YOU ARE VISITOR NUMBER
This car got more attention than any car I
have ever owned for any price. It's never hard to find it in
the show at Hershey, just look for all the umbrellas. If you
don't think this car draws a crowed, just ask the poor people
who had to park there cars beside the Amphicar,one year, one
ask to move and was allowed to because of the crowed
.
The car is an older restoration not perfect but is
a constant Trophy winner in shows it has averaged winning a
trophy 90% of the time it is in competition, and it is almost
always the most popular car at the show. It Won a First at
Hershey in 1990 and now carries the "AACA National First
Prize Winner's Plaque on the front.
If you want a
brass trimmed Amphicar this is the only one in existence (I
think). All the brass in not original. Most Amphicars have
chromed potmetal trim. The dash is trimed in brass. I cast
and polished the brass, bronze,and copper. I really like the
brass and think it sets the car off.
Some of people
have had question about registering the car. In Indiana you
have to have both boat and car registrations. I have a letter
from the chief at the BMV stating I do not have to pay taxes
on the boat as I have already paid taxes on it as a car. It
cost me $12.75 to register as a car and $5.00 to register as
a boat and $12.50 taxes or a total or $30.25 a year. As for
insurance I insure it as a car with State Farm as a Collector
car L,PD,M only it runs $12.75 every 6 months. As a boat it
is covered under my homeowners policy. My home owner policy
cover all boats up to 50hp and that Amphicar is 43hp. If you
wanted to insure it for collision you would just have to set
a value and insure it for that the same as any collector car.
That's a total of $65.75 a year so it doesn't cost much to
own and keep it totally legal on any land or water.
Amphi does start and run well even though it still has it
original points, plugs, cap, rotor and wires. I have had
several questions about how the Amphicar Drives. I have had
several antique cars and all of them drive differently. The
Amphicar drives about like a mid 50's car. It has 80% of it
weight in the rear which makes it understeer, it has a short
wheelbase and a stiff suspension which makes it ride rough,
it has 43 HP so it is no powerhouse, so if you expect it to
drive like modern cars it doesn't. I wouldn't drive it to
work everyday. But I do drive it on vacations with my wife
and family in it and have no fear for their safety or fear of
having to walk home. When we drive it on vacation, we usually
have the top down. I have my 9 and 3 year old daughters ride
in the front with me (I temporarily install a seat belt for
her) and my wife rides in the back, so I don't go much over
45mph because it messes up my wife's hair and I get bitched
at so its just not worth it. At night or in the rain, with
the top up I usually drive about 50 55mph. (With the flag
removed, the flag beats itself to death over 45mph). I like
to drive at night with the red/green and pole lights on and
the flag in, this is against the law in most states, but I
have never been hassled. The car has the new style bigger
springs it takes to put Gordons replacement shocks on I don't
know how to answer the "does it drive well"
question honestly, I think it drives good for an Amphicar but
not good for a new Corvette. I had one man tell me he had
driven two Amphicars and he wouldn't drive either one
acrossed the street and then wanted to know if mine drove
well. I can send you a copy of a Amphicar road test from a
1967 Car and Driver, this was a test on a new Amphicar. Read
it and decide if you would be satisfied with any Amphicar. If
they drove great and were a great boat, they wouldn't have
gone out of business.
In the water it seeps a little ( all Amphicar owner I
talked to say theirs leak too) I wouldn't want to tie it up
to a peer all night, but, it is fine for use. I usually run
it up in shallow water to park. While boating I usually keep
an eye on the water level in the hull. I run the bilge pump
when there get to be 1 in. or more. this is about 5 10% of
the time. In rough water the front hood will take on some
water. I can adjust it so it doesn't leak but the it take two
people to close it.
I have never checked the gas
milage. But I have driven over 200 miles on a tank so it is
at least 20, I have heard from other owners theirs is as high
as 40mpg. I just don't drive it enough for it to make any
difference to me. I run regular leaded gas.
Most
parts are available at reasonable prices from Gordons
Imports. My parts car has all of the hard to get parts like
swing arms (all four) and doors.
The Drivers door
does lock with the ignition key (no key hole on passenger
side). But there are snaps on the top above the doors so
entry would not be hard even with the doors locked. The glove
box locks. All locks one key.
All light work
including the boat lights and I have the Flag pole.
The
top is manual, I can put it up and down by myself on
land.
Yes, it has a heater and defroster but does not put
out much heat. It is fine in summer and fall. One Christmas
Parade and we froze.
Tires were new from Sears, Guardsman
Vintage car tires. 5.60 13.
All the brass is clear coated
except the tail pipe.
The bolt pattern on the car is
standard Ford. 13in rims off and old 60's Fairlane fit. But,
I have spare Amphicar wheels. The spare tire in the Amphicar
is original and has never been on the ground and show no age
cracks.
As far as what in new on the car it would be
impossible to list. Most thing have been replaced or redone
except the engine.
We always take Amphi on vacation
with us and park our motorhome and drive Amphi around. The
only problem with this is you have to chase the people away
from the car everytime you want to leave a parking
lot.
I hope I have answered most of your questions, I
came think of as honestly as I can. I have not mentioned all
of the cars fine points I think the AACA fist National speaks
for it's self.
As for what I had with the car A 1967 parts
car (no title) disassembled compete except engine and other
parts from a 1968
An Amphicar literature collection
including an original sales brochure (I have seen one sell
for $350), An original color chart, several old car magazines
with the original road tests. Books that mention the
Amphicar
Complete Service, Parts and Electrical manuals
in binders.
Reliable Automotive Custom Evolution 3 car
cover.
YOU ARE VISITOR NUMBER SINCE Oct. 27, 1995
Back to Jay's Home page