Amphicar 770 - the 60s sports car that swims!
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- Опубликовано: 16 июл 2024
- Find out more about the Isle of Man motor museum:
www.isleofmanmotormuseum.com
Thank you Darren and Steve from the museum team - you are a brilliant duo!
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Amphicar 770
A lot of people see the Amphicar and think it’s American, for quite a few reasons. The very American styling with those supersize fins, the fact the vast majority of these cars, around 90%, were exported over there and of course, the fact one was owned by President Lyndon Johnson. Apparently it was his favourite car!
In fact, it was a German car designed by Hans Trippel. Now you’ll see online loads of stuff that Hans was inspired by the amphibious military vehicles of the Second World War like the Volkswagen Schwimmwagen but here’s the thing, Trippel was toying with this stuff way before the war.
In fact, his early mid 30s designs caught the eye of Hitler who then recruited, or should we say, forcibly shuffled Trippel into the Bugatti factory to build amphibious cars as part of the war effort.
But once the war was over, it left Trippel to pursue his passion once more. It takes a bit of time for him to get things together again and he comes back to market again in 59 with the Eurocar Alligator. That was powered by the same engine they use in the Austin A35 and Morris Minors of a certain age - the 948 A Series.
It’s not a bad engine at all, but with only 34bhp you don’t move all that swiftly, which is why when the Triumph Herald came to market, Trippel ditched the A Series and picked the 1147cc engine which gives you a much healthier 43bhp. Remember, this is of its time, I realise today that might seem a bit lacklustre.
This new engine takes Trippel back to the drawing board and armed with quite a sizeable government backing, the Amphicar 770 was unveiled to the buying public in 1961.
However, it wasn’t a cheap toy. It retailed at roughly double the price of a Volkswagen Beetle in the home market. The Lane motor museum list the American sales price as between 2,800 and 3,300 dollars from new.
Although this might seem like a really cool car today and many seem to remember it fondly, it was pretty much a commercial flop.
There were sales forecasts of 20,000 units shifting through the factory every year, but by the time they stopped selling them in 1968, they only managed to shell 3,878.
Although I always try to steer clear of mocking cars which didn’t meet their expected level of success, because it’s with innovative ideas and experimentation that we get future designs and discoveries. So very rarely does something experimental not lead to a learning or progress.
I guess one of the biggest things learnt here was, was that boats are boats and cars are cars and the crossover market isn’t where you might like it to be!
However despite all this, it was a well made car. It might’ve rotted out due to exposure to water and the elements, but looking at other cars of its time, it’s well put together. It’s essentially a unibody steel two door car, but there’s some cool bits too like the electrically welded joints and the fact the ground clearance from the back means it wins the award of highest tail fins on any production car.
With less than 100 of these cars being right hand drive, we’re so lucky to experience this today. Remember if you want to see it in person, the Isle of Man motor museum details are in the description box below. 
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If you ever get out to the United States, it'd be possibly worthwhile to check with the Lane Motor Museum, which is in Nashville, Tennessee, as they occasionally take their Amphicar out in local lakes with passengers; I think they also hold an annual amphibious vehicle event. One of my kids & I were extremely lucky to actually ride in their Amphicar in the lake, such a memorable & enjoyable experience. And I can testify to the importance of securely fastening those door clips at the bottom of the doors before going into the water. The Amphicar is indeed a fabulous vehicle despite it being rather compromised both as a car and as a boat. Speaking of 60s build quality, the Lane's Amphicar hasn't sunk, at least not so far, but their 1992 Hobbycar B612 did indeed sink during one of the aforementioned annual events despite having 90s build quality, ha.
Even more interesting is to go to Texas and visit the home of the world's most famous Amphicar owner: Lyndon Johnson. He would drive it into his lake when he had guest telling them his brakes had failed.
I first saw an Amphicar in the 60's, and have been intrigued by them ever since! Thank you Steph! 🙂
I think Johnson actually performed this trick for the (none too pleased) Secret Service. Being in America, these things aren't impossible to see at car shows, though I've never seen one swim in the flesh. Steph, you would love the Lane Motor Museum if you ever get the chance. Tons (tons!) of quirky cars, along with the best collection of Tatras in one place I think I've found. They are super friendly and very Euro/other centric rather than American.
This car absolutely blew my 5-yo mind off when I saw it at the Totnes Motor Museum (sadly no longer extant) in Devon, back in 1977.... Ahhh, the memories....
Great video about a truly special car. I have seen a few of these. I'm old. I was a kid when the Amphicar was being sold new. The funny thing is that the colours are pretty much identical to the second series Metropolitan, which had been built by Austin and sold in England and Europe as an Austin. In North America, Series I were badged as Nash or Hudson. Series II were just Metropolitan. The reason for that aside is that across the street from my grade school was a truly eccentric man who had both a Metropolitan and an Amphicar. Certainly was different! One of the teachers had a purple and white Herald at the same time. Was fun learning about all the oddball cars in the neighbourhood. I will never forget the sight of a bright red Amphicar coming down the hill into the park and driving right down the boat ramp and into the Humber River in Toronto. An hour later, back it came. Fabulous.
Great video! My cousin's neighbor had one of these parked in his front yard for years but wouldn't sell it...I also remember an Avengers episode where Steed & Mrs. Peel drive one into the water at the end-Nice Work Steph!❤👍
I watched one in the sixties film 'the Sandwich Man' with Michael Bentine, which was on TPTV recently. According to wiki they appear in a few movies & TV shows.
Amphicars appear in the films Rotten to the Core (1965), The Sandwich Man (1966), The President's Analyst (1967), Inspector Clouseau (1968), The Laughing Woman (1969), Savannah Smiles (1982), and Pontiac Moon (1994), and in episode five of season four of The Avengers ("Castle De'ath", 1965). It also appears in the TV movie All the Way (2016).
Also in the Belgian series of the 1960s "Kapitein Zeppos'.
Another Brilliant Video Steph, really enjoyable learning about the history on this.
Steph, I still can't believe how lovely you look these days! You are a fashion plate, and the Amphicar perfectly compliments your outfit.
Our neighbors had a little red Amphicar back in the sixties. Used to hear him leaving for work in the morning (Triumph Herald engine in the rear, you know), and I was dying to see how it performed in the water.
Steph, we have a couple of them in Wisconsin, and they ride a little low in the water, definitely a car you only want to take out when the lake is smooth! The Isle of Man motor museum is a gem of a place to provide you the opportunity to showcase these rare old cars, and thanks for letting us enjoy seeing you operate such splendid motor cars! 🎉
These are so awesome! There's a car show I go to in Wisconsin that's on a lake. There used to be two of these in attendance each year, and they'd give rides on the lake!
Awesome Steph , such a cool looking car . That steering wheel & the fins . Thanks for the explanation of the controls and it looks fun to drive.
This has reminded me of Peter Duncan (of Blue Peter and Flash Gordon!) taking a VW Beetle across the English Channel, and sinking!
Great video. They have some cracking rare old cars in that museum!
Another great little film Steph. Loved your clear explanation of the history and how the vehicle works. Not a great car, not a great boat and very expensive - but another wonderful and very cool slice of motoring history - thanks for sharing it with us.
Learned loads today, firstly I thought they were a British car because of the Herald running gear and secondly due to the first I was surprised to learn there was less than 100 RHD versions. A great video on a quirky little car and if I was a staff member at the museum I'd be soooo grateful that there's no suitable water to drive it in on the Isle of Man 🤣
Always been on my dream car wish list ever since the 80s when I knew a guy who was a “regular” in a local pub who promised me a “cruise” on the water that, sadly, never happened. There again, I don’t think life jackets were part of the deal so maybe just as well…😁
If you want to take a ride in an Amphicar you can do so at Walt Disney World in Florida. I was lucky to do so about 5 years ago. As mentioned in other comments the freeboard is very low. When hanging my arm over the side my hand would touch the water. I wouldn’t want to be out in rough water. Our on-land portion of the trip was less than about 50 feet and was the ramp into the water so I wasn’t able to experience much of how it drives.
While out on our boat in the U.S. state of Michigan an Amphicar happened to pull alongside one day. Both my experiences happened to be with the same Turquoise color cars, that was a very popular color for 1950’s American cars.
Great video, Steph, and you are looking great and sounding even greater.Wishing you much awesomeness X
Love ❤️ it. Steph, your videos are getting better and better 👌
Thanks Rod x
Magic Steph. Interesting to learn more about these rare cars…..boats. 🙃 Smiles from Downunder.
Brilliant!!
I was born in Sunderland in 1960, and I can remember somebody in our neighbourhood in the 60s had one of those cars I was always fascinated by it
Great Video Steph and very interesting, I used to work for a company in Luebeck and that badge is the Holstentor, the main gate to the old city of Luebeck. I have walked through it many times in a past life.
I love this. Thank you for taking us out for a ride!
My Dads boss had one of these, he drove it on the river Stour, near Blandford. It wasn’t very good with all river weeds, but was still fun.
The car magazine Road & Track tested one of these when they were current and pronounced them "neither road worthy nor sea worthy". 😄
You’re looking absolutely fabulous Stephanie and absolutely love the car
My Dad restored a WW2 Army DUKW amphibious vehicle and as kids we’d go camping on Fraser Island in it , we’d drive out of our back yard and didn’t stop or get out until we were on the island across the ocean, we could drive over sand banks etc and it was such a spectacle everywhere we went, as teenagers we were hugely embarrassed 😂
There used to be at least a couple of them in New Zealand, which would account for some of the RHD ones.
The typeface on the instruments and the white two spoke steering wheel are very reminiscent of the DKW my family had when I was a youngster.
Thank you for this, Steph. Saw one being driven on the river by a campsite we were staying on in mid-Wales in the 1960's - never thought I'd see one again! cheers
I remember seeing this car at the NYC car show along with the Chrysler Turbine car in a different show as a young boy, some classic memories.
I worked for the dealers for these in the uk in 1970
You're the best and I've always wanted to see one of these. Thanks for another great video.
Hi Steph, the owners of Belle Island, which sits in lake Windermere, used to have two of these cars and they could be often coming from and back into the lake after doing shopping in Bowness and Windermere, they were great to watch as there was nothing else like it at the time, as a preteen boy, yo me it was fantastic of course, great value, love you stuff...best wishes
I'm from San Diego California.and I remember seeing a few cars.
I remember seeing one of these back in the early 70s, at Tewkesbury on the river Severn .
Pretty looking car , but looked a bit ungainly in the water .Kept thinking "its gonna sink any minute " but it didn't .
Thanks for another great vid Steph .
I think this was the car driven by Michael Bentine at the end of the 1966 film "The Sandwich Man".
I used to ride in one of those in the summers in Connecticut every minute of it
Interesting video, I always enjoy your lighthearted and skillful presentations. In Richland Washington USA, there was a man who owned an Amphicar; and he drove it daily to work daily, across the Columbia river. For in the 1980s there was no bridge between Pasco Washington and Richland, so by fording across the river he saved about 20 minutes on his commute.
Good morning and goodnight Englander ...
Your killing me here ... NY time , very very late...
Sunday evening in my country - New Zealand !. 😊
Sorry 😭😭😭
@@idriveaclassic Death by Steph is an honor and privilege ...
@@alancrisp1582 19:09 malaysian time
This is the first time iv ever seen one evaluated and road tested.
I wonder how many of them rusted away on the bottom of lakes and rivers? My Nan's friend had one in the early seventies. She used to drive it across the river Itchen to work using the Woolston floating ferry ramps, much to the amazement of those on the ferry.
👍Thank you for the video. I remember seeing one of these driving onto a beach and into the sea back in the 70s.
Remember one of these here in 1960 sold by the Chrysler dealer I think. I also saw it taken into the East River in New Glasgow for a drive. Remember it parked at Atlantic Motors Chrysler. Didn't last long in the area and didn't see it driven much. Only once in the water.
Enjoy your shows and look forward to more.
That's a find! I love the colour too
Another Post War crazy car, and a beaut all the more for it.
I remember those cars from the 1960’s !
Enjoying the content on the channel well done 👍👍
Thanks Steph - enjoyed that
Good episode as always interesting car keep them coming
A freind of mine drove from Twickenham to South Sheffield to stay with us and we laughed at how folks reacted when they saw the car !!
Thanks Steph. This must be the perfect holiday car. Instead of an airbag you need a lifebuoy. It would be perfect on our lakes in Sweden. Gregor 😂
Very interesting and informative, as ever. I love your presenting skills. You're a natural. :)
You sure get some unusual cars to test!
I remember seeing one on the Thames back in the 70s.
I remember reading an article about the "joy" of ownership; the Triumph engine had those temperature problems all the time - and breaking down afloat must be even more unpleasant than on land.
Before taking the car for a swim, a "starting procedure" of several steps had to be followed to avoid shipwreck - which was just what some owners experienced while trying to look cool rather than re-reading the manual.
For steering in the water, the car relied on the front wheels hanging deeply into the water - typical case of naval understeer, I guess.
With various greased and oiled parts touching water, I guess this car was far worse to the lake than any boat would have been, so it's probably good they never caught on.
More modern amphibious cars either retract their wheels to reduce resistance; I've also seen a vid about a car using hydrofoil blades to lift everything car-shaped out of the water. They are still rare - I guess all this add-on tech makes them very expensive.
They have one at lakes motor museum great vid Steph 😊
How many times has Steph given us the rundown of an instrument panel, and the term "bilge pump" somehow never came up? Also, I'm struck by how short the wheelbase is, compared to the front & read overhang.
Beautiful car and colour.
"I drive an icon". What a thing!
I live near a river slipway so it would be great to take something like that for a cruise!
In 1968, there was a Pay Car Ferry at Dittisham in Devon opertaed by the local Ferryman, Roy Andrews. Someone there had one of these Amphicars and used to drive down the ramp into The Dart and cross it. It was novel seeing it, perhaps a bit surreal. I don't think that this independence actually paid for itself. Rather fun to see it though. It sat rather low in the water, I'm not sure that I'd be confident driving one out on the Ocean, or indeed a river in flow.
Beautiful. My wife spotted one a couple of years ago in the canal right opposite her door in Leiden, Holland. We stille have the pictures....
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I agree, 7 knots on water would be worrying. 70 mph on the road, beyond terrifying 😂
What a car 😊👍
Well I suppose you had to have one on the channel at some point. It would have been great to go for a swim with it but I totally understand why not, we could have been calling the RNLI and we don't want to bother them do we? A great car and a good invention Steph thank you.👍👍
Lübeck is famous for the Holsten gate /Holstentor but that is no cathedral! It used to be depicted on the old 50 DM banknotes!
Interesting video today Steph. Pity you couldn't take it out on the water. I would have love to see that.
Lovely car that. Maybe negotiate a weekend borrow, pop it on a ferry and cruise Lake Windermere. What a cracking experience and video that would be.
I've always loved the little Amphicar. Got a model of it. I always remember the excitement of occasionally seeing one on the roads back in the sixties and looking back to see the propellers. About its design, all I can say is, thank God it was made primarily for the American market, in my opinion the supreme King of car design (well they were). I hate to think what it would have looked like if it had been made primarily for the British and European market, and I'm a Brit. Although we have come out with some great designs, mainly in sports cars, our idea of style for the ordinary car market was pretty dire. I was oh so thankfull for the Japanese when I was looking out for a car (and they also copied American styling) Edit:- Talking of which, how about you do a review on one of the best Japanese cars to infiltrate our market, the Datsun 120Y. I see you've already done my second car, the Datsun FII coupe, well done.
If you live on the Isle Of Wight ideal transport for the mainland - Joke (the brakes and as Steph said ruin the panels). Good fun, innovative at the time!
Actually seen one of these cars on a lake in Minnesota. Very slow in the water.
That was fun Steph - you did it proud ! I've never seen a revue on one of these, so thanks so much for it - I would love to have seen you take it out on water ! This Museum really has turned up some interesting vehicles - I hope you captured some more for us from there. Take care 🙂 X X
Cool. 🙂
Pretty cool car,watched a few on YT driving in water..
I expect next time to see you on water
A real proper car .
Anyway you look gorgeous
Jersey in Channel Isles, St. Helier always had a 'battle of flowers' in August, if memory serves me well? We would be there as Boy Scouts, on camping vacation early 1960's. There was one year, an amphicar, back seat filled with flowers. Do not think they would do well in a swell..?
There used to be one in a village near me, in fact, I gave the guy a hand with it when it had a problem. I don't know if it's still there.
I remember years ago there was an Amphicar parked outside a house in Gt Yeldham Suffolk. I never actually saw it being driven, let alone go into the water, but it stood there for quite a few years. I wonder what happened to it.
I wish you were on Top Gear !!
Steph could you please do a video on a early C15D VENTURE motorhome please ?? I have recently acquired a 1989 same vehicle but finding it difficult getting any info online 😢....Thank you kindly love your channel ❤
In 1983 I was looking for a four seater convertible and had the chance to buy an Amphicar for £300 or a Crayford Capri for £400, I chose the Crayford but in hindsight maybe i should have bought the Amphicar.
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Lubeck is around 100 miles from Berlin, and was just inside the former West Germany.
I’ve always recognised the doors and dash as triumph herald parts assume the screen is..? I understand why it runs hot when the air intake is right over the radiator 😮 very German thoughtage lol 😅
would love to give it a whirl steph
Very interesting car, - being so rare it's a petty they didn't do a proper restoration job !
It’s not been restored yet. It’s in profess.
The wheelbase might have benefited from a bit of Isigonis inspiration.
I wondered if you'd ever manage to find an Ambicar to test drive/sail. I'll watch the video when I get chance: should be interesting. The only time I've been on an ambibious vehicle was in Boston (USA) where the did "Duck Tours" around the harbour in WWII DUKW vehicles. Very odd to be driving along a road and suddenly drive into water and (defying all logic an common sense) to start floating,
did you get a chance to actually take the critter out on water as well....? a lot of the WW2 amphibious land/water vehicles couldn,t perform very well on land or water but existed because they could do both at all.
Steph if You can find One try an Aero car 2:41
I’ll try!
You need to find somebody with a Dutton.
Hi that car looks cool and fun to drive (just saying) but surely it comes with a roof to take it on the water incase it rains . I would've liked to have seen it on water 🙂
I wonder if these are the cars that they have at Disney Springs?
Making a video like this without going in the water, right.
Great review....if you had the chance to take to water would you have accepted ?
I remember seeing one of these go into the water in the town I grew up in back in the early 60's
My favourite car of all time..! Absolutely brilliant.! Triumph Herald engine mated to a Porsche gearbox... Genius. These have crossed the English channel and so many other waterways..