A Rare Firebird With More Work Ahead
Some project cars spend more time moving between shops than driving under their own power. Aeromotive, a large-scale fuel system company based in Lenexa, called Santa Fe Tow Service to move a 1988 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am GTA with only 3,500 original miles. The build is keeping the Firebird’s exterior appearance original while adding a new frame, suspension, motor, transmission, exhaust, and other components. For this stage, our Lenexa classic car towing job involved taking the Firebird to a local fabrication shop for a custom exhaust.
At this point in the build, the vehicle was essentially a rolling chassis. It could not move under its own power, and it had no functioning brakes. Those two facts shaped the entire loading process. We needed to control every bit of movement rather than relying on someone inside the car to stop or reposition it.
Why the Bed Made a Difference
We sent a 2024 International MV equipped with a Miller Industries 12 Series R/A bed. The rear portion of this bed pivots, which helps reduce the loading angle for cars that sit low to the ground. That made it a good match for a Firebird undergoing substantial chassis and suspension work.
Loading a car without brakes takes patience. Once the chassis begins rolling, there is no normal braking system available to stop it, so we took our time and kept the movement controlled. Loading took roughly 30 minutes. Unloading at the fabrication shop went faster and took about 10 minutes.
A Project Car Is Different From an Everyday Tow
For classic car transport in Lenexa, we have to look at more than whether a car starts. Ride height, steering, braking ability, unfinished components, and access all affect how we approach the move. This Firebird’s low stance and lack of brakes meant the equipment and loading angle mattered from the start.
The same goes for Lenexa low-profile vehicle towing when the underside of a car sits closer to the pavement than normal. Reducing the angle between the ground and the carrier can help create more clearance during loading. On a build with a new frame and suspension already in place, we wanted the trip to the fabrication shop to add progress, not another item to the project list.
A few details defined this move:
- 1988 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am GTA
- Approximately 3,500 original miles
- Rolling chassis with no functioning brakes
- Custom exhaust work as the destination
- 2024 International MV
- Miller Industries 12 Series R/A bed
- Approximately 30 minutes to load
- Approximately 10 minutes to unload
This will not be the last move for the car. The build remains in progress, and project car transport in Lenexa will be needed again as the Firebird moves through additional stages before completion.
Santa Fe Tow Service and Specialty Car Transport in Lenexa
Santa Fe Tow Service grew from roots that go back to the Santa Fe Body Shop. Today, the company operates more than 80 trucks with 75 employees and multiple Midwest locations. That experience supports collector car towing in Lenexa and specialty vehicle transport around Lenexa for cars that need more planning than an everyday roadside tow.
Our Lenexa headquarters includes a 9,000-square-foot facility and a five-acre lot, giving us a strong base for the towing and transport work we handle throughout the region. For this Firebird, custom car transport in Lenexa meant matching the carrier to a low-profile, brake-less rolling chassis and taking the time required to load it carefully. We will likely see this GTA again before the build is finished, and each trip will depend on exactly where the project stands when it is time to move.
FAQs
Can a project car be towed if it has no brakes?
Yes. A car without functioning brakes can still be transported, but the loading process needs to account for the fact that the vehicle cannot stop itself.
Why does a low-profile car need a different loading setup?
Cars with limited ground clearance can scrape when the loading angle is too steep. A carrier with a shallower approach angle can make loading easier for lowered or unfinished vehicles.
Can a rolling chassis be moved with a standard tow truck?
Sometimes, but the right setup depends on ride height, wheel condition, steering, brakes, and access. A flatbed-style carrier is often useful when the car cannot move under its own power.
Why would a project car need to be transported several times?
Builds often move between fabrication, mechanical, exhaust, paint, or tuning shops as different stages are completed. The car may remain undrivable until much later in the project.
How long does it take to load a non-running project car?
It varies with the vehicle and setup. In this case, loading took about 30 minutes because the Firebird had no brakes and needed to be moved carefully.
Does an unfinished car need different transport planning than a finished car?
Yes. Missing systems, altered ride height, exposed components, or incomplete mechanical work can all affect how the vehicle should be loaded and moved.
