1966 Amphicar 770

Convertible
Chassis number: 106523058

The Amphicar, manufactured in West Germany, made its appearance in America at the 1961 New York Auto Show. They were designed by Hanns Trippel and were able to cruise on land and operate in the water. They were available in the United States from 1961 through 1967.

The Amphicar 770 was capable of 7 miles on water and 70 miles an hour on land (thus, earning the 770 name). It was introduced at the 1959 German Auto Show and entered America in 1961. It had seating for four occupants and was powered by a rear-mounted, four-cylinder Triumph Herald engine that displaced 1147cc and offered 43 horsepower. The doors locked shut for water travel.

This example was purchased by the present owner as a project that had been started.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible
Chassis number: 106 523 027

The Amphicar made its debut in 1961 at the New York Auto Show. It had been developed over a period of 15 years at a cost of $25 million. It was the first fully amphibious vehicle to be sold to the public.

To enter the water, the watertight seals on the doors were locked into place, the bilge plug was installed, and the front luggage lid was locked. A lever directed the engine's power to dual rear propellers. The front wheels were used to steer the watercraft and served as primitive rudders. Spinning the propellers in reverse served as a brake.

This particular example was owned as early as 1972 by Sidney Armistead of Alaska, who retained ownership of it until 2004. It passed to another Alaskan owner, then, shortly thereafter, to Eugene Francavilla of Jupiter, Florida. In Mr. Francavilla's ownership, the Amphicar was given a restoration and finished in the factory color of Lagoon Blue. After the work was completed, it was judged Most Unique at the Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance in 2009 and won Best Amphicar at the Classic Boat Show in Mount Dora, Florida.

Recently, this Amphicar has been given a new top and interior, along with new fuel lines, and the engine compartment has been detailed.

by Dan Vaughan

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 to the rear wheels and can propel the vehicle to a top speed of 70 mph on land and 6-8 knots in the water. The transmission and some of the fuel system components came from Porsche while the suspension and braking system came from Mercedes. The chassis is made of steel, just like most regular vehicles. However, the steel is much thicker and great care was given to the assembly and to the joins to keep them leakproof. Around the doors, rubber strips were fitted to create a water-tight seal, much like the opening and closing of a refrigerator. The tires are very narrow and the vehicle has been raised, offering excellent ground clearance. Propellers are located in the rear, underneath the vehicle which drives the vehicle while in the water. Steering, both on the road and in water, is controlled by the front wheels.

Designing the vehicle took an estimated five million dollars. Even though it was only produced for five years, it did accomplish something that has not yet been duplicated: the production of a commercial, non-military, amphibian car. Other non-military designs have been created for travel on land and water, but none have been able to mass-produce the vehicle in quantities that the Amphicar was able to achieve.

The Amphicar has traveled many historic adventures such as from England to France and Africa to Spain, although most of the time they have been used for recreational purposes on lakes. Two licenses are often required, one for land and one for water. Amphicar's have been featured in many TV shows and movies from the early 1960's through the later 1990's.

The demise of the Amphicar was its high sticker price and poor marketing.

by Dan Vaughan