1943 Ford GPA Amphibious

THE Ford GPA amphibious was a marvelous idea that simply didn’t work. Based on the GPW chassis, it was encapsulated with a steel hull so it would float, given a Pto-driven propeller and rudder out back so it would move, and be called a boat. Unfortunately, thousands of young soldiers piled into GPAS with rucksacks, arms, and ammunition only to find the vessel could barely stay afloat. It sat low in the water, and anything more than light water would flood the cockpit and send it to the bottom of the sea – which is where most GPAS found a final resting place. This rare example was part of Mark A. Smith’s collection.