’62
with a stock Chevy
V8 underhood, But
inside you’ll find a
custom-molded
steering wheel
with matching
oversized
switches.
its steering wheel. “It’s easy to select from such an
assembly of fine iron,” he remarks.
Gibbons also isn’t the “all show, no go” kind of
collector who doesn’t drive his prized automotive
possessions. He claims that when he takes one of
his cars out on the road, it’s for a good long cruise.
And given the settings of many of ZZ Top’s songs,
it’s no surprise that the Southwest desert is a favorite site for a drive. “High and dry” is how Gibbons
sums up his ideal itinerary. “Start in Texas and
“quality parts for a
vehicle are a necessity for
performance and purpose.
everything in the acdelco line
is always first select.”
}
land in California,” he says. “Then back to San
Antonio for Mexican food!”
As for favorite routes, Gibbons says he favors
“the back roads around Tucson, Ariz., and the
trails outside Palm Springs, Calif.” Naturally, for a
soundtrack, he prefers to “cruise to the blues.”
where car nuts cluster
Gibbons has no fear of getting his hands dirty
when dealing with his hot rods: He finds the
time in his busy touring schedule to work on his
own vehicles. “Between changing guitar strings, I
manage a few turns of the wrench,” he says.
And like any veteran car guy, he knows quality
parts are an important element in keeping his rods
18 INTUNE issue 2 | 2008
running right. “Like a good recipe, the quality of the
ingredients ultimately reflects the taste,” Gibbons says.
“Quality parts for a vehicle are a necessity for perform­
ance and purpose.” Hence, he turns to ACDelco for
parts when his car collection calls for it. “Everything
in the ACDelco line is always first select,” he says.
Gibbons got a chance to get to know firsthand
the people, passion and performance behind those
parts when he was a grand marshal of the sixth
annual ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals held
at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He also
made an appearance at the 2006 ACDelco National
Convention. “A fine time with friends, both old and
new” is how he describes the experience. “It was
really an exhilarating event,” Gibbons adds.
In fact, it’s not uncommon to catch Gibbons at any
number of events where car nuts cluster. He’s a fixture
at many hot rod shows in the Southwest and often
attends the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas. He also
occasionally pops in to check out the auction action at
Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale, Ariz., each January.
Like most car collectors, Gibbons has been
closely following the outrageous uptick in prices in
the last several years for rare vehicles, particularly
classic American iron of the ’60s and ’70s.
“The Barrett-Jackson auction tells the tale,”
he observes. “Muscle cars are way up in value,
especially considering the original sticker prices.”
But he believes that there’s still hidden treasure out
there in the form of classic muscle cars — if you
know where and how to look.
“Fortunately, a great muscle machine can be found
on that rare occasion where the original owner cared
for those vehicles with attentiveness,” Gibbons says.
“Most of the muscle cars were loved by their owners.”
Gibbon’s own first car, a ’64 Dodge Dart, was
from the same era as the classic muscle cars that
now routinely fetch six figures. “Two doors and the
notorious slant-six engine,” he says of the Dart. “I
drove that thing where Jeeps feared to tread.”
While he no longer owns the Dart, Gibbons has
more than replenished his automotive stash over the
years. Asked if there are any vehicles that he let go of
that he wishes he had held onto, Gibbons responds,
“I still have ’em all … and they’re running!”
But just how many vehicles he now owns he won’t
say. “Don’t ask my accountant!” he jokes. And while
Gibbons doesn’t have any immediate plans to add to
his collection, like most car guys he enjoys pondering
his next potential purchase. “It will no doubt be
something from the ’50s,” he predicts. “I saw a
friend of mine running his ’51 Chevy down Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles recently … chopped,
lowered, repowered, repainted and simply superb.”
Cool cars, like the ’51 Chevy and those in Gibbons’ collection, have been a key component of rock
’n’ roll ever since the music’s pioneers fabricated the
sound from the fastest and most extreme elements of
the blues, R&B and country back in the mid-1950s.
And Gibbons has done more than his share over
the last three decades to nurture the relationship
between rock and rods. “Good groovin’ and grindin’
is all part of the package,” he remarks. “There’s a connection between rock ’n’ roll and cool cars, which I
suspect started with the first rock and roll song. And
it’s been loud and fast ever since. Rock on!” n
billy f gibbons’ greatest hot rod hits
Here’s a sampling of six of Gibbons’ most renowned rods. You
can check out these and the rest of his collection of cars and
guitars in his book Billy F Gibbons: Rock + Roll Gearhead.
Eliminator Coupe — A ’33 Ford three-window coupe that
graced the cover of ZZ Top’s mega-platinum album of the
same name, and was the star of several of the band’s videos.
Leapin’ Limo — A ’48 Pontiac
Silver Streak that was stretched
40 inches and had four inches
chopped off the top.
CadZZilla — A ’4 8 C adillac
Sedanette lowered and stretched
to elegant proportions to become
what Gibbons describes as both
“rod and custom.”
Mambo Coupe — A ’36 Ford threewindow coupe with a sinister paint
job and a screaming chrome skull in
the front grille (shown right).
Kopperhed — A ’50s Ford sedan transformed into yet another
three-window coupe, with the roofline lowered three inches and
with 10 inches added to the doors.
Slampala — A ’62 Chevy Impala SS that was left stock
except for an air-suspension upgrade that’s a nod to the lowrider culture that made this car a classic.
acdelco.com | 800.acdelco 19
REAL RESULTS
Digital
Dynamo
advanced autodynamics
uses an online marketing
strategy to achieve
record growth
by SANDRA BECKWITH
photos by joseph puhy
an arm injury three years ago not only
impacted Terry De Waal’s mobility — it affected
his vision as well.
When the Advanced Autodynamics Inc. owner
shattered his arm and couldn’t use pneumatic tools
anymore, he was forced to be more hands-on with
business matters than his customers’ vehicles. It
gave him the opportunity to visualize and create
the operation he wants for his customers.
De Waal compares his vision for his shop to
that of a fine restaurant. “When you go out for a
nice dinner, what do you expect?” he asks. “You
expect excellent service and a meal that is delicious.
People who walk into our shop have similar
expectations. They want great service and quality
products, so that’s what we offer.”
His increased attention to the business side
of the 8-year-old Las Vegas–based Total Service
Support (TSS) shop has allowed De Waal to slowly
grow his customer list to the point where the shop
set volume records in the last quarter of 2007. He
expects the trend to continue in 2008.
knowing what
generates customers
De Waal, an industry veteran with more than 30 years’
experience, credits the shop’s growth to a relentless
insistence on understanding where his new customers come from.
The vehicle intake form asks first-time customers
how they heard about the shop. De Waal uses that
feedback to put his marketing dollars where they
will have the greatest impact, shifting funds away
from strategies that aren’t working so resources are
available for those that are. He’s always open to
promising new concepts, but tests them for results
before making a significant investment.
This is the process that was used with one of
the shop’s most successful marketing endeavors
— advertising on an interactive Web site that lets
advanced autodynamics
WHERE: las vegas
Size: 4,800 SQ. FT. | 7 EMPLOYEES
WHEN: OPENED IN 1999
20 INTUNE Issue 2 | 2008
consumers find service providers in a handful of
cities, including Las Vegas.
“I tested the service with a free ad, which
quickly began generating one or two new customer
calls a week,” De Waal says. “These customers
began adding positive reviews to the listing. Good
reviews brought in more of the site’s searchers.”
ACDelco recently ramped up its digital search
efforts by utilizing major search engines, like Google,
to direct leads to TSS shops around the country.
Advanced Autodynamics would be recommended
to those searching in the Las Vegas area, which is
why the shop’s site (advancedautodynamics.com) is
designed to provide consumers with useful information that helps generate trust.
In addition to expected features, such as location, business hours, service options and specials,
the site includes back issues of the shop’s print
newsletter, an “Ask the Expert” feature, car care
Advanced
Autodynamics
is setting
volume records
after ramping
up its digital
advertising
efforts late
last year.
acdelco.com | 800.acdelco 21
REAL RESULTS
tips and options for scheduling an appointment
online, renting a car at a discount through TSS
preferred vendor Enterprise Rent-A-Car and towing from a trusted source.
“I have one customer who made a service
appointment, got her car towed to our shop and
scheduled a rental car to use while we were making
repairs — all from our site,” De Waal says. “She
was thrilled about the convenience.”
“I have one customer
who made a service
appointment, got her car
towed to our shop and
scheduled a rental car
to use while we were
making repairs ­—
all from our site.”
terry de waal, Advanced Autodynamics owner
5 minutes with
Bob
Bondurant
The racing legend shares
his behind-the-wheel
adventures and
favorite driving tricks
What’s your favorite memory from your
days as a race car driver?
Winning at Le Mans in 1964 in a Cobra Daytona
Coupe. That was incredible. Then we won seven out
of 10 races and beat Ferrari for the very first time
in the 1965 Manufacturers’ World Championship.
That was fantastic.
What do you like most about racing?
I just love the feel of driving. And I really enjoy
racing vintage cars, especially since I competed in
many of them when they were new!
What do you enjoy most about running your
Phoenix-based racing school, the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving?
While De Waal credits much of his recent business
growth to the online exposure that has taken the
place of less effective marketing methods, he knows
that new customers become regular clients only when
they are happy with the service the shop provides.
“Our goal is to keep our customers’ cars out of the
shop,” he says. “We do that by fixing their problems
right the first time and using quality ACDelco parts.”
The shop underscores its connection to the brand with
employees who wear ACDelco uniforms and a red,
white and blue color scheme throughout the shop.
“Because we use the same parts for our
customers’ vehicles that we use on our own, we
are not necessarily the best choice for the person
who shops only for the lowest price,” De Waal says.
“With that customer, you’ll always have headaches.”
Instead, Advanced Autodynamics has nearly 1,200
regular customers, a ranking in Aftermarket Business as
one of the top 50 repair shops in the country for 2006
and recognition from AAA for month after month of
100-percent satisfaction on customer surveys.
“I treat everybody the way I want to be treated,
whether they’re employees or customers,” De
Waal says. It’s a vision that works both for fine
restaurants and for reputable ISCs. n
22 INTUNE Issue 2 | 2008
What’s something that everyday drivers
can learn by attending your school?
We teach students to elevate their vision so that they
look much farther ahead when driving. We also educate them on skid control and panic stops, as well as
emergency evasion maneuvers so that if something
happens they can react quickly and avoid an accident. It makes you much more aware as a driver.
Why is proper car maintenance essential
to safe driving?
If you take care of your car mechanically, it’s always
safer to drive. Most people get in their cars and
never think about maintenance. Then suddenly it
isn’t running very well. It could be as simple as the
tire pressure is low in one or two tires.
How important is it to use quality parts?
You always want to use quality parts so that the car
is safe — and so that when you sell or trade it in
you’ll get more money for it. n
acdelco.com | 800.acdelco 23
photo: blair bunting
excellence is essential
I love to see people come in and progress with their
driving skills. By the time they graduate, they’ve
had a fantastic experience. In fact, a lot of them tell
me the experience changed their lives. And they
drive a lot safer.
Being
Green
ACDelco’s remanufactured
parts not only make smart
business sense, they’re also
environmentally friendly
recycling is now
an integral part of the American psyche. Most of us are
tuned in to conserving the earth’s natural resources and minimizing what we dispatch to landfills.
Recycling is also a fundamental strategy for most businesses. Not only does enlightened consumption
benefit the environment, but it also invariably can aid the bottom line.
ACDelco is committed to recycling, although that discipline goes by a different name in the automotive parts
business. Remanufacturing has been an essential phase of vehicle repair for decades. And ACDelco is one of the
best known and most highly respected sources for new and remanufactured automotive parts in the world.
by don sherman | photos by jenny risher
acdelco.com | 800.acdelco 25
saving Green makes sense
Economics is the most common reason for selecting
a remanufactured part over a new one. According to
Peter Larson, ACDelco’s product specialist for steering
and drive system parts, the cost savings available to the
consumer with a remanufactured part typically starts
at 50 percent and can be as high as 70 percent.
While the dollar savings are significant, that’s
not the only reason why selecting remanufactured
parts makes sense: ACDelco’s remanufacturing
program is a major positive for the environment.
“Every steering gear or brake caliper is composed
of a significant amount of iron, steel or aluminum
material,” Larson explains. “When we successfully
recycle the core of that component, we avoid
consuming natural resources and the energy required
to obtain, refine and machine that material.”
He adds that the second benefit comes from
reducing the amount of material deposited in landfills.
“Once they enter the trash stream, the castings used in
car parts never really break down,” Larson says. “While
some cores are salvaged for reuse in new materials, it’s
far more efficient to route them through a reputable
remanufacturing process like ACDelco’s.”
reman, not rebuilt
“when we successfully recycle
the core of a component, we avoid
consuming natural resources
and the energy required to obtain,
refine and machinE that material.”
peter larson, ACDelco PRODUCT SPECIALIST
26 INTUNE issue 2 | 2008
While ACDelco has a top-notch reman process,
not all competitive recycled automotive parts are
created to their same standards.
“In our business, there’s a major difference between
‘rebuilt’ and ‘remanufactured’ auto parts,” Larson
says. “Rebuilding means that the part is disassembled,
cleaned and reassembled using the original components.
That’s not what we do at ACDelco.”
One difference in the ACDelco process is that
every critical component — such as the rotor inside
an alternator, for example — is tested for proper
function after disassembly. If it fails to meet the
original equipment (OE) performance standards,
that component is replaced.
ACDelco also discards any part susceptible to
wear. Seals, O-rings, bearings, gears, bushings and
other small parts are always replaced with new OE
components so that the remanufactured part is the
functional equivalent of a brand-new part.
In addition to tests applied to specif ic
components during remanufacturing, ACDelco
conducts rigorous inspection and functional testing
after reassembly. These end-of-line tests compare
the remanufactured part’s performance with the
OE engineering specifications.
“For example, we measure the return-to-center
characteristics of the steering gears we remanufacture to make sure they conform to the original
specification,” Larson says. “In the case of power
steering pumps, we monitor the noise produced
while they’re operating to assure that it falls within
an acceptable range. In addition, our pumps and
steering gears are pressurized and leak tested so
they don’t cause problems after installation.”
The test regimen for remanufactured starters
and alternators is geared to their usage conditions.
Performance and reliability are measured while the
part is exposed to heat, cold and vibration. Sound
room tests assure quiet operation in service.
It sounds surprising, but the fact is that ACDelco
remanufactured parts can outperform new OE parts.
“W hen a part comes in to ACDelco, it’s
torn down for root-cause analysis,” says Denise
Harris, ACDelco’s portfolio manager for rotating
electric and batteries. “Engineers are often able
to implement design improvements to resolve
common failure modes, thereby yielding a betterperforming component.”
comprehensive coverage
As with its brand-new parts, ACDelco’s reman lines
offer comprehensive market coverage. There are
1,131 distinct starter and alternator part numbers for
GM vehicles and another 2,184 for non-GM makes
and models. In the steering category, ACDelco offers
179 part numbers for integral gears, 716 distinct
rack-and-pinion gears and 1,016 remanufactured
power-steering pump part numbers.
Under the electronic heading, ACDelco has
more than 5,000 part numbers for remanufactured
Electronic Control Modules (ECMs) and more
than 200 mass airflow sensor part numbers.
In the climate-control category, there are 250
remanufactured air conditioning compressors.
Remanufactured brake calipers are offered with or
without the friction materials included. ACDelco
lists more than 3,000 caliper part numbers, 2,000
of which include the brake pads.
And inventory is constantly growing. “We
added two steering gears, 44 rack-and-pinion parts
and 44 power steering pumps already this year,”
Larson reports. ACDelco expects to add more than
20 new part numbers to its air conditioning line
this year as well.
Market coverage is comprehensive not only for
GM vehicles but also for virtually every make and
model on the road today. n
ACDelco’s line of
remanufactured
parts goes
beyond ordinary
recycling by
doubly endorsing
the green move­
ment: They help
save consumers
cash while
reducing the
impact of vehicle
repairs on the
environment.
acdelco.com | 800.acdelco 27
automobile’s
Big Bang
how a common means of
transportation created a
very different america
No other technology has had as much impact on
American society during the last 100 years as, arguably, the automobile. In fact, it’s almost impossible to find an aspect of American culture that has not been revolutionized by cars and trucks.
Take roadways, for example. They were built to accommodate automobiles. Motels, hotels,
restaurants and rest stops followed to serve the folks who drove them. Fast-food restaurants
were created to serve people driving cars. Heck, the ubiquitous drive-through window was
invented to accommodate automobiles.
Yes, one can counter that even without autos Americans began pushing westward to
develop the country almost as soon as settlers first landed on its eastern shore. But once
they got where they were going, there were rarely return visits. However, the advent of the
by frank s. washington
illustration by judy reed silver
Indeed, the assembly line first invented for
the production of automobiles is now the primary
method of manufacture for almost anything that
is mass-produced. And those assembly lines fed
the establishment of robotics. The growth of other
technologies, such as internal combustion, fuel
injection and miniature audio systems, can be
credited to the automobile.
Automobiles even impacted architecture. “First,
there was a little house for a car — the garage,” says
Bob Casey, curator of transportation at The Henry
Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich. “It was on the
back of the lot off the alley. Lots got bigger and
the garage got closer to the house until it became
attached. By the early 1950s, driveways and garage
doors were major architectural features.”
Once the price of new cars came down and there
was a large reservoir of used cars, there was a critical
mass of people with access to cars that created the
kind of mobility that the world had never seen
before, and with it came development.
make way for suburbia
automobiles
created a whole
new American
culture — from
fabled roadways
and Drive-in movies
to the evolution of
gas stations.
30 INTUNE Issue 2 | 2008
automobile at the turn of the 19th century soon
made round trips easier — and cheaper.
The automobile also spurred the growth of
assembly plants, engineering and design schools,
environmentalists, dealer networks, motorsports,
technicia ns, organized labor, research and
development, and the safety industry. It also fed
the expansion of the oil industry.
But all of the aforementioned is merely a flick
at the impact of the automobile. A book could be
dedicated to each area of American culture that
was changed by horseless carriages. Thus, this
missive is but a smattering of how and where the
automobile impacted America most.
Americans get mobile
A whole culture was created by the automobile. It
included fabled roadways like Route 66 and the Pacific
Coast Highway, drive-in movies, delivery services, drag
racing, car hops, and car clubs to preserve the past.
“The automobile during the last century was
the dominant factor in creating mobility, which led
to commerce, which led to America achieving economic superpower status,” says Mark LaNeve, vice
president, GM North American Sales, Service and
Marketing. “It certainly contributed to the growth
of the middle class with all the job creation. I think
without question in the last 100 years it was the
dominant factor in American economic growth.”
Automobiles enhanced — or exacerbated, depending
on the point of view — trends that were already under
way. They gave people the means to move farther
from city centers, creating space between suburbs.
The automobile and road construction were the
cutting edge that developed those spaces. Today,
metropolitan areas are seamless. “The automobile
facilitated that development,” Casey says.
At the same time, America experienced the rise
of shopping centers, which originated as clusters of
stores surrounded by parking lots. They gradually
morphed into covered shopping malls. Both incarnations were far from traditional downtowns.
While older Eastern cities were designed for pedestrians, newer Western cities were developed to accommodate automobiles. In New York, you have to be on
the sidewalks of Fifth Avenue to really see in the stores.
On Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, the best way to
see the massive billboards atop and on the side of buildings is through the windshield of an automobile.
Many, including Casey, would argue that the
automobile contributed to the breakup of the nuclear
family. Adults could work longer hours because of
shorter commute times and kids (mainly teenagers)
could stray farther from home.
As Casey says, to reap the full benefits of America,
you need an automobile. They have much to do
with where we live, where we work, where we spend
leisure time, and how often and to where we travel.
In short, automobiles enhance the quality of life in
America. The type of vehicle many Americans own
signals their achievements or their aspirations.
the past drives the future
Jeffrey Leestma, president of the Automotive Hall
of Fame in Dearborn, says we still take the automobile and the industry that crafted it for granted.
“The automobile during the
last century was the dominant
factor in creating mobility,
which led to commerce, which
led to america achieving
economic superpower status.”
mark laneve, VP, GM North American Sales, Service and Marketing
“Most consumers really have no idea of the engineering and manufacturing complexity required to
make an automobile,” Leestma says. “They simply
go to the showroom to drive away in their shiny new
vehicle, unaware of the creative genius necessary to
put a car on the road. Yet, the car remains the most
prized possession after the house, not just because
it’s the second-largest purchase, but because of the
freedom it provides.”
Indeed, after 100 years the automobile could still
be described as a technological wonder. A properly
maintained automobile will start daily and take its
passengers to where they are going and back in all
sorts of weather for years. That kind of technology is
available to every American.
And arguably it will be automobiles that
drive the technologies yet to be invented in this
century. At the heart of the research to develop
better batteries, more efficient electric motors
and fuel cells is the need to find alternative ways
of powering automobiles.
Few dispute the evidence that fossil fuels will
eventually run out. Nor do they dispute that,
though much improved, automobiles remain a
primary source of air pollution. But implicit in
the research to find clean-burning and renewable
fuels is that automobiles are expected to be a main
component of American culture when the next
century arrives.
An America without some form of automobile is
an America most people have trouble imagining. n
acdelco.com | 800.acdelco 31
smart moves
Reap the
Rewards
SPRING MAY BE ONLY a month old, but you
can be sure your customers are already looking
ahead to summer travel. They’re going online to
find the best driving routes to their vacation destinations, stocking up on sunscreen to prevent burning and getting their vehicles checked to make sure
they don’t get “burned” by trouble on the road.
ACDelco is tying into seasonal travel by offering
incentives that help ISCs differentiate themselves
from the competition, boost sales and develop their
own local offers. Some promotions even include
consumer premiums, such as a rebate or ACDelcobranded merchandise, to increase customer loyalty
and help ensure a successful promotion.
For example, ACDelco’s 2008 Winning Hand
consumer mail-in rebate is providing a means for
shops to communicate with consumers the need to
properly maintain and repair their vehicles at the
times they need it most.
Three times throughout 2008, direct-mail postcards will invite consumers to come into the shop for
their maintenance and repair needs. The April mailing will focus on brakes, filters, batteries, wiper blades,
air conditioning and maintenance. August’s postcard
will stress belts and hoses, air conditioning, water
pumps, timing belts and maintenance. December’s
effort will spotlight starters and alternators, batteries,
belts and hoses, wiper blades and maintenance.
During these months, ACDelco will also
offer a $20 mail-in rebate with the purchase and
installation of ACDelco automotive replacement
parts when the repair invoice totals at least $80 in
ACDelco products.
ACDelco SUMMER
PROMOTIONS GIVE
YOU THE CHANCE TO
EARN PRIZES WHILE
BOOSTING SALES
by W. eric martin
PHOTOS: VEER
leveling the field
32 INTUNE Issue 2 | 2008
More good news for shops is that now it’s even easier
to participate in many ACDelco promotions. For
example, the Total Service Support (TSS) promotion “Picture Your Succe$$ with ACDelco,” which
runs from May 1 to Aug. 31, now lets shops compete
against one another for prizes on more even footing.
“We have three brackets of purchase levels,”
says John Eck, ACDelco marketing manager for
merchandise and promotions. “Within each of those
brackets, the shops that have the greatest dollar
increase in sales compared with their objective will
be awarded popular electronic items, as will those
shops that have the greatest percentage increase over
their objective.”
Even TSS customers who don’t qualify for one of
the larger prizes may earn exclusively yours® Rewards
points based on the percentage increase of sales within
their own category. “Awarding prizes based not just
on dollar growth, but also percentage growth, gives
everyone a fair chance to win,” Eck says. “More
important, we can all grow our business together.”
tying into
ACDelco’s seasonal
promotions helps
differentiate
your shop from
the competition,
boost sales
and develop
local offers.
“AWARDING PRIZES BASED NOT JUST
on DOLLAR GROWTH, BUT ALSO
PERCENTAGE GROWTH, GIVES
EVERYONE A FAIR CHANCE TO WIN.
MORE IMPORTANT, WE CAN ALL
GROW OUR BUSINESS TOGETHER.”
JOHN ECK, ACDelco marketing manager for
merchandise and promotions
Plan Ahead for promos
Other upcoming ACDelco incentives include the
WIP/WISE/WISEConnect Summer ePromotion,
running from May 1 to Aug. 31, which gives
participating ACDelco WIP/WISE customers
purchasing ACDelco products the opportunity
to earn prizes. Shop owners participating in the
ACDelco Cool Cash trade rebate, running from
July 1 to Aug. 31, can receive cash-back rebates on
the purchase of ACDelco compressors. n
acdelco.com | 800.acdelco 33
ONE MORE THING
FIRST EVER 2008 PONTIAC G8 GT (coming early 2008)
GET A REWARD CARD THAT’S ALWAYS WORKING.
GM Business World Card
GM Extended Family Card
Small business owners get 3% Earnings* on select
GM family members get unlimited 1% Earnings on
purchases and 1% Earnings on all other purchases.
top of eligible GM Employee or Supplier Discounts,
Plus, there are no Earnings or Redemption limits.
or redeemed for cash back.** With no Earnings or
Redemption limits.
With a GM reward card, all your credit card purchases give you Earnings toward
the purchase or lease of a huge selection of eligible, new GM vehicles from
Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Saturn, HUMMER, Saab and Cadillac – including
the first ever 2008 Pontiac G8 GT and the 2008 Buick Enclave. So if you want a
credit card that’s always working for you, get a GM reward card. And get closer
to a new GM vehicle.
Cardmember Services
Start earning toward your next eligible, new GM vehicle. Learn more at getgmcards.com/intune
*Restrictions apply. Credit cards owned and issued by Chase Bank USA, N.A. and are subject to credit approval. Earnings are offered and administered by Chase.
**Redeemable in $50 increments.
“Hot rodding remains for me a measure of personality —
a statement of personal expression. It started with my first three
words I ever spoke: Ford, Chevrolet and Cadillac.” — Billy F Gibbons
PHOTO: david perry
Expression
2008 BUICK ENCLAVE
34 INTUNE Issue 2 | 2008
AD-PU-0002-08
OUR PARTS HAVE A
PROVEN TRACK RECORD.
When it comes to performance, The Pros don’t take any
chances. And neither should you. Rely on ACDelco parts for all
your automotive parts needs. We deliver over 100,000 trusted
quality parts for most vehicles on the road today. And thanks
to our 10 plus years as a motorsports sponsor, some of our
parts have been used on the most punishing proving ground
of all — the racetrack. So get the job done right the first time.
Go with The Pros.
800-ACDelco / acdelco.com