New iPhone app delivers instant car pricing
Pricing, car show info, photos and more at your fingertips.
American National Property And Casualty Companies (ANPAC®) unveiled the CHROME® iPhone app at the recent SEMA Show in Las Vegas, where it was met with very positive response. It is the first app to include a price guide for classic and antique automobiles.
“We’ve always recognized that classic car enthusiasts are a responsible market to insure,” said Bernie Gerwel, ANPAC senior vice president and chief information and innovation officer. “Developing this app provided something useful for them while giving us experience using a new platform.”
If you are used to lugging around a 5-pound price guide to shows and auctions, you’ll appreciate this convenience. Instead of carrying a Blue Book, Black Book or relying on limited online information, iPhone users who download the new CHROME app can have at their fingertips:
* Price guide data for more than 40,000 models of vehicles provided by Old Cars Price Guide. Car values are available for models originally manufactured from the early 1900s to late-model classics from the 1990s, and are based on six levels of current condition.
* A road-trip journal, which allows users to log each stop using GPS technology as they travel, adding notes and photographs, which they can then share via email or post on their Facebook page. “There is something unique about the community within car clubs and this is one way to support that community,” Gerwel said. “If they take a trip, they can log their scenic stops and favorite restaurants, then share it with their club members.”
* Car show information searchable by name and location, mapping the nearest car shows to the user’s current location. “This is a great feature for this market,” said Mandy Ebert, ANPAC national market director. “The iPhone automatically locates the two closest car shows or the user can search by name, date or location.” Users can get directions or tell a friend about an event by e-mailing the information directly from the app. (To add your show to the app, upload your info at www.anpacchrome.com under the Gearheads section.)
* Images of classic and specialty automobiles sighted at events across the country, as documented by CHROME representatives attending various car shows and events. These images are searchable by make, model and other options.
* Slide show images of show-quality hot rods and classic cars owned by CHROME clients and featured in the 2009 and 2010 CHROME calendars. “This is a way to feature our insured cars and put them in the spotlight because people love their cars and love to show them off, too,” said Ebert.
In the future, ANPAC will add technology to allow users to upload their own car show pictures to the application, too. Also in the works is a drag racing video game component “just to add an element of fun,” said Gerwel.
ANPAC, based in Springfield, Mo., offers the CHROME app for $1.99 per download, available at the Apple App Store. To learn more, visit www.anpacchrome.com.
CHROME is an acronym that stands for classic, hot rod, replica, original, modified and exotic vehicles. Special CHROME insurance policy features include: agreed value, annual mileage up to 10,000 miles, roadside service and towing options, choice of repair facilities, spare parts coverage, discounts for collectors who insure multiple specialty vehicles and more.
MORE RESOURCES FOR CAR COLLECTORS FROM OLDCARSWEEKLY.COM
