Recently, there seems to be a lot of increased focus on the concept of driverless automobiles. If that idea ever gets perfected, it’s probably not a bad thing, seeing how poorly so many human-operated vehicles in my town are being operated. Still, even futuristic mindsets are mostly confined to the pavement, so wouldn’t it be fun if free-thinking engineers could take things a step further, and incorporate water into the design of something with wheels that could also function as a boat? That was the goal of the Amphicar 770, which debuted in 1961 and was on sale until 1968. It’s a fun novelty, and this 1964 model here on Facebook Marketplace might appeal to those seeking something unusual and sort of rare. This one’s part of an estate in Seattle, Washington, with the executor looking to gain $53,000 from the sale.
Word on the street (or pond) is that the company had originally aimed to make around 25,000 units, but production fell way short of that number, with a reported total of 3,878. These were sold all the way up until 1968, though production had actually wrapped up by 1965, with the majority going to U.S. buyers. We’ve featured a few of these before in varying conditions, but this one appears to have aged better than most, with the body not showing any obvious signs of corrosion. There is a paint fleck on the driver’s side quarter panel, but overall, this one seems quite solid.
Excessive get-up-and-go was not a strong point for the Amphicar, as it was powered by a 4-cylinder 1147cc Triumph engine, which had an output rating of 43 HP. Top speeds of around 70 miles per hour on the roads were apparently achievable, and 7 knots (just over 8 MPH) were a possibility in the water. The seller doesn’t mention the mileage here or any specific details regarding the drivetrain, but everything under the hood appears orderly, and it’s also stated that this is only a two-owner example.
We get to view this interior shot, which shows the seats and door panels in far better condition than I’d expect for an amphibious auto, so perhaps this one’s spent considerably more time on the pavement than in a body of water. Another photo taken through the back area of the convertible top gives us a glimpse of the dash, which also looks well-preserved, at least from a slight distance. $53k sounded a bit ambitious when I first saw this one, but according to Hagerty, even in good condition, some of these have an estimated value of $86,900, so this 1964 Amphicar 770 might end up a bargain for the right buyer. Is this a car/boat you’d consider adding to your collection?
Nice write up Mike. Curios about the jug of water in the cab, LOL.
Thanks so much for reading leiniedude- maybe the gallon jug is a souvenir of some water this one treaded through from the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Washington!
Flying cars and floating cars, the perfect solution to problems that don’t exist. Perhaps Greta the Doom Goblin will buy it, since she thinks sea levels will rise over our heads within minutes.
yeah we certainly haven’t been experiencing any weather anomalies lately, especially water related ones, right?
Gippy – what you make light of happened just this week to too many people in both Texas and New Mexico. The known death toll continues to rise, too high, just like the very real flood waters.
I remember seeing these for under $1000 and sitting for months on a used car lot. Now they are asked over $50 grand.
You know what they say about the amphicar,
it’s the fastest car in the water and the fastest boat on land
I guess that means it wasn’t the best car or boat, looks like a really good deal most of the ones I’ve seen are over $100,000.
There is no doubt the interest in these cars has really escalated in the last few years. Not so long ago you couldn’t give one away. WHO KNEW?
I’ve always liked them. Can’t afford one now ~ should have bought one a few years ago.
Why that thing is dangerous has know practical value put in your back yard and plant flowers in it
Very interesting and disturbing history of the company. BMW still owns the rights to these.
I always found these interesting .
The trunk has pumps to pump the water that seeps in out.
This looks in better shape as most were prone to rust.
Good luck with the climate change backup plan for those near rising water😉😎
Seriously good luck with sale and I agree with prior comments as these cars have advanced in price.
I believe most of us come here to escape our daily woes, relax, see some interesting vehicles, dream, or for the lucky few find our next buy. Can we please leave our political opinions elsewhere? This isn’t a platform for that, and commentary should remain relevant to the posted vehicle. Oh yeah, comments on the car- it’s cool, but not for me.
Crazy the money these things bring now. They weren’t good boats, and they weren’t good cars. They lacked on both land and sea. Sometimes just because something can be done, doesn’t mean it should. Nice novelty items, though. The only time I seen one in person was at a classic car show and more people were gathered around looking at it than the Countach that was at the same show.
A good place to start a rebuild. Looks like all the parts are there.. Most likely ALL the seals need replacing, due to age, and the engine and transmission need to be gone thru also. But it is a fair place to start..