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THE AMPHICAR - THE CAR THAT DRIVES AND SWIMS PREMIERS AT SARATOGA AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM

January 1, 2006

For Immediate Release
Saratoga Springs, NY

If you ever wanted to channel your inner ÏSecret SpyÓ and take a look at a car that drives on the road and glides on the water, a 1966 Amphicar on loan courtesy of the Estate of Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, is now on display at the Saratoga Automobile Museum as part of the Sprockets to Rockets Garage. While the Amphicar was originally designed, developed and built in Germany, it was marketed for the American leisure audience. Once the car reached the American shores, the press described it in magazines as "not a really great car for the money, and not even a very good boat for the money".

This particular car was a cherished keepsake of Cornelius "Sonny" Vanderbilt Whitney, who used it to take his wife and children fishing in the Adirondacks. Stories are told of how he would wait for heads to turn as he did the unexpected (for a normal car at least) Ò drive a car right into the water of Oyster Bay, in Long Island Sound amidst shouts of "DonÌt go in there!" from the shore. He then enjoyed the giggles of realization as it floated safely on the waves. The car was so unique that quite often the Coast Guard didnÌt know what to make of it. Was it a car or a boat? Sonny made sure it was licensed for the road and certified for the sea, and thoroughly enjoyed the vehicle throughout his life.

The only civilian amphibious passenger automobile ever to be mass produced, the Amphicar was known as a "Model 770" because it had a top speed of 7mph on water and 70mph on land. It is moved in the water by twin nylon propellers and a special two-part land-and-water transmission built by Hermes (makers of the Porsche transmission) that allows the wheels and propellers to be operated either independently or simultaneously. The "land transmission" is a 4-speed-plus-reverse unit similar to those found in the old Volkswagen Beetles. The "water transmission" is a 2-speed featuring single forward and reverse gears. In the water, the front wheels act as rudders.

Because of EPA and DOT regulations that went into effect beginning with the 1968 model year, no 1968 model year Amphicars were directly imported into the USA. This spelled disaster for the Amphicar Corporation, since the US market constituted 90% of all Amphicar sales, and not long after that the Amphicar factory in Berlin, Germany closed.

Facts about Amphicars:

ÔBuilt in Germany from 1961 to 1968
ÔTotal production was 3,878 vehicles (3,046 Amphicars were imported into the United States between 1961 and 1967)
ÔThe rear-mounted engine is a 4 cylinder British-built Triumph Herald producing 43hp
ÔThe Amphicar's electrical system is a Lucas 12 volt positive ground system with certain items, such as the horn, lighting and switches, made by Hella and Bosch
ÔAll Amphicars are convertibles and the civilian models were originally offered in only 4 colors: Beach White, Regatta Red, Lagoon Blue and Fjord Green (Aqua).
ÔSelling price ranged from $2,800 to $3,300 There are an estimated 600 Amphicars left in existence

Supercars, Exclusive, Exotic, Fast is on display at the Saratoga Automobile Museum through March 29, 2006. For more information on the Museum, click onto www.saratogaautomuseum.com.

The mission of the Saratoga Automobile Museum is to display significant cars, trucks, and vehicles that not only represent the automotive heritage of New York State but the entire world of motorized transportation. The Museum is chartered by the Board of Regents of the State of New York Department of Education and in addition to organizing permanent and temporary exhibits, the Museum hosts a variety of workshops, interactive displays, lectures, and outdoor shows.

The Saratoga Automobile Museum is located on the grounds of Saratoga Spa State Park at 110 Avenue of the Pines. For more information, guests can also visit the MuseumÌs website at www.saratogaautomuseum.org or call (518) 587-1935.