Spider4me

I've bought a British car, heresy I know, in Washington DC that I need to get it shipped out to Portland OR. Its a non-runner, roller, and the back glass is out of it so its needs an enclosed trailer.
looking for someone who may have room for this TVR. I've tried the shippers and the websites, and not having much luck getting below $2000. Happy to pay reasonable expenses. Even getting close to Portland would help!

Thanks
neil

Spider4me

Still looking for help in bringing this to the west Coast. Anyone coming out this way to pick up a car and need help with Gas?
Thanks

77tony

Try open carry here: Tara@corporateautotransport.com W:503-995-5267 C: 503-995-5251

Spider4me

Thanks 77tony, but I need a closed trailer and have exhausted the professionals already.

Jerry Feather

There is some chance that I could work part of this into one of my trips. If you could get it as far as here to Grand Junction, Colorado, I have to make a trip to Spokane, WA for some parts, but I could pull my trailer and probably get your car to Portland from here. One problem is that pulling my trailer cuts my fuel consumption by a third from about 16 mpg to 10 mpg, and Spokane is just over 1000 miles from here, so an additional 200 or more miles on the end to Portland, then 1200 or so back home.

I had estimated the fuel cost with my truck only and the round trip would be about $350. The fuel cost for the round trip with your car and my trailer would be about $500. Then it will take one additional motel night. So, if you could get your car "piecemealed" to here some way, I would bring it the rest of the way for $400.

Just a thought.

alex70

That seems like a generous offer Mr. Feather.

I wish I could help.

Jerry Feather

It is perhaps an offer of nothing unless we can find about two more similar "legs" to the mission, one from DC to something like St Louis, and another from St Louis to here. Any takers?

Spider4me

Wow Jerry Thank you! let me see how I can coordinate. I believe I can get it to Michigan with the sellers help. Maybe a leg now to Colorado is all I need!
I'll PM my contact info Jerry. Thank you again for your offer!
neil

Jerry Feather

Michigan is something. However that will still leave a big chunk of the country in between there and here or even somewhere in Montana, to fill. However, that's some progress.

V2Rocket

Might sound crazy but...
If you have or know someone with a freight account you might be able to figure a way to ship the car LTL (in the back of a freight truck!).

I just did a quote on the UPS website from the UPS freight location in DC to their hub in Portland, without any discount (that any account would have) was $2300 and 5 days transit for 3000lbs class 70. UPS even advertises car-shipping service but don't know if that's how they do it...

Time to build a really big shipping crate...

Jerry Feather

I am thinking now that if it were me and I could get it to Michigan, I would be thinking about arranging the time off and renting or borrowing a truck and trailer and going there to get it myself. Portland to Detroit, for example, is about 2400 miles. At 10 miles to the gallon and $2.75 per gallon for fuel and three nights stay for $100 each suggests that it might be done for $1000 or a little less, not counting the missed work, and not counting the rental if the equipment can't be borrowed. Do you have any vacation time coming or perhaps accrued sick time?

Just a thought.

dr bob

Just followed what looked like an interesting British sports car on an open trailer. It was wrapped in blue plastic tarp and tied quite securely. No flapping. It suggests that your candidate could be moved on an open carrier if it's wrapped well. When I first read your post I immediately thought that a bit of that shrink film used for winter boat storage might be an option. Or a roll of plastic stretch wrap to cover at least the damaged sections.

All that said...

If I can't or don't want to pick up and drive a new toy home, the only option IMO is enclosed transport. Yes, it adds $2.5k to the project costs, but will easily help avoid many $k in casual damage and loss along the way. Go with a known reputable carrier and you have a good chance of receiving the car as it was loaded into the carrier.

Jerry's offer to pull it for essentially out-of-pocket costs is extremely generous.