Amphicar - marque/manufacturer information
List of all Amphicar cars
The Amphicar was the only amphibious automobile ever mass-produced for sale to the public. The German vehicle was designed by Hanns Trippel and manufactured by the Quandt Group at Lübeck and at Berlin-Borsigwalde, its name is a portmanteau of "amphibious" and "car".
Performance
The powerplant was the 1147 cc (69 in³) engine from the British Triumph Herald 1200 introduced by the new owners Leyland Motors Ltd. 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. This engine remained in production in the Triumph Spitfire until 1979. The Amphicar engine had a power output of 43 hp (32 kW) at 4750 rpm. Called the "Model 770", the Amphicar could achieve speeds of 7 knots in the water and 70 mph (113 km/h) on land. Later versions of the engine displaced 1300cc and 1500cc and produced up to 75bhp. Some Amphicar owners have fitted these engines to improve performance.
It was said that the Amphicar wasn't a very good car and wasn't a very good boat because of modest performance in and out of water, but in many parts of the world it is capable of breaking the speed limits on both.
In water as well as on land, the Amphicar steered with the front wheels, which made it very easy to "drive" in the water, although it was not as maneuverable as a conventional boat.
History
Production started in 1961. After 1963 cars were assembled from parts inventory built up in anticipation of sales of 20,000 per year. Production ended in 1968. Most Amphicars were sold in the United States. Cars were sold in the UK from 1964. Total production was 3,878 vehicles before the company folded.
Driveability
Although underpowered by modern standards, a well maintained Amphicar can be a remarkably agile and pleasant vehicle to drive on both land and water. The fact that such a high proportion - roughly a quarter of the almost 4000 produced - have survived more than forty years is a testament to their very high initial production quality, and to the lengths that many owners will go to maintain and restore their beloved vehicles.
Amphicar shows
During the fourth week in July, Amphicar owners convene at Grand Lake St. Marys in western Ohio. These events are called Swim-ins , and are designed to give owners a chance to interact with one another.
Auction
Tom Maruska, of Duluth, MN, sold a mint example by fetching $115K plus 8% buyers premium at the Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale in 2006.
In popular culture
An Amphicar is featured in the James Coburn movie The President's Analyst, where Coburn and the character named "Kropotkin" use the car to make an escape. USA President Lyndon B. Johnson had an Amphicar at his ranch, a period picture shows him taking Walter Cronkite for a ride across a lake. There are also pictures of USA President Jimmy Carter driving an Amphicar. In music culture there are reports that John Lennon had a white Amphicar on his English country estate around 1968. Madonna is seen driving a blue Amphicar in the 1985 video of "Start me up"
- The movie "Pontiac Moon" also features one of them, of course in a lake run.
List of all Amphicar cars
Source: Wikipedia
Infobox
Car Insurance Comparison – Why It is Important
Knowing what to look for when making a car insurance comparison is getting to be more important all of the time. Most, if not all states require motorists to have some level of auto insurance.
But now, states like Mississippi that do not have insurance databases are going to have them, and there must be proof of insurance before the automobile can get its tags renewed. According to the Jackson Free Press, the Mississippi legislature passed a new law in mid-March of 2011 requiring that motorists have more than just an insurance card, but actually have the insurance and be in the database. No insurance means no tags. This will prevent motorists from signing up for insurance and then canceling the policy to save money and still have the card.
With this becoming more common, it is more important now than ever to know how to make a car insurance comparison. Everyone wants to save money on auto insurance, and if that is the name of your game, you will want to get the absolute minimum that your state requires. That does not necessarily mean that you are going to have great insurance, though, because it will most likely just be liability. If your car still has some value to it, this may not be the best for you. If your car is totaled, you will have no way to recover the loss.
If you are already covered under a health insurance plan, it may not be necessary to get additional medical coverage with your auto insurance. If not, this could be crucial. Other additions that you will have to consider include towing, comprehensive coverage, theft, extra liability, car rental and a number of other options your agent will be happy to show you.
(...)
Read more...
