Introduction We discover our Amphicar sitting in a barn near Upton-upon-Severn, with nothing but a cow for company. Owner David Chapman originally bought it for spares for his other Amphicar but since there are only 10 of these strange vehicles in Britain, he jumped at Salvage Squad's offer to restore this one. But where do you start with a car that doubles as a boat? The Amphicar 770 was designed by German auto engineer Hanns Trippel for the American market – though it was based on his wartime work, making amphibious cars for the German army.