What Is It?
Our photo last week kept a trend going from the week before, when we showed three taillights, two of them topped off with tail fins. Last week's photo came by its fins naturally, though, because it was a car that would go in water just as capably as on land. One reader, in fact, called the 1965 Amphicar 770 "surf and turf."
The Amphicar, made in West Germany, went on sale in 1961 and was made until 1967. The rear-wheel cabriolets with twin propellers in back continued to be pieced together and sold until 1968. About 10 percent are still in service today.
The water-going car (or land-going boat) would go 7 mph in water and 70 mph on land, giving it the model name 770. The driver steered with the steering wheel to turn the front wheels and maneuver the craft on both land and sea.
A Triumph four-cylinder provided the go-power. The tail fins were actually 2 inches taller, from the ground, than the huge 1959 Cadillac's, and they prevented water from splashing into the engine. Though people complained about them, they were said to be reliable on land and water and didn't leak.
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Chosen randomly from the correct entries was the name ofErich Prahl, of Augusta, who got the year exactly right. He said he had seen one on thePawn Stars television series and back home in Maryland:
"I only recognized it for the fins and taillight."
Prahl added that it would make a good fishing boat. He wins a little prize from The Augusta Chronicle for his entry. Other readers identifying the vehicle were:
AIKEN:Ann Willbrand wrote: "This was a tough one. I knew that I recognized it, even though it took a lot of research to find it because the fin wasn't quite like the fins on the 'land yachts' of the 1950s. The car is a 1961-ish Model 770 Amphicar. In 2007,Time magazine called it one of the '50 Worst Cars of All Time.'"
Bob Ennissaid: "The quizzes get better every week. This car is a 1960s Amphicar. I recognized the car immediately but the year is hard to tell. The fin and the exhaust are giveaways. The exhaust pipes were high because when this car was floating the exhaust had to be over the water line. There were about 4,000 of these cars made in Germany between 1961 and 1967. About 3,700 were exported to the USA, and about 500 are still around.
"The car was all-steel construction with a solid weld on all the seams. The engine was a British motor from a Triumph Herald and later used in the Triumph Spitfire. The water propulsion was provided by twin propellers under the rear bumper. I actually saw one in the water in a lake in Connecticut in the early 1970s. I will say it is a 1965 model 770."
AUGUSTA:Barry Dickson said: "This week's car is a true automotive oddity. It functioned as both a car and a boat, but only adequately as either. It is the unforgettable little Amphicar, manufactured in Germany from 1961 until 1965, and imported into the USA until 1968, when U.S. safety regulations made it unlawful to import.
"Fewer than 4,000 were sold altogether. There is a national Amphicar club, which estimates that there are 500 Amphicars still operable worldwide, the vast majority in the USA. The chrome object in the lower-right corner of the photo is the outlet pipe for the engine exhaust. The much smaller bilge pump outlet is next to the other taillight."
Lowell Fritschewrote: "You slide a neat one on us this time. It is an Amphicar. The year is tricky. I think up to 1965 they had a white mast light on the trunk. It is a chrome one like used on a boat. 1965 and 1968, they used an aluminum mast that was red and blue. I would say this one is a 1965 or so in that area.
"We lived in an area that had a big boat race on the river. A fellow there had one of these. He thought it would give the crowd a thrill to see a car come out of the crowd and into the river. It worked out for him except it had a leak that he was not aware of. It turned out he was the one that had to be rescued."
Tony Brunson wrote: "This was agreat one. It took a couple of us to figure this one out by the cooling louvers on the trunk, rear engine. Tim Myers thought the chrome to the right was an exhaust pipe. So why have it so high? Water.
"I researched amphibious cars and the first one I found was it, Amphicar. Production was from 1961-65, but oddly they had some that were first titled in 1968, so even though it was made in 1965 but titled in 1968 it was called a 1968 model.
"Thanks for this one. It was fun to try to get it."
Gary Engen wrote: "I was able to recognize the rare amphibious car in your photo as a German-made Amphicar Model 770. I used to see one parked in my parents' neighborhood that had a bumper sticker on it that said, 'I brake for fish.' The Amphicar was the only mass-produced consumer amphibious car in history. It's difficult to identify the exact year, though, for they were only manufactured in 1961-1965 while some were sold in USA through 1967 and most body styles looked identical. The name 770 was derived from the fact that it could achieve 7 mph in water and 70 mph on road. They sold new for around $3,000 but they bring over $50,000 or more at auctions today."
Carolyn Ogles said: "I never realized there were somany cars with fins! Didn't find it, but be prepared for a full page!"
CANTON, GA.:David Anderson wrote: "Here we have the lesser-known rear-engine, rear-wheel drive1960s German import, the Amphicar770, the world's most successful civilian amphibious car.
"Produced from 1961 to 1965, only around 4,000 were built and about 500 are believed to still exist today. They were purpose-built for export to the United States; however, several hundred did find their way to the United Kingdom. The International Amphicar Owners Club touts a membership of nearly 400, so that should account for the vast majority of the still-existing cars.
"Even though production went only through1965, the cars continued to be sold through1967 and were titled in the year they were first sold rather than when manufactured.
"These cars have become a bit of a kitschy collectible in the past couple of years and have appreciated in value, especially after being featured on those reality car restoration shows and a couple of the millionaire televised auctions. I believe one of them sold for a record amount at an auction.
"Even back in the day, these cars were viewed as both a mediocre car and boat. The770 nomenclature is derived from its top speed of 7 knots on water and 70 mph on land. According to the owners' club Web site, members routinely refer to them as the fastest car on water and fastest boat on land! (As an aside, I have recently seen videos of the Hydra Spyder, a modern amphibious high-performance sports car, that I believe could dash that statement.)
"You can check out these cars on your next visit to Disney World. The Boathouse at Disney Springs has a fleet of these cars, and for $125, you and two others can enjoy an aquatic tour of Downtown Disney. You don't get to drive it because that admission price includes your very own Car Captain!
"The cars appear to be perfectly restored and preserved examples of this classic, but they actually contain several thousand dollars of under-the-covers proprietary improvements to make them reliable and just a little more seaworthy than the original. They are handled just like any other Disney park ride attraction and must operate 12-14 hours a day! After nearly a year of operation, I have heard of no major breakdown or stranding of any visitor. You may even feel a little like a celebrity as an enthusiastic crowd is always gathered to watch the cars enter and drive back out of the water."
EVANS:Bill Harding sent along photos and a video of an Amphicar commercial of the time and said:
"I am reasonably certain that this week's What Is It quiz car is an Amphicar. Because1968 saw the end of sales for the vehicle, I will guess that is the model year. The Amphicar was built in what was then called West Germany, and sold primarily in the United States from1961to1968. Production ended in1965, but the vehicle was assembled from parts on hand for the next three years.
"The engine came from the British Herald sedan made by Triumph. Although the vehicle was able to be driven on land as a car and piloted in water as a motorboat, it was generally unsuccessful as either."
Pat Gloverwrote: "Your timing was perfect, I was NordicTracking this afternoon and watchingSouth Beach Classicsfrom the other day, and lo and behold, there was an Amphicar being featured.
"Only3,878 Amphicars were built from1961-1965. It was a model 770, so called because it could do 70 mph on the road, and 7 knots in the water, not bad for a 38.3-horsepower Triumph motor. The year of the car was determined by when it was sold as opposed to manufactured. The designer was Hans Trippel, and the car was built in Germany. Although no longer produced, some cars are being sold with prices ranging from $45,000 to$65,000.
"President Lyndon B. Johnson was the owner of an Amphicar. Johnson, a known practical joker, was said to enjoy frightening visitors at his Johnson City, Texas, ranch by driving them downhill in his Amphicar, directly into a lake, all the while shouting that he had malfunctioning brakes. (The LBJ info came from Wikipedia; I don't want to plagiarize.)"
"I enjoy the column; keep up the good work."
Wayne Wilke said: "The car is an Amphicar. The slightly rounded tail fin indicates to me that it is an earlier model, so I am guessing it is a1961 model. Most articles that I have read say that 'it was no good either as a road vehicle or as a boat.' It was manufactured from 1961 to 1968. Its creator was German engineer Hans Trippel. Its engine was an1147 cc British Triumph and Herald engine, which was underpowered."
James Fingerwrote: "This week's quiz car is a1961 to1968 Amphicar770, a car designed for use on land and water. It was powered by a Triumph Herald1200 engine, which gave it a top speed on water of 7 knots and70 mph on land. Less than 4,000 of this car were produced."
Jerry Paulsaid: "This week there should be an extraordinary amount of comments about this automobile/ boat! It appears to be a 1961-1967 Amphicar."
KEYSVILLE, GA.:Glenn Widnerwrote: "I could be very wrong, or very right, about this car. It looks like an Amphicar, built in West Germany from1960-68. All models were designated770, meaning 7 mph top speed in the water, and 70 mph on land. Dual propellers, Triumph motor and even a bilge pump."
LOUISVILLE, GA.:Bob Holbertwrote: "You have really pulled out a unique vehicle this time. It is a1964 or1965 Amphicar, at home in the water as well as the land. It was designed for those enthusiasts who couldn't afford a boat or who didn't want to pull a boat to the water. They could simply drive into the water directly from the land.
"You can just make out the deck vents in the picture indicating the engine was in the rear. The exhaust was above the water line for obvious reasons. It presented a lot of problems, leaking being only one of many. All that water exposure made rusting inevitable, and the engine was unreliable in either domain. Looks like fun, though."
MARTINEZ: Joe Bertsaid: "Hi. This week's photo gives me the impression you have us going 'surf and turf'! That is a Amphibicar made from1960 to1968, I believe. I'm not sure of the production numbers from year to year. It was documented that President Lyndon B. Johnson owned several of them. Also, President Jimmy Carter used one on the weekends to take a break from his Secret Service team.
"I witnessed my first amphibious car cruising straight to a boat ramp, continuing forward into the water at a lake in San Antonio in1964. Awesome experience and sight!"
Jeff Keevilwrote: "I'm surprised that I recognized this week's vehicle right away. I say 'vehicle' because it is a1961-67 Amphicar, which could be classified as a boat. Although only about4,000 were produced, I remember being amazed as I saw one enter the water at a local boat ramp when I was a kid in the mid-'60s.
"They have also appeared on some TV car shows in recent years, includingFast & Loud, Wheeler Dealers and I thinkChasing Classic Cars.
Travis Starrwrote: "I will go with a Studebaker Golden Hawk,1956-58."
Jim Muraskisaid: "This week's vehicle is an Amphicar Model 770, which was made by the Quandt Group in West Germany between1961 and1965. Fewer than 4,000 were produced. The exact year is difficult to tell because all of the vehicles were registered as the year they were sold, not the year they were produced.
"Could you have been channeling the1980s and this be the blue1962 version seen in the1984 MadonnaBurning Up music video?" (Editor's note: It's news to us if we did, Jim.)
PERRY, FLA.:Larry Anderson wrote: "Thought you might fool me this week, huh? How about a1961 through '65 Amphicar Model770? Not necessarily a good car or a good boat, but it would do both. It has a top speed of 7 mph on water and about 70 on land.
"Time Magazine has it on its '50 Worst Cars of All Time' at No. 16. It says the Amphicar's drawback (and it's a big one) is that the flotation depended on the bilge pump keeping up with the leakage; otherwise, you ended up with a fairly aerodynamic anchor.
"That aside, there seem to be quite a few still around today. and they go for anywhere from$45,000 up to$80,000. Not a bad investment if you bought one new in 1961 for $1,850."
SANDERSVILLE, GA.:David Wiggins said the tail fins helped identify it as a 1962 Amphicar: "I've seen them only in ads. Country singer Alan Jackson has used his in videos. The marker light in the tailpipe gave it away."
WAYNESBORO, GA.:Ray Keefer said: "This week's mystery car, well, uh, boat is a 1961-68 Amphicar 770. It had a four-cylinder, three-speed transmission, with two-wheel drive and two bidirectional propellers. The engine was 1147 ccs (about 70 cubic inches) and it would go 60 mph or 8-10 knots in water.
"The driver would drive it off the ramp into the water, flip a lever on the dash to start the propellers. It's too bad they don't make them anymore. They were cute little cars."
WARRENVILLE:James Covaridentified the amphibious cars and said he was watching Jay Leno's car show last week when he saw a 1965 model Amphicar in Leno's garage.
- Edited by Glynn Moore,
staff writer
