For any manufacturer to take on the concept of an amphibious vehicle could best be described as a brave decision. Automotive history is littered with examples, and some of these vehicles have been more successful than others. Some unkind souls would correct me on this, saying that some were less of a disaster than others. Whether you love them or hate them, the simple fact is that the Amphicar has developed a bit of a following amongst certain members of the community, and while they will probably never reach the heights of the desirability of some classics, it does seem that they will always have that following. This Amphicar, located in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a stalled restoration project that is looking for a new home. You will find the Amphicar listed for sale here on Craigslist, with an asking price of $33,900.

The styling of the Amphicar didn’t meet with universal acceptance when it was new. The tail-fins on the car emerged just as that trend was disappearing from main-stream cars, and this didn’t help its cause. The fact that the car looked like it was on stilts also hurt the appearance, in spite of the fact that this was a deliberate design feature for practical purposes. The owner doesn’t mention any issues with rust, and you have to hope that there are none. More than one Amphicar has done a pretty passable impression of the Titanic due to rust, and this does have a tendency to place a damper (excuse the pun) on a day’s recreation. It appears that the rear quarter on the passenger side has undergone some form of repair, so it would pay to give the car a thorough inspection before you launch it down a boat-ramp for your date with destiny. It looks like all of the exterior trim is present and in good order, and while the soft-top looks quite good, it is missing the rear window.

The Amphicar is a vehicle that wears some colors better than others, and the red is not one that really floats my boat. Still, it wouldn’t be hard to change this if you felt that desire. While the dash would need to be repainted to achieve this, the rest of the interior wouldn’t present any problems. The cover on the seat, which isn’t original, is in good condition, and the color is pretty neutral. The door trims look to be missing, so replacements would need to be sourced. The dash features an aftermarket radio/cassette player, but it looks like it has been installed without cutting the dash. There is carpet on the floors, but it is unclear whether this is waterproof carpet. This is a pretty important consideration because the carpet in an Amphicar can get wet, and this can cause regular carpet to develop its own unique smell.

Another brave decision that was made by the Quandt Group when they designed and manufactured the Amphicar was to use the engine from a Triumph Herald to power the vehicle. The 1,147cc engine produces 43hp in the Amphicar compared to the mere 39hp when fitted to the Herald. This power increase was seriously negated in the Amphicar, as its overall weight was some 700lbs higher than the Herald. The “770” designation that is attached to this vehicle was to indicate that it was capable of achieving a speed of 7 knots on the water, and 70mph on land. The Amphicar sits so high by design, and not only does it allow the vehicle to enter and leave the water easily on reasonably sloping approaches, but it puts the front wheels well into the water during aquatic adventures. This is important, as the front wheels serve as the rudders as you putter along at your 7 knots. The owner does say that the Amphicar runs, and while it has been the recent recipient of a number of new brake components. there are also some other brake parts included in the sale for the new owner to fit.

For me, the Amphicar causes all sorts of internal conflicts. While I am deeply passionate about cars, I have a strong aversion to boats. However, I have complete respect for people who love these little cars, because these are the sorts of people who allow the classic car scene to thrive with so much diversity. One of the interesting aspects of the Amphicar is the incredible spread of prices that they seem to achieve. I’ve seen reasonable examples selling for as little as $24,000, and pristine examples selling for $80,000 or more. If this one is solid and has no rust issues, I honestly wouldn’t be surprised to see the seller achieve his asking price. Stranger things have happened.