Wolf and Mare attended the Richmond Collector Car Show this past Saturday, a charitable event organized by the local chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America. Aside from humid June heat, we were treated to a show field full of amazing and rare classic cars. While craving a cooling dip, I realized that I can’t recall ever seeing an amphibious car at a show I’ve attended. For today’s Market Monday, we’re taking a look at 5 classic and modern amphibious cars you can buy.

The busiest season for car shows is the summer, presumably because the weather is more reliably clear and outdoor activities — such as boating — are in full swing. I’m a massive fan of being on the water, but have limited my watercraft acquisitions to a pair of canoes. Powered boats are notoriously expensive to maintain, but other major expenses that deter me include storage, winterization, a trailer and a tow vehicle to haul it to the lake.

There is the well-known phenomenon of the weekend racer — the road car that can drive itself to the track and then back home again. Too little attention is paid to the amphibious vehicle — a car that can drive itself to the lake, putter around enjoying the water, and then drive itself up the boat ramp. Such a car gets bonus points if it is also a classic that can potentially win a car show award.

Probably my favorite amphibious vehicle, the Amphicar is also the most attractive car/boat combo on this list, in my opinion. Debuted in 1961, the Amphicar is built more for fun than performance.

Motivated by a Triumph engine driving two propellers for water travel and a 4-speed transmission for land duty, the top speed was 7 knots on water and 70 mph on land. Featuring stylish bodywork truncating at a pair of attractive fins on either side of the louvered rear engine cover, the Amphicar would be very much at home at a classic car or boat show.

With almost 4,000 Amphicars built, it’s definitely possible for mere mortals to acquire one. The average price of a good condition Amphicar is $87,000 according to Hagerty, however the most recent sale of a running (and sailing) Amphicar was $60,900 on a Hemmings Auction earlier this year. Currently, project Amphicar 770s can be found for under $20,000.

Military vehicles are a common sight at collector car shows, and while the history of this particular car is very much tainted by its use by the German Army in World War II, it remains one of the most interesting and capable amphibious vehicles.

The Volkswagen-derived Schwimmwagen was produced from 1942-1944 and was based on the Kübelwagen. The sleek hull was designed by Erwin Komenda, who penned the Porsche 356 and 550 Spyder road cars after the war. Powered by a 1.1-liter 4-cylinder engine, it could travel 50 mph on land and 6 mph on water. Fully waterproofed, a rear-mounted propeller pushed it through the water in forward direction only, and steering was executed using the front wheels.

Of the almost 14,000 Schwimmwagens built, maybe 190 remain today. Unsurprisingly, they rarely hit the market — but when they do, costs exceed $150,000. You can find one for sale on Hemmings right now with an asking price of $175,000.

Dutton cars started out building kit cars based on existing vehicle chassis and at one time was the largest kit car maker in the world. After a hiatus from 1989 to 1995, Dutton returned to the car world to produce amphibious cars based on the Ford Fiesta and Suzuki Samurai. Models include the Surf, the Mariner and the Reef.

My preferred model of Dutton is the Surf, which was based on the Suzuki Jimny but utilized Mk4 Volkswagen Golf headlights on the forward bodywork. Featuring 4WD, the car is capable off-road as well as on, plus a jet-drive system provides propulsion speeds up to 6 mph.. Operating the Swift is as easy as steering with the wheel and using the accelerator.

The last Dutton to sell in the United States was a Suzuki-based car sold by GAA Auctions back in 2022. The selling price was just $30,000 making the Dutton an affordable amphibious option.

Classic amphibious vehicles typically sacrificed performance as a result of their dual-role. H20 Amphibious is a modern vehicle builder who seeks to break this tradition with the Panther XL, a vehicle capable of 45 mph speeds on water, and 80 mph on land.

If VTEC power is your thing, then you’ll appreciate the Honda 3.7L engine that powers the Panther XL. Like the Dutton, jet-drive marine propulsion moves this Jeep-like vehicle through the water. Reviews highlight the Panther XL’s great water ride quality and handling, as well as its overall drier interior. Unlike the previous vehicles, the Panther XL’s wheels retract into the body for water travel, likely contributing to its superior speed and handling.

You can buy the H20 Amphibious Panther XL new for $195,000 and up, so you definitely pay a premium for performance.

Perhaps the most capable adventure vehicle on this list, the Amphicruiser is based on the Toyota Land Cruiser platform and features off-road, amphibious, and highway capability. While not as quick on the water as the Panther XL, the Amphicruiser can be configured with camper attachments creating the capacity to go virtually anywhere and then stay there.

Its water jet propulsion system can be activated with a simple button press and the large doors are sealed by innovative inflatable bladders. Originally devised as a fleet vehicle by the builder, Dutch Amfibious Transport, the company has been building production amphibious vehicles since 2013.

Like the Panther XL above, the Amphicruiser isn’t cheap with a starting price of $180,000, so if you have the scratch for either vehicle it just comes down to your preference of speed or utility.

Any of these cars would require the maintenance of both a car and a boat, but as each easily fits into the average garage, you would avoid storage and winterization fees.

Despite the compromises, having a collector vehicle that doubles as both a show car or cruiser and a watercraft has a distinct appeal. Some of these vehicles are built of corrosion-resistant materials, such as stainless steel, helping alleviate concerns already common to classic car owners. A new worry might be the potential of sinking— I wonder if Hagerty offers lakeside assistance…

What do you think? Are amphibious vehicles cool or silly? Let me know in the comments!

Wolf and Mare provides appraisal services for sellers and buyers of collector European cars. If you’re interested in acquiring a professional appraisal, give us a call or drop a line!
The opinions shared above do not represent financial or investment advice.