5 Quick Things to Know About uShip

by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog

Over the years, uShip has been helping clients across the globe find the best auto shipping companies.

The company stands out from the rest because it’s relatively easy to use and gives customers control over price. More importantly, uShip offers a $500 guarantee to cover theft and damages if they occur.

Although the company is known for easy access and mobile tracking features, there are five more things you need to know about uShip. You can also read uship reviews to learn more.

uShip Is Not a Carrier

uShip is an online market platform established in 2003 to connect shipping companies with potential customers. The company has its headquarters in Austin, Texas. Many customers prefer transacting with uShip for the following reasons.

• The platform has a vast shipping network that connects customers with 788,000 carriers.
• It reduces research time for potential customers, allowing them to list their shipments and have independent movers bid for their business.
• Besides vehicle shipping, uShip also helps you ship household items, animals, heavy equipment, and many more.

Coverage Options

uShip doesn’t cover cars in its regular insurance. Its coverage is specifically for household items. So if you want to ship with them, you’ll have to do the legwork yourself of verifying if your carrier is insured. However, it has a $500 guarantee for stolen or damaged shipments.

Getting a Quote

It is relatively easy to get a quote from uShip’s website. First, visit the company’s quote tool, which will ask you some basic questions such as your car’s model and year of manufacture and your destination.

After filling the form, uShip will connect you with its network of carriers. Any potential shipper will then email you their quotes requesting to offer their services.

Shipping Costs

Here are the factors that determine the shipping price for your vehicle:

• The precise pickup and drop-off location
• The size and model of the car
• If the car is functional or not
• The time of year
• How quickly the customer needs the car transported

Instead of referring you back to the uShip calculator, this guide shows a range of their prices.

uShip Vehicle Shipping Services

uShip allows customers to list their cars, select the company they want, and then coordinate the shipping process through the contacts accessible on the uShip platform. Below are the shipping services to expect:

• Open transport: It’s the cheapest option. However, your car is exposed to bad weather and debris when being transported.
• Enclosed shipping: It’s costlier as it protects the vehicle from bad weather conditions and dirt.
• Home delivery service: Your vehicle is dropped to the closest area of your home.
• Terminal to terminal transport: Ensures the car is shipped to particular terminals instead of your home or workplace.
• Car-hauling service: Transports your vehicle together with others to reduce shipping costs.
• Single-car shipping: You can choose between an open or a closed trailer.
• Expedited car shipping service: This begins 24 to 48 hours after placing your order.

Note that uShip doesn’t vet its network of carriers thoroughly. The platform doesn’t require the shippers to provide Department of Transportation numbers or any insurance registration numbers. Therefore, it is up to you to thoroughly vet the carrier of your choice to avoid inconveniences.

The Bottom Line

The company has been in the shipping space since 2003, and therefore it has proven industry experience. You don’t have to call carrier services one after another; uShip can connect you to its vast network of carriers.

Restored classics and those from long-term ownership confirmed for The Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show Sale this weekend

by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog

• A truly fabulous example of the 1986 Porsche 911 3.2 SSE Coupe from long term ownership
• 1987 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth offered from 30 years of current ownership
• A freshly restored 1970 Jaguar E-Type Series 2 4.2 Fixed Head Coupe
• 1989 Jaguar XJ-S Convertible with just one owner from new

The catalogue for Classic Car Auctions (CCA) forthcoming sale has a fantastic line up; with 130 cars, including a number of restored classics as well as those from long-term ownership.

The auction, The Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show Sale 2021, is taking place at Stoneleigh Park this Saturday, on 25^th September. One of the stand-out entries is a truly fabulous 1986 Porsche 911 3.2 SSE Coupe which has been owned by the vendor for an incredible 32 years. The UK-supplied example is smartly presented in Black with a grey leather pinstripe cloth interior and has just over 70,000 miles on the clock – estimated at £70,000 – 80,000.

Also offered from significantly long-term ownership is this 1987 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth, which has been with the vendor for the past 30 years. Classically finished in Diamond White with a grey cloth Recaro interior, it has been sympathetically upgraded with a full Scorpion stainless exhaust, a Stage 1 remap and upgraded turbo actuator with the work carried out by Brooklyn Ford’s RS Department. The 65,000-odometer reading is supported by a large history file and this modern classic is estimated at £50,000 – 60,000.

Gary Dunne, CCA’s Sales Manager commented “We are delighted to welcome bidders into the auction hall here at Stoneleigh Park from Wednesday 22^nd, through to the morning of the auction on the 25^th. This is a fantastic opportunity to view and inspect any cars or interest as well as their all-important history files. We have put together another fantastic catalogue of cars and if you can’t join us in person, we are still offering online and telephone bidding – so you can bid from anywhere in the world.”

A number of Jaguars will cross the block on Saturday, including this freshly restored 1970 Jaguar E-Type Series 2 4.2 Fixed Head Coupe. Factory finished in Pale Primrose; it has recently benefited from a photo-documented ground-up restoration. Estimated at £45,000 – 50,000, the standard of work is superb, with a smart black interior and an immaculate engine bay.

This 1989 Jaguar XJ-S Convertible will be offered for sale from its sole owner from new; supplied new to them on 29^th September 1989! Finished in Westminster Blue over Oatmeal leather, this much-loved car has had investment over the years, including work by marque specialists, Swallows. Estimated at £23,000 – 26,000, this car’s story was told in the Jaguar Enthusiasts Magazine in October 2018.

Bidding for the sale can be done in the auction hall in person at Stoneleigh Park, or alternatively from home via phone, online or commission. To register to bid, contact Classic Car Auctions on 01926 640888 or email bid@classiccarauctions.co.uk prior to the auction day.

Images
1986 Porsche 911 3.2 SSE Coupe
1987 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
1970 Jaguar E-Type Series 2 4.2 Fixed Head Coupe
1989 Jaguar XJ-S Convertible

Forthcoming Auctions
Saturday 25^th September – The Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show Sale
Saturday 11^th December – The December Sale

Links
Website: http://www.classiccarauctions.co.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/classiccarauc
Facebook: www.facebook.com/classiccarauc

About Classic Car Auctions (CCA)
Classic Car Auctions (CCA) is a specialist auction house for the sale of ‘Everyman’ classic cars; offering enthusiasts the opportunity to buy an impressive selection of iconic classic cars from across the eras.

Created in 2015 by the highly respected team from Silverstone Auctions and now an established business itself; we have a consistent sales rate of over 75% for the last three years and have proudly sold over £15,000,000 worth of cars during the same period. 

The majority of our sales are held in and around Warwickshire. Here our sales average a total of £1.5 million, with hundreds of dedicated buyers attending the one-day sale of approximately 150 cars each time. We are also established at the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show which is held annually at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham, where we have been the official auction partner for the last three years. 

At CCA our aim is to make buying and selling a classic car as easy and as straight-forward as possible. Our dedicated team of knowledgeable classic car specialists will provide sellers with honest and realistic estimates, combined with worldwide marketing and well-presented sale days which will help your car achieve a great price. We offer buyers a fantastic selection of affordable classic cars presented with extensive information and detailed condition reports along with low buyer’s fees.

If you’d like to know more about buying or selling a classic car with Classic Car Auctions, call us today on 01926 640888 or email enquiries@classiccarauctions.co.uk.

Embrace environmental challenge so classic vehicles aren’t forgotten, urges new HCVA chief

by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog

The newly appointed leader of the Historic and Classic Vehicles Alliance today (21/9/21) urges the industry and enthusiasts to embrace the challenge of the green agenda.

Garry Wilson, who becomes the HCVA’s first CEO says: “A big part of the job will be making sure the sector has a share of the voice as part of the UK automotive industry and heritage sector”.

“I think we need to embrace the environmental challenge and work with legislators to identify solutions – while at the same time demonstrating very clearly the environmental credentials of the classic movement”.

“How can we help the sector become environmentally cleaner, whilst highlighting how it is ALREADY environmentally friendly?”

Garry, 58, is determined the campaigning group, which launched just four months ago, will collaborate with other classic and historic organisations and across the automotive world to ensure policy makers and regulators understand the sector’s priorities and concerns.

He says: “We have to work in partnership with the mainstream motor industry and motorsport to achieve sustainable results. We have to get our voice out there so that our £18.3billion industry is on people’s minds.”

A perfect fit for the HCVA leadership role, Garry is looking forward to meeting members and hearing their views. He began his motor industry journey as a Rover Group graduate trainee in the mid-1980s working his way through various engineering and managerial jobs over 13 years. His post Rover career has included an impressive range of senior roles in automotive sector engineering, innovation, manufacturing and supply businesses.

Recently he’s played a key part in managing the transformation the sector is undergoing helping to establish the Driving the Electric Revolution Industrialisation Centre and the Advanced Propulsion Centre which facilitates funding to UK-based projects developing low-carbon emission technologies.

“The automotive industry has been my life for more than 35 years. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to deliver positive impact – not short term, but genuinely sustainable impact – for a sector I am passionate about,” says the Herefordshire based father of two. “Classics, historics and motorsport – are my passion, but I’m no dyed in the wool petrolhead. On electrification I appreciate both sides of the argument and absolutely believe there should be room for both electric and ICE vehicles now and into the future. I want to work with others to ensure a future that allows both to thrive. For the past seven years I’ve been working in industry helping to establish the Driving the Electric Revolution Industrialisation Centre and the Advanced Propulsion Centre. What I hope to do now is bring the same thinking, the same energy and commitment to the classic sector.”

Current daily driver is a BMW 5 series, Garry owns or has owned an impressive selection of classics. He describes himself as a ‘neo-Classic guy’. Pride and joy is a 1969 Rover P5B coupe. The new CEO also speaks fondly of a 20 year old BMW Z3 2.8, a 25 year old Land Rover Defender and identifies rallying in a 1980s MG Metro 6R4 as ‘my big passion’. He is a qualified off-road driving instructor, an advanced motorcyclist and holds a motorsport competition licence.

On the task ahead he says: “The big challenges are the immediacy of E10, classics registration, the general movement away from fossil fuels and the development of synthetic fuels. And, of course the skills challenge is a huge issue in the UK at the moment, particularly from the perspective of the age demographics. I’m a big admirer of the Heritage Skills Academy and I want to work with them to enhance the work they are doing”.

“I’m a firm believer in two-way electrification – when you take out an engine and a fuel tank from one of the UK’s heritage vehicles and replace it with an electric power system you should do it in a way that allows an owner to reverse the process later if they need to. It shouldn’t be one way only.”

HCVA Advisory Board chair Julian Barratt said: “It’s great to have a CEO of Garry’s energy and experience on board. I look forward to working with him very closely on our campaigns for the benefit of our members and the classic vehicle world we all care deeply about”

The ‘not for profit’ alliance was launched in May with a mission to protect and promote the sector and secure its long-term future. It campaigns on behalf of individuals and companies in the classic vehicle world including specialist restorers, dealers, parts suppliers and a broad cross section of the multi-billion-pound industry.

In just four months HCVA has built a strong membership base across the industry, owners and enthusiasts. It has attracted widespread publicity in mainstream and specialist media and gained the support of politicians, campaigners and leading industry and motorsport figures. Amongst the HCVA’s early achievements is to open a new dialogue with the DVLA to seek solutions to the problem of issuing of original or age-related registrations. It has also led campaigning to raise awareness of challenges around the introduction this month of E10 fuel.

The sector’s contribution to the UK economy is huge. Annual turnover including substantial international trade is estimated at £18.3 billion, the three-million-strong British classic fleet is valued at over £12 billion and annual tax revenue generated for the exchequer is close to £3 billion.

The trade, in which British craft skills and engineering excellence lead the world, supports around 113,000 jobs in thousands of specialist small businesses and supply chain firms. It also provides training places and apprenticeship schemes, giving opportunities to young people.

Web: www.hcva.co.uk – Twitter: @hcvauk – Instagram – hcvauk

Lotus reveals pioneering ‘blueprint’ for next generation of electric sports cars

by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog

• World premiere for innovative new lightweight EV structure
• Developed through Project LEVA research programme, rear structure is 37% lighter than on Lotus Emira V6
• Will be integrated into Lotus electric sports car architecture
• Versatile architecture supports multiple layouts, wheelbase lengths, battery sizes and configurations – view an animation at media.lotuscars.com 
• Technology on display at Cenex LCV event on 22/23 September

Just weeks after Lotus confirmed it will be launching a new family of EV performance cars, it has given a world premiere to the innovative new lightweight chassis technology that will underpin the electric sports car in the range.

The new structure has been developed through Project LEVA (Lightweight Electric Vehicle Architecture), announced last October by Lotus. Project LEVA is a research programme that’s accelerating the development of all-new lightweight structures for next-generation battery electric vehicles.

Today Lotus can reveal it’s this structure developed through Project LEVA which will be integrated into the company’s new architecture for electric sports cars. Thanks to the innovation of Lotus and the Project LEVA partners, the rear structure is 37% lighter than it is on the Lotus Emira V6. It means Lotus now has the ‘blueprint’ for the next generation of electric sports cars, for future Lotus products and for the Lotus Engineering consultancy to commercialise.

The Project LEVA lightweight chassis technology is being shown at the Low Carbon Vehicle event staged by Cenex, the UK’s Low Carbon and Fuel Cells Centre of Excellence, at Millbrook Proving Ground, Bedfordshire, UK, on 22/23 September.

A new animation from Lotus reveals how the technology will form part of the new electric sports car chassis, illustrating the versatile nature of this all-new Lotus-developed vehicle architecture. It is fully adaptable to provide a platform for a range of EVs with variable layouts, wheelbase lengths, battery sizes and configurations.

As the animation shows, all three layouts feature a common lightweight die-cast rear sub-frame with multiple interchangeable components. This is the Project LEVA innovation, and it means a single vehicle architecture can accommodate two different types of battery configurations:

• ‘Chest’ layout, where the modules are stacked vertically behind the two seats. A chest layout is a ‘mid-mounted power pack’, ideal for sports car / hypercar vehicle types where a low overall ride height and low centre of gravity are required, and as seen on the Lotus Evija pure electric hypercar.
• ‘Slab’ layout, where the modules are integrated horizontally under the cabin. This is most suitable for vehicles where a higher ride height and a taller overall profile is required. It is often referred to as a ‘skateboard power pack’ layout.

The innovative new subframe features cylindrical battery cells for high energy density, with the option of a single or twin electronic drive unit (EDU) to support. Cold cure, spot bonding and advanced weld processes mean reduced environmental impact during assembly.

This unique degree of flexibility and modularity in wheelbase and propulsion solutions will be the genesis for a wide variety of electric vehicle applications. These could be for the eagerly anticipated Lotus electric sports car – scheduled for launch in 2026 – as well as for third-party clients through Lotus Engineering.

Funding for the project came in part from the Advanced Route to Market Demonstrator programme (ARMD). Awarded by the UK Government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the programme is delivered on behalf of the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) by Cenex.

Richard Moore, Executive Director, Engineering, Lotus Cars, commented: “Project LEVA and the electric sports car architecture are perfect illustrations of the innovation which continues to be at the heart of everything Lotus does. Today’s EVs are heavy in comparison to their ICE equivalents, so the ARMD funding has helped Lotus to innovate earlier in the product cycle and develop a new vehicle architecture that targets lightweight and performance density from conception. Rather than developing a single vehicle, it means Lotus now has the ‘blueprint’ for the next generation of electric sports cars, for future Lotus products and for the Lotus Engineering consultancy to commercialise.”

Project LEVA has been led by engineer Richard Rackham, Head of Vehicle Concepts, Lotus. Richard is best known for his revolutionary work on development of the extruded aluminium Lotus Elise architecture 25 years ago. Richard commented: “Project LEVA is as revolutionary now as the Elise architecture was in 1996. In true Lotus spirit, significant weight savings have been achieved throughout, with a focus on ultimate performance, efficiency and safety being engineered into the structure from the outset – for example, by utilising the vehicle structure as the battery enclosure, having an integrated EDU, eliminating bolt-on subframes and optimising the multi-link suspension components.”

 On Project LEVA, Lotus has collaborated with supply chain partner Sarginsons Industries and leading academics from Brunel University London to harness the full ‘light-weighting’ potential of the vehicle architecture.

Today’s announcement is the latest in a series detailing Lotus’ transition to an all-electric brand:

• January 2021: Lotus announced it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Alpine, the performance car division of Groupe Renault, to study a number of areas of cooperation, including the joint development of an EV sports car.
• April 2021: at the Driving Tomorrow global strategy conference, Lotus confirmed the E-Eports vehicle architecture was one of four Lotus-developed chassis that would underpin future models.
• August 2021: Lotus confirmed it would be launching a new electric sports car in 2026 – Type 135 – which is intended to be manufactured in the UK.
• Today: Lotus gives a world premiere to the innovative new chassis technology that will underpin that electric sports car.

The next stage of the project is for Lotus to continue development of the all-electric vehicles which will be built on this innovative and market leading new architecture.

Also on the Lotus stand at Cenex is the Lotus Evija, the world’s first pure-electric British hypercar. The car, an engineering prototype, will be ‘naked’ with several body panels removed to allow visitors to see key components and systems.

The 2018 Dowsetts Comet by Ant Anstead – a one-off design to be offered at the NEC Classic Motor Show Sale

by gaukcars.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog

• 2018 Dowsetts Comet in Porsche Crayon Grey
• Remarkable one-off designed by Ant Anstead and his team at Dowsetts Classic Cars
• Offered at The NEC Classic Motor Show Saturday 13^th – Sunday 14^th November 2021

Silverstone Auctions return to The NEC Classic Motor Show for the 10^th year as the official auction partner for this iconic classic car show event.

This long-standing partnership has seen the auction house achieve outstanding results year after year.

The catalogue for Silverstone Auctions final sale of 2021 at the NEC is now open for early entries and they already have a number of exceptional classic cars confirmed including this 2018 Dowsetts Comet.

Having covered only 2,500 miles, the Comet is built around a steel spaceframe chassis which is clothed in GRP reinforced with Kevlar to create a shell that is strong yet light and is looking unique with classic lines of sports racers from the fifties and early sixties without becoming a pastiche of any one model.

Finished in Porsche Crayon Grey, the red quilted leather interior of this car reflects how thought about and special the car truly is. Full harnesses, white-faced dials, a Moto-Lita wheel, turned aluminium short-throw gear lever, satin-finished stainless details, and embossed leather – truly impressive.

This is a special opportunity to acquire a remarkable one-off designed car by Ant Anstead and his team at Dowsetts Classic Car Company. This is the new trading name of the company formerly known as Evanta; whose superbly built creations Silverstone Auctions have been privileged to sell in the past.

Gary Dunne Sales Controller for Silverstone Auctions added “We are delighted to be back as the official auction partner for this event and what a truly delightful and special example to be offered. We are now encouraging early entries, so don’t miss your chance to submit your car next to this remarkable Comet.”

The UK market leader classic car auction house are now inviting exceptional and quality consignments with a number of cars, motorcycles and automobilia already confirmed for the sale. You can view their rapidly growing lot lists on their website.

If you are interested in submitting your best of breed car, motorcycle or piece of automobilia, their team of experts can be contacted on 01926 691141or by email enquiries@silverstoneauctions.com.

2021 AUCTIONS
The NEC Classic Motor Show Sale: 12^th – 14^th November

ABOUT SILVERSTONE AUCTIONS
Formed in 2011, Silverstone Auctions is a world-class, specialist auction house for the sale of classic cars, modern supercars, all types of competition cars, modern and historic motorcycles as well as automotive memorabilia.

We hold the exclusive automotive auction rights for Silverstone circuit and host sales as stand-alone events as well as an integrated element of some of Europe’s biggest motorsport events such as the Silverstone Classic Festival.

In addition to our sales at the circuit, we also host a number of auctions each year at other major classic car events including the NEC Classic Motor Show and Race Retro.

At Silverstone Auctions we take pride in selecting the very best of breed vehicles for our sales which not only attracts buyers from around the world, but has already helped us achieve a number of record-breaking auction prices on behalf of our vendors.

We are committed to providing the best possible service for both buyers and vendors alike, so if you’d like to know more about buying or selling a classic vehicle with Silverstone Auctions, call us today on +44(0)1926 691141.