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Anyone shipped a classic car long-distance?

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heber stratton

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I’ve got a restored '69 Chevelle that I need to transport from Arizona to Florida. I’m super cautious about who I trust with it. I came across A1 Auto Transport while searching around, has anyone used them before for classic or vintage vehicles? Would love to hear if they take proper care with older cars like this. Any other recommendations are welcome too.
 
I see that there are no replies to your question.
My own experience is shipping a 1994 XJS from MA to CA.
It was only a parts car, so I didn't mind an 'open transport'.
I used a broker because I wanted to save money, $1500 door to door.
But it was so long ago I don't remember any of the details.
Is A1 a broker or are they the actual transporter?
I don't have any recommendations other than the ones I see on the classic car tv programs.
And that's nothing more than any advertisement.
What I would do is ask A1 for references.
Don't rely on Yelp or something like that.
You need to talk to the former customers.
 
I'll add from my limited experience that there can be a real difference between a broker that will contract out the transport, and a transport company that owns and runs their own trucks. If this is a valuable car I'd recommend a full transport company with enclosed trailers. More money, but more peace of mind. Someone like Reliable (no experience with them other than the ads). The kinds that transport the high dollar cars to auction. Pricey, but that's the best piece of mind
 
I have a friend in Northern California who offered to give me an
early Honda CRX,plus a parts car.I checked with Gary Duncan,who owns
Duncan Imports,who has a lot of really nice cars transported cross- country.
He checked with his shipper,& told that it'd be about $2,000 for one car.
I passed on it at that point.
It should also be cheaper to ship a car from East to West,as more vehicles
are shipped from West to East.
 
Over the past 15 years I have shipped cars several times.

- 38 Plymouth Rumble Seat Coupe from AZ to MA

- 60 MGA Coupe from IN to MA

- 76 Spitfire from TX to MA

- 60 AH Sprite from ID to MA

- 59 AH sprite from CA to MA

- 74 MGBGT from CA to MA

Always (except 1st time) used enclosed transport.

Most recently use Montway (broker), so didn't know who exactly will be coming for the car. S ome seem sketchy, others seem legit. All have worked out okay in the end.

Also have gone direct to carrier with Intercity Lines.

Either way, aways a little challenging on the final coordination with the actual driver. Major challange is actual vs intended pickup and dropoff date/time.

Never any real headache or issue with damage. Sometime a little dirty (or extremely dirty, w/ open transport).

I'd budget around 2 grand for a LBC to go cross country.
 
I've heard that it's cheaper from East to West,as most cars go from West to East.
That way they can get a back haul.
 
I had a TR4A transported from North Carolina to Northern Maine. I tried using a broker and while they came recommended and the price was reasonable, they could not tell me when the car would be picked up. The seller became impatient after several weeks of not knowing when the car would be picked up, so I moved on from the broker as they all had the same logistics - waiting for a transport to come available and one that would travel to Maine.

Between the seller and I we found a transporter (Bully Box Transports, Inc) who picked the car up the week I called and delivered it to Maine 2 days later unscathed in an enclosed trailer. They move a lot of high-end cars for a dealer ship in NC, like Ferrari's and the like and that's who gave us their name. Really responsive during the transport and let me know to the hour when they would arrive.

At first meeting them they seemed a bit sketchy as they travel with 4 Pitbull's in the back of their pickup, but they are really nice guys.

They have an Instagram page that gives the contact info and lots of pictures of the cars they have transported over the years.

The owner's name is Lloyd and are based out of Florida but travel the country.

Phone is: 321-890-9082

I can only say I used them once and had a very good experience, your mileage may vary.

DK
 
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