Classic & Collector Car Towing in Plainfield, IL
BJ Towing specializes in flatbed transport for classic, collector, luxury and exotic cars in Plainfield, Illinois and the Chicago suburbs. Wheel straps instead of frame chains, a shallow loading angle for low trim, photos at pickup and delivery, and insurance coverage while the car is in our hands.
Why a classic belongs on a flatbed
A wheel-lift grabs one end under the tires and lets the other two wheels roll; a flatbed carries the whole car with nothing touching the road. For a modern commuter either works. For a classic the gap is huge. Most old cars drive the rear wheels, so a wheel-lift under the nose has the back wheels spinning the driveshaft and the tail of the transmission the whole way, and many older automatics only pump fluid when the engine runs. Enough miles like that and the gears are turning dry. It’s a repair you never had to pay for, and on a flatbed it simply can’t happen.
- Old rubber. Tires that have sat for years dry out and crack, and a long roll behind a truck is more than they have left
- Bearings and brakes. Parts that haven’t moved in ages can seize or overheat when made to spin at highway speed
- Chrome and trim. A long overhang, a spoiler or a front valance scrapes as soon as one end goes up
- Paint and sheet metal. Lifting one end stresses panels that rust and age may have thinned
- Steering. Many older columns lock when the key is removed, which makes towing on the car’s own wheels clumsy
Add value to that list. When the car is worth more than the truck under it, or there’s no replacing it, the target is zero extra miles and zero extra wear, and only a flatbed gets there. We strap every car the way its maker specifies. Whoever you call, ask how the car will be held down: wheel nets let the suspension do its job, while chains on old frame rails or control arms can bend brackets and split corroded metal. A company worth hiring answers immediately.
When to shut it off and call
Pressing on for another mile can turn a simple repair into a rebuild on an old car, and with scarce parts, not moving is the cheapest choice. Pull over and call a truck for:
- An oil light or low pressure. Bearings can be ruined within minutes; don’t restart it to see
- Climbing temperature or steam. Vintage cooling has no margin; heads warp and gaskets fail
- The smell of raw gas. Old carburetors, fittings and lines seep, and fuel near a hot exhaust ignites; a vintage car burns fast
- Soft, sinking or pulling brakes. Older systems have no backup when a seal or line goes
- Knocks, clunks or grinding. A hard engine knock, or a thud on shifts or lift-off, can be a U-joint, the gearbox or a bearing
- A new vibration from underneath. A failing U-joint can let the driveshaft fall and strike the road
- Wandering, loose steering. Worn tie rods and linkage can give way with no warning
- Smoke from under the hood or the dash. Old wiring shorts and burns; switch off and get well clear
A car coming out of a long sleep deserves a truck even if it fires right away: stale fuel, dried seals, seized brakes and tired tires make themselves known the moment it moves. Waking the engine is your mechanic’s job; delivering the car is ours. If a classic starts misbehaving in traffic on Route 59 or on the interstate, don’t try to coax it to the next exit; that’s exactly how a small problem becomes a big one. Find the shoulder and shut it down. And after any collision, no matter how slight, have it carried: a split radiator, a bent wheel or a pinched brake line hides easily on a vintage car and shows up at the worst possible moment.
What the dispatcher needs
- An exact location. Highway: direction, the last exit you passed, a mile marker if you can read one. Street: the nearest cross street or a business you can see. Home: garage, driveway or alley, and whether there’s a tight turn, a slope or gravel.
- The car. Year, make and model, and be clear that it’s a classic.
- Whether it moves. Does it roll (flat tires, seized brakes or a stuck parking brake mean a winch)? Can it be steered (missing keys or a locked column complicate the ramp)? Do you have the keys? Is anything low (side pipes, a spoiler, a dropped stance, a long nose)? Is it dripping coolant, oil or gas? Are the engine and transmission in it (a roller is lighter and loads differently)?
- The destination. The complete address and the name of the person receiving it. For a shop, call first to be sure someone will be there; a classic sitting outside a locked building overnight is asking for trouble.
While the truck is on its way, photograph each side, each wheel and every chip or ding that’s already there; take loose items out of the trunk and cabin; lower the antenna and fold the mirrors. If you’re on the roadside, turn on the flashers and wait well away from the lanes, behind a guardrail if there is one, rather than in the seat.
Shows, sales, auctions and storage
Many classic moves aren’t breakdowns at all: a Saturday show, a car that just changed hands, a trip to winter storage. Planned runs are easier because there’s time to get them right, so book early and work backward from the hour the car must be in place.
- Shows: confirm the arrival window and where trucks are allowed to unload; many display fields are grass or gravel and closed to haulers, so expect to unload at the gate and drive the last few hundred feet, with time to spare
- Sales and deliveries: agree who books and pays for the transport, have keys, title and bill of sale ready, and fix the exact delivery address and who signs
- Auctions: most won’t release a car without a gate pass or release form; have it ready before the truck pulls in
- Storage: confirm access hours, door height and how steep the driveway is; a low door or a sharp incline can mean unloading somewhere other than your bay
Choose the date with the weather in mind. Northern Illinois road crews salt from the first freeze on, and brine is murder on old chrome and paint, so head into storage before the first snow and come out in spring once a good rain has washed the roads clean and they’ve dried. Photos count double on planned moves: take a matching set at delivery. And the day before, confirm with whoever is receiving the car, because show schedules change, storage offices close early and buyers’ plans move.
Classic car transport across Chicagoland
We’re based in Plainfield and regularly transport collector, luxury and exotic vehicles throughout Plainfield, Naperville, Joliet, Romeoville, Bolingbrook, Shorewood, Lockport, Crest Hill, Oswego, Aurora, Montgomery, Woodridge, Lemont, Darien, New Lenox, Lisle and across the wider Chicago area by arrangement.
Need classic & collector car towing now? Call (708) 400-3917; a dispatcher answers 24/7.
Need help now?
- Live dispatch, 24/7/365
- Flatbed trucks only
- Upfront pricing
- Licensed & insured in Illinois
Related services
Classic & Collector Car Towing FAQs
Is a classic more expensive to tow?
At many companies, yes, because the flatbed is an upgrade over a wheel-lift. With us the flatbed is standard on every call and the price is a single flat number agreed before dispatch, with no hookup or mileage added. Your transmission, tires and trim are protected and the cost is known in advance.
Is BJ Towing insured?
Yes. BJ Towing is licensed and insured, and that coverage is in force while your car is on our truck. For a restored or irreplaceable classic, flatbed-only transport protects the car physically and the insurance protects it financially.
Do you offer enclosed transport?
Most local moves ride on our flatbeds with full soft-strap tie-downs. If a specific vehicle or trip calls for enclosed transport, tell the dispatcher and we'll advise on the best option.
Can you load a car with very low ground clearance?
Yes. Very low cars are routine for us. Tell us the clearance and whether the front splitter is fixed, and the driver will bring the ramps and blocks the load needs.