Amphicar Logo

A Lagoon Blue Amphicar Model 770

This Amphicar, an amphibious automobile, was launched at the 1961 New York Auto Show.  It was made in West Germany and marketed from 1961 to 1968.  Production ceased in 1965 though sales continued until 1968.  From 1960-1965 there were 3,878 built and 3,046 imported into the United States between 1961 and 1967. The Amphicar was a 2-door cabriolet with boat features. The length was 171 inches.  The width was 62 inches.  The height was 60 inches and its curb weight was 2,324 LBS. The Amphicar was rear engined and used a 4 cylinder British-built Triumph Herald motor producing 43 HP.  All Amphicars were convertibles.  The Amphicar had a top speed of 7 MPH on water and 70 MPH on land.  Hence, it was dubbed the "Model 770".  The Amphicar moved in the water by its twin nylon propellers.  

Today, there are only approximately 600 Amphicars that still exist in the United States.  

President Lyndon B. Johnson driving his Amphicar.

Circa 1965

Designed by German engineer Hans Trippel who was already building amphibious vehicles for the German army during WWII. In 1959, he introduced the Eurocar, the first amphibious car intened for the public with a rear-mounted Austin A35 engine.  Production started two years later and the car was renamed the Amphicar.  The amphibious vehicle was manufactured by the Quandt Group.  The name Amphicar is a blend of words .. "ampibious" and "car".  The amphicar offered only modest performance compared to most contemporary boats or cars, navigation lights and flag as mandated by the U.S. Coast Guard.  

In 2014, the publication Petrolicious described the Amphicar as "good for one thing:  fun,  It's not quick or flashy, but it's iconic, unique and friendly.  What more could you ask from a vintage car?  The Amphicar might not make any sense and that's precisely why it's so wonderful."

The lowest recorded sale price was $33,250 for a 1967 Amphicar Model 770 on August 15, 2021. When new, the Amphicar sold between $2,800 and $3,300 depending on the year. Later model years actually sold for less than those of early years. Some 4,000 Amphicars were produced until 1967. No 1968 Amphicars were directly imported into the United States due to EPA and DOT regulations.  This caused a major financial disaster for the Amphicar Corporation since the United States represented about 90% of all Amphicar sales.  The Amphicar factory in Berlin closed for good in 1968 and the remaining inventory of unused parts was eventually purhased by Hugh Gordon of Sante Fe Springs, California.  Hugh's Gordon Imports remains the Amphicar owner's primary source of spare parts. 

According to the enthusiast website Amphicar.com the amphious car was also marketed as a specialty vehicle for emergency rescue services.  The Red Cross deployed a number of Amphicars to serve flood danger areas though as the decade came to a close, the novelty of the boat-car hybrid vessel began to wear off.  The car's confusing identity was a factor in sales.  While the water-riding vehicle enjoyed some degree of attention due to its dual function, the marketing for it was unclear.  Was it a car or was it actually a boat?  This muddled messaging may have cost Amphicar potential customers. 

The Amphicar was also a high-maintenance automobile.  After five hours in the water, the engine needed to be greased which could only be done by lifting the entire car and taking out the rear seat.  Exposure to saltwater made it vulnerable to corrosion, so it needed to be frequently cleaned thoroughly with fresh water.

Changing course in the water was accomplished by steering the front wheels, as on the road.  Needless to say, this was far from ideal.  It was neither an efficient boat nor a particularly good car.  The Amphicar was not very comfortable.  In spite of their poor sailing qualities, some Amphicars did cross the English Channel.  

The Amphicar was originally available in four colors:  Beach Sand White, Regatta Red, Lagoon Blue and Fjord Green.

Amphicar Model 770 in Regatta Red