Regarding the submerging of an Amphicar, almost submarining, etc. stories,
when we got our Amphicar 11 years ago, I had zero experience with them and had
never seen one in the water. I had seen them when I lived in Germany in the
service and had seen them at car shows in Europe - even still have Amphicar
brochures in both English and German but other than thinking they were
interesting, I never expected to own one. It is a separate story about how we came
to acquire ours.
Anyway, we brought ours home from Pennsylvania. Now what? I talked with
Hugh Gordon at length, He knew of the car because the previous owner had gotten
lots of parts from him, BUT the previous owner had never had it in the water.
The main thing I remember from Hugh was to put a garden hose in and see
where any water might run out. Anyway, 6 months after we acquired it, we still
hadn't had the courage to sink it, as just about everyone with whom we talked
(not Amphicar owners) told me which direction it would likely go when we went
in and they were pointing down !
We went to the Antique Boat Show at Mount Dora with our Woodie and WOW -
there were 3 Amphicars. I went crazy taking pictures and Dave Monier gave me my
first ride. Subsequent to this exposure to Amphicars that really went in the
water and survived, we then took ours to a fresh water lake near Fort
Lauderdale where we lived. My wife wouldn't go in with me the first time, but she
and a friend took pictures, including one of me pressing the Brake pedal
without thinking in order to slow the "car" down ! Anyway, after that we were
daring and tried it out a few times and then took it to Mt. Dora the following
year and to Celina in 1999. From then on, there was no stopping us.
On the subject of water coming in, I do have 2 bilge pumps - one I turn on
and the other one works automatically if needed. We didn't take on much water
initially, but there was an obvious steady small trickle from the front of the
driver's door which I assumed was to be expected. Talking with other owners,
someone suggested I could stem this intrusion with some self stick weather
strip over the existing rubber seal. This I did and nothing could have been
simpler. Result - No more leak. That was 9 years ago and I can still use it a
whole weekend and not take enough water from spray or anyplace else to matter.
Those of you who know me know that Captain Splash enjoys a good splash in
and it is my preferred method of entering the water - especially if I have
neophytes on board. With one exception, my bilge pumps have not come on since
that time except when I put a hose in to activate them to make sure they still
work. The exception was when I took a couple of people for a ride at Mount
Dora and one of the passengers informed me that they could feel water. Hmmmmm.
I verified this immediately as I made a 180 and headed for the ramp. Once out
of the water, the problem was quickly found as the lady's handbag had a
strap which was sticking out under the passenger door. End of problem.
Two weeks ago, Peter Fredsall called and told me that a fellow who had just
acquired an Amphicar had talked with Hugh who gave him Peter's phone number
because the fellow had the same trepidation initially that so many of us have
had. He would like someone to take it in with him the first time. Peter was
not readily available at that time and called me. I then called and arranged
to meet him at a nearby lake 3 days later. I kept Peter informed in case he
could make it, but he had a conflict time wise and had to pass. I met the
fellow at the lake and he had brought it on a trailer. It was a gorgeous red
Amphicar with new paint but original interior and only 1700 miles on the clock.
While I talked with him at first, I asked if he had lubricated it, etc. He
said he had, but not the zerk fittings on the inner U-joints. His was a 1967 and
so I told him as soon as he got home, he should proceed to take care of that
detail. In conversation, he somehow said something about "it doesn't have
REVERSE in the water. I wasn't sure of how he meant what he said. I asked him
"is that a question or a statement ?" He then said - "it doesn't does it ?"
to which I told him if it didn't, then something was wrong. While on the
trailer, we started it up and it had forward and reverse with the marine
transmission with no problem. He was somewhat surprised, but pleased. Even today, I
had conversation with a local fellow who runs a tour boat and told him that
story. His response was that would have to have Reverse. I then told him that
the German Schwimmwagen did not have reverse (the Amphibious VW jeeps made
by the Germans during World War II.) Most of you likely know this, but these
Schwimmwagens have a propeller apparatus that is hinged and lowered with a
rod where it contacts the pulley on the rear of the VW engine crankshaft. Since
the engine only runs in one direction, then the propellers can only turn in
one direction = NO Reverse.
Anyway, our intital Swim In and then a mild Splash In went without incident
and the fellow was pretty happy with the experience. He then took it out
himself and was quite pleased. For me, like for any of you who have taken someone
else for their first ride in their own Amphicar, it was of course a lot of
fun demonstrating the Amphicar and watching his reactions.
See you at Lake Dora the end of March. Make your reservations now while they
are available.
Capt. Splash
with the 1967 Aqua "Split Personality"
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