Transporting Pagoda cross country

[Graham]

We are thinking of transporting our Pagoda from the MidWest to Northern California during December. What moving companies or techniques do you recommend? Any other tips?

[seattle_Jerry]

Permanent move or just for the winter? It is about $1000 each way. I would look on ebaymotors I'm sure they have an FAQ on auto shipping. Your choice is open or closed container. Closed is way more money. If you are worried about your exterior put a thick coat of wax on and don't buff it off.

1967 230SL Havana Brown Auto with A/C

[Graham]

Thanks, Jerry. Permanent move. Did you mean $1000 for closed or open?

[RBYCC]

quote:Originally posted by Graham

We are thinking of transporting our Pagoda from the MidWest to Northern California during December. What moving companies or techniques do you recommend? Any other tips?

FedEx / Passport....owner operators, insured, modern equipment, probably run about $1200.00 enclosed. Pick up time varies based on proximity of a truck to your location.
I highly recommend...Thomas Sunday is another good enclosed car carrier service.


ED A.
1971 280SL
1988 300CE TWIN TURBO
1990 C43 AMG
2003 G55 AMG

[lurtch]

Hello Graham,  I can tell you who NOT to use - - and that would be Express Motor Transport ( I think they are headquartered in Cleveland ).

My horror story goes like this: I purchased my Pagoda using eBay from a older guy in Texas. I picked EMT by process of elimination after they quoted me a price of $ 975.00.  The vehicle was in Austin and I live in the SF Bay area. Two weeks after I had verified a sucessful pick-up in Austin I phoned them for a progress report. Their operator told me they had no idea where the car was!  It turned out that it had been shuttled between three different motor carriers and spent time sitting in transit yards in New Mexico and Los Angeles. It was three and a half weeks before I arrived at my house.   Proceed with caution - -

Regards,
                  Larry in CA

[66andBlue]

Graham,
there is a very good web site - almost kind of like ours here - [http://movingscam.com/] that you might want to consult.
Actual users rated DeMoise Trucking, Inc among the companies that do only car transports in enclosed vans as one of the best, if not the best [http://www.demoise.com/].  
According to some of the horror stories posted on that site - and as Larry experienced - avoid brokers who place your car on a "bulletin board" so truckers can bid on the job in a piecemeal fashion because the car might end up being moved by several different ones and you don't know when it will show up.
You might also asked your moving company whether they would move the car together with the household goods.  

Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic

[seattle_Jerry]

I have shipped two cars in open carriers one from Tacoma, WA to St. Louis, the other from somewhere in the midwest to Tacoma. Both were around the $1000 mark. Not that bad when you consider driving yourself would cost you 250 bucks for a motel plus another couple hundred in gas, not to mention your time.

1967 230SL Havana Brown Auto with A/C

[Kenneth Gear]

I have used Intercity Van Lines twice.  While expensive, they are good to deal with and take excellent care of the cars while in transport through owner/operaters and modern equipment.




Ken G
1971 280 SL Silver/red
1969 BMW 2800 (sedan)

[mdsalemi]

Graham,

When my car was the basket case prior to restoration, Intercity was the carrier from NY to Grand Rapids.

Fedex/Passport offers a discount to MBCA members.  Contact me if interested.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
President, International Stars Section
Mercedes-Benz Club of America

[Graham]

Many thanks to everyone who gave such helpful advice.
This is a great Forum.

[saygold]

We have relocated to the Denver area and am looking for updated information about transporting my 230SL from the Seattle area to here.  Does anybody have any new positive or negative comments on transport companies?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Ken
1966 230SL (euro, 4-speed)

[Graham]

I used FedEx Passport with no trouble - prompt, thorough, careful to document the condition of the car and transport it in a covered truck. Probably not the cheapest but no problems.

[Richard Madison]

In October 2007 Monstar Auto Transport 877 966-6782 carried a 280SL in a covered van with efficiency and reasonable price.

Monstar provided the driver's cell number so I could monitor the progress and give drop off directions.

Monstar, like most transporters, is a Consolidator. Monstar gets your specs then finds a driver going your way. The better consolidators  have a stable of carefully vetted and reliable truckers.
 
Web site is http://www.monstarautotransport.com/

Richard M, NYC

[J. Huber]

Hey Ken. Looking at the Google Map, it looks like a nice, scenic Spring/Summer roadtrip!

James
63 230SL

[saygold]

Thanks for all your help and comments.  I would have forgotten about disconnecting the battery.  The suppliers always ask if the car runs...  

Does anybody have any opinion on classifying a car as a classic compared to a car/sedan?  There appears to be some cost difference between the two.

James, it would be a great drive - up over Snoqualme Pass, on to Pendleton, Oregon and down through Boise.  The option to go to SLC and then through Utah and Colorado or up through Wyoming and down.  All it would take is the time.  I have had the opportunity to drive on sections of this road in the MB at different times.  I have been living in Vancouver, BC for the last two years.  I could not find a safe place to store it, so I left it with my daughter.  At least she is old enought to take some care of my car.  However, I need to work on it a bit before I drive it very far.

Again, thanks for your help.  

Ken
66 230SL (euro, 4-speed)