Amphicar

Every so often, a car comes along that challenges our very conception of the automobile. So it was with the revolutionary Amphicar, manufactured by the German Quandt Group, which debuted in 1961. The Amphicar “Model 770” was an amphibious vehicle, both roadworthy and seaworthy, and the first of its kind.

Between 1961 and 1967, nearly 4000 Amphicars were built, the vast majority of these being marketed and sold to consumers in the United States. The Amphicar could reach a top speed of 70 mph on the road, and by virtue of its leak-proof steel hull, nylon propellers, electric bilge pump, and onboard maritime equipment, could be “driven” across bodies of water at a maximum speed of 7 knots.

Despite being lampooned by the American press as “a vehicle that promised to revolutionize drowning,” the Amphicar garnered a favorable reception among American consumers and in 1968, proved its mettle after a successful crossing of the English Channel! It is estimated that roughly 700 Amphicars are still in existence, and due to their scarcity, they are highly sought-after by vintage car collectors and automotive enthusiasts alike. In fact, American Amphicar owners have been known to congregate at inland lakes for “swim-ins”!