1963 Amphicar 700 Convertible

The Amphicar was designed by Hans Trippel and was a recreational vehicle created specifically for the American leisure market. It was an innovative product that allowed both land and sea traveling adventures. They were built in Germany, given Triumph powerplants, and fitted with numerous Duth and English components.

With a top speed of 7 mph on the water and 70 mph on the land, the Amphicar was given the model name '770'. The 1147cc OHV four-cylinder engine offered 43 BHP at 4750 RPM and was to the rear wheels or the twin propellers via a four-speed manual transmission. 4-wheel hydraulic drums provided the stopping power.

This Amphicar 770 has less than 3,000 kilometers from new. It has been in the collection of a German automotive museum for many years.

In 2008, this Amphicar was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction held in Pebble Beach, CA. It was estimated to sell for $60,000 - $75,000 and was offered without reserve. As bidding came to a close, the lot had been sold for $44,000, including the buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2009