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MG TD TF 1500 - moving ideas

After 34 years in the frozen northland, I am finally retiring this year and returning to North Carolina where I can actually enjoy the RD year round. The question is how to get it there? I just got an online quote from "Reliable". I thought the $1,500+ quote was a little high. Anyone know of a less expensive option other than driving it from the Chicago area to Southeast North Carolina?
Bob McLeod TD 5618

bob, first..congratulations! so you are leaving god's country for the forsaken wasteland of north carolina? (illinois is god's land as no one else wants it.....just joking all my 56 years have been here in illinois)
it would be a beautiful drive..when do you have to go?
the price of diesel is high..wages, insurance, etc. the good, old line haulers are all going to be in that range for that trip.
if you can store it with a friend until it warms up...or if you don't have to go until it is warmer..i'd drive it.

regards, tom
tom peterson

You can rent a U-Haul car trailer......
J K Barter

Sorry, meant TD. I looked at a U-haul car hauler but I would need a pick up to pull it. Maybe I could find someone at work to do a one week swap.
Bob McLeod TD 5618

Hi Bob,
I finally realized that "snow" is a 4 letter word and that NC was the place to be. I waited for quite a few yrs before I could get a chance to move to NC, 25+ yrs ago, now. I got a chance for a job in the middle of the state, and then decided we'd retire here, so looked along the coast. We're in New Bern, and there is a nice group of LBC people that get together several times/yr for lunch, etc., at least 5-6 cars, often 10-12+. I hope you come to this area, and hope we can meet.

Al Parker
54 TF "Emma"

(there were several more cars out of the pic)

A W Parker

Door to Door teransport (roy@doortodoortransport.net) delivered my DT from San Diego to Gowensville (20 miles north of Greenville) SC in a closed trailer (big two-decker semi with several really spiffy other cars) for $1,250. I was very pleased with them. A picture of the delivery is attached.

J K Chapin

This is probably OT but since Bob is coming south to enjoy our year-round driving, don't do this. Beautiful clear sky and 60+ degrees so I decided to to head up to Tryon and Columbus. Did all the right things - checked the tires and all the fluids. Decided the oil was down about a cup so added some, shut the bonnet and took off. In Tryon I noticed some oil spots on the front fender. Never had oil leaks before so I was concerned. Opened her up and the cause was pretty apparent. After adding oil it's really a good idea to put the cap back on the valve cover! Nice oily engine compartment. Doh!! I was surprised at how little oil I lost but at least I know that some oil is getting to the top.
J K Chapin

Bob - I'm with Tom, drive the car down if you can wait until spring. We have twice taken our TD on 5000+ mile trips and the worst thing that happened was a fouled spark plug on one of the trips - five minutes to find the offending plug, one minute to clean and reinstall and were were back on the road. Cheers - Dave
Daved DuBois

I moved a my TD 550 miles from California to Oregon using a small U Haul and a tow dolly. Completely uneventful trip at 55 MPH and the car suffered no ill effects.

John Quilter (TD8986)

Does this board hate links??

Attempt three:
No experience, but, Read this:
www.yelp.com/biz/door-to-door-transport-coconut-creek

And:
The NY Times link in item three

Depressing!

FRM
FR Millmore

Bob, contact a local high end car dealership such as Mercedes or BMW. When ever we trade with another dealer we never drive the car but use a transport company.
david kirkpatrick

Bob, a TD responds beautifully to a tow bar. Seriously.
Bud



Bud Krueger

Bob
I've done it two ways....shipping, and U-haul trailer....
The U-haul was really easy to tow, but the car I was towing was an MGBGT, so weather wasn't a real issue...
U-Haul has light-weight aluminum trailers....One issue, is the distance between the ramps, so be sure your car will get on the ramps....the "B" was almost too small.
Cost was (2 days) $108, plus gas for my F150.
I also used an enclosed carrier, for the "T", and brought it down from Penn. to N.E. Georgia (on the North Carolina
State line)...Cost, two years ago, was $900.
Really good service...small private company.
See image.

Edward Wesson 52TD

Al, thanks for the invite. We did actually look at some homes in Morehead City but ended up buying a place in Wilmington. Looking at the internet, it looks like they have a very active British car club there. It's just hard to beleive I will be able to drive her year round!
Bob McLeod TD 5618

I've moved a couple of cars using InterCity and have been very pleased with them.

Whomever you choose, make sure they are picking it up at your door and delivering it at the other end in the same, enclosed truck.

In a recent transfer I left it to the moving company to move my MGA and they chose a company that picked the car up on a flatbed, stored it outside for several days, then put it on a truck, then back onto a flatbed and finally to my house. In the process it got soaked (roadster) and stayed soaked for about a week. It smelled of mold and mildew when I got it. Of course, that much handling introduces many more opportunities for damage. Lesson learned.

I don't think that quote is out of line. That's about what I paid from NC to TX last year, which would be about the same distance.
David Littlefield

I moved my TF from Portland to Seattle on the steel car sized flatbed that uhaul rents. The ramps were narrow enough (just barely) to get it up on the trailer. I pulled it with my Astro cargo van. I couldn't use overdrive because it would shift endlessly back and forth. I also found that 70mph posted speed limit was a bit to fast for me to go (van was having trouble maintaining that speed with the load) so I just kept it at 60 and she pulled right along.

Alex
Alex Waugh

Hi Bob,
Wilmington is nice, this time of yr about 5F warmer than us many days. We spent the weekend there 2 wks ago, and visit occasionally. Dock St. Oyster Bar for great oysters.
Yes, seems to be an active car group there. One lady, Edie I think, drove her TD up to Morehead City for a show last Spring. Usually 2 shows/yr in New Bern, 1 in Morehead. Hope to see you at one this yr. About 90 mi. between us.
Al
A W Parker

A word of caution! I live in NC now and if you are coming to NC - better to have all of the markers plates in place(no repros), ALL paperwork notorized and any/all documentation you can find on the car.
I am going through a very tough time trying to register a TD from NH which do not have titles for cars older than 15 years.
Michael O'Brien

Michael: I shouldn't have a problem (I hope!) I have a good clean Illinois title and Illinois antique plates.

However speaking on the NC DMV, when I lived there back in the 70's I had a neighbor that was a drivers license examiner. If someone came in to apply for a license and was illerate he would give the test orally.
He told me this old guy that could not read came in one day to take the test. He was doing quite poorly when they came to the question that said "name three places in North Carolina where you cannot pass". The old guy thought for a minute and said, "I couldn't pass in Charlotte or Raleigh and it doesn't look like I'm going to pass here!
Bob McLeod TD 5618

Hi again Bob,
Another thing about NC, 2 things actually:
1. If you register it as an antique, you can put almost anything on as a license plate, as long as you carry the antique plate with you. Some of the folks get a (reproduction) plate of the car's year, and use the car brand & model as the numbers. Or a (repro) vintage type English plate, with appropriate lettering.
2. If you are registered as an antique, your county vehicle tax can be based upon a value of $500, rather than the present value - if you request it. You will probably have to show evidence that you do use the car in public events occasionally, like shows, parades, etc.
And, like you say, you can use the car year-round in this great climate.
Al
54 TF "Emma"
A W Parker

Thanks Al..... Good information. I currently run an original 1951 Illinois license plate on the rear. On the front I had made a duplicate of my good friend's plate who lives in Scotland. Glad I can keep them.
Bob McLeod TD 5618

This thread was discussed between 09/02/2013 and 12/02/2013

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