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1967 Amphicar 770

Using the same vehicle to travel on land and on water has been the dream of many. The convenience, versatility, practicality, and 'wow' factor have inspired many to bring this idea to reality, and none was more successful or memorable than the Amphicar - the first amphibious vehicle built for the mass market. Production began in 1961 and most were exported to America.

1967 Amphicar 770 photo
Convertible
The amphibious Amphicar Model 770 was designed by Hans Trippel and introduced to the world at the New York Automobile Show in 1961. They were manufactured by the Quandt Group at Lübeck and at Berlin-Borsigwalde, with a total of 3,878 examples built through 1965.

Trippel's experiments with amphibious vehicles began in the 1930s, and over 14,000 examples of his Volkswagen-based Schwimmwagen were enlisted into service with the German Army during World War II. After the war, Trippel revived the concept with the Amphicar (originally called the Eurocar). Despite the allure and novelty of its dual capability, the Amphicar was not a commercial success. Its Achilles Heel was the many difficulties involved in trying to comply with smog and safety regulations.

Hans Trippel hoped to produce around 20,000 units annually, but production fell far short of those figures. Of the 3,878 produced, only 97 were right-hand drive. Most were imported to the North American market (3,046), and a few were sold in the United Kingdom in 1964. The Berlin police department purchased a few for rescue operations.

1967 Amphicar 770 photo
Convertible
Chassis #: 106522380
View info and history
Auction entries : 2
Although the Amphicar failed to reach its annual production estimates, it still ranks among the most successful amphibious civilian autos of all time.

Specification
The Amphicar had a fairly compact footprint with a wheelbase of 84 inches, a length of 171 inches, and a width of 62 inches. The design was a cross between a boat and a car - as one might expect - with the frontal area coming to a point and the lower portion sharply cut away, front the hood to the front wheels. In the back were pointed tailfins positioned above the rear light assembly. To comply with local traffic laws, front and rear bumpers were positioned low on the body panels. Since the front body panels were fairly high off the dry ground, so were the bumpers. The one-piece curved windshield joined with a foldable top, allowing both open and closed-top motoring. Beneath the rear bumper were a pair of propellers that provided propulsion while in the water.

The Amphicar had unitary construction and a self-supporting steel body with a reinforced double tube frame. All of the joints were electrically welded and the underside was designed to give the best hydrodynamic qualities of water. The two doors had special water seals and the interior offered seating for four occupants. The engine was mounted at the rear of the craft, behind the rear passengers, and had above-water line exhaust emission. The 1,147cc Standard SC engine from the British Triumph Herald 1200 produced 43 horsepower at 4,750 RPM. A larger displacement version, measuring 21,296cc, produced 75 horsepower and was installed in models produced near the close of production.

1967 Amphicar 770 photo
Chassis #: 106523019
Engine #: GK1673HE
View info and history
On land, the Amphicar was capable of achieving speeds of 70 mph, and 7 knots in the water. The engine was paired with a four-speed all-synchromesh manual transmission plus a single-speed with reverse water transmission. The dual-purpose land-and-water transmission was built by Hermes, the makers of Porsche gearboxes. It allowed the wheels and propellers to operate either together or independently of each other. When in the water, the main gear lever would normally be left in neutral, however by engaging first gear as well as driving to the propellers when approaching a boat ramp, the Amphicar could drive itself out of the water.

The suspension was independent at the front and rear with a hypoid bevel rear axle. It used wishbones, two coil sub-assemblies, telescopic shock absorbers, and transverse leaf springs with a swing arm axle. The stopping power was courtesy of four-wheel waterproof hydraulic drum brakes. No special steering gear was required for use on water, the car was steered in the normal way (via the front wheels).

The Amphicar's unique features were demonstrated in 1962 in a well-publicized stunt where one was driven across the English Channel from France to England. Two Amphicars navigated the Yukon River in Alaska in 1965, and another two examples crossed the English Channel in September 1965.


by Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2022

Related Reading : Amphicar 700/770 History

The Amphicar is both a land and water-traveling vehicle. It was produced from 1962 through 1967 during which around 4500 examples were produced with most going to the United States. The vehicles were produced in Germany and borrowed many components from European automobile manufacturers. The engine, located in the rear, is courtesy of the Triumph Herald. The 1147 cc powerplant produces nearly 45 horsepower....
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1967 Amphicar 770 Vehicle Profiles

1967 Amphicar 770 vehicle information

Chassis #: 106523019
Engine #: GK1673HE

Recent Vehicle Additions

Performance and Specification Comparison

Price Comparison

1967 770
$3,400-$25,580
1967 Amphicar 770 Base Price : $3,400

Compare: Lower | Higher | Similar

700/770

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
82.70 in.
4 cyl., 69.99 CID., 43.00hp
$3,400 - $3,400
84.00 in.
4 cyl., 69.99 CID., 43.00hp
$3,400 - $3,400
82.70 in.
4 cyl., 70.00 CID., 43.00hp
$3,400 - $3,400
82.70 in.
4 cyl., 69.99 CID., 43.00hp
84.00 in.
4 cyl., 70.00 CID., 43.00hp
$3,400 - $3,400
82.70 in.
4 cyl., 69.99 CID., 43.00hp
$3,400 - $3,400

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