General Information

Serial #

100069

Part Number

1

Total Parts

2

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

15 GAUGE STEEL/ ALUMINIUM/ VINYL SEAT COVERINGS & DOOR PANELS/ SYNTHETIC PARTS/ GLASS/ RUBBER TIRES & PARTS/ CANVAS? TOP

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

430.0 cm

Width

158.5 cm

Height

165.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

1054.0

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Marine Transportation

Category

Vessels

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Amphicar

Country

Federal Republic of Germany

State/Province

Unknown

City

Lübeck

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

Period

DEC. 18 1961 TO 1989

Canada

This German made vehicle was the first Amphicar sold in Canada. It played a major role in the distributer's early promotional campaign, crossing Lake Ontario in 1962. Mr. Hurst was the original owner. The Hurst family used it to go tot heir cottage which was situated on an island. About 1% were sold in Canada. This vehicle was displayed at the Ontario Science Centre in the 1970s.

Function

Owner driven passenger amphibious vehicle for general transportation.

Technical

To date, the Amphicar is the only amphibious automobile produced commercially. Its introduction marked the further transition of the automobile from a means of transport to a recreational vehicle which in later years was manifested in the dual purpose 4x4. Amphicar was designed & built by German Hans Trippel who had experimented with amphibious vehicles from 1912. During WWII he used this experience in construction of amphibious vehicles for German military. Amphicar was produced in Germany from 1961 to 1968 with total production approx. 3000 vehicles. 80% of these were sold in North America, 1% in Canada. It was capable of capable of speeds of 68 mph on land & 6.5 knots in water.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

METAL APPLIQUE 'amphicar' IN SCRIPT ON EACH SIDE OF CAR/ 'AMPHICAR' STAMPED ON HUB CAPS

Missing

MARINE REGISTRATION NUMBERS ON EXTERIOR

Finish

PAINTED WHITE (REPAINTED BEFORE ACQUISITION BY MUSEUM)/ CHROME PLATED TRIM & PARTS/ METAL DASH PAINTED CREAM/ CREAM STEERING WHEEL/ PLATED & CREAM COLOURED SYNTHETIC CONTROLS & PARTS/ RED-BROWN & WHITE VINYL SEAT COVERINGS & DOOR PANELS, WITH BROWN TRIM/ BLACK TOP & TOP STORAGE COMPARTMENT COVER/ WHEELS PAINTED RED WITH PLATED HUB CAPS/ MULTICOLOURED SYNTHETIC

Decoration

RAISED GOLD CASTLE LOGO ON BLACK GROUND UNDER CLEAR PLEXIGLASS ON HORN