The only mass-produced civilian amphibious vehicle in existence the Amphicar Model 770 is truly a one-off. Essentially a car on top and a boat on the bottom it is equally at home cruising the B-roads as it is wafting along on the river, while seamlessly segueing between the two. 

Powered by a four-cylinder engine from the Triumph Herald producing around 45bhp, the Amphicar (along with its charming period looks) isn't just a car that floats, it's a fully fledged master of both the highways and the high seas.

This late model Amphicar arrived at Bridge Classic Cars at the end of 2017 having resided with the Beverly Hills Car Club in America prior to the previous owner's involvement and has been undergoing a full, professional restoration ever since. 

With all of the work recently completed to original specifications to the tune of £83,245.85, no detail has been overlooked and the results are simply stunning. The car has been stripped and rebuilt in its entirety, including all of the mechanicals.

 The Amphicar is fully certified and documented as a boat in accordance with the Boat Safety Scheme, having passed all necessary safety requirements allowing it to be used on any UK river and waterway. It also has a current MOT, meaning it can be used on UK roads.

The restoration process has been fully documented on the Bridge Classic Cars web site and includes myriad photographs spanning all stages of the process.

Presenting equally as well as the outside the interior refresh is in keeping with the excellent overall quality of the restoration. The dashboard has been painted and all of the dials have been refurbished by revered specialists Speedograph. 

A new wiring loom has been installed along with newly fabricated floorboards on top of a 2-pack marine resin coating used on high-speed racing boats. This has been applied to the underside as well as some part of the interior. Rubber matting has then been fitted for further aesthetic appeal.

The seats have been re-trimmed in brand new red and white marine spec vinyl with a fresh, bespoke gear lever gaiter completing the look. A new hood envelope that was purchased from USA cover for when the convertible roof is down. 

Stripped back to bare metal and fibreglass with any body corrections and fabrication being completed along the way the car has been resprayed in its original Beach Strand White paint. The 13 inch steel wheels have also benefited from a full refurbishment and have been painted a deep red and are sitting on five brand new tyres. As you would expect from such a quality restoration the car has been tested in water.

The car's nickname 'Acrobat' (an anagram of the words car and boat) has been professionally hand-sign written onto both sides of the wing. Fitted with removable bow and stern lights it can be taken out on the water at night, further increasing its usability and appeal. 

As part of the engine rebuild the works included a re-bore with new pistons, new cam shaft and cam followers, head skim and the fitting of unleaded valves and guides, along with a new distributor, plugs, leads and chain and even a fresh coat of paint. The gearbox has also been fully rebuilt by gearbox specialists Last Transmissions to exacting standards. Furthermore, although a classic car, the vehicle has been restored to be E10 compliant!

The vehicle has been fitted with a completely new braking system too, from pipes to shoes and everything in between, while the suspension has also been fully rebuilt. The electrics have been completely re-wired and upgraded. As part of this a conversion from dynamo to alternator. The original bilge pump remains in situ but dis-connected, two new bilge pumps were installed with both auto and manual controls. All upgrades have been made to make for a much more reliable system.

Bridge Classic Cars claim that this ship-shape Amphicar Model 770 is now better than when it left the factory and it's difficult to argue with that statement judging by the photos and the comprehensive documentation of work carried out available on their website. 

Let's face it, who doesn't relish the idea of being captain of their own ship, master of their own destiny, smoothly transitioning from land to sea and back again? Not only will this car bring endless joy to its new owner but it is also a wise investment. 

With less than 4000 ever produced values will only continue to rise and should you be the winning bidder then your boat will most definitely be coming in, both literally and figuratively and these cars have seen massive financial gains recently due to their rarity with most vehicles now being used and owned by Disney resorts