Then there’s the ‘cross-over’ group who offer us an equally bewildering range of those best selling, new fangled SUVs, with their ‘go anywhere’ capabilities. These are routinely fitted with the ubiquitous Sat-Nav, to get you safely home should you get lost in the car park at your local mall.

Seems like of late, we expect our vehicles to be all things to all people.

Naturally enough there’s nothing new here, and as far back as the early 60s some folk thought they might like something a little more versatile… like a car that was a boat and vice-versa.

The result came from the then West German Quandt Group who in 1961 actually ’launched’ their Amphicar.

A descendant of Volkswagens Schwimmwagen, it was manufactured right through to 1965 with most sales going to the United States (surprise…surprise!), with only a 100 examples out of a total production run of some 4000, being offered in RHD.

On the road, its high mounted body/hull gave it an awkward appearance that only a mother could love, and had more than a passing resemblence to the Renault Floride and/or the Triumph Herald of the era.

The Amphicar was powered (?) by a 1147cc Triumph Herald motor, considered “state of the art” at the time, pumping out a lusty 38bhp.

On the road it had a top speed 70mph, and on the water could manage just 7 knots, with propulsion provided by twin propellers mounted under the rear bumper, with steering,such that it was, being provided by the front wheels.

Overall performance both in car mode and on the water was best described as modest.

Naturally enough it was fitted with navigation lights and rather quaintly featured a flag as mandated by the Coast Guard.

After each and every ‘voyage’ it was necessary to lubricate all 13 grease points, one of which was located under the rear seat which needed to be removed for access.

For reasons best known to the designers, the body and chassis were made from mild steel, which left some doubt in the minds of potential buyers as to its durability.

Original sales were estimated to be some 20,000 a year and after a total of some 4000 were built, production ceased in 1965 and the Amphicar 770 sank without a trace!

Perhaps one hapless owner best summed up the Amphicar’s dilemma when he opined, “We like to think of it as the fastest car on the water and the fastest boat on the road.”