Ron Green

For those coming in town for Carlisle or Hershey check out https://zelmasemporium.com/ . Two floors 33,000 sf I believe and they have a few automotive related stands. Saw several interchange manuals, fair amount of multi vehicle manuals ($5 to $12) even International Harvester, Divo, etc.

Wife and I took out an old vehicle out to exercise the other day and stopped at a huge antique store in New Oxford PA and I found these never used vintage Ford work gloves. One right and two lefts. Not a Ford guy but couldn't pass them up. Unless my brother wants them (Ford guy) probably take them to Fall Carlisle where we vend.

I didn't notice the cracks until I was working on the brakes this spring so don't know. I assume they may have been there for a few years? Typically work on the car a few times a year so unsure how I didn't see them. Had good luck with Diamondback but they dropped 13" tires for a few years but I believe they are back to selling them. They put the WWW on a black wall tire and they stayed white. They used to use Cooper but now use other makes.

Have bought a lot from Universal and Coker (also from Diamondback) and yes the WWW seem to brown or yellow. Have also had some needing returned due to defects. The latest is a recent conversation below which my Amphicar Coker Classic tires had issues. Universal took care of the problem even though I had to eat the balance and remounting. They quickly took care of getting me new tires, shipping and the two price increases since bought. Happy customer. Question: “All 4 have a lot of deep sidewall cracks (non WWW side) which go completely around the tire (attached photos). Tires were bought on 9/29/19. Also they were mounted and balanced by Universal. Tires are run at 28/30lbs and checked regularly, have 8/32 of tread and 932 miles to date. All 4 tires are wearing perfectly and have never hit a curb. According to the date code they were made the 20th week of 2018. I believe these are unsafe and that if I keep using them there will be a catastrophe accident, possibly fatal. Please advise.” Response: “The 650R13 Wide White wall tire is in stock so we can absolutely help you out with this manufacturers warranty issue. So the Process for getting them replaced. We would need to put in a new order for you for 4 tires (the current price is $298.00ea) and then once you have the old tires removed you’d give us a call and we’d have fed ex come to you pick up the old tires and return them to the warehouse. Once we have them back you’d be refunded for the original tire purchase price $224.00 per tire. You would not be responsible for freight for either the new set or the returning old set. When you’re ready give us a call and we’ll set it up for you.”

Candid Camera clip is funny. thanks for posting John. Reminds me when a lady called 911 on me at the ramp in Raystown PA as I was driving into the water, she reported a man trying to commit suicide. My wife was able to run over and get it straightened out before they responded. Arcticbuicks, the Cubans are an ingenious bunch you have to give them that on their amphibious creations. Here are a few oddball pictures. There are a few stretch amphi's in the group.

Three of us had the same problem and the swimmers also saved us. Then we pulled up on an island and I got a flat tire (no spare). Thankfully between the 3 of us we had a tire, jack and lug wrench. Next time I am calling Batman.

There cars get a bad rap for being a POS from many reading old reports or who have never experienced being in one and being around a bunch of knuckleheads that love them. They are a maintenance nightmare if you use and abuse them but have a heart like no other vehicle if well sorted out. Almost impossible to sink. Nothing compares to being out for a drive and seeing a nice place to jump in the water and do some exploring. Or pull up on a rock in the middle of a lake or parking on an island in the middle of a body of water.

No speedometer in the water. You take it out of gear and switch over to the water transmission (separate shifter) which is attached to the rear of the land transmission. Transmissions are special built for Amphicar by Hermes (Porsche) and expensive (NOS 16K / used and rebuilt = a lot). Mercedes suspension pieces.

Yes we have fun. You will never see a static car show at one of our get togethers. Meets (swim ins) are held all over the USA plus some in Europe and Canada. The one car in Ed’s picture was shipped to the Netherlands for a swim in last year. Here is a picture of our homemade drive in at Mount Dora Florida. Unfortunately it didn’t go to well as the cars kept hitting each other. Then there was this alligator thing at night. The other is a picture of a poor guy just wanting to get a photo of one entering the water, little did he know.

A friend from Chicago bought a 35 mile one here in PA years ago. Sisters owned two of them and they only used the one (250 miles) so the 35 mile one sat (parked in front of the other). He found a for sale ad in a 10 year old magazine, called the number and bought it as she still had it. One amphi in Ed’s picture is from Orillia Canada. He had a get together in Canada and talked the dock-master into letting seven of us go through a ship-lock. I broke a headlight trying to parallel park in the water. Wife was pissed as she can’t swim. Always exciting with this group! Don’t want to hijack this thread so this will be my last post.

I would love that however we would probably drive them crazy as many in our group can't sit still for long even though a lot have interesting car collections, but the amphi's are used and abused. I am glad Ed posted that picture as a few are very good friends and one brings a steam car to Hershey, he even drove his Amphicar from Cleveland Ohio to Leesburg Florida last year. You run into some interesting people and things with these cars. I have enough unique pictures to probably do a book.

Thanks for posting. A few of these are good friends from Leesburg (462 mile round trip to where picture was taken). They drove them there, no trailers. Amphicar’s (designed late 50’s) aren’t as bad as many think it they are well sorted out however many of them are a POS as many owners don’t maintain them and running 65mph is impossible and dangerous. Fun in the water, just don’t be in a hurry. We are loading ours up and heading to Florida and joining them for 6 weeks in Leesburg where we get together every year and have a lot of fun as there are many in the area. A few pictures from last year where there were 22 of us.

I used R&D Finishing (423-543-1722 / Elizabethton, Tennessee) in 2016 for gold plating two 1955 V/8 Pontiac emblems. I did not want to use the cheap reproductions on my car so I restored the originals. Met them at the AACA Convention that year in the vendor area. Turn around was not to bad and the work was great and as expected not cheap. Assume they are still in business. Picture not that great as the car is under florescent lights and tough to take with shiny paint. I did the white striping around the emblems. Good luck.

Almost midnight in the middle of rural PA with zero businesses or houses around my 72 Corvette broke a fan belt and started overheating. With very limited tools I used electrical tape to tape it back together, loosened the alternator and limped it home 15 miles.

Yes holding up fairly well considering my floor (1,000 SF) is heavily used and abused almost daily.

Saw this run last March at the Tavares vintage boat races. Yes it is very loud but not as fast as you would think, but fast. Spoke to the owner for quite a while, nice guy. It is named Miss America and I believe a Garwood. I was getting ready to go on 5 hot laps on the same 1 mile oval course in the Miss US (Allision V/12 supercharged aircraft engine from 1943).

Amazing show. Was there Saturday showing our truck. Made an overnight trip out of it stopping at the Boyertown and toy robot museums on Friday. Wife even enjoyed it. Unbelievable what some of these guys bring to the show. One guy had 5 tractors a year apart all in perfect condition while some had antique trailers attached to their tractors.

Switched from Taylor to Hagerty years ago after I started adding vehicles to my collection. Taylor said no to insuring my Amphicar, Citicar and 72 Corvette (owned 48 years). Zero claims with the exception of a lady who ran a stop sign a few years ago and hit my Corvette. Her fault and Hagerty couldn't do enough to make sure her insurance covered the damage. Just reupped my policy along with the agreed upon values and Hagerty was great to deal with. Even added marine recovery insurance for the Amphicar for $40.

NAPA also has a decent AGM battery they came out with not to long ago. I got a few to try them out. They seem very good so far plus they are fairly heavy.

Cut one apart a few years ago thinking of doing this however it was not an Optima inside. None of them are as far as I know from research. It was a AGM battery (glass mat technology same as Optima) but is was square and small (like a motorcycle) compared to an Optima plus it had large wires inside going to the terminals. Also I believe the Optima battery terminal spacing is 1" different than most battery's. The rubber case was so thick it would be impossible to put a battery inside. Went to Walmart and bought a battery and transferred the fill caps from the dead reproduction battery onto the new one (via glue). Looks like an original battery.

Just joined ATCA and am hoping to make the show. Been years since attending however the show is amazing as Bob said. We will be there with our 97 Chevy Centurion pickup which is now 25 years old and eligible.

Years ago I bought one from Then & Now for my 55 Pontiac. He didn't have exactly what I needed however I was able to buy one close enough and make it work. Great people to deal with and he had several different types that were new to choose from. https://www.then-now-auto.com/

28 to 32 MPG on the road. 1 to 1-1/2 gallons per hour water.

Approaching 70 and playing with old cars for a lot of years I have been blessed to cross many things off the bucket list. Three things stand out. Meeting Jay Leno back stage (thanks to john-s from this form), sitting in a funny car during start up and riding in the Miss US unlimited U-36 hydroplane a few months ago. This by far was the craziest thing I have done. Did five at speed laps on a one mile course with 7 time national champion Mark Weber which I would never do again (body hurt for days). Wife though understanding with most of what I do wasn't to happy standing on the shore watching as we went airborne several times.

I showed my 55 Pontiac when the Wennerstrom family ran it and they did a good job overall however trailer parking was a major issue. Lodging was also an issue as most of the hotels were being used for graduations. Seems the area has few trailer spots available for the 2 day show as most have a trailer. I won my class however no award was given show day and then one day a trophy arrived with an explanation and a letter apologizing for the mistake. Overall had a good time but the area is to crowded for me and haven't been back.