In a message dated 96-11-07 02:54:59 EST, you write:
<< Fellows, correct me if I'm wrong (at least Karl should know!), IMHO
amphicar's are a german brand, think built in Berlin in the 60's!
>>
Yes, you are right. The design was by Hans Trippel, who was an amphibious
vehicle designer before the war -- there's a really interesting picture of
him driving one of his creations in a lagoon in Berlin in the late 1930's --
two couples dressed to the teeth, in furs and hats, putting across the
water!! He also designed the Schwimwagen and other amphibious military
vehicles during the war. After the war, he designed a light popular-type
amphibious car, but could not get funding to build it. A group of American
investors got together and formed the Amphicar Corporation of America, which
funded his production at Karlsruhe -- that was the Amphicar. I think it was
a tax advantage that resulted in the British engine, but then where else in
Europe could one buy quantities of light, strong, reliable water-cooled
engines in the early 1960's? Thank God they didn't go to Pigout (Peugeot) or
Fix It Again Tony (FIAT), or there would have been more than a few amphibious
drivers stranded on the waterways !! Anyway, they settled on the Herald
engine. Therefore, it's Little Part British Car (or Craft) ;-)
The vast majority of these little critters came to the US -- as those of you
in GB know, there are only a handful there. At the end of production (1967)
they had loads of parts and whole cars left over. The final payment to the
last remaining workers was a new Amphicar, which some of them did not
necesarily use much. For that reason, there is a sizable contingent of them
remaining in that area even now.
BTW -- If anyone wants to complain about TRF, Moss, etc., at least recognize
that for Triumph parts you have many sources from which to draw. Amphicar
parts (other than Herald engine stuff) come from one dealer in California who
bought out the entire stock of parts remaining at the factory many years
after the end of production. If he doesn't have it (or you can't afford it)
then you get to make it yourself !!
-Karl
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