The progress of the modifications will be profiled in upcoming issues of Styling & Performance and, when the project is complete, some lucky WD, jobber, retailer or dealer will win this one-of-a-kind Parts Chaser truck in a sweepstakes. It is the first time in more than 15 years that such a sweepstakes aimed at the automotive aftermarket has been held.
Advertisers can win too. Advertisers are being offered an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of this project. Styling & Performance is offering five different sponsorship levels on a first-come, first-served basis. The five sponsorship levels are: Presenting Sponsor, Charter Sponsor, Channel Sponsor, Product/Program Sponsor and Associate Sponsor.
The top-of-the-line level is the Presenting Sponsor, and it is limited to one advertiser on a first-come, first-served basis. The Presenting Sponsor will receive recognition as such with the company logos on the vehicle (the largest size, the most prominent position); 12 full-page ad placements in Styling & Performance and other Advanstar Automotive Aftermarket Group (AAG) publications in 2007. In addition to Styling & Performance, AAG includes: Motor Age, Auto Body Repair News (ABRN), Aftermarket Business and Hot Auto Products (HAP).
The Presenting Sponsor will also be assigned a unique 800 phone number for lead tracking. This 800 number will also appear in the ad placements and on that sponsor's product section of Search-Autoparts.com. This 800 number is yours to keep in 2007, 2008 and beyond.
As part of the Styling & Performance Internet Connection, the Presenting Sponsor also will receive the PLATINUM WEB PACKAGE, which includes a six-month sponsorship of the leaderboard (a 728x90 ad), six-month sponsorship of the E-Pillar newsletter (a 468x60 ad), six-month sponsorship of messages to the E-newsletter and six-month sponsorship of the Directory Listing (a 20x240 ad).
In addition, the Presenting Sponsor package includes a two-page profile of the company (with photography) in Styling & Performance in a 2007 issue.
The Presenting Sponsor package also includes set-up as a vendor on DCi's CatalogRack system and an applied credit towards inclusion of sponsor data on Universal parts in DCi's CatalogRack database.
Of course, the Presenting Sponsor's parts will be installed on Project Parts Chaser. This coverage includes a detailed story on the ease of installation and inclusion in the Project Parts Chaser contact list.
But wait, there's more. The Presenting Sponsor's parts will be included in a one-minute video being created for the product look-up section of Search-Autoparts.com. The Presenting Sponsor also will have unlimited inclusion in a Product Parts Chaser Coupon Book. The coupon book is designed to provide the winner of the truck with a sample of products to order and sell.
The remaining Charter, Associate, Channel, and Product/Program sponsors receive similar but slightly scaled-down benefits.
Don't be left out. For more details on this unique advertising opportunity, please contact your Styling & Performance sales associate immediately. The quicker you become a part of Project Parts Chaser, the more times your products and logo will be shown.
Project Parts Chaser will start with a description of the base vehicle and some baseline performance numbers. As the project moves along, you will be able to see just how effective each modification is and just how much the base vehicle is improved. We will call on our Editorial Advisory Board and those of you in the automotive aftermarket for suggestions. We plan to make Project Parts Chaser an accurate representation of what is going on with your customers in the marketplace.
As we add more project vehicles to the Styling & Performance mix, those project vehicles will represent every segment of the automotive aftermarket. We plan to present project vehicle buildups that cover early-model muscle cars, late-model muscle cars, collector cars, tuner cars, hot rods, and of course trucks. There will be late-model trucks and SUVs, early-model trucks, classic trucks and even hot rod trucks.
Because Styling & Performance is designed for you, the automobile aftermarket professional, we will present our project vehicle features with a business-to-business tone. Each project vehicle modification will include information on professional installation and the profit potential of each modification. In addition to the how-to aspect, readers will also learn how they can grow their businesses and make more money by selling, or selling and installing, the products featured in the story.
We are looking forward to having all of you be a part of this exciting new media launch that will reach, influence and motivate the decision makers at every level of aftermarket part distribution.
CHASING PARTS
The modifications that Styling & Performance is planning for Project Parts Chaser will reflect what is happening in the automotive aftermarket parts industry. Step one will be suspension modifications. We plan to increase the ride height of Product Parts Chaser and that, in turn, will require additional modifications such as longer shock absorbers, limit straps (you never know when you'll have to take some sweet jumps), a serious wheel & tire package, a custom driveshaft and even a steering stabilizer.
From the suspension we'll move on to the powertrain. Whether gasoline or diesel, the automotive aftermarket has products designed to increase performance and at the same time improve fuel economy. We can improve the air-intake system, the exhaust system and to finish things off, we can reprogram the engine ECU to take advantage of all the improvements.
Once it's sitting right and running right, we can turn our attention to the look of Project Parts Chaser. Starting at the front of the truck we can start with the grille — the stock grille is out and a custom grille is in. Maybe even a custom hood can be installed. Custom fender flares will be necessary to make the big tires street legal, and we can add trim pieces as they become available. We will top things off with a custom paint job and then start adding the sponsors' decals to Project Parts Chaser so everyone will know who helped build it.
Inside PPC, we want the lucky winner to be comfortable so look for a totally radical, custom interior with aftermarket steering wheel, gauges, carpet, upholstery and aftermarket sound and entertainment system. We know that PPC will eventually be a working truck, so we won't forget to add cup holders and a mini office system as well.
As this project begins to take shape, we'll keep you informed on the progress of Project Parts Chaser. Look for more details in upcoming issues of Styling & Performance. LOOKUP A PART, WIN A TRUCKEvery time you or a member of your team uses our parts search Website www.search-autoparts.com, your shop can be entered to win Project Parts Chaser. Entries are free, but you must be a qualified, registered business user of Search-Autoparts. Signing up is easy: just log on to www.search-autoparts.com and register. Then, every time you use the Website between July 2007 and December 31, 2007, you will be entered in the unique sweepstakes to win Project Parts Chaser. Sign up now.
