I would describe my automotive taste as eclectic, and find myself drawn as much to quirky classics as motoring icons. However, vehicles like the 1964 Amphicar 770 leave me torn. While I can think of few experiences better than slipping behind the wheel of a classic car, boats have always caused me to experience a rising tide of seasickness…even on dry land. The Amphicar is a rare beast, and our feature car presents well following its restoration. It is ready to provide a new owner with a life of adventure, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Driven By Faith Restorations for spotting this gem listed for auction here at Hemmings in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The bidding sits below the reserve at $33,500 with plenty of time remaining for interested parties to stake their claim.
Germany once enjoyed a virtual monopoly in the amphibious car sector, with the Volkswagen Schwimmwagen and the Trippel SG6 both predating the 1961 launch of the Amphicar 770. The Volkswagen remains the most successful of the breed, with over 15,000 emerging from the factory during a three-year production run. The Amphicar remained on sale until 1968, although its build total fell well short of the VW. The seller indicates that our feature car underwent a restoration over ten years ago, and a close inspection will reveal minor chips and imperfections in its Strand White paint. However, it remains presentable, with no significant panel or paint shortcomings. There is no mention or evidence of rust, which is a major consideration in any vehicle of this type. Nothing will “dampen” the Amphicar ownership experience more than driving into a body of water, only for your classic to perform its impression of the Titanic. The seller includes a couple of embedded videos in their listing, showing this beauty in action. It appears to float perfectly, skimming along the still water surprisingly well. The trim is in excellent condition, the top fits nicely, and the glass is clear.
If you were a regular viewer of Top Gear UK, you may remember that the hosts made a couple of attempts at producing amphibious cars. While none of these were particularly successful, I have always found the fact that James May used the same Triumph Herald as the base for both of his attempts interesting. He didn’t utilize the car’s engine to power his creation, but The Quandt Group chose that motor to power its Amphicar. Sources vary on the subject, but the consensus seems to be that the 1,147cc Herald four generates around 43hp and 61 ft/lbs of torque. This feeds to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transaxle, while throwing a lever in the cabin diverts that energy to a pair of rear-mounted propellers once the Amphicar hits the water. The “770” designation signified that the vehicle could hit seven knots on the water, and 70mph on the open road. The Amphicar fell short on both counts, but not by much. The seller indicates that this classic is in excellent mechanical health, with no issues or problems. The engine sounds crisp and clean in the supplied videos, with no smoke or odd noises.
The entry of water into the interior of an amphibious car is almost inevitable, whether via minor leaks or from the spray generated during operation. The Quandt Group recognized this when developing the Amphicar, which is why the floors feature rubber mats, rather than carpet that would retain moisture. There was no cloth seat option, with our feature car trimmed in a typical combination of Red and White vinyl. The overall condition of the interior is consistent with a classic that has been treated respectfully in the decade since its restoration. There is no wear or physical damage on the vinyl, the mat is clean, and the painted surfaces look crisp. Potential buyers shouldn’t search too hard for luxury touches, because an AM radio was one of the few, and wasn’t chosen by this car’s first owner.
Although it is sometimes dismissed by enthusiasts, the 1964 Amphicar 770 remains one of the most adventurous engineering feats in automotive history. Producing a vehicle that performs respectably on the road is relatively straightforward, with the same true of boats. However, combining the two brings a unique set of challenges, which is why the pages of automotive and maritime history books feature few such vehicles. Only 3,878 of these classics rolled off the line, and the sort of lives most led saw many succumb to rust years ago. This one is a gem, and recent successful sales should see the bidding head towards or beyond $60,000 before the hammer falls. If you march to the beat of a different automotive drummer, is the Amphicar a classic that you would find irresistible?
Floating cars and flying cars, solutions to non existent problems. I have been driving for 62 years and have never once encountered a need for either.
Clearly, you’ve never been at odds with James Bond.
Your spot on. Silly ideas. There is a new flying car near production that actually looks like a car, but it has small useless wheels on it, so obviously the car part will be compromised. Flying is going to be small drone designs for personal transportation, only way it will be practical. Of course that will only be for the one percent, the rest of us will somehow just have to try and get by. I can see no need for it except getting around traffic jams in cities or maybe getting to remote areas sans roads. The later I can see as a benefit, the former problem is our governments fault to not already have robust swift public transportation like the rest of the Western world has in abundance. No one says we can’t have cars for pleasure, but I see no reason why you need to clog up the roads when just going to work.
Exactly, can you imagine the same people driving the I-110 in LA flying around the sky.
Gippy I agree, but, just think all these %$#@&^ people driving through flooded roadways…………..
If anyone is interested, you can ride in one of them at Disney Springs in Orlando.
https://www.disneysprings.com/attractions/vintage-amphicar-italian-water-taxi-tours/
@Gatormario. I’ve seen those on vacation. Out of the water, as well, and from what I saw they appeared to be in mint condition. They’d have to be probably because of it being a Disney ride.
Spotted in Disney Springs a few years ago.
A 1964 Amphicar 770 recently sold at the Barret-Jackson 2024 Palm Beach auction for $74,000. See it here on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62HC0Ut3z08
i did ride in one on a lake and it was disconcerting at first, the car sat lower in the water than I expected. Once was plenty; I stuck to my powerboat after that. its not that my boat sat higher, it was my head wrapping around the idea of a car that was unsettling.
These rode real low in the water. No white caps or windy days out on the waters. No mention of a bilge pump inside the car. In the late 60’s I saw one at a salvage yard, owner says it’s scrap, no useful parts.
Fantomworks redid one of these in terrible shape. It was a labor of love for the owner who paid the bill. Bad as a car and bad as a boat. Cute and useless. There’s a character who leads hunting tours on Kodiac Island in Alaska who has a true boat that has tires which he rotate down so that he can drive his boat onto shore. I’m not sure what drives the wheels (I suspect them to be battery-powered motors, but it could be an inboard marine motor). Not intended to be an on-road vehicle but an helpful utility on his boat.
Wonder how many of these have sunk, with the loss of all hands?
Visiting Paris on holiday many years ago we saw an Amphicar docked/parked on a residential barge on the Seine, a perfect application for this dual use vehicle. I’ve always had a weak spot for “quirky” but not enough to actually own one. I’m not allowed to attach photo right now though.
Isn’t this how the castaways got marooned on Gilligan’s Island?
When I was a kid the company my dad worked for held an annual summer picnic at a local resort. They had at least two of these as I remember, maybe 3. It was the Frank Davis Resort in Moodus CT. They gave you rides up and down the Salmon River. Yes, as I remember they did ride a little low in the water, but I don’t remember any leaks. Memories . . .
CT Dave
no mention of Prez & actors use (I no LBJ as 1, the Duke the other?).
I Be mem bah dez. I didnt think they had the prowl or shear front. Seemed
a straight across w/slightly recessed graduation all the way down?
Not a good idea as executed
There is about a dozen of them sitting on the bottom near J mark outside the jetty of Newport California.
I used to know the people that had to swim ashore.
For them; that was 500 dollars that sank real fast, back then, that was a lot of money.