How to Have Your Hot Rod or Project Car Transported the Right Way
You have a lot invested in your hot rod, so choosing how to have it transported is about more than just the costs involved.
People are odd when it comes to saving money. It’s the guy who buys the biggest, baddest engine he can afford then pairs it with a cheapo transmission that will never hold the power because “nobody sees it under the hood.” Imagine spending a small fortune buying or building a hot rod then shopping for the cheapest way to have it transported home or to an event. Would you hire a brain surgeon based on the cheapest price you can find? No way. You’d want a pro who has experience and who will stand behind their work. The same mindset should apply to hiring a company to move your pride and joy.
AI Quick Summary
Ensure safe transport of your hot rod by choosing experienced companies. Opt for enclosed transport for protection and avoid cut-rate services. Choose a reputable firm like Pilot Transport, consider vehicle storage, and avoid brokers to prevent issues.
This summary was generated by AI using content from this MotorTrend article
Read Next
0:00 / 0:00
The Growing Business of Transporting Hot Rods
In the way-back days, buying a new hot rod or project was a local deal. You figured out what you wanted and how much you could afford and looked in the local papers or car shows to find something close enough to work with. Today, thanks to the Internet, you can search for cars across the country and bid on cars in far-off auctions like Mecum or Bring-A-Trailer for the perfect ride. But when you buy a car that’s hundreds or thousands of miles away, you need to get it home safely. Enter auto transport companies.
Open or Enclosed Transport?
When it comes to moving a car, there are two basic routes to go: open carriers or enclosed. If we were going to ship a project car or the daily driver minivan then going with an open transport trailer could be a viable option. It’s the less expensive route, and there are more open transport trucks out there. Sometimes it’s the quicker way to get a vehicle moved, but your ride will be exposed to the elements and road debris during its journey. You wouldn’t transport a Ridler car via open transport any more than you’d pay to ship a beat Ford Fiesta by enclosed transport. Open transport can cost 50 percent of what enclosed transport would run. Open trailers typically chain down the vehicles, while an enclosed trailer uses soft straps. This is especially important for cars that are already nice and have detailed undercarriages. Transport by both types of carriers will also charge an additional fee if the vehicle doesn't run and must be pushed or pulled onto the trailer.
You Get What You Pay For
After you’ve decided whether you want an open or enclosed trailer, it’s time to find the company to make it happen. Again, you get what you pay for. Hiring some cut-rate, fly-by-night operation to move your car may work out, or it may not. Are they insured? Maybe. Even if they are, will you have any hope of filing a claim and getting paid for damages or loss? If you use a transport company like Pilot Transport, the people we use to move cars for events such as the HOT ROD Power Tour, you won't get the runaround if there’s a hiccup. Pilot has been around since 1988 and is part of a larger transport company, United Road, that moves millions of cars annually. While United Road focuses on the OEs, Pilot moves around 350,000 cars a year for enthusiasts just like you. It’s who we use to move Project X around.
Who Exactly Is Moving Your Car?
Using a broker to move your car is a lot like going to Vegas. When you contact many car transport companies, they post the transport job on an internet board and then someone chooses to do the job. Think of a subcontractor. Maybe you’ll get someone good, maybe not. We went this route once, and two guys in an older truck showed up to move a 2010 Camaro project car. When the car arrived, some of the carbon bits were cracked. We filed a claim, everyone pointed to someone else, and we never saw a dime. Lesson learned.
Special Trucks for Low Vehicles
The right tool for the right job applies to auto transport, as well. Some trailers, like the ones we often see at Pilot Transport, have flat lift gates that can load and unload the lowest of cars, like this 981 GT4 Porsche. Some enclosed trailers load more like an open trailer with ramps that could cause clearance issues for low cars but work great on cars that aren’t slammed to the ground. Talking with a reputable transport company like Pilot will ensure the right truck is assigned to move your car.
Vehicle Storage to Ensure Just the Right Timing
Larger carriers like Pilot will also have storage facilities to hold your car if timing is an issue, for example if you’re traveling or if the car needs to be at a show or an auction on a particular date. Pilot has a storage facility in Michigan and another in Phoenix that offers indoor climate-controlled secured storage instead of just some dusty lot out back.
Born and raised in Southern California I started as the technical editor for Popular Hot Rodding (PHR) magazine where I learned the business before moving over to work with Nick Licata, at Camaro Performers, as his tech editor. At PHR I built a 1968 Camaro called Bad Penny that was one of the earlier pro-touring cars that actually ran the track hard. We won the first Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational in 2008 and placed well several other years. At Camaro Performers we started several project cars and did a ton of tech. Eventually I was made editor of Vette magazine for a short time before being slotted to run Super Chevy magazine. Running the brands was fun, but I've always enjoyed being a technical writer more. So after more than 15 years I'm back to writing tech content, this time for the HOT ROD network. I enjoy being with my family, shooting, and working on my latest car, a 1969 Camaro called Tri Tip.
Read More