I have just bought a 1966 600 in Portland, Oregon. I want to drive it to Tampa, Florida and ship it from there to Europe. Can anyone help with the exact dimensions and weight for shipping. Also I need to get insurance for the drive across the US. My European insurance will not cover me in the US. Any and all tips welcome.

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'66 W100 600 SWB
'05 W463 G55K AMG
'91 W126 500SEL
'93 W463 300GDL
'84 W460 280GES
'83 W460 300GDL
'66 W111 220SEb Coupe
'58 W121 190
'58 W180 220S
Have previously owned '99 SL600, '99 ML320, '79 450SLC, '79 450SEL 6.9 x 2, '68 600, '91 190E 1.8, '90 190E 2.0, '85 190, '90 500SL, '92 500SEL, '97 E300Turbodiesel, '91 300D, '72 280S, '82 300D, '81 300SD, '85 230E, '56 220a and I'm sure I'm forgetting some.

Wow, what a great trip!

I snapped a photo of the tech specs for the 600 from an original sales brochure set I own. It should be valid for 1964-1968 models.

http://pics.tomguy.info/shared/600.jpg

You should contact some of the collector car insurers in the US and see about coverage. I have Hagerty. They might be able to assist you with insurance but I don't know. Good luck!

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

Thanks for that. All the info I need there. Biggest stumbling block now is Insurance to drive the car. Anyone have a helpful broker?

I use state farm. Try agent in Portland with last name Van Horn. They may be able to help you out.

If you don't have a US driving license, that may be an issue. Make sure you have at least an international driving license. I was not allowed to rent a car in Europe with "just" a US driving license.

Sounds like a great trip!

FYI, I had some good experiences many years ago with shipping a couple of cars to Europe from Jacksonville, Florida.

Bert

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'70 111 280SE/c 3.5 (4 spd manual) - sold
'63 MGB
'73 MGBGT V8

I'm now waiting on a quote from Savannah to Southampton roll-on-roll-off, no other movements. Have a quote from Schumacher Cargo, Miami to Thamesport (London) at US$1500 plus US$1500 all-risks insurance, sounds pretty good to me. That's in a container. Contacted Hagerty for insurance. Apparently they do "Touring" insurance in the the US for us Euros. Waiting for their quote. This is coming together. Plan is to fly to San Franciso March 17th, Portland 18th, and six or seven days with a co-driver to the East Coast. 2900 miles in a straight line or 3400 via San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Albequerque and Memphis. Still evolving. Will keep you all posted.

And I must get my international licence. About $50 of paperwork. And Jacksonville is on the radar as a loadport. Many thanks for the tips.

I would go for San Francisco, Vegas, Durango, for the South West leg of the trip. Skip LA and Albequerque - both are not very notable in my mind. Durango is a fun town and located in the southern part of the Rockey Mountains. ABQ is a desert and not as entertaining. The shipping quote is very reasonable.

Be sure to post photos for us when you get a chance. Good luck.

Hey.These are exactly the type of tips I need. Many thanks. No real interest in LA over even LV. Just looking for nice weather.

I have used HUAL before from Jacksonville, but that was 5 years ago. RORO was about 40%+ cheaper than container. Never had damage. Heard some horror stories of folks who put car in container and had serious damage due to loading/unloading/swinging of container. Worst that RORO can do is bumper dents, in my opinion.

Very important tip for you: make sure you add good attachment brackets and/or show where the shipper has to put the chains on the car for securing it. I have had several MGs shipped (both ways) and ALWAYS added extra towing brackets under the bumpers (four total) and hung labels under each saying "attach here". Worked great. Never had damage. Otherwise, you may get a chain slung around a rear axle that will pinch/crush a brake or fuel line. Or they don't chain it down well enough and now it moves and starts getting dents in bumpers.

On the MB, see whether you can add some (custom) metal brackets with large holes that you can bolt under the regular bumper brackets. Now you have 4 attachment points where they can chain your car without any way the chain will rub or pinch anything. It's worth the effort.

Good luck,

Bert

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'70 111 280SE/c 3.5 (4 spd manual) - sold
'63 MGB
'73 MGBGT V8

I can't figure how they would get a car this size into and out of a container without damage, and that's before lifting on and off. I'm told by friends in the shipping business that Wallenius-Wihelmsen RORO is guaranteed drive on and off and no further movements. So hoping for a reasonable quote. I can't book flights etc. until this is sorted.

take a look at www.m-100.cc, the international M100 club. We have members in portland, as well as a safety net along the way in case you need help. Other members have shipped cars, so advice should be available from both sides of the Atlantic.

Silly question, other than the fact that it's a fun ride, why not just ship the car from Portland?

Also, if you're doing this drive in June, put Endicott, NY on your map, since that is where we're having our annual meet. There will be a group of drivers going cross country at that time.

Thx -CTH

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- cth350@gmail.com
http://www.111lakeside.com/

If you are in orlando on the 30th you have to come to the central fl spring get together..

I know about the M-100 club. I would have joined years ago, but there is no online option (?). This will be my second 600, and I've also had two 6.9's. No 6.3 yet, but I did have a W108 280S which came free with the first 600. I could ship the car from Portland for just $200 more, but this is the chance of a lifetime for me to drive across your fine country. Ireland is just 300 miles by 150 miles or so. Also the timing is dictated by my four kids being off school for Easter holidays. My wife plans to load up the Grand Voyager, fill it with DVD's and visit all her friends and relations here while I'm away. Besides...I just can't wait. When I decide on the final route and dates I'll post it hear. Planning to leave Portland on March 19th.

You need to drive through the red woods national park in northern California along the way. Another great spot (if you have the time) is San Simion & Hearst Castle. Another great spot would be the Grand Canyon. They are planning a controlled flood of the canyon about the time that you are going to be here. That is an event that has not occurred since they completed the Hoover Dam. It would be great to see the flood gates at 100% flow - probably something that will not happen again.

The biggest problem that I can foresee is the lack of time to do everything! We can give you some other pointers on good spots if you like. What other kind of stuff do you want to see?