Lots Of Progress For Our Amphicar
November 20, 2023
Our 1964 Amphicar 770 has made great progress as of late. Brian has been fitting the roof and roof cover. After glueing the floor side
classic amphicar
Amphicar Sound Deadening
November 16, 2023
Interior trimmer Lydia has managed to re-fit the original sound deadening to the car, which also has a coating that she assumes to be fireproof/
More Prep
October 17, 2023
Classic car technician Alan has been prepping a range of parts from our 1964 Amphicar 770 to be painted DTM black. Once they were prepared,
All Painted
September 5, 2023
After going through its prep and prime process with classic car technician Alan, our 1964 Amphicar 7 70 has had its new coat of paint
Amphicar Back In Paint
August 14, 2023
Classic car technician has been hard at work on our 1964 Amphicar 770 again. After undergoing several rounds of repairs on its body, it’s great
Amphicar Progress
July 14, 2023
Our 1964 Amphicar 770 continues to make progress through its restoration here in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. Classic car technician Alan has taken some
Removing The Engine From An Amphicar
April 12, 2023
Our 1964 Amphicar 770 has recently had its engine removed by classic car technician Scott. Once the engine was out of the car, Scott was
The Back Of Our Amphicar
March 13, 2023
Classic car technicians Christian and Monty have been doing more work on our 1964 Amphicar 7-70. They have been completing repairs on the boot lid
Stripping Down An Amphicar
January 16, 2023
Classic car technician Mauro has been stripping down our 1964 Amphicar 7-70. This is a very interesting vehicle and it is one that you probably
Weather-Sealed – The Bespoke Hood Cover for the 1965 Amphicar
October 6, 2021
The 1965 Amphicar is already quite a unique and rare piece of automotive history. But, an original convertible hood cover? Slightly rare than hen’s teeth.
Amphicar’s Gearbox Out Again
June 17, 2021
The gearbox has been crunching in our 1965 Amphicar so we’ve removed it to try and address the issues with the syncro-mesh when changing down
Amphicar’s Dip In The Pool
June 14, 2021
Our 1965 Amphicar had a dip in the pool to test its seals against the water. The result was small ingress of water and we’ve
Amphicar Floor Repaint
May 28, 2021
We’ve started repainting the floor on our 1965 Amphicar. Chris began by taking out the bolts and masking up the struts that would remain cream.
Amphicar’s Spillage
May 13, 2021
Our 1965 Amphicar has had a sudden issue with a carb fuel leak so we’ve taken it apart, cleaned it and rebuilt it, adding in
Amphicar Suspension Replaced
April 27, 2021
Our 1965 Amphicar has had its brakes and suspension rebuilt recently to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Soon we will be carrying out a water
Amphibious Assault Vehicle Up For Auction
March 17, 2021
Stuck between buying a boat or a car? Or maybe you fancy the idea of an all-encompassing road trip vehicle that’s up to any terrain?
Amphicar Underside Sealing
January 20, 2021
Our Amphicar has been taking a temporary back seat in our workshop whilst we wait for the gearbox to come back. Our plan moving forwards
Kicking Up A Fuss
January 5, 2021
Just before Christmas, we discovered an issue with the Amphicar’s gearbox which had become noisy. We decided to take it out and inspect the elements.
Amphicar Tweaks
December 24, 2020
Our Amphicar is having a few adjustments as we’ve discovered a gearbox issue whilst testing. We noticed a noise which we originally thought was linked
Amphicar’s Graduation
December 14, 2020
We’re delighted to announce that our Amphicar has graduated to become a boat! After its previous inspection by Colin from Wherry Boat Yard, we got
The Amphicar’s switch around
December 3, 2020
Two bilge pumps have been added to the Amphicar. The original bilge pump remains in its original position in the engine bay and is still
Watertight
November 17, 2020
The Amphicar is getting closer to being water worthy! We’ve installed a bow light with a stern light also optional, which can be taken on
Sink Or Swim?
November 3, 2020
We had Colin from Wherry boatyard on behalf of CC Marine and Industrial Supply come in to survey our 1965 Amphicar. As a BSS (Boat
The Fastest Car On The Water
October 8, 2020
If you haven’t already, say hello to our Amphicar! Part boat, part car, this curious little vehicle can drive both on land and on water.
Lots Of Progress For Our Amphicar
November 20, 2023
Our 1964 Amphicar 770 has made great progress as of late.
Brian has been fitting the roof and roof cover. After glueing the floor side panels back down, he cleaned the main floorboards and fitted them into the car. He then cut out the new rear quarter panel boards, fitted new catches to the frame & car, and fitted stud fasteners to the hood cover & frame.
Unfortunately, Lydia found that the door cards and seats are in a mismatched and poor state, so we have decided to find a grey vinyl to replace the worst areas with. Lydia has taken the door cards apart to prepare for when the vinyl arrives, and she has also taken the time to laminate the rear backrest to give it a bit more life!
As well as interior work, classic car technician James has also been working on our Amphicar. He found more burnt/melted wiring and replaced it, all electrical circuits are now functioning. The headlamp switch was stripped and cleaned as the terminals were contaminated, and the faulty dim/dip switch was replaced and fitted to the floor. The final external parts such as the mirror and wipers were fitted after the windscreen and new seal were installed. He then removed the wheels and stripped off the brakes for refurbishment, the brake shoes were worn and the wheel cylinders were leaking badly.
Amphicar Sound Deadening
November 16, 2023
Interior trimmer Lydia has managed to re-fit the original sound deadening to the car, which also has a coating that she assumes to be fireproof/ retardant.
Where it was too damaged to be replaced, Lydia has pieced in new patches of a material we have in stock.
She also took time to clean up the grey overlay mat and refitted this.
More Prep
October 17, 2023
Classic car technician Alan has been prepping a range of parts from our 1964 Amphicar 770 to be painted DTM black.
Once they were prepared, they went into the paint booth for Alan to apply the paint.
All Painted
September 5, 2023
After going through its prep and prime process with classic car technician Alan, our 1964 Amphicar 7 70 has had its new coat of paint applied.
As you can see from Alan’s photos below, the car is looking good now that its paintwork is back in top condition.
Amphicar Back In Paint
August 14, 2023
Classic car technician has been hard at work on our 1964 Amphicar 770 again.
After undergoing several rounds of repairs on its body, it’s great to see the car now starting to come back together again.
Amphicar Progress
July 14, 2023
Our 1964 Amphicar 770 continues to make progress through its restoration here in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
Classic car technician Alan has taken some photos of some of the work that has been completed on the car as it prepares to move another step closer to being able to go back home to its owner in the future.
Removing The Engine From An Amphicar
April 12, 2023
Our 1964 Amphicar 770 has recently had its engine removed by classic car technician Scott.
Once the engine was out of the car, Scott was able to start prepping the engine bay for paint as well as repairing any components that needed some attention.
As our Amphicar continues to make progress through the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, we are looking forward to seeing its continual improvements.
The Back Of Our Amphicar
March 13, 2023
Classic car technicians Christian and Monty have been doing more work on our 1964 Amphicar 7-70. They have been completing repairs on the boot lid and the rear quarter of this very interesting vehicle.
Any repairs of classic vehicles need to be completed to very high standards but, when the vehicle is going to go into the water, extra care needs to be taken to ensure it can withstand the rigours of life on the road and in the water.
Stripping Down An Amphicar
January 16, 2023
Classic car technician Mauro has been stripping down our 1964 Amphicar 7-70.
This is a very interesting vehicle and it is one that you probably don’t see many of while out on the road let alone in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
While Mauro was stripping down our Amphicar, Brian got to work removing the metal trim from the rear of the roof. He also undid the roof straps from the rear of the car and then removed the cover to access the hood frame bolts.
The rear seat was also removed along with the front seat too. The rear door handles and side panels also came out before Brian cleaned and wrapped up the seats.
Our 1964 Amphicar 7-70 will continue to be stripped down and worked on while it undergoes a full restoration with us.
Weather-Sealed – The Bespoke Hood Cover for the 1965 Amphicar
October 6, 2021
The 1965 Amphicar is already quite a unique and rare piece of automotive history. But, an original convertible hood cover? Slightly rare than hen’s teeth. However, after some research, we found a company in the States who make them!
We had one shipped to us here for our 1965 Amphicar which was installed by our in-house master trimmers. As you can see, it looks absolutely brilliant!
Amphicar’s Gearbox Out Again
June 17, 2021
The gearbox has been crunching in our 1965 Amphicar so we’ve removed it to try and address the issues with the syncro-mesh when changing down gears.
Amphicar’s Dip In The Pool
June 14, 2021
Our 1965 Amphicar had a dip in the pool to test its seals against the water. The result was small ingress of water and we’ve discovered that a few small holes we’d filled in thinking they were holes, actually happen to be integral to the water flow and buoyancy of the Amphicar as they allow water to flow through the car and out another side.
Amphicar Floor Repaint
May 28, 2021
We’ve started repainting the floor on our 1965 Amphicar. Chris began by taking out the bolts and masking up the struts that would remain cream.
We’ve applied a black sealant paint on the inside which is the same as the underside. This resin based paint provides better protection against water ingress and allows for easier cleaning.
We are also endeavouring to repair the handbrake after the cable broke.
Amphicar’s Spillage
May 13, 2021
Our 1965 Amphicar has had a sudden issue with a carb fuel leak so we’ve taken it apart, cleaned it and rebuilt it, adding in some fresh sealant. We hope that it can now go for an MOT and then have its first water test.
Amphicar Suspension Replaced
April 27, 2021
Our 1965 Amphicar has had its brakes and suspension rebuilt recently to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Soon we will be carrying out a water test to test if the sealing around the doors is fully waterproof. If all goes well, we will see how it fairs out on the river.
Amphibious Assault Vehicle Up For Auction
March 17, 2021
Stuck between buying a boat or a car? Or maybe you fancy the idea of an all-encompassing road trip vehicle that’s up to any terrain? Well, if that’s so, this GMC DUKW is going up for auction.
The Motorious article explains it was “Originally designed by Rod Stephens Jr, a famous yacht designer from Sparkman & Stephens, along with Frank W. Speir of MIT and Dennis Puleston, a British deep-water sailor, the DUKW was created to be tough. It had to be capable of transporting over 2 tons of troops and supplies not only across the water but also over rough terrain. The tires had to negotiate soft, sandy beaches and muddy jungle floors without becoming stuck. Perhaps most critical and challenging, the DUKW had to be made in mass quickly, so the design had to be simple as well as effective.”
You can read more here.
Maybe you fancy something a little..smaller? You can always look for something like our charming Amphicar that we’re currently restoring for a customer.
Amphicar Underside Sealing
January 20, 2021
Our Amphicar has been taking a temporary back seat in our workshop whilst we wait for the gearbox to come back. Our plan moving forwards is to re-seal the underside with a resin seal, ensuring that this iconic car is watertight and water ready.
Kicking Up A Fuss
January 5, 2021
Just before Christmas, we discovered an issue with the Amphicar’s gearbox which had become noisy. We decided to take it out and inspect the elements. You can read about the diagnosis here.
The gearbox has been sent to Last Transmissions to be overhauled and replace the bearings. Once this has been done and is back with us, we hope to get it back together again and put on the water.
Amphicar Tweaks
December 24, 2020
Our Amphicar is having a few adjustments as we’ve discovered a gearbox issue whilst testing. We noticed a noise which we originally thought was linked to the thrust bearing however it turns out it’s due to the first motion shaft bearing that needs repairing.
We’ve taken out the engine and gearbox, and will now begin the process of fixing the gearbox.
Amphicar’s Graduation
December 14, 2020
We’re delighted to announce that our Amphicar has graduated to become a boat! After its previous inspection by Colin from Wherry Boat Yard, we got the final thumbs-up last week to confirm that the Amphicar passed its certificate to classify it as a boat!
You can take a look at the official paperwork below to see the exact classifications. There’s also been some other small work such as the Bilge pump switches being prewired and the holes prepped by our electric specialist Adam. He’s also made sure that the lights work too.
Our trim shop has added a piece of vinyl in behind the rear seat to tidy it up as seen below.
All the switches have now been labelled with bespoke colour coordinated labels.
You can also see here its first start up. We’re excited to get it out on the water for the first time, soon, to see how it fairs and what needs to be done next.
In order to pass the assessment we needed to make the necessary changes below. The fuel hose needed to be fitted that could withstand 600 degrees, ISO7840 for two hours. Due to the age of the car we considered the existing bilge pump not to be adequate and capable of adhering to the latest legislation so we decided to fit two pulse operated bilge pumps that look for water and when detecting it will start and pump out of the rear. We decided to fit two of these as always health and safety is our paramount concern and have given two totally independent systems with separate exit from the rear of the vehicle.
The fire extinguisher has also been fitted and the pipe flaring has been carried out. To comply with current legislation we have changed the set up of the fuel system to withdraw fuel from the top of the tank through a stainless steel shut off valve.
We have also installed an electrical cut off switch and solder jointed cables to the battery terminal.
The Amphicar’s switch around
December 3, 2020
Two bilge pumps have been added to the Amphicar. The original bilge pump remains in its original position in the engine bay and is still in working condition. The old pump still has its wires connected and can be connected at any point in the future, however, it is currently disconnected from the car. The old pump has been kept in for peace of mind.
Watertight
November 17, 2020
The Amphicar is getting closer to being water worthy! We’ve installed a bow light with a stern light also optional, which can be taken on and off when needed. This means when the Amphicar is out on the water at night, other ships can see it!
Adam, our electrical specialist has also redone the connection block. This has been refurbished to make them easier to access if any repairs or tweaking has to be done in future!
With these fixes made, the Amphicar is steadily getting closer to completion after its recent boat MOT. You can see the check list we were provided below:
Sink Or Swim?
November 3, 2020
We had Colin from Wherry boatyard on behalf of CC Marine and Industrial Supply come in to survey our 1965 Amphicar. As a BSS (Boat Safety Scheme) Examiner, its Colins job to tell us what is needed to make the Amphicar water worthy.
It’s a bit like an MOT but for boats and it’ll allow our Amphicar to be one step closer to getting its tires wet.
The amends includes relocating the battery cut-off switch changing the fuel entry removal system from a bottom to a top entry, replacing rubber hoses with copper pipes to allow a 2 hour 100 degrees safety bracket, installing a fire extinguisher, modify the main battery wiring, replacing the fuel arrester to the fuel tank, general labeling, adding an override switch to the dashboard and installing a modern Bilge pump and float switch.
The Fastest Car On The Water
October 8, 2020
If you haven’t already, say hello to our Amphicar! Part boat, part car, this curious little vehicle can drive both on land and on water. Jovially referred to as ‘the fastest car on the water’.
The Amphicar was only in production from 1961 to 1968, so our 1965 model is an incredibly rare find. We’re so lucky to have the opportunity to be doing a full restoration on this intriguing little car (or is it a boat!?)
Along with returning the car to her former glory by doing a complete bodywork restoration, the team have also returned her to her original colour- ‘Beach Strand White’. We think she looks gorgeous!
Our Amphicar has been in the trim shop this week having her new roof fitted. Brian’s been working on the task. “I’ve fitted the locating pins around the roof edge” Brian describes “then glued and turned the corners of the roofs front rail”.
Brian’s then trimmed off any excess material and screwed the metal trim in place. The edges looking nice a neat now. “I then fitted the metal trim round the bottom of the back of the roof using Tenax fasteners” he explains.
“I’ve then glued flaps around the rear window frame” Brian continues “again adding the neat metal trim to smarten up the edges and also, to hold the window rubber in”.
Even though the roof was a ready-made, it still had to be custom fitted and therefore provided it’s own challenges! Brian told us how tricky it was to get the roof liner to fit. “When we make our own parts we can measure against the car and use those exact patters” Brian explains. “But, when it’s ‘off the shelf’ the product arrives and we have to work with what we’re presented with.”
Brian’s also fitted the back seat “I glued the rubber down first” he explains “then fitted the seat Kath and I have made onto it.”
Raise your hand if you want to take this swimmingly fun car for a test-dive!?
