Need Vehicle Shipping Help

[filmsurgeon]

E-Body Friends,

I have purchased a 1970 Challenger Convertible located 2 hours North of Detroit, MI.  I need to move the car to Los Angeles, CA.  My problem is the difficulty I am having in choosing a reputable and honest vehicle shipper.  Any past experiences to report or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.  The distance is 2,300 miles.  I will insist on enclosed, door-to-door service.  I would also consider independent single vehicle haulers.  Another option would be to move it myself as long as I could rent a truck and an enclosed single vehicle hauler one way from Detroit to Los Angeles.  Any suggestions?  I am not having much luck locating a rental company to meet my needs.

Thanks for your help.

[Tropicalcats]

Have you tried these guys?
http://www.theautotransporters.com/

[filmsurgeon]

Thanks for the reply.  I am not really interested in going through shipping companies that primarily act as brokers.  My true preference is to do a "one-way" rental on a truck and single car enclosed vehicle trailer and haul the car back myself.  I can't find a single company that offers this.  Again, the second preference would be a shipper that specializes in collector, antique and classic car transport.

Anyone's help is greatly appretiated.

[hemi71]

Look up "Enclosed Auto Transport" I know they run ads in hemmings. I've used them twice, first rate haulers, but not the cheapest. biggest rigs they have hold 2 cars.

[ChallengerHK]

Hemming's Motor News is nothing but classified ads for auto enthusiasts.  There are usually a few pages of auto transport companies.  You should be able to pick up Hemmings at any Borders or Barnes and Noble. I've never used such a service, so I can't recommend any from experience.

[FM3V6M]

Joe, try Reliable Carriers, always prompt with no complaints, I've used them about 5 or 6 times.  Should cost you about $1600 from Detroit to LA. Greg.

www.reliable-carriers.com (sorry too retarded to do the link thing)

[filmsurgeon]

Thanks Greg.  Others have recommended this company as well.  I will seriously consider them.

[Oldschool]

I don't know if this would work for you or not, but if you have the ability to pull a trailer, you can rent open car haulers at U-Haul. I think they are about $20.00 - $25.00 per day.  You could drive there and rent the trailer one way.  If you need a truck to pull it, fly there and rent a pick-up from a rental car company and rent the trailer and pull them home and turn them in where you live.  Take a big tarp with you to wrap the car in and you're on your way.......        

[Triple Black hemi]

Passport-Transportaion now owned by Fedex is very good......I've used them over five times and never had an issue.  The drivers are owner operators of their rigs.

[74MOPAR]

 Passport is pretty expensive compared to some others, but maybe they offer superior service ?

 U-haul will cost closer to $50 a day, plus you'll get hit up for their "minor damage insurance"  , and they will charge you extra for a 1-way trip.

 I could not find anyone who offers an enclosed trailer for rent.

[filmsurgeon]

Again, thanks for the continued responses.  I am concerned about using the U-Haul trailer.  The car is a show winning resto-mod convertible with an appraised value of at least 90K.  I would like to use an enclosed trailer that can be locked.  I would be concerned about the tarp flapping against the car's show winning paint job if I used an open U-Haul trailer.  I find it hard to believe that rental companies don't offer enclosed car haulers.  One would think that there's a huge market for that.  I would be willing to incur the one way rental surcharges in exchange for handling the transport myself.  I'm probably looking at between $1,600.00 and $2,300.00 for premium transport services in an enclosed multi vehicle trailer with an independent carrier.  I have been to Passport-Transportation's website and they look pretty reputable but thought I had read of some problems by customers.
Continued responses are priceless and greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[JS27N0B]

reliable hauls all of the Vipers to dealerships, seem very professional when they have been at our store.  I have seen mackie transport advertise in the Canadian Auto Trader publication.

BTW, I can't believe I'm the first to say this.

[filmsurgeon]

Sorry for not posting any pictures yet JS27N0B.  Technically, I don't own the car until the title is transferred.  Long, tedious process buying an out of state vehicle.  BTW, the car I've purchased is a JH27N0B (originally 3-spd, now Hemi 4-spd) with a 360 block, stroked to 383 cid with a Gen VII, Digital Fuel Injection, Dyno'd at 516 HP @6K RPM and 529 lb/ft torque @4200 RPM.  Not yet savvy enough with this site to post pictures, but I'll try.  Mackie Transport also came recommended when I was entertaining the purchase of a JS29N0B, 4-spd in Toronto.

Thanks again.

[JS27N0B]

JS29N0B, 4-spd in Toronto.

Thanks again.

Car looks great!

Was this JS29 car B7 Blue?

[filmsurgeon]

Yes, the car was blue.  But I thought the paint code was B5.  Here's the picture of that car (now sold) and another picture of my convertible.