The Amphicar Model 770 is an amphibious automobile,
launched at the 1961 New York Auto Show, manufactured in West Germany and
marketed in the United States from 1961-1967, with production having ended in
1965.
Designed by Hanns Trippel, the amphibious vehicle
was manufactured by the Quandt Group at Lübeck and at Berlin-Borsigwalde, with
a total of 3,878 manufactured in a single generation.
A descendant of the Volkswagen Schwimmwagen, the
Amphicar offered only modest performance compared to most contemporary boats or
cars, featured navigation lights and flag as mandated by Coast Guard — and
after operation in water, required greasing at 13 points, one of which required
removal of the rear seat. The Amphicar name is a portmanteau of
"amphibious" and "car".
Engine: Triumph four-cylinder engine of 1147 cc, 8.0
compression ratio, rated at 38.3 bhp. The powerplant was the 1147 cc (69 in³)
engine from the British Triumph Herald 1200. Many engines were tried in
prototypes but the Triumph engine was "state of the art" in 1961 and
had the necessary combination of performance, weight, cool running, and
reliability. Updated versions of this engine remained in production in the
Triumph Spitfire until 1980.
The Amphicar engine had a power output of 43 hp at 4750 rpm, slightly more than the Triumph Herald due to a shorter
exhaust. Designated the "Model 770", the Amphicar could achieve
speeds of 7 knots in the water and 110 km/h on land. Later versions of
the engine displaced 1296 cc and 1493 cc and produced up to 75 bhp.
Some Amphicar owners have fitted these engines to improve performance.
In water as well as on land, the Amphicar steered
with the front wheels, making it less maneuverable than a conventional boat. In reality, a
well maintained Amphicar does not leak at all and can be left in water, parked
at a dock side, for many days.
