Taking the car for a swim

Special to The Daily Home
10-19-2005

Strange looks are to be expected in an Amphicar. Did you hear about the car that drove into Lake Martin on the Fourth of July? More impressively, did you see it drive out? No, Elvis wasn’t driving, and Bigfoot wasn’t watching from the shore, so cut your friends some slack if they’ve been trying to tell you about it. This was an Amphicar, a German contraption built largely for the American recreation market in the 1960s. The Amphicar Corporation was and remains the only company to have ever mass-produced an amphibious vehicle for the general public. The car/boat is powered by a 43-horsepower Triumph engine with a transmission that allows it to run up to 70 mph on land, or 7 mph in the water. Of the original 3,878 Amphicars that were built, it is estimated that about 1,000 are still around, with half of those capable of both driving and swimming. Ray Hornsby, formerly of Goodwater, purchased this one in 1999 and had it restored. July 4 was the first time he took it in the water. "People were staring, stopping their boats to circle around — one guy yelled, ‘Hey, your car is sinking!’ as he pulled alongside on a jet ski," said Hornsby. The Amphicar owned by Ray is somewhat famous among Amphicar lovers. It was seen in a movie, "Pontiac Moon," with Ted Danson and Mary Stienburgen. In the movie’s closing scenes, the car can be seen crossing a river into Canada to escape people in pursuit. In its day the Amphicar sold new for between $2,800 and $3,300. Famous owners of the little car/boat include President Lyndon Johnson, Madonna and Dan Aykroyd. Hornsby admits the first time was a little unsettling. "Yeah, to tell the truth I was somewhat nervous," he said. "My mom (Jamie Hornsby of Goodwater) went out with us and I think she was the least nervous of all of us. It is really hard to describe. You are in a vehicle that is familiar to you, then when you drive the ramp and it begins to float, that is an odd feeling. Suddenly all of your suspension is gone, and you are in a familiar object, yet in very unfamiliar territory. But it is a love affair. Once I hit the water, I was hooked, no doubt about it. I love the feeling and love the uniqueness of the car."

Hornsby was delighted with his car's first swim since its restoration. Hornsby has a collection of unusual autos, including a BMW Isetta, a Nash Metropolitan, three VW Things, a Citroen Mehari and a 1960 Corvette. His favorite? "That depends on what I am doing — right now the Amphicar would have to be my favorite. I can’t help but smile when I think about getting it into the water," he said. According to Hornsby, regardless of where you go you hear all the same questions, so he keeps his answer list close by: o Yes, it’s a boat. o Yes, it’s a car. o You steer it with the front wheels which act as rudders. o Yes, it has reverse. o No, the brakes don’t work in water. o Yes, you have to have license for both. o Value depends on condition — anywhere between $20,000-$70,000. o Yes, you can find parts. o Yes, the parts are expensive. o Except for color and a few odds and ends, all models from 61 to 68 are the same. o The door seals in a fashion similar to your refrigerator. o Yes, it’s safe. Once two men navigated across the English Channel in one. o On land they get 35 mpg; in the water about 1.5 hours per gallon. o It has a Triumph 1147cc engine. o Yes, I will race you across the lake for pink slips, as long as we both start from the middle of the parking lot. Hornsby plans to take the car for another swim on Labor Day near Piney Woods (close to Wind Creek Park).

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