Shipping my 71 Centurion

Discussion in 'The Bench' started by Smartin, Jan 6, 2003.

  1. Smartin

    Smartin Guest

    Does anyone have a connection for a good price on shipping a car from San Diego, CA to St. Louis, MO? All I can find are $1000 quotes...at the least.

    The convertible top is trashed and I don't really feel like flying out and driving it back, although it would probably make it.

    Any thoughts or suggestions?


    Adam
     
  2. Ken Mild

    Ken Mild King of 18 Year Resto's

    Hmmm. From the West coast it doesn't sound out of the ballpark. I shipped a 71 GS from NJ to NC a few years ago and it cost a little over $500.

    CA to MO is a MUCH farther distance.

    Have you called Horseless Carriage? They come to mind only because I always see their trucks around here. I think they have a base out of Paterson NJ but they are probabaly nationwide. They advertise in Hemmings. There is also a transporter around here called Precious Metals. I think they are in Cresskill NJ. But again, they might be nationwide too.

    All I can say is do some shopping around, which I'm sure you are already doing. :TU:
     
  3. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    The best way is to avoid the middle man broker and catch someone who is just adding you on to a load which is headed your way. If you are time flexible that will help. I would try the Bradshaws listed under my 11-15-02 post. They are based in cal and go back and forth. Search under "transporter" and negotiate for the lesser price based on being flexible.
     
  4. Smartin

    Smartin Guest

    yeah I've been pretty much calling everyone I see in the ads and I'm not really getting anywhere. The best prices are for open transport, but I really need to make sure the top is tarped well if I do that.
     
  5. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    Tarping will beat the hell out of your car!

    Jim Lore
     
  6. Smartin

    Smartin Guest

    I jsut called the people that Jim recommended...I need to call them back here in a few minutes to get the quote....

    they seem like very nice folks....we'll see.


    Jim - I really don't want to have to tarp that thing...I'd almost rather leave it open!:grin:
     
  7. Smartin

    Smartin Guest

    $1300!!


    Little more than I thought
     
  8. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    Tell them that you cannot afford that and ask them if they could add you on to the tail of an incomplete load. They have a big rig and haul Saleens for the factory so sometimes they will have to go not fully loaded. Also ask they for who they know based in San Diego.

    Otherwise you may have to go topless sans tarp.
     
  9. Smartin

    Smartin Guest

    Jim,

    Do you know the Bradshaws personally? If you do, it would help my case for me to tell them you referred me.
     
  10. tlivingd

    tlivingd BIG BLOCK, THE ANTI PRIUS

    cost of a new top

    ya know for the cost of a new top, a few hundred for a plane ticket and gas... you could drive her home...
    it would come out to about the same cost as transport. I'd keep a lil over a grand extra for bail out money. (incase something fails on the road) and it gives you a really nice story to tell people cause something crazy will always happen.

    mine was my rear brakes went out. and i found this out hitting traffic congestion in Tenn. I made it to kentucky with no rear brakes and had them fixed on a sunday for 20 bucks in less than an hr. a lil scary at first but it was a fun trip. oh yea and nothing like going cross country with the top down... its really nice when you look up cruzin at 50 or so and just see a blanket of stars.
    I also had a pretty decent sunburn I went 1200 miles in 2 days (woulda been one but brakes) and the top was down for 900 of them. (rain the other 300)

    It's what I did though I didn't need a new top.

    there is no top at all on it though? i mean even if its shoddy it should atleast keep most of the crud out. although you did mention it needed some rebuilding...

    Nate
     
  11. Smartin

    Smartin Guest

    I have debated the driving thing...but I really don't want to do it by myself for 1900 miles. And, it would cost me a load of cash to get hte top in owrking order before I could drive it out of San Diego. I'll call the Bradshaws and plead with them I talked to someone named Crystal...she said they couldn't really bend past the $1200 mark. ho hum. I have had a couple other quotes for about $1000.

    I just have to be patient.
    Although I am getting stir crazy without the car in my garage.

    Adam
     
  12. larrygs71

    larrygs71 Active Member

    Dependable Auto shippers. they charged me $700 to ship a 71 skylark from Reno to Detroit last spring. If you can find a auto shipper with a yard in the 2 locations , will help to keep cost down.
    Larry
     
  13. Smartin

    Smartin Guest

    I called Dependable Auto Shippers and they quoted me $875 for open transport...that was the best quote I had up to today.

    Today I called Automotive Transport, Inc and they quoted $625 for open transport! I just need to find a way to protect the interior of the car. It would be nice if they would have enclosed transport, but I'll see what options they have.


    Adam
     
  14. 68_riv

    68_riv Active Member

    DAS shipped my Riv from San Francisco to South Florida for around $800 terminal to terminal. About $150 more door to door. They did trash the paint on the roof though, but it was already weathered beyond saving so it didn't really matter. I would not use them again if the car was real nice.

    Keith
     
  15. dualqwad

    dualqwad ...just another lost soul

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