This month, we have a small, German car that I witnessed drive across a parking lot and plunge headfirst into Lake Arlington!
And the little German car instantly became DAS BOOT … THE BOAT … to the collective cheers of the startled onlookers.
Daniel and Kathy Gibson never tire of the reaction to their rare 1964 AMPHICAR 770. It makes people happy every time they take it out for a spin … or should I say, swim.
And it is a real car. Built in West Germany between 1959 and 1968, it appeared in the U.S. on April 1, 1961 (April Fool’s Day on purpose?) Only 600 were delivered to American customers through 71 dealerships. Without proper care, they were obviously prone to rust, and very few operating examples remain. Today, a premium one like the Gibson’s can bring more than $100,000, about 37 times the $2695 original price!
Powered by a 43 horsepower, 4-cylinder Triumph engine, performance was not a priority … 70 miles per hour on the road, 7 in the water, hence the designation: AMPHICAR 770.
I would bet that it is the only car ever built to offer an anchor, floating cushions, and a paddle as options!
Dan and Kathy came to Arlington in 1973. In late 2017, after Dan completed a long career at nearby Alcon Labs, it was time for some leisure and hobbies. Since coming to Arlington, they had longed for a boat to take advantage of our numerous local lakes. The search began on the then-new eBay site. Dan stumbled across a listing for a “car/boat” restoration project for sale in Downers Grove, Illinois. Being a car enthusiast like his dad, Dan was intrigued, plus he liked restoration work. The bonus, their “new” boat would not require a trailer, plus it could be useful to have an extra car. Kathy was skeptical, “… it will take forever to restore…” but the Gibsons love a challenge; they hit the “buy-it-now” button, and the restoration task was officially underway. The christening date target was set, early spring 2001.
Dan had 6 months starting in October of 2000. Hundreds of hours later, through the fall and winter, Das Boot was ready for her maiden voyage in March 2001. By summer, all the “bugs” are worked out, it is performing like new, and the two young Gibson daughters can’t wait to head to the lake with their over-inflated inner tubes. Being towed on long ropes, even 7 MPH seems fast, and it is definitely a lot of fun!
Nearly 25 years later, the public reaction remains the same: “ What is that!?” A strange sight, a car with two big propellers under the rear bumper. It has always been the center of attention at numerous car shows and display events over the years. It is a perennial “People’s Choice” winner, beating exotic Ferraris and other contestants in expensive machines. In one case, a Ferrari owner’s female companion fell in love with the little boat and, with tongue in cheek, asked Dan if he would be interested in an even trade. Kathy stepped in with “Thank you for the tempting offer, but yours is just a car.”
Driving it on the road requires patience; it is not fast, and the ride is choppy because it is so small … the wheelbase is a foot shorter than that of a VW Beetle. But it is great for a beautiful Arlington afternoon drive, particularly when you can plan your excursion to include a quick dip in a local lake. Just make sure to follow the instructions on the glove box door:
WARNING! BEFORE BOATING
1. PUT BILGE PLUG IN
2. SECURE FRONT LUGGAGE DECK
3. USE LOWER LOCKS TO SEAL DOORS.
All set … Head down the boat-launch ramp, engage the props, and your afternoon drive just turned into an evening shoreline cruise. Slow and serene with the front wheels acting as rudders, it is much smoother than the pavement, unless the water turns rough. That’s when you will be glad you got the optional floating cushions!
To top it off, Dan installed a period-correct 8-track tape deck and storage for a collection of favorite cartridges. Hard to believe, but there is an active market for the old 8-tracks. Kathy is the owner of Kate’s Track Shack…one of the largest retailers of the cartridges and the later cassette tapes in the country. There is a resurgence in demand, and Kathy has been working with prominent artists like Dolly Parton and Nancy Sinatra to create new releases on the vintage 8-track format.
The first-time passenger’s natural instinct is controlled panic as you go from concrete to water in a splash that you imagine is the beginning of the end. Actually, it is the beginning of a delightful experience only a few will ever have.
Dan and Kathy take pride in their little boat and share it often with friends or with strangers who just happen to be at the lake at the right time to witness a car turn into a boat.
