Amphicar BUYER Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 Friday night we went out to dinner and parked the Amphi in front of the restaurant. We got a table outside nearby and watched the people gathering and listened to the comments. This kind of free entertainment is a great way to spend a little time and I always leave with grin.The fun part is for me to listen to the people talking about it. They ask about what it is or if it really floats or "Why would somebody put props on a car?" Often times there is one guy who wants everyone to believe he has all the right answers, often times he has few correct answers but gets an "A" for effort! I heard one guy say "I bought one new in 1957" (they were not produced until 1961). The smiles from folks and the occasional comments from the ones who refuse to believe it really doubles as a boat. Many comments were about Gracie Clinger and the Amphi dealership (Sweetheart Motors) that used to be here in Loveland, Colorado. She was also a teacher who would take students for rides when they needed praise or encouragement. I rarely go long in the Amphi around here without hearing from a former student or friend. She must have been quite the lady. She is pictured in the Blue Amphi in this original 1960s postcard. How I came about getting the postcard is another story! The surprised look when they walk around the back to see the props is precious. I have to say that not one person was disrespectful of the car. Everyone was cautious and showed restraint by not fondling the Amphi. One man was especially thankful. After I heard his child politely ask if she could sit in the car, I went over opened the door and let her in. She was a very well behaved girl of about 4 or 5. She just sat there smiling and did not touch anything but the steering wheel and was hesitant to stand on the seat even when I said it was OK. I think she will be a future "Car guy" for sure as Barry Meguire says.The fun in my Amphi is in the sharing it's undeniable personality. My girlfriend quickly realized that she would be asked many times to give up her seat so I can give rides to unsuspecting folks. She always does so with pleasure. She wants me to show her how to drive it so she can give rides too. I think that is do-able for sure.So go out with your car and share the experience with someone who is not as fortunate as you are to have a collectable car. I met my girlfriend because she was one of those people asking questions about my Amphi, now she can answer the questions! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greg72monte Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 Great story, thanks for posting it! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R W Burgess Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 Way to go John!I might mention here that an AACA member found a new interest in the AACA in Hershey. This gentleman has been in the AACA for a long time. He's been involved in the political side, the touring side, and even the showing side of the club. But, this year it was different. In the past he has always been too busy to enjoy the shows, always working to make things happen. This year, he actually got to sit and enjoy the crowd gathering around his unusual car. I can't show a picture without giving his identity out. At any rate, he thoroughly enjoyed hisself, just watching people, like you did John. It's fun, isn't it. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />Wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Green Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 One of my favorites is "how deep of water does it go in".This past summer while entering a lagoon (no wake area) on a large lake here in PA which was full of people floating in rafts, I putted up to a girl sleeping on a raft. After waking up and looking up as I was a few feet away she asked me if amphi was the batmobile. Everyone started laughing on her boat. Ever notice that almost every boater has a camera?The same day while driving around someone asked me why those 2 fans were on the back of the car, remember it was hot out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I can't show a picture without giving his identity out. </div></div>...and that would be bad because why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rbl2 Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 One of the great joys in owning my car, a 26 Chevy roadster, is talking with the people I meet and all the waves and thumbs up I get while going down the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R Walling Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 At a local car show recently, some small kids (about 5 of them) asked if they could climb into the back of my limousine. I told them ok and had a nice talk with them all about the car. They were very happy. They then went to the car next to me, and seeing the rear door open....The owner could not stop them in time and just stood there very apprehensibly. Opps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Randy Berger Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 John, depending on the child and how his parents act, I have been known to open the door and let them sit behind the wheel. They are always wide-eyed and the parents have always thanked me. So far I've been a pretty good judge of parents.The younger brother of a friend of mine I hadn't seen in a long time was telling me of the time some friend of his parents had taken the time to explain how the car worked and what made it unique and he said he never forgot some adult taking time to explain something to him. He was about finished with the story when I realized he was talking about me. Makes you feel good that they remember small courtesies. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R W Burgess Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 West, he's bashful! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Wolk Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 The most rewarding experience I've had with the Mark II was at the Krasl Concours in St. Joseph, MI two years ago. We had just completed the pass in review and put the car back in place when the show's organizer came by and asked me if I'd allow a woman to sit in my car. He explained that she had had a stroke days before her anniversary a year earlier and missed out on the convertible tour in a rental car that her husband had planned. She just wanted to sit in the car. I offered one better. We cleared a bunch of cars out of the way and with the help of a local I took them on a tour of the Lake Michigan shoreline and all it's breathtaking beauty. The woman didn't stop crying the whole way. By the time we returned to the show word had spread and we received a rolling round of applause 500 people long. What a great feeling.The cars are great, but the shows are all about the people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
novaman Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 Ron, you needed to putter up along side that girl so you were about even with her head (so she couldn't see the bow/front), wake her up and ask "How do I get to McDonald's? I think I took a wrong turn back the road aways." while pointing behind yourself. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amphicar BUYER Posted October 17, 2006 Author Share Posted October 17, 2006 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">One of my favorites is "how deep of water does it go in".This past summer while entering a lagoon (no wake area) on a large lake here in PA which was full of people floating in rafts, I putted up to a girl sleeping on a raft. After waking up and looking up as I was a few feet away she asked me if amphi was the batmobile. Everyone started laughing on her boat. Ever notice that almost every boater has a camera?The same day while driving around someone asked me why those 2 fans were on the back of the car, remember it was hot out. </div></div>Ron - My 2 favorite questions are...1 - Summer before last, a lady next to me ON A BOAT on Lake of the Ozarks asked me "Does that car float too?"2 - Last weekend as I was DRIVING through a parking lot... "Is that a car too?"I always get the comment "You just don't see one of those every day!" and I reply with a smile, "Oh yes I do!" <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I always get the comment "You just don't see one of those every day!" and I reply with a smile, "Oh yes I do!" <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> </div></div>You actually get to see more than one a day, if I remember correctly. I'd like to see one of them in AA. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> (Couldn't resist the jab, John. I know you're frustrated as well). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Green Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 Actually I did point to the road as it ran alongside the lagoon and asked how to get back on it. I told her that somehow I made a wrong turn on route 994. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Green Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 I get a kick out of having close friends drive my stuff and not just the amphi. Many will probably never have the opportunity to have an old car but they still love them. Heck the wife finally took the 55 out for a drive after 10 years and she may have (for an instant) experienced the fun side of the hobby. I have let many drive the Corvette and they always have a big smile however the amphi is the most fun to sit in the passenger seat and watch friends experience "vehicular buoyancy." Their first time is always a experience they won't soon forget. We even got pulled over by the Coast Guard last summer while teaching a friend how to drive amphi. All they wanted to do is take pictures. I wanted to show them all the life jackets, etc but they weren't interested. To this day he always brings up this story with a big smile on his face. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amphicar BUYER Posted October 18, 2006 Author Share Posted October 18, 2006 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I always get the comment "You just don't see one of those every day!" and I reply with a smile, "Oh yes I do!" <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> </div></div>You actually get to see more than one a day, if I remember correctly. I'd like to see one of them in AA. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> (Couldn't resist the jab, John. I know you're frustrated as well). </div></div>Yea, I am with her. I keep pinging her about t. I have bits and pieces. Hopefully soon I will have more for the story. I'd love to see it in AA too. Your photos are super! I just got a Nikon D-100 and now I am slowly getting better with it. I need more lenses!Ron - I LOVE letting others drive the Amphi! I would guess over 50 people have driven it since and hundreds have ridden in it since from a 17 day old to 99 years old ! Because I had not completed the hand controls before the resto was done, I was not even the 1st to drive it, I was the 5th person to drive it!Here is a picture taken by a fisherman one day out giving rides a couple weeks ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shop Rat Posted October 18, 2006 Share Posted October 18, 2006 AB, is the license plate holder a "shark jaw"?Cool photo! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amphicar BUYER Posted October 18, 2006 Author Share Posted October 18, 2006 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">AB, is the license plate holder a "shark jaw"? Cool photo! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> </div></div>Yes it is a shark jaw! I thought it was apropriate for the car. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> It was chromed, but I thought bone was a better color for it.(In my best Jaws themed voice) Ba dump ...ba dump ...ba dump.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89REATTAJIM Posted October 22, 2006 Share Posted October 22, 2006 John, got to see 5 Amphi's on land & in the water at the Lakeland, Fl car show yesterday. Easy to see why they would be fun to own. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shop Rat Posted October 22, 2006 Share Posted October 22, 2006 I thought that it was!!! And I agree, bone is a better color. Love the animated shark by the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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