Amphicar Start Here (original) (raw)

AMPHICAR BACKGROUNDER

Amphicar with dreamgirl!

Amphicar was manufactured in Berlin Germany from 1962 to 1967. Approx 4500 were produced, most went to USA (at least 3700), There are maybe 500 still in regular use, with are 7 in the UK and about 80 in the rest of Europe.
Even now, Amphicar is the only non-military Amphibious vehicle ever put into production on a commercial basis (ie more than 50 produced). The many rules and regulations for road and water going vehicles make it very unlikely that another car based amphibian will ever be produced.
Amphicar is capable of over 70mph on road, 8 knots on water. It is comfortable enough to drive 500 miles a day, road behaviour is similar to a good 1960s European saloon car or a 1980s American car.
Amphicar cost $5m to design in the late 1950's. It is totally watertight. The engine is in the rear, it is the same as used in the Triumph Herald, 1147cc, 43HP, transmission drives rear wheels through unique land/water gearbox.
Amphicar has connections with other manufacturers, many Amphicar employees came from Borgward and there are many parts in common between the cars. Much of the braking system and suspension is Mercedes. The transmission internals are Porsche 356 as are some parts of the fuel system. In 1967 the Amphicar corporation was owned by the Quandt group, who also owned and still own a controlling share of, BMW.