Kentish Express Ashford & District
Car fan sinks cash into 60s amphibious vehicle
A vintage-vehicle fanatic from Ashford is turning heads on land and sea after importing a legendary amphibious car manufactured in the 1960s.
Kerry Cheese spotted the Amphicar 770 on eBay and struck a deal before having it delivered from Canada and taking it to the River Medway.
The 48-year-old, who restores Second World War vehicles for a living, gave the Amphicar the kiss of life when he bought it in February.
Mr Cheese said: “The feeling I got when it arrived was as I expected but it was very dirty and I had to repair it. I had to take it all apart to make it legal for this country and I had to get it registered.”
Mr Cheese, along with his wife Gill Leighton, took their first dip in the Amphicar three weeks ago at Wateringbury, spending fourand-a-half hours on the water.
The pair put some mileage on the clock and rigorously tested the classic car’s resistance to water before risking the River Medway for its inaugural voyage.
Mr Cheese said: “We go all over the Medway including Wateringbury and Allington and it gets a lot of comments and it turns a lot of heads.
“White van drivers are always shouting out to us when they see us driving down the road.
“It is quite cool to drive along and then go into the water. It is good to come up out of the water and just drive home without needing to tow it.”
The Amphicar 770 – with a 1200cc engine and a bevelled front to make it more streamlined – was built in West Germany and marketed in the United States from 1961 to 1967 with production ending in 1965. Only 3,878 were ever made.
Mr Cheese added: “You still sit in the driver’s seat and the front wheels act as rudders. It was a bit strange the first time I put it in the water. It was a bit nerveracking.
“When I was putting it together and repairing it I filled it with water to make sure there were no leaks as it is a lot of money to spend to end up on the bed of the Medway.”