Mark Richardson
Active Member
Many have read and know of the book “60 Reasons Why I like The Amphicar”, but now we can know a little bit more about the author, where he lived, and why he became so interested in an Amphicar that he wrote and published this book.
Mr. David H. Neverth, 11200 Silver Lake road, a lifelong Brighton, MI area resident was born Feb. 1, 1936 in South Lyon, MI, son of Herman and Ruth (Brockway) Neverth. A graduate of Brighton High School, Mr. Neverth was a self-employed sign painter.
He passed away at the age of 42 at his home on the property of the gravel supply business his family operated in rural Washtenaw County east of Brighton.
After months of exhaustive research and comparison shopping to the 1957 VW he owned for many years and was ready to replace, David was convinced the Amphicar was the right car for him. During his research, he contacted Ranchero Motors and they sent him 2 samples of the steel from a damaged Amphicar so he could compare the thickness of it to the VW. He was so excited after buying the car that he wrote a book about it called “60 Reasons Why I Like The Amphicar” in 1965. He designed and illustrated the book as well as writing it, self-publishing and printing.
David already had owned his Amphicar for 2 years before Bearcat Motors became the Michigan distributor, but he knew Yusif and bought parts from him. I found several of the 60 reasons books in the Bearcat Files, and a letter from Bearcat to David asking him to come there to pick up his belongings, which I believe were boxes of the books Bearcat gave away to each new owner.
I have a letter Neverth sent to Bearcat Motors on May 11, 1967, attempting to order parts that also includes some fantastical graphical logo renderings and drawings that are very unique that were casually saved in a folder of incoming mail and now can be shared with other owners.
He also references the well-advertised “Y’all Come” Picnic organized by Bearcat Motors to be held at Kensington Metro Park, which is featured on the pictures in the first fold out page in his book. He mentions leaving with a flat tire but returning and seeing Hugh Gordon there as well later in the day.
David was featured in the Brighton paper on November 22, 1965 in an article telling the story of a trip he made to Ann Arbor in the Amphicar when he entered the Huron River on the way home and a small crowd gathered to call the police about a car in the river. After the usual questions and checking of licenses, he was released to go about his business.
Unfortunately the story stops there as I do not know what happened to David’s car after he passed away in 1979. Given the meticulous care he took of his cars, that one likely survived the 70’s when no parts or dealer support existed before Gordon Imports opened in the early 80’s.
If anyone has an old title or registration listing his name as an owner, please contact me.
Mr. David H. Neverth, 11200 Silver Lake road, a lifelong Brighton, MI area resident was born Feb. 1, 1936 in South Lyon, MI, son of Herman and Ruth (Brockway) Neverth. A graduate of Brighton High School, Mr. Neverth was a self-employed sign painter.
He passed away at the age of 42 at his home on the property of the gravel supply business his family operated in rural Washtenaw County east of Brighton.
After months of exhaustive research and comparison shopping to the 1957 VW he owned for many years and was ready to replace, David was convinced the Amphicar was the right car for him. During his research, he contacted Ranchero Motors and they sent him 2 samples of the steel from a damaged Amphicar so he could compare the thickness of it to the VW. He was so excited after buying the car that he wrote a book about it called “60 Reasons Why I Like The Amphicar” in 1965. He designed and illustrated the book as well as writing it, self-publishing and printing.
David already had owned his Amphicar for 2 years before Bearcat Motors became the Michigan distributor, but he knew Yusif and bought parts from him. I found several of the 60 reasons books in the Bearcat Files, and a letter from Bearcat to David asking him to come there to pick up his belongings, which I believe were boxes of the books Bearcat gave away to each new owner.
I have a letter Neverth sent to Bearcat Motors on May 11, 1967, attempting to order parts that also includes some fantastical graphical logo renderings and drawings that are very unique that were casually saved in a folder of incoming mail and now can be shared with other owners.
He also references the well-advertised “Y’all Come” Picnic organized by Bearcat Motors to be held at Kensington Metro Park, which is featured on the pictures in the first fold out page in his book. He mentions leaving with a flat tire but returning and seeing Hugh Gordon there as well later in the day.
David was featured in the Brighton paper on November 22, 1965 in an article telling the story of a trip he made to Ann Arbor in the Amphicar when he entered the Huron River on the way home and a small crowd gathered to call the police about a car in the river. After the usual questions and checking of licenses, he was released to go about his business.
Unfortunately the story stops there as I do not know what happened to David’s car after he passed away in 1979. Given the meticulous care he took of his cars, that one likely survived the 70’s when no parts or dealer support existed before Gordon Imports opened in the early 80’s.
If anyone has an old title or registration listing his name as an owner, please contact me.
