Auto Transporters

[johnpro]

Ok, so AzPete and I have pretty much sealed the deal on me selling him the '66 coupe.  I really think he's going to enjoy this car, and it gets to stay where I can keep an eye on him and the car. :nk

Neither of us have any experience in shipping a car across country.  I'm in the greater Sacramento, CA area, and he's in the Florida Pan Handle  (despite having an Arizona area code still *LOL*)

Does anyone have any company recommendations, and/or good/bad advice?  This is uncharted waters for both of us, so we'll take all the recommendations, the "stay away from xxx", etc., that we can get.  I want him to get the car in the condition it will leave my house in.

[1497]

I have used Intercity Lines to ship my Shelby from Conn to AZ, and then again from  AZ to TX. Not the least expensive, but without a doubt a top tier carrier. All depends on your budget and cargo. 

[wayjon0]

I just had my car shipped from Grand Rapids to Dallas and I learned a few things in the process. Unless you use a higher end service you more then likely won't have much control over who actually picks up and delivers the car. Most of the national guys will quote you a price for shipping and then throw the job up on a job board that drivers pay to be a member of. At that point it will be first come first serve on who accepts the shipment and calls you to pick up the car.

I used a national carrier and decided open carrier would be fine (closed shipping is higher), well it rained that whole week and the driver left the windows down, so I had a small lake in the floor boards when it got to Dallas. I paid $600 vs $1500 plus for a local guy to go get it and ship it covered. Amount of time it takes to pick up the car an issue for me too, I was all excited to get it and didn't want to wait weeks and weeks until a local guy had another pick up in the North East. The nation carrier had the car picked up in 3 days and it was at my house in a week. The guy I used actually gave me the truck drivers cell number and I was able to call and bug him about when he was going to get to Dallas.

[Sluggo]

Passport transport shipped my 71 to Canada when I sold it.

Top notch operation. They have enclosed carriers, soft sided and hard sided.

Don't remember the price but it had to go through customs too.

[Fast68back]

Drive it!

[cmayna]

John and Pete,
Very to hear of this.  Can't think of a better new home (other than mine) for the 66 to reside at. 

Yes, you guys need to first decide if the car will go on a open transporter or closed.  Obviously closed will cost far more.  I have only used an open trailer when I moved a Firebird from Utah to Calif and it was pretty filthy but made the trip.  With these open trailers, yes the odds are the car will be shuttled to a local yard until enough cars are gathered for a long haul.  I'll try to find the name of who I used but in no way am I pushing them on you guys.

Let's all help this cause by asking our friends who they might recommend.

another solution:

Johnpro: Here's the keys Craig. Have fun driving it over to Pete's place.

azPete: Craig I have already booked hotel rooms for you at the various brothels you requested.  Once you finish your tanning session here in Florida, I'll then fly you back home first class on Virgin Airlines....

[AzPete]

Somebody want to drive it......as long as it is a decent saving over open transport we might consider it....

[silverblueBP]

Why don't you fly out there and drive it back, stopping at Fixers homes on the way back?

Besides, I wouldn't trust buying a car from KA, sight unseen  :wm?







 :ecit

[AzPete]

There are a few things right now that cause problems for that......darn it.

[Horseplay]

Somebody want to drive it......as long as it is a decent saving over open transport we might consider it....

While it sounds like it could be a great adventure I don't see it saving you that much. It's about 40 hours of drive time at highway speed. You have to figure four days of driving. You've got some $500 in gas (at least). 4/5 nights of lodging on cheap will still cost you $300 or so. You've got to get your driver(s) to the p/u point and then back home again. Throw in a meal here and there and other costs that will arise and you're better off transporting it.

Still, I would love to spend a day or two tooling across the southwest in a classic. Seems like it would be an awesome drive.

[AzPete]

So true. As I figure, shipping is the cheapest of many ways.

[daveSanborn]

My son used DAS to ship his newly purchased '57 F100 from SoCal to NC.  Price was right around $1k 2 years ago.  I've heard horror stories about DAS, but we had no problems at all.  I assume that it was transported on an open trailer, but when I arrived to pick the truck up from the staging area it looked crystal clean.


Have I missed something somewhere?  I thought that AZPete already had a '66 Coupe that he was planning on selling?  And now he's buying another one?

[AzPete]

Have I missed something somewhere?  I thought that AZPete already had a '66 Coupe that he was planning on selling?  And now he's buying another one?

Right on top of things Dave......

Actually, I have been back and forth on selling mine. This deal actually saves me money so I went ahead and took the step.

[daveSanborn]

Right on top of things Dave......

Actually, I have been back and forth on selling mine. This deal actually saves me money so I went ahead and took the step.

Thread hijack in-progress.....

How does buying a second Coupe save you money?  Now I'm more confused....

[AzPete]

 :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol

Tell ya later......suspense....

[cmayna]

Damn, I'm supplying the beers just to hear this one.

[johnpro]

Thanks for all the responses, guys, both the serious ones and the humorous ones. I just got to read the thread since posting last night, because my pesky work got in the way of a real life again today, and then SacBill and I took in a baseball game this evening.

Keep the advice, recommendations, and even the jokes coming!

[AzPete]

All right....had some time to check a couple on line quotes. Looking for feedback on thoughts of these two.

Fed Ex....just under $2100.00 for enclosed. They do not do open.

UPS....$900.00 for open and $1300.00 for enclosed.

All of those sound like it is door to door with full coverage ins. All of them most likely use multiple transports. They don't mention how long. Anybody have any info on either one.

[Sacbill]

I think the guys here in NorCal who get their Factory 5 cars from New England have used Stewart.  Here's a link to their site.

----------------
Currently playing on the Rock Show: Dustin Bentall - Crash Hard

[Shaun]

I used DAS when we moved from CA to MI 5 years ago.  Car arrived when they said and with no damage but it was pretty dusty.  I asked for an enclosed trailer and their reason for it being so dusty was that the yard next to them was having some construction/building work done on it and it was dust from that...

[silverblueBP]

FWIW, I haul my car to the track and have to travel 4 miles of gravel to get to pavement. If I don't cover the car (inside the trailer), it will get very dusty.

When I painted the inside of the trailer, I caulked & sealed every crack, but the dust still gets in.



Back to your original thread.

[AzPete]

FWIW, I haul my car to the track and have to travel 4 miles of gravel to get to pavement. If I don't cover the car (inside the trailer), it will get very dusty.

When I painted the inside of the trailer, I caulked & sealed every crack, but the dust still gets in.



Back to your original thread.

So are you saying that if I was going to hire you, I should expect a dirty car upon arrival?

[AzPete]

To those that have used transporters, did you deal directly with a trucking company or deal thru a broker? I am finding more brokers than actual direct company dealings.

[silverblueBP]

So are you saying that if I was going to hire you, I should expect a dirty car upon arrival?

No, I'd cover it!



It is tempting though, I don't have a whole lot going on right now.

[AzPete]

How tempted? I am finding prices around 12 to 1500 covered, 16 days delivery time. Plus insured for the bill of sale amount. I would buy the beer when you got it here too.............