Start of the Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race, 1971
Start of the Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race, 1971
Image by State Library of New South Wales collection
Format: 1 photonegative – 35 x 24 mm.
Notes: The Amphicar was a German vehicle manufactured 1960-1968. It was the first commercially produced amphibious car and used a Triumph Herald engine over the rear axle to power the wheels and twin propellors. In the water, the front wheels acted as rudders. The body was steel.
From the collections of the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales www.sl.nsw.gov.au
Information about photographic collections of the State Library of New South Wales acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/search/SimpleSearch.aspx
Persistent url: acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=146252
This is a lovely shot:]
I wonder why the amphicar never took off? 😉
What a fantastic idea and a great shot. Has real character.
Great shot, cool idea cool car. I is good for a fishin journey???
it’s very funny.
i loved. let W/B was a great idea.
Fantastic!!!
Fabulous! The bodywork looks reasonably Heraldish too. Though I don’t think the Herald had little fins on the rear wings like that. And obviously it had a radiator grille.
Funny shot… I wonder how these stood up to rust, especially in salt water?
I’m amazed that we’re not all driving amphibious cars now. In Sydney you’d get far more use of of one than a 4 wheel drive.
I remember when these Amphicars were new and for sale!
Cool photo!
These cars also used parts from Mercedes Benz. If I’m not mistaken, the transmission was produced by Daimler-Benz. A 1966 model 770 recently sold at RM Auctions for $44,000 [http://www.rmauctions.com/CarDetails.cfm?SaleCode=MO08&CarID=r197&Currency=]
Brilliant! A convertible amphibious vehicle… Well, brilliant picture anyway!
brilliant vehicle, but none are around today. Something about them must have missed in the marketplace.
Hubby says they were immensely popular in Abu Dhabi in the 60’s.
LOL—–something similar to mine eh???LOL
don’t think James Bond would be seen in this one though!!
thanks for coming and visiting me picklingtures!!
🙂
Hey, I remember those.
There was a guy in my neighborhood in the early ’70s who had a Red one.
Ha ha ! Wonderful!
Cool one!.I want one of these!.
Actually, Someone made a New Really Cool one a cuople of years ago.
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/41603/car_or_speed_boat/
and even one that Really Goes Underwater
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1143310/underwater_car_very_cool_v...
Superb! one of my favourites!! ;))
Hi, I’m an admin for a group called New South Wales, and we’d love to have this added to the group!
Great shot!
no entendi :S
wonderfulllllllllll !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
so cool
I saw one of these once on a visit to Oban in Scotland, must have been about 67-68. Good to see more information about it. Thanks
Ero ragazzo, ricordo l’evento. Bella!!!
The character.
Its Captivating.
wow I love this one !
Everything Water-Motive, Oh Yeah!
very cool
Wow so epically cool!!! I dig this shot!!
My name is Traci and I am just beginning a brand new group on flickr, your photograph struck me and I would love to have it added to my group! Come add it and bring some others along too!
Awesome shot! Come add it to our pot!

You are invited to join and add your photo to the
Shot Luck! I got lucky on this shot!
cool
!!!
I remember the hype about the amphibious car … this a wonderful record of HISTORY!!!
Hi, I’m an admin for a group called CARS – السيارات – 車 – Autos – coches – автомоб, and we’d love to have this added to the group!
this photo is MAD GORGEOUS!
brilhante.
To help seal out the water there was a secondary latch in the bottom of each door panel. You either pushed it down or or rotated it somehow and it pulled the doors in tighter against the weatherstrips.
Seen one on display this past summmer at Harold Warp’s Pioneer Village in Minden, Nebraska this past summer..
http://www.pioneervillage.com
wonderfullllllllllllllllllll !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amphicar — It’s as much a classic as the Tucker, Delorean, Kaiser Darrin, Edsel, Chrysler Airflow and others that dared to be different.
But personally, I’d rather have a 1937 boattail Cord, which wouldn’t even float.
awesome shot, love the way the car and boats all fit in the frame
It looks like a fun party! The car/boat is very cool. I want one.
awesome
Impresionante para ese tiempo.
Wow- Way Cool!! I always wanted an Amphicar. I’d seen a few of them when I was growing up in Portland and I always thought it was so cool how they’d drive down the boat launch & into the water.
Great shot.
Lloyd
Astrogirl969: it was a boat-car, not a plane-car (lol!)
I like that Amphicar! Nice.. 🙂
What a great photo!
I want the same one!
Nice ~
amazinG ~
comment mE ~
James in Top Gear!
Really amazing!!! I’m impressed
De pesca en el cadillac estaria bien…
olf.
I want that car
I saw one drive right into Clear Lake in California and tool around. Right down the boat ramp-I never forgot it!
I remember seeing one as a kid in the 70’s. Fascinating things.
I don’t suppose there are many left now.
They rusted very well in salt water and are a mess to try and restore.
http://www.amphicar.com/images/vanity_fair_Nov05_1035W.jpg
Best shot of an amphicar ever. What an amazing car.
if the big three tried it all our water ways would be contaminated with oil and fuel…..
so coool
Surreal with an element of mirth
Some folks still use them!
Genial!!!!
neato
Award Winning Photo – !!! BRAVO !!!

Instant Favorite @ Backspace Studio
There is a red Amphicar just like this in use today in the Guarapiranga Reservoir in São paulo , Brazil. Such a sight!
outrageous
A former American president , I believe it was — John F. Kennedy, owned one. He used to shock his guest (sometimes foreign dignitaries) –by driving it into the water.
Absolutely hilarious!
great shot ><
ma dimmi te..
genial fotografia!
that’s one awesome shot 🙂
Me gusto
great work
interesanteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
My dad actually owned one of these …terrific fun watching peoples faces as you drive into the water!..LOL
great!!!
Nice shot!
thats so cool
woowww
Gee, guess what the insurance would not cover?
[assuming that it would have even have been available]
Fire theft & collision?
First: Collision with what… a pier, another boat or jet-ski a buoy, a swimmer in addition to collision with a car or land-based property.
Capsizing, sinking, leak damage, fire.
Drowning perhaps in combination to collision.
Theft – Report as a stolen car or a boat?
If you are an underwriter, does your boss hate
you so much that he would have you work on
something like this?
cool shot…
stunning photo, congrats !
haha i love this
wow this is arwsomeeee :)c
wonder ful
exlent pic really lv it cmnt e please
Great!
Nicce
KeEp It Up
MY New Pic Comment & Note ……
Just uploaded my photos.
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Let the world see your photos.
olá todos bem um grande abraço atodos bjosss
i like how you managed tu fit the car in the pohot..! cool =)
magic pic
Wonderful
b-e-a-utiful!
nice shoot
keept up
comment me
^^
I remember that car
la foto esta muy simpatica
it is out of mind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi, I’m an admin for a group called India creative mind group, and we’d love to have this added to the group!
amazing
great pic!
Nice. I’m surprised that the guy wasn’t run into by the other vessels.
bbbbbbbbbbbbeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuutttttttttttttttiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiifffffffffffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuuulllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
I can remember when the Amphicars were new. It was said of them that they were typical amphibians. They could go on land and in the water but were not well suited to either.
wooow…..
fabulous!…
full of activity…
lovely
oooo it’s woou
Amazing photo!
Wow…. Magnifique!
In Poland we have a book character, who is called "Mr. Samochodzik" (Mr Car), and he has the same vehicle. Nice picture 🙂
very cool capture
I’d wear a life jacket if I were them.
With all the wash from the nearby boats
and wave, I’d want a bilge pump as well.
Such a cool photo and concept.
This historic photo is a fantastic capture of the Amphicar.
Amphicar at Wikipedia
great pic!
I live in Switzerland and actually watch one of these take trips in and out of the lake last weekend !!!
Hi, I’m an admin for a group called AQUELLOS MAGNÍFICOS AUTOS, and we’d love to have this added to the group!
Hi, I’m an admin for a group called AQUELLOS MAGNÍFICOS NAVIOS, and we’d love to have this added to the group!
Everything was easier that time!
What a great image.
It’s a classic!
Hi, I’m an admin for a group called Cars you don’t see every day!, and we’d love to have this added to the group!
Hi, I’m an admin for a group called Document ( report ) , and we’d love to have this added to the group!
Awesome..
my uncle used to have one of those in Africa… still does. 🙂
ahahahahah
i also remember that car boat.yes!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekCkBZ4WTR4
Hi, I’m an admin for a group called IL PIU’ BELLO! (post 1 – Award 2), and we’d love to have this added to the group!
ok it is a good photo.
Cool!
nice old occassion
valuable shot
How fun. I love that you have added the history for each picture. We found old glass negatives in my Grandmothers belongings when she passed. No one knew about them. We can only guess as to who they may be as they are from the 1850s approx. We wish we knew.
Hi Deanna2003,
Your glass negatives may be important and you should take them to your nearest city library, museum or historical society for advice. If they are from the 1850’s, they are fairly rare and early in the history of photography
Ive seen these too in London too, but many years ago. Great pic and fun.
Great product!
Hi, I’m an admin for a group called artland, and we’d love to have this added to the group!
fantastic idea !!!!
That’s excellent…
Hi, I’m an admin for a group called Catch That Cool Car, and we’d love to have this added to the group!
Thanks for sharing: In Catch That Cool Car

I Like Your Photo
It’s a Beauty….VROOM
MArvelous retro amphibian craft. Love the atmosphere too.
—

Thanks for sharing: In Catch That Cool Car
I Like Your Photo
It’s a Beauty….VROOM
Roads? Where we’re going we don’t need roads.
very cool !!!!!
Cool!
mtoloko *-*
o.O o carro dentro da aguá! ;] Legal!
cool
Muito legal….. adorei….!!!!!!!!
Love all these old shots capturing our history! So lucky to be able to go back and see what wonderful things people have done before us =)
ahh…looks like in the 20th century !! very nice photo
đẹp
My brother, a professional skipper for Nautor yachts, had one. It leaked like hell and rusted away quite quickly. They should have made it out of stainless steel and fiberglass, then, maybe it would have had a chance.
1971,the year I was born!
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ITA – Bello Scatto, Complimenti !
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that’s cool.
Great Picture! saw one of these Cars at a Show a few weeks ago
this is photoshop .D
My dad bought one of those in 1968. It was a 64 model. Twin screws in the back, sealing door jams. It was way cool but way scary. Most of those things sank and that sea looks a bit rough! Mom sold it for 50 bucks
Awesome!!
haha thats just awesome!
Wow, lots going on here!
Why don’t they still make stuff like that? It just seemed so much more fun back then!
Most of these ideas end up being good at neither task. This one is reputed to have been a bad car and worse boat 😉
@your mistakes…. Good point, but to me it’s more the intrinsic value of being able to do two things with the same object. And… it just LOOKS cool.
very nice!!haha~~~
Fantastico! 😀
great shot
OMG!! this is cool!!
its a classic
Extraordinary. We’ve gone down hill since then.
Wow! A great picture :D!
What a great pic!
I just discover that I’ve taken a picture in Paris of the same model but in red:

wonderful image…please help me make explore
lSee Image here
This photo has been featured on http://www.captioncompetition.co.uk/photo/80144
25 captions so far!
I saw one of these at my uncles boat yard when I was a young lad.My guess is the steel body didnt last long so they gave up on em.Suprised no one went fiberglass with them.
Great
great photo.
بحر الشموع
thanks
So great.
Super shot! There have been loads of mad ideas that have come and gone, this was one of the better ones!
wow this is an awesome photo!!!!!
Very cool!
It is a very nice picture, may I use it at my SEO blog?
циклевка полов и обновление пола
great thanks
I like the boat/car