“the amphicar model 770 is an amphibious automobile which was launched at the 1961 new york auto show. it was made in west germany and marketed from 1961 to 1968, with production ceasing in 1965. the powerplant was the 1147 cc (69 in³) standard sc engine from the british triumph herald 1200. the triumph engine was "state of the art" in 1961 and it had the necessary combination of performance, weight, cool running, and reliability.” “the amphicar engine had a power output of 43 hp (32 kw) 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 70 mph (110 km/h) on land. later versions of the engine displaced 1296 cc and 1493 cc and produced up to 75 bhp (56 kw).” Hello, With two teenage boys in the Amphicar, there was not much horsepower to make it move any faster than a slow walk. It was putt-putt, puttering around the Belmont Shore Alamitos Bay calm waters for an afternoon adventure of fun. Yes, we got the looks from absolutely everyone sunbathing on the shoreline from the Peninsula tip to the calm shoreline of the Alamitos Bay Bridge on 2nd Street leading into the shopping/restaurant area. (where the famous Floating Christmas Trees start floating and lighting up the waters, every year) Unless it was low tide, we could not get under that low bridge. But, just the idea of a couple of teenagers “driving around” on the water made little kids point and run to the water’s edge to see us putt-putt by in the deeper water. We tried going faster, but the weight of two teenagers lowered the water’s edge to the top edge and if we went any faster, the water would slosh over the edge. (tried many times to go faster, each time the same result…) it was for us, a two person cruise. Three or more made the journey slower due to the water level and speed combined. The advertised speed of 7 knots is overrated and must have been in a wind-less smooth indoor pool or body of water. We have been going 6.8 knots in our sailboat(s) and at the time, was flying by at speed. The Amphicar we drove in the Alamitos Bay waters was a slow put-put cruise and not 7 knots, that is for sure. Any faster and it would have splashed water inside of the boat/car. Jnaki From where the Amphicar was garaged, it was a short drive to the launching site just at the last house on the water’s edge. Back then the road led right to the water’s edge. If there was a closed gate or barrier, the rest of the sandy beach had no sidewalk to keep the Amphicar off of the few hardened packed dirt trails leading to the calm bay waters. We decided after our sailing in an 18 foot Malibu Catamaran in the same bay waters, that it was different. Going out into the ocean in the catamaran was ok, rough, but ok. So, when we were driving the Amphicar, it was not for that area of the “ocean meets the bay” location. The swells would have swamped us in no time. YRMV Note: No, we did not have a hood ornament like your posted photo! We could have stopped where our friends were sunbathing, but that would have opened up a whole can of problems with weight and water incursion. Yikes!
Yup, like: "When you get to a fork in the road, take it." He was a master of the English language, and quite a character!
Hello, Yes, before we put it back in the garage, my friend and I washed the whole car as if it was one of our street hot rod cruisers. The interior was as dry as normal cruising, as long as we did not go the posted limit in the water. We knew that the faster we went, the possibility of a catastrophic event of water coming in over the sides was possible. So, we were satisfied with the typical slow on the water cruising. It was the only one on the whole Long Beach's Alamitos Bay's calm waters. So, we knew it was special and wanted to continuing riding around in it during the summers. We took excellent care of it each time. Jnaki Having a nice teenage car and taking care of it well goes a long way to build confidence for my friend's dad. He knew we took great care of our own cruisers and knew about abuse +speed in our cars. So, he was confident in us to be able to take the Amphicar out on the water by our selves. YRMV Those Amphicars were all over the USA and in calm waters. We never drove it with more than two, due to the possibility of water incursion. It was tempting like driving an inboard powered boat, but we knew the possibilities...
The Jalopy Journal
