# Amphicar 770 (1961-1968)
Source: https://fullysorted.com/research/models/amphicar/770
Publisher: Fully Sorted (fullysorted.com), collector car research
Last updated: 2026-09-16

## Key facts
- Make: Amphicar
- Model: 770
- Generation: 1961-1968
- Years: 1961 to 1968
- Body styles: Amphibious convertible
- Engines: Triumph Herald 1147cc inline-four (rear-mounted, ~43 hp at 4,750 rpm), driving the rear wheels on land and twin nylon propellers in the water
- Production total: 3,878
- Production notes: Most sources agree ~3,878 Amphicars were built. The bulk of physical assembly occurred roughly 1960-1965 at Quandt Group facilities (Lübeck, later Berlin-Borsigwalde), though the car was marketed and sold through 1968 as inventory was cleared. The vast majority were exported to the United States: Heacock Classic cites 3,046 US imports and ~832 European sales; other accounts say roughly 3,700 reached the US. Only about 97 were right-hand-drive. Estimates of survivors vary from 'several hundred' to around 500 still operable.

## Summary
The Amphicar 770 is the world's first - and by far the most successful - mass-produced civilian amphibious car: a car that drives straight into a lake and floats away under its own power. Designed by German engineer Hans Trippel and built by the Quandt Group from 1961 to 1968, it paired a jaunty finned convertible body with a rear-mounted 1147cc Triumph Herald four-cylinder engine. On land it drove the rear wheels through a conventional 4-speed manual (~70 mph); in the water a second gearbox spun twin nylon propellers (~7 knots), giving rise to the '770' name. About 3,878 were built, most exported to the United States. Its most famous owner, President Lyndon B. Johnson, delighted in terrifying guests by feigning brake failure and plunging his Amphicar into the lake at his Texas ranch. Today it is a beloved, genuinely usable novelty and a social-media favorite; running, water-worthy examples command strong money while corrosion is the perennial enemy.

## Specifications
- power: ~43 hp at 4,750 rpm
- width: 62 in (1,575 mm)
- engine: Triumph Herald 1147cc inline-four (Standard-Triumph SC unit)
- height: 60 in (1,524 mm)
- layout: Rear-mounted engine, rear-wheel drive on land; twin rear propellers on water
- length: 171 in (4,343 mm)
- wheelbase: 84 in (2,134 mm)
- curbWeight: ~2,315-2,324 lb (2,315-2,324 lb)
- topSpeedLand: ~70 mph
- originalPrice: approx. $2,800 - $3,300 (1960s US)
- topSpeedWater: ~7 knots (roughly 6.5-8 mph)
- steeringOnWater: Front wheels act as rudimentary rudders
- landTransmission: 4-speed all-synchromesh manual
- waterTransmission: Separate 2-speed marine gearbox driving twin nylon propellers (forward/reverse); a selector lets the engine drive wheels only, props only, or both

## Notable variants
- Model 770: The only model sold; the '770' name denotes ~7 mph (knots) on water and ~70 mph on land.
- Export/US-spec: The overwhelming majority of production was left-hand drive and shipped to the US market via the Amphicar Corporation.

## History

### Origins and Design
The Amphicar was the brainchild of Hans Trippel, a German engineer who had developed amphibious vehicles during WWII (his lineage is often linked to the era of the Volkswagen Schwimmwagen). His civilian amphibious car reached the public in 1960 and entered series production in 1961. It was manufactured by the Quandt Group, initially in Lübeck and later at Berlin-Borsigwalde.

### Engineering the Car-Boat
Rather than build a bespoke drivetrain, Trippel used a proven, serviceable powerplant: the 1147cc inline-four from Britain's Triumph Herald, producing around 43 hp. Mounted at the rear, it drove the rear wheels on land through a 4-speed manual, and a separate marine gearbox engaged twin nylon propellers under the rear bumper for water travel. A selector allowed wheels-only, propellers-only, or both together - useful for clawing up a slippery boat ramp. The front wheels doubled as rudders. The name '770' reflects its dual nature: roughly 7 (knots/mph) on water and 70 mph on land. Its tailfins were famously said to be the tallest on any production car, an inch higher than a 1959 Cadillac.

### Selling to America
The Amphicar was aimed squarely at the US market - the '70 into the 770' export focus - where its novelty had obvious appeal. Of ~3,878 built, the great majority were left-hand-drive US exports (Heacock cites 3,046 US imports); only ~97 were right-hand drive.

### The LBJ Prank
The car's most enduring story belongs to President Lyndon B. Johnson, who kept a Lagoon Blue Amphicar at his Stonewall, Texas ranch. He would drive unsuspecting guests toward the lake shouting that the brakes had failed - 'We're going in! We're going under!' - before the car simply floated. Aide Joseph Califano was a noted victim.

### Decline
Rising costs, tightening US safety and emissions rules, and a limited niche market ended production; the last cars were sold off through 1968. No direct mass-produced successor ever matched it.

## What to look for

Prioritize a hull and body that are genuinely rust-free - the steel unibody doubles as the boat hull, so corrosion in the floors, sills, seams and lower body is both a value-killer and a safety issue. Confirm the car actually floats and has been water-tested recently; ask about the condition of the rubber seals and the two large door/bilge drain plugs and bilge pump. Check that both drive systems work: the road gearbox and the separate propeller gearbox, plus the nylon propellers and their shafts/seals. Complete, original trim and the distinctive tall fins are hard to source. Documented restoration history, service records and evidence of regular use (rather than a long static sit) are strong positives.

## Common problems

Corrosion is the number-one enemy because the body is the boat; hidden rust in the hull, floor pans and seams can be dangerous and expensive. Water intrusion past worn door seals or drain plugs is common if the car has been neglected. The dual-gearbox setup and propeller drive add mechanical complexity and require specialist knowledge; parts for the marine portion and body are scarce. The Triumph-derived engine is reliable and serviceable but modestly powered. Cars that have sat unused often have seized water-drive components, perished seals and electrical faults from moisture.

## Market notes

As of mid-2026, the Amphicar 770 trades as a fun, usable, headline-grabbing collectible rather than a blue-chip investment. Aggregated auction data (CLASSIC.COM) shows an average sale price around $76,000, with a benchmark near $69,000 and a range from roughly $15,000 for a project to about $93,500 at the top. Notable recent results include two sales at $93,500 (Hershey PA Oct 2025; Fort Worth TX Nov 2025), $85,800 (Kissimmee FL, Jan 2026) and $78,100 (Tulsa OK, June 2026); the benchmark trend has ticked slightly downward. Provenance, cosmetic quality and - crucially - proven, water-tested seaworthiness drive the premiums, while rough or non-floating projects trade far cheaper. A well-restored car was estimated at $80,000 - $100,000 as far back as 2022, so values have broadly held in that band.

## Value trajectory

Values climbed steadily as the Amphicar became a viral, feel-good icon, and have plateaued at a healthy level in the mid-2020s - solid usable cars generally in the $60k - $95k window, with the very best floating, well-documented examples pushing toward or beyond $90k and projects far below. The mid-2026 benchmark shows mild softening rather than a boom, suggesting a mature, enthusiast-driven market. Because the appeal is experiential (you can drive it into the water), running and seaworthy cars will continue to command a clear premium over static restorations or projects.

## Sources

- [Amphicar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphicar) (Wikipedia)
- [1964 Amphicar Model 770](https://heacockclassic.com/articles/1964-amphicar-770/) (Heacock Classic Insurance)
- [Amphicar 770-1964](https://www.lanemotormuseum.org/collection/cars/item/amphicar-1964/) (Lane Motor Museum)
- [The Amphicar 770: A Vintage Car That's Also A Boat](https://silodrome.com/amphicar-770/) (Silodrome)
- [Amphicar Model 770 Market](https://www.classic.com/m/amphicar/model-770/) (CLASSIC.COM)
- [LBJ would prank guests at his ranch by driving his car into the lake](https://historyfacts.com/famous-figures/fact/lbj-amphicar-prank/) (History Facts)

Cite as: Fully Sorted, "Amphicar 770 (1961-1968)", https://fullysorted.com/research/models/amphicar/770, updated 2026-09-16.