Automotive
BEHAVIOR
It’s a car. It’s a boat. No, it’s both! It drives on land and water.
HABITAT
Mostly found now in Amphicar shows or rallies organized by enthusiasts, you rarely get to see them on the road.
HOW IT WORKS
A 43 HP Triumph motor powers both the wheels and two small propellers that protrude from the rear end. This rearmounted motor gives the amphibious car a top land speed of 70 mph and top water speed of 8 mph. It has no rudder and steers by the driver turning the front wheels.
The car is watertight so the occupants and their luggage are kept dry. But just in case, it does have a bilge pump. As a motorized boat and car, an Amphicar needs to be licensed for both. Not practical for most driving or boating applications, but in some cases it is an ideal compromise vehicle. Fewer than 4,000 were ever produced, all between 1962 and 1967 in Berlin.
Amphicars made some significant ocean crossings: from Africa to Europe and from England to France. The Amphicar was not the first automotive amphibian and not the last. Very recently a UK company has developed high speed amphibious technology and is selling amphibious cars called Aquada.
Instead of propellers, the Aquada uses a water jet for propulsion. An engine spins impeller blades that accelerate water and push it out the rear of the car/boat. Steering is accomplished through a nozzle that can
swivel. To go in reverse, the impeller spins in the opposite direction. Besides going much faster across the lake than an Amphicar (as fast as 30 mph), the water jet is safer since it has no external blades that spin.
The Aquada also has retractable wheels to reduce the water drag.
Pushing one button retracts the wheels and disconnects them from the engine. When you come to the shore, drop the wheels and drive home. If you buy one, please give me a ride.
INTERESTING FACTS
Purchased new from 1962 and 1967, Amphicars cost less than $3,500. In 2006 a used Amphicar was sold for over $100,000.
A field guide to automotive technology
Ed Sobey
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