HorsePower Builds

Parts Used In This Episode

Chevrolet Performance
LSA S/C 6.2L Crate Engine
Matco Tools
Brake Pad Gauge
Matco Tools
Launch Global Diagnostic Scan Tool GDS
Pratt & Miller
Pratt & Miller is a world-class engineering company and a respected industry leader in automotive, commercial, military, and aerospace industries.
Woodward Dream Cruise
Woodward Dream Cruise is the world's largest one-day automotive event, drawing 1.5 million people and 40,000 classic cars each year from around the globe.

Episode Transcript

(ANNOUNCER)>> IT'S MIDAMERICA'S LEGENDARY HOT ROD ROAD TRIP. HORSEPOWER INVADES DETROIT'S HISTORIC WOODWARD AVENUE FOR THE BIGGEST ANNUAL CAR EVENT ON THE PLANET. AT THIS YEAR'S RECORD BREAKING DREAM CRUISE YOU'LL WITNESS AN AMAZING MASS OF CAR CULTURE IN MOTION.

( )>> HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY! ( )>> MORE PRETTY CARS!

(MIKE)>> IN THE UNITED STATES CRUISING'S BEEN A PART OF OUR HERITAGE SINCE THE 1950'S, BUT NO MATTER THE EVENT, YOU WON'T FIND ONE BIGGER OR BADDER THAN THIS ONE RIGHT HERE IN THE HEART OF MOTOR CITY.

(JOE)>> ABSOLUTELY IT'S THE WOODWARD DREAM CRUISE, THE

WORLD'S LARGEST CRUISE, AND IT HAPPENS HERE ON A STREET THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT IN CAR HISTORY. BY THE EARLY 1800'S, WOODWARD AVENUE WAS ALREADY DETROIT'S MAIN STREET. AN ELEGANT CORRIDOR LINED WITH MAGNIFICENT HOMES, THEATERS, AND RESTAURANTS.

(MIKE)>> THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY TOOK HOLD HERE LATER, THANKS TO EXISTING TECHNOLOGY, INVESTMENT MONEY, AND A SKILLED WORKFORCE. NOW THE BIG THREE ALL GREW UP ON WOODWARD AVENUE. HENRY FORD SET HIS MODELT ASSEMBLY LINE IN MOTION HERE, AND IN 1909 THE WORLD'S FIRST MILE OF CONCRETE ROAD WAS LAID. AS THE AUTO INDUSTRY GREW, SO DID THE WORLD AROUND WOODWARD. BY THE '20'S, IT WAS ONE OF THE BUSIEST STREETS IN THE NATION.

(JOE)>> BY THE '50'S WOODWARD WAS THE HOTTEST CRUISING DESTINATION IN THE COUNTRY. YOUNG PEOPLE WOULD GATHER IN SEVERAL DRIVE IN JOINTS TO SHOW OFF THEIR PRIZED RIDES AND CELEBRATE THE PASSION FOR

EVERYTHING COOL ABOUT CARS. SINCE 1995 THE WOODWARD DREAM CRUISE HAS BECOME THE WORLD'S LARGEST CELEBRATION OF AMERICAN CAR CULTURE. THE DREAM CRUISE IS NOT OFFICIALLY UNTIL SATURDAY, BUT IT'S WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THINGS HAVE ALREADY STARTED OFF WITH A BANG. I MEAN THIS IS A PARTY. ( )>> HI SPIKE TV, HOTTEST BABES IN THE HOUSE. ( )>> LOOK AT THIS, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY YOU COULD SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

(JOE)>> FOR LOCALS WHO REMEMBER THE GLORY DAYS OF THE MUSCLE CAR ERA, IT REVS UP AMAZING MEMORIES.

(LOU)>> THIS WAS A DRAG STRIP.

EVERY LIGHT HAD RUBBER ON THE STREET. THIS WAS WHERE IT WAS ALL AT.

(MIKE)>> CRUISERS COME FROM AROUND THE US AND BEYOND, BEHIND THE WHEELS OF ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING IMAGINABLE,

FROM THE '40'S DROP TOPS TO 1960'S LAND YACHTS. STILL LIKE LAKE PIPES AND FENDER SKIRTS? YOU'LL SEE THEM HERE. HERE'S ONE GUY'S VERSION OF CHEAP, RENEWABLE ENERGY. ( )>> WIND IT UP SOME MORE?

(MIKE)>> AND ON THURSDAY NIGHT, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE'RE HANGING OUT A SHELL STATION. THIS PLACE HAS BECOME A TRADITIONAL VIEWING STATION AND GATHERING SPOT FOR FUELING MEMORIES AND WATCHING THE PASSING SCENERY. ( )>> THIS IS WHERE IT'S AT. CALIFORNIA, HOW FAR YOU'D COME? ( )>> 2,323 MILES, THE CAR'S PARKED BACK THERE.

(MARY)>> I HAVE A '76 YELLOW CORVETTE. I'M NOT HERE WITH IT TODAY, BUT I'VE BEEN HERE WITH IT EARLY BECAUSE I'M WITH MY COUSIN WHO HAS THE LE MANS.

(IGNATIUS)>> 14 YEAR ONGOING PROJECT, IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHEN YOU HAD THE MONEY YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME, WHEN

YOU HAD THE TIME YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY. SO IT FINALLY MADE ITS MAIDEN VOYAGE UP TO WOODWARD'S TROUBLE FREE.

(MIKE)>> THE PASSING PARADE IS ALWAYS A MIX OF MOTORIZED CLASSICS AND HOT RODS, ALONG WITH CREATIVE WAYS OF GETTING ATTENTION FROM THE CROWD, AND SOMETIMES EVEN THE COPS. OH GOOD, JUST A WARNING THIS TIME.

(JOE)>> YEAH WHAT STARTED AS A ONE DAY CRUISE IS NOW A WEEK LONG JAMBOREE AND COOL PLACE TO BE.

(ANNOUNCER)>> NEXT, WHAT IT'S LIKE TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A TRICKED OUT CORVETTE AND POUND THIS FAMOUS STRETCH OF PAVEMENT IN MOTOR CITY. THE OFFICIAL CRUISE DAY IS ABOUT TO GET UNDERWAY.

( )>> HEY, ANOTHER SUNNY SATURDAY AFTERNOON. IT'S THE GET NO SLEEP, DETROIT'S NEW 98.7 AM RADIO. WOODWARD DREAM CRUISE, WE ARE LIVE ON THE PLACE TODAY, AND MAN, IT IS LOOKING NICE. I'VE SEEN SOME CLASSIC CARS. THAT '69 CHARGER, I'M STILL WAITING FOR THAT TO MAKE ITS WAY OVER HERE. 13 AND 14 MILE ON WOODWARD, BEAUTIFUL CITY OF DETROIT!

(JOE)>> IT'S STILL EARLY SATURDAY MORNING BUT THE CRUISE IS ALREADY OFF AND ROLLING, ALONG WITH THE CURB SIDE VIEWING. AFTER ARRIVING WE MADE A FEW QUICK INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THIS PLACE. FIRST, HERE IN MOTOR CITY, KIDS START PICKING THEIR FAVORITE CARS EARLY IN LIFE. ( )>> A MUSTANG MOMMY, A MUSTANG!

(MIKE)>> ALSO, TODAY MOST OF WOODWARD AVENUE'S EIGHT LANES ARE POPULATED BY COOL CRUISE WORTHY VEHICLES, BUT THE STREET'S STILL OPEN TO REGULAR TRAFFIC TOO, MUCH TO THE ANNOYANCE OF MANY SPECTATORS.

(JOE)>> AND SPEAKING OF THAT, PRIME REAL ESTATE FOR SPECTATING GETS SCARCE AND RESERVED QUICKLY. THANK GOODNESS THE GUYS FROM PRATT MILLER RESTORATIONS INVITED US TO CAMP IN THEIR SPOT TODAY. THE RESTORATION MANAGERS PUT A WOODWARD CRUISER ALMOST SINCE THE BEGINNING. (MIKE A.)>> THIS IS A CAR CULTURE LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE. I MEAN IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE.

YOU'VE GOT ALL THE MANUFACTURERS HERE FIRST OF ALL WITH CHRYSLER, FORD, GENERAL MOTORS, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE CREATIVITY OF ALL THESE VEHICLES THAT EVERYBODY PUTS THEIR LITTLE TOUCH ON. IT'S A ONE DAY EVENT, ALTHOUGH THEY CALL IT A ONE DAY EVENT, IT ACTUALLY STARTED A WEEK AGO. I WAS DOWN HERE A WEEK AGO AND IT WAS ALMOST AS BUSY AS IT IS NOW.

(MIKE)>> WE WERE IN THE COMPANY OF SOME OF MIKE'S CUSTOMER'S CARS LIKE THESE, AND THIS VERY NICE '72 ROAD RUNNER. BUT NOT THIS ONE THOUGH. GET THIS, IT'S GOT THE BODY OF A 1928 STUDEBAKER, THE GRILL FROM A FRONT END LOADER, ENGINE AND TRANS FROM A CATERPILLAR, AND IT SITS ON AN INTERNATIONAL TRUCK FRAME. ( )>> HAVE FUN JOE.

(JOE)>> THANK YOU! MIKE ADKINS' TRICKED OUT Z-06 WAS A MUCH BETTER OPTION FOR HITTING THE STREET. CRUISING WOODWARD IN A CORVETTE LIKE THIS, DOES IT GET BETTER, NAH! WOODWARD AVENUE'S ENDURED COUNTLESS CHANGES OVER THE PAST 200 YEARS. THE DREAM CRUISE ENCOMPASSES 16 MILES OF WOODWARD THROUGH SEVERAL DETROIT SUBURBS FROM FERNDALE TO PONTIAC. ( )>> HELLO FROM VIRGINIA!

(JOE)>> HELLO VIRGINIA! ( )>> HAVE FUN!

(JOE)>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE BEEN HERE TOO! ( )>> OH REALLY!

(JOE)>> NICE PEOPLE! A FIRST TIME SPIN ON THIS STRETCH OF LEGENDARY CONCRETE IS AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE.

(MIKE)>> BACK HERE AS THE DAY PROGRESSES, PASSING PREY GETS MORE AND MORE INTERESTING. (MIKE A.)>> THIS IS A GREAT, GREAT EVENT TO COME OUT AND SHOW OFF YOUR HOT ROD, SHOW OFF YOUR STREET ROD, SHOW OFF YOUR CLASSIC, SHOW OFF YOUR ANTIQUE, OR SHOW OFF YOUR WILD AND WEIRD STUFF.

(MIKE)>> YEAH, LIKE AN ANTIQUE FORD WITH GULL WING DOORS, AND NOT ONE BUT TWO BAT MOBILES. WHILE SOME PERFORMANCE CARS HAVE CAGES, THIS BEETLE'S ENTIRE BODY IS A CAGE, AS IN BIRD CAGE.

I THINK THIS CUSTOMIZED ROD STARTED LIFE AS A '55 CHEVY. GOTTA LOVE THE RARE STUFF YOU SEE HERE TOO, LIKE A '56 DESOTO. WE EVEN SPOTTED A FEW OF THOSE WONDERFUL OLD WOODYS. HUDSONS LIKE THIS ONE WERE ARGUABLY THE TOP FACTORY RACE CARS OF THEIR DAY.

AND WHAT'S THIS, A 1935 STOUT SCARAB.

(JOE)>> WELL AS MUCH AS I HATE TO, IT'S TIME TO CRAWL OUT OF THE SEATS OF THIS VETTE AND START POUNDING THE PAVEMENT. (MIKE A.)>> YOU KNOW I HEARD ABOUT HIS DRIVING. SO I PROBABLY SHOULD GO AROUND IT ONCE OR TWICE YOU KNOW! ( )>> WHOO!

(JOE)>> THERE'S A LOT MORE TO EXPLORE HERE AT THIS MASSIVE MOTOR CITY PARTY.

(JOE)>> CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT WOODWARD AVENUE WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE BACK IN THE '30'S, '40'S, AND '50'S, BACK BEFORE CRUISING EVEN HAD A NAME? YOU MIGHT HAVE SPOTTED HARLEY EARLE OUT HERE WITH ONE OF HIS GM CONCEPT CARS, OR A PARADE OF NEW PRODUCTION MODELS. ON INTO THE '60'S YOU COULD HAVE SEEN SOME LATE NIGHT SHOWDOWNS AMONG THE BIG THREE. ( )>> GM AND FORD USED TO TEST THEIR NEW CARS RIGHT HERE ON FRIDAY OR SATURDAY NIGHTS. IT HAD SECRET ENGINES, SECRET REAR ENDS, FUNNY TIRES, AND THEY USED TO TEST THEM OUT RIGHT HERE.

(JOE)>> IN 2002 THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY COMMISSION RECOGNIZED THE HISTORIC ROLE OF WOODWARD, OFFICIALLY NAMING IT MICHIGAN'S FIRST SCENIC BIWAY. WHILE DETROIT AND WOODWARD AVENUE HAVE WEATHERED HARD TIMES OVER THE YEARS, THERE ARE SIGNS OF A COME BACK. THIS ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF CRUISING'S GLORY DAYS ALONE

BRINGS IN OVER A MILLION AND A HALF VISITORS. THIS ONE'S A RECORD BREAKER!

(MIKE)>> WE'RE STANDING HERE AT ONE OF THE MAIN INTERSECTIONS ON THE CRUISE. NOW WHAT'S COOL ABOUT THIS SPOT IS WHEN THE LIGHT'S RED, YOU GET A LITTLE SPACING WITH THE CARS IN FRONT. SOME OF THE GUYS GO BY AND KNOCK THE TIRES OFF, SOME CRUISE RIGHT BY, BUT ONE THING YOU WON'T SEE ARE MANY IMPORTS.

MOST OF THE CARS DURING THE CRUISE ARE TRUE TO THE DETROIT

SPIRIT, AMERICAN MADE.

(JOE)>> LIKE THIS BRILLIANT BLUE CHEVELLE SUPER SPORT FRESH FROM A COMPLETE RESTORATION, INCLUDING A NEW CHEVROLET PERFORMANCE SUPERCHARGED LSA ENGINE.

(TIM)>> I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A BIG BLOCK GUY BUT A SUPERCHARGED SYSTEM ON THESE THINGS IS JUST AWESOME. I LOVE TO DRIVE MY CARS. WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I JUST PUT THEM IN THE SHOP AND WIPE THEM OFF. NOW I LIKE TO DRIVE THEM.

(JOE)>> WHILE THE MAIN ATTRACTION'S OUT IN THE STREET. ( )>> WIN $100 DOLLARS!

(JOE)>> THERE'S LOTS OF COOL STUFF ALONG THE SIDEWALKS TOO, THAT IS IF YOU CAN MANEUVER THE HEAVY FOOT TRAFFIC. HERE'S A GROUP OF HOLLYWOOD CARS, THE GHOSTBUSTERS' CADILLAC HEARSE, A GTO FROM THE MONKEY'S TV SHOW, AND THE GREEN HORNET'S LINCOLN, OR AT LEAST A PRETTY GOOD COPY. BACK IN THE '60'S CHEVY TEAMED WITH SOME CAR BUILDERS TO

PRODUCE THE CHEETAH, DESIGNED TO HUNT DOWN FORD COBRAS. UNFORTUNATELY THE FACTORY BURNT DOWN AND CHEVY LOST INTEREST IN THE PROJECT. NOW HERE'S A MORE OLD SCHOOL VERSION OF A BLOWN CHEVY SS. AND HERE'S A, WELL WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THE NAME OF THIS ONE.

( )>> WHOO!

(JOE)>> OBVIOUSLY THERE'S NO WAY TO SEE EVERYTHING ALONG THIS STREET, WHERE INTO THE NIGHT THE CELEBRATION ROLLS ON. ( )>> FROM AMSTERDAM, IT'S ABSOLUTELY GREAT, I LOVE IT.

(JOE)>> THANKS TO THE ANNUAL DREAM CRUISE, THE LEGEND OF WOODWARD WILL ROLL ON FOR GENERATIONS, A SYMBOL OF PASSION, CREATIVITY, AND DRIVING SPIRIT OF AMERICA ON WHEELS. ( )>> I MEAN THIS IS WHERE IT'S AT.

(ANNOUNCER)>> COMING UP ON HORSEPOWER WE HEAD TO LAS VEGAS. IT'S MATCO'S SHOW OF THE HOTTEST NEW SHOP TOOLS AND THE STAKES ARE HIGH DISTRIBUTORS OUT TO THE

BEAT THE COMPETITION.

(JOE)>> HEY WELCOME BACK. POWERBLOCK VIEWERS KNOW WE'RE MATCO TOOL

JUNKIES AROUND HERE. WE LIKE THEIR QUALITY, THE VARIETY OF NEW TOOLS, AND THE FREE DELIVERY FROM OUR MATCO DISTRIBUTOR. BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL RECENTLY WE FOUND WHY THEY'RE NOW THE FASTEST GROWING TOOL PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY. IN LAS VEGAS FUN IS THE NAME OF THE GAME BUT THIS WEEKEND AT CAESAR'S PALACE IT'S PLEASURE AND BUSINESS AS MATCO

HOSTS ITS ANNUAL TOOL FAIR AND DISTRIBUTOR CONFERENCE.

(JEFF)>> WELL IN THE NEXT FEW MINUTES THE DOORS ARE GOING TO OPEN, AND WE HAVE OVER 1,000 DISTRIBUTORS

ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE. THIS IS AN HISTORIC HIGH. WE BRING ALL OF OUR DISTRIBUTORS TOGETHER TO LEARN ABOUT HOW TO BE BETTER BUSINESS PEOPLE, ABOUT PRODUCTS, AND JUST HAVE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

IT'S A GIANT FAMILY REUNION.

(JOE)>> EMPOWERING GUYS LIKE DISTRIBUTOR STAN ANDREWSKI.

(STAN)>> I NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE ABLE TO DO MY BUSINESS, HAVE MY OWN DEAL LIKE THIS, AND IT'S BEEN VERY ENLIGHTENING, I'M VERY BLESSED.

(JOE)>> AND SO ARE HUNDREDS OF AUTO TECHS HE DELIVERS TO EVERY WEEK.

(STAN)>> THERE'S NOTHING WORSE THAN A TECHNICIAN NOT HAVING A TOOL THAT HE NEEDS. YOU KNOW, TOOLS ARE PRICELESS WHEN THEY NEED THEM. IF THEY CAN MAKE MONEY WITH THEM AND SAVE THEMSELVES A COUPLE OF HOURS, COUPLE OF MINUTES EVEN, IT'S WORTH THEIR INVESTMENT.

(JOE)>> TONIGHT IT'S ALL ABOUT THESE DISTRIBUTORS, THEIR NEW MARKETING SUPPORT PROGRAMS, AWARDS HONORING THE TOP PERFORMERS, AND THE ANNOUNCEMENT, TIM GILMORE WHO STARTED OUT DRIVING A TOOL TRUCK HIMSELF, IS NOW THE COMPANY'S NEW PRESIDENT.

(TIM)>> I BELIEVE MATCO TOOLS HAS THE BEST DISTRIBUTORS IN THE INDUSTRY.

I BELIEVE MATCO TOOLS IS THE BEST COMPANY TO BE WITH IN THE INDUSTRY. BUT I BELIEVE WE CAN BE BETTER.

(JOE)>> AND THAT MEANS MAKING AND SELLING BETTER, MORE INNOVATIVE TOOLS DEVELOPED BY SUPPLIER PARTNERS.

(JOHN)>> WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 90 VENDORS HERE, OUR SUPPLIER PARTNERS, ENGAGING OUR DISTRIBUTORS. AND IT'S NOT JUST A VENDOR, A BUY/SELL RELATIONSHIP, IT'S VERY MUCH A PARTNERSHIP. THEY HELP US TURN OUR IDEAS INTO REALITY. A GOOD EXAMPLE WOULD BE THE ORBITAL SANDERS.

(MARTY)>> THE FIRST QUESTION THAT NORMALLY GETS ASKED TO A MATCO DISTRIBUTOR WHEN HE WALKS INTO THE SHOP IS WHAT'S NEW? SO WE HAVE TO REALLY KEEP THAT FUNNEL GOING WITH NEW PRODUCTS, NEW INNOVATION, NEW TECHNOLOGY. MATCO'S ALWAYS DRIVING, LOOKING FOR EXCLUSIVE PRODUCTS TO GIVE THEIR DISTRIBUTORS AN EDGE IN THE MARKET.

(JOE)>> WITH 180 NEW PRODUCTS AT THE SHOW, MATCO'S EDGE HAS MADE IT THE HOTTEST TICKET IN THE TOOL BUSINESS.

(ERNIE)>> WE HAVE DOUBLED IN SIZE, FAR OUT PACING OUR COMPETITION. WE ARE THE FASTEST GROWING MOBILE FRANCHISE IN THE WORLD.

(JOE)>> FOR THE DISTRIBUTORS, MAINTAINING THE MOMENTUM REQUIRES INNOVATIVE TIME SAVING TOOLS LIKE THIS NEW SPX GAUGE THAT LETS A MECHANIC MEASURE BRAKE PAD WEAR WITHOUT HAVING TO REMOVE THE CALIPER. THE LOCK SCAN TOOL LETS INDEPENDENTS COMPETE WITH DEALERSHIPS. IT'S FREE WEEKLY UPDATES BY WIFI ENABLE ANY SHOW TO ACCESS DATA BASES AND REPAIR ANY VEHICLE.

(HARLAN)>> THERE IS NO OTHER SCAN TOOL ON THE PLANET THAT HAS THE CAPABILITY TO COVER ALL MAKES AND MODELS. OE LEVEL CAPABILITY THAT THE INDEPENDENT SHOP OWNER NEEDS IN ORDER TO BE THAT DEALERSHIP ALTERNATIVE.

(JOE)>> AND YOU CAN PRINT OUT THE RECORDED DATA. WHEN IT COMES TO LABOR RATES, TIM IS MONEY.

(BILL)>> THE POWER PROBE IS THE ULTIMATE CIRCUIT TESTER BECAUSE OF THE TIME IT SAVES THE CUSTOMER. THE POWER PROBE IS NOT ONLY A TEST LIGHT, IT'S A JUMPER LEAD SET, A VOLT METER, CONTINUITY TESTER, BAD GROUND INDICATOR, IT JUST PREVENTS THE MECHANIC FROM RUNNING BACK AND FORTH TO THE TOOL BOX WASTING TIME AS OPPOSED TO SPENDING TIME ON THE JOE MAKING MONEY, WHICH IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

(MIKE)>> ALL FIVE OF THE POWERBLOCK SHOWS HAVE ONE AND THEY SWEAR BY IT.

(JOE)>> DEMOS ON PULLING DENTS WITH THE DENT KILLER WERE A BIG HIT AT THE HS DISPLAY. ( )>> THIS IS THE TOOL THAT ATTACHES TO THE GUN.

(HARLAN)>> HERE'S THE GUN, HERE'S THE TOOL, TAKE IT TO THE METAL, WELD IT, MAKE YOUR PULL.

TURN IT 90 DEGREES IT RELEASES THEN MOVES TO THE NEXT SPOT.

(JOE)>> TIM ALLEN WOULD LOVE THIS PLACE.

( )>> INSTEAD OF A LENGTHY, EXPENSIVE TEAR DOWN, WE'RE JUST GONNA USE OUR FIVE POINT FIVE INDUSTRY LEADING CAMERA PIPE AND GO INTO DIFFERENT CYLINDERS ON THE ENGINE AND SEE IF WE CAN FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG. WE CAN SUBMIT THIS PICTURE TO THE CUSTOMER, WE CAN SUBMIT THIS PICTURES TO THE MANUFACTURER TO GET WARRANTY REPAIR WORK DONE.

(JOE)>> THERE WERE EVEN DURABILITY SHOOTOUTS WITH COMPETITORS RATCHET WRENCHES, BREAKING GEARS AT 125 FOOT POUNDS OF TORQUE. VERSES MATCO THAT BENT AT 169 FOOT POUNDS BUT DID NOT BREAK. HOW TO STORE ALL THESE NEW TOOLS WAS THE BUSIEST PLACE OF THE SHOW. HERE MATCO'S CONFIGURATOR SOFTWARE LETS DISTRIBUTORS DESIGN CUSTOM TOOL BOXES WITH ENDLESS FEATURES, LIGHTING, COLORS, AND TRIM, FOR STORAGE AND SECURITY.

(SHAWN)>> THAT BOX IS A VERY BIG INVESTMENT BUT WHAT IS INSIDE THE BOX IS AN EVEN BIGGER INVESTMENT, THE TOOLS. THAT'S HOW THEY MAKE THEIR LIVING AND THEY HAVE TO FEEL EXTREMELY COMFORTABLE THAT THIS IS A SECURE SYSTEM BECAUSE IT IS. IT'S LIKE A SECURITY SYSTEM FOR THEIR LIVELIHOOD. THE QUALITY THAT GOES INTO THESE STORAGE SYSTEMS IS JOB ONE.

(JOE)>> MATCO ALSO INTRODUCED ITS STORE OF THE FUTURE, A

MODULAR DISPLAY CONCEPT TO HELP DISTRIBUTORS PROMOTE THEIR WEARS INSIDE THEIR TRUCKS.

(JESSICA)>> WE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT OFFERING THIS NEW CONCEPT FOR OUR MOBILE STORES THAT ARE ON THE ROAD. WE WANTED TO INTEGRATE SOME MODULARITY SO THAT OUR DISTRIBUTORS HAVE ALL THE FLEXIBILITY THEY NEED TO PROPERLY DISPLAY OUR PRODUCTS. WE INCORPORATED SOME SIGNAGE THAT WOULD HELP OUR TECHNICIANS FIND WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A LITTLE BIT FASTER.

ONE OF THE BIG FEATURES THAT I REALLY LOVE IS THIS SLIDING SHELF HERE.

WE JUST WANT TO HELP OUR DISTRIBUTORS TO SELL OFF OF THEIR TRUCKS.

(JOE)>> WHEN IT COMES TO SELLING TOOLS, WHAT HAPPENED IN VEGAS THIS TIME WON'T STAY IN VEGAS. THESE DISTRIBUTORS HAVE A JOB TO DO.

(ERNIE)>> HE'S BRINGING THE MOST INNOVATIVE HAND TOOLS

IN THE INDUSTRY INTO THESE TECHNICIANS BECAUSE THESE TECHNICIANS, THEY'RE PAID FLAT RATE. THEY'RE PAID BY THE JOB.

SO IF THE TOOL CAN GET THE JOB DONE FASTER, TECHNICIAN MAKES MORE MONEY, HE'S HAPPY, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THAT MATCO DISTRIBUTOR IS A PART OF HIS SUCCESS.
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