Kathy Gibson, of Arlington, Tex., says that she and her husband, Daniel, have owned a variety of collector vehicles over the 22 years that they have been married. Currently, they own seven. Over the years, she estimates that they have bought, fixed up and sold 25-30. Daniel has owned over 60 in his lifetime. But out of all of the couple’s cars, including various station wagons, Triumphs, AMCs, Messerschmitts, Pacers and Impalas, their 1964 Amphicar 770 Convertible stands out as the most special to Kathy.

Amphicars were built in Germany from 1961 to 1968.  Only a total of 3878 vehicles were produced, and 3046 of those vehicles were imported to the United States between 1961 and 1967, according to the Web site for the International Amphicar Owners Club. “The Amphicar is the only civilian amphibious passenger automobile ever to be mass produced,” says the Web site.

The Amphicar is unique in that is not only a car, but doubles as a boat. This came in handy for Daniel, who had been looking at boats before stumbling across the advertisement for the Amphicar, on eBay. Kathy says that she hasn’t been a great fan of boating, as she is not the best swimmer; however, she says that even she enjoys getting out on the water.

“While I’ve never been a big water person, I’m now more comfortable with it. I don’t feel like I need to wear a life jacket every time. It’s nice because it doesn’t go those high speeds that boats will go.”

She says that Amphicars don’t move too fast in water, which makes for pleasant rides in nearby lakes. Amphicars have a top speed of 7mph on water and 70 mph on land—hence, the vehicle was dubbed the “770” model.

“We’ve gone the 70 mph on land, before,” she says. “And, that was scary.”

Kathy says that despite her general wariness of water and boats, she prefers driving this collector car on the water rather than land.

From the very first launch of the boat into the water, only 6 months after Kathy and Daniel bought the vehicle that was in dire need of repair and restoration, crowds of people have been drawn to watch this very special car float on water. It’s a head-turner.

And, Kathy says that she gets the most pleasure in making other people smile, wave or honk their horn, when they see the Amphicar. She and Daniel also enjoy taking friends, family and even some strangers on rides along the water.

Kathy recounts a time when she and Daniel took a 94-year-woman for her first-ever Amphicar ride. She says that upon heading back towards land, the couple could see what appeared to be a child anxiously watching the car steer through the water. But, Kathy says that when they got a little closer they realized it was a very tiny older woman. She approached Kathy and Daniel, explaining that she was doing many once-in-a-lifetime things, now that she was a getting a bit older...

She wanted to take a ride in the Amphicar.

The couple agreed to take her out.

“She was so small that you could barely see her looking over the door,” says Kathy. “She said that it was one of the highlights of her life.”

Kathy continues to say that bringing enjoyment to others with the Amphicar brings pleasure to her.

Kathy also enjoys bringing the vehicle to several car shows throughout the state of Texas. As members of the International Amphicar Club, she and Daniel recently held a local Arlington-based show. They have drove to and participated in Amphicar gatherings in Austin and Grapevine, as well; they also attended a special show at the LBJ Ranch outside of Stonewall, Tex. (Lyndon B. Johnson was an Amphicar owner.)

This 1964 Amphicar 770 Convertible has been featured in “Popular Mechanics” magazine and also on a local Arlington news show.

A Web site showing the progress of the restoration of the Gibson’s car can be found at: The Amphicar Chronicles.

For more information on Amphicars, visit International Amphicar Owners Club.

Grundy Worldwide insures collector cars, like Kathy and Daniel Gibson’s Amphicar. For more information on Grundy’s Agreed Value insurance policies, log onto www.grundy.com or call 800-338-4005.

Story by: Becky McLaughlin