What Counts as an Antique Vehicle?

The Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) defines antique vehicles as those at least 25 years old, but in practical terms — and certainly in shipping terms — antique typically refers to pre-1945 vehicles: Brass Era cars (1896-1915), Vintage Era cars (1916-1929), and Pre-War classics (1930-1945). These are vehicles where the engineering, materials, and construction methods are dramatically different from modern cars. They have wooden frame components, cloth wiring harnesses, mechanical brakes (not hydraulic), starting cranks (not electric starters in some cases), wooden-spoke or wire-spoke wheels, and unique fuel systems with mechanical or gravity-fed gas.

At Heartland Auto Transport, antique vehicle shipping is one of our most carefully handled specialties. The carriers we work with for antique transport are typically the same drivers who serve major antique auctions (RM Sotheby's, Bonhams, Gooding & Company), the AACA Eastern Fall Meet in Hershey, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, and the Amelia Island Concours. These are not generalist drivers.

Antique Vehicles We Regularly Ship

Brass Era and pre-war vehicles we transport include: Ford Model T (1908-1927) and Model A (1928-1931); Cadillac Series 75, V-12, V-16, and Sixty Special; Packard 120, 180, and Twelve; Pierce-Arrow Model 12; Duesenberg Model J, SJ, and SSJ; Lincoln K-Series, Continental Mark I; Auburn 851 and 852 Boattail Speedster; Cord 810 and 812; Buick Roadmaster, Limited, and Skylark; Chrysler Imperial Airflow and CL Custom Imperial; Pontiac Eight; Bugatti Type 35, 41, 57, and Royale; Bentley 3.5 Litre, 4.25 Litre, R-Type, S-Series; Rolls-Royce Phantom I, II, III, and IV; Silver Ghost, Silver Wraith, Silver Cloud; Mercedes-Benz 540K, 770K (Grosser); Hispano-Suiza H6 and J12; Delahaye 135M and 175S; Talbot-Lago T150 and T26; Alfa Romeo 8C 2300, 8C 2900; Stutz Bearcat and Blackhawk; Marmon Sixteen; Studebaker President and Commander.

How Antique Transport Differs from Classic Transport

Antique vehicle shipping has additional considerations beyond classic car shipping.
  • Pre-electric starter operation: Many Brass Era cars require hand-cranking to start. Drivers need to know this in advance to plan loading.
  • Mechanical brakes: Pre-1933 vehicles often have mechanical (cable) brakes rather than hydraulic. They behave differently than modern cars when being moved on a trailer.
  • Wood frame components: Many pre-war cars have wood framing in doors, body panels, and roof structures. These are sensitive to humidity and temperature changes during transport.
  • Cloth wiring: Pre-war wiring uses cloth insulation that can ignite if abraded. Carriers must avoid placing tie-downs near wiring runs.
  • Gravity fuel systems: Some early antiques use gravity-fed fuel from cowl-mounted tanks. These can leak when the vehicle is at unusual angles on the trailer.
  • Crank-operated windows and primitive convertible tops: Pre-war convertible mechanisms are fragile. Drivers know not to operate them during transit.
  • Original tires and tubes: Antique tires may be display-only and unable to roll for sustained periods. We accommodate this with proper loading equipment.
  • Documentation chain-of-custody: Many antiques have AACA, CCCA, or other club judging documentation that must be preserved during transit.

Antique Vehicle Shipping Cost

Antique vehicle transport is the highest tier of vehicle shipping. Pricing reflects the specialized equipment (lift-gate enclosed trailers exclusively), specialty carrier experience, and the value of the cargo. Realistic prices from Alabama: Birmingham to Hershey PA (Model A Ford, enclosed) $1,500-$1,800, Mobile to Pebble Beach (Duesenberg Model J, single-car enclosed) $4,500-$6,000, Huntsville to Amelia Island (1932 Packard, enclosed) $1,400-$1,800, Montgomery to RM Sotheby's auction (Bugatti Type 35, single-car enclosed) $3,500-$5,000, Tuscaloosa to Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum (Cord 812, enclosed) $1,200-$1,500. Most antique shipments warrant single-car enclosed transport for both value reasons and operational flexibility (the carrier's schedule is dictated by your vehicle, not other cars on the trailer).

Concours, Auction, and Museum Transport

Heartland Auto Transport regularly delivers antique vehicles to: Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance (the premier event of the year for antiques); Amelia Island Concours; AACA Eastern Fall Meet in Hershey PA; AACA Grand Nationals; the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival; the Concours of America; RM Sotheby's auctions (London, Monterey, Amelia, Hershey); Bonhams Quail Lodge auction; Gooding & Company Pebble Beach auction; the Pierce-Arrow Society and Packard Automobile Classics events; museum loans and acquisitions (Henry Ford Museum, Petersen, AACA Museum, NB Center, Mullin); and private estate transfers and inheritance transports. We coordinate with concours staff, auction houses, and museum curators to ensure proper handling, on-time arrival, and pristine presentation.