Well, first of all, Hans Trippel may have designed the gullwing doors on the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (I really don't know if he did, or not). But, I am fairly certain that he was involved with the design of the German Army's WWII Schwimmenwagen. Related to the Amphicar, there are many who have claimed that it was neither a good automobile, nor a good boat, but I for one would say that those folks are mistaken. My dear Departed Dad bought an Amphicar new in 1967 when the company was going "under water". He had seen an advertisement in the NY Times, for brand new Amphi's, for I believe $1500 (cash only). He went down to NYC one afternoon before work, plunked down $1500, and picked out a white Amphi (with a red interior and a black top). Paid the guy at the docks some extra cash to clean off all of the cosmoline (which he said it was coated in to preserve it during it's journey across the ocean). His (our) Amphi was a right hand drive model (which I believe was intended for the Australian market, but then when the company went bankrupt - really could not meet new emissions for 1968 - was sold in New York, never making it to the land "down under"). We christened our Amphi the H.M.S. Puddlejumper. My Dad started the Amphibious Auto Club of America (somewhere I still have a membership card, stating that I am the "Vice President"... very impressive for a young teenager at the time. However I digress. Our Amphi was most likely the most traveled Amphicar in the world. My Dad drove it back and forth to work, from upper Westchester County, NY, to Yonkers, NY, for many, many years. Any readers of this column from the Westchester are may have seen him on the Taconic or the Saw Mill River Parkways. (He had actually set up a tank of colored water, connected to the bilge pump, so that when the tailgaters got too close, they would get a liberal dose of blue water splashing out at them). Those that know the area, also know that the Saw Mill River Parkway was notorious for flooding (since it was built next to the Saw Mill River). During bad flood events, portions of the road were closed, with Westchester County Police diverting traffic. But, since most of the same officers had pulled my Dad over at some point (to ask if the car was legal on the road, but really because they just wanted to check it out), they would move the barricade and wave him thru the flooded area. We replaced the Triumph Herald engine with one from a Triumph Spitfire (using the swing set frame as an engine hoist). And went on the local lake (Lake Mahopac, NY), many, many times. Possibly hundreds of times. During the "gas crisis", when there was odd-even gas regulations (based on your license plate), we would go fill up at the Mahopac Marina with the Amphi... and get a few 5-gallon cans filled for our other convertible (which was a thirsty 1967 Lincoln convertible). We also crossed the Hudson River a number of times, sneaking under the chain at West Point, and coming ashore on the east side at "Boscos Folly", in Garrison, NY. When it was all said and done, we put over 160,000 (land) miles on our H.M.S. Puddlejumper. Not bad for a car that supposedly was not a good car. And although both my Dad, and the Amphi are both long gone, the memories will hopefully be with me forever. It WAS a great car, and a great boat! Thanks for the memories Pops!
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