Mark Richardson
Active Member
Ranchero Motors Dealer Bulletin #13, March 29, 1967
Amphicar & Eriba Puck Travel Trailer Combo
Glenn Flinn from Ranchero Motors sent out this bulletin introducing all dealers to a new prospective business venture to take advantage of the expanding leisure market to spur Amphicar sales. This example of the bulletin comes from the Bearcat Files.
To take advantage of the sharp increase in leisure time activities and spending in the US, German company Eriba Trailer Company is being considered to become a partner with the Amphicar to create a package of car, boat & trailer in a single offer from dealers for $4800.00 total. The bulletin asks to please respond to Glenn if you think this idea is worth moving forward with on a larger scale. It is not clear if any responses were received or if any packages were ever sold.
The car and trailer together are only 11 feet long including the trailer hitch, which would need to be installed on the Amphicar. Seems like this detail was not overlooked by Ranchero, as a diagram of the installation of the trailer hitch was found in the Bearcat Files and is included as a compliment to this offering as a necessary component to complete the sale. Instructions to install were not found. The trailer is only 660 pounds and has a draw bar pull of only 77 pounds which should not be a problem for the 43 horsepower Amphicar engine, according to the literature.
This Eriba trailer was very popular with the VW owner community in the US due to the ease in towing and the lightweight sturdy construction and low cost. Today they are highly prized and can be quite expensive to acquire.
During the 1960s, another new innovation was born – the Suleica F430 in Germany. In 1966 a modified version dubbed the F430S SwimmCaravan was developed. A variation of the original Suleica model, which was a lightweight and practical camper, but the F430S was built to be amphibious and could be pulled across lakes using the Amphicar as seen in the photo. Perhaps the Suleica would have been a better companion to be offered alongside the Amphicar from dealers than the Puck?
I found a nice video of a floating camper from Great Britain
which is more of a home made solution.
Amphicar & Eriba Puck Travel Trailer Combo
Glenn Flinn from Ranchero Motors sent out this bulletin introducing all dealers to a new prospective business venture to take advantage of the expanding leisure market to spur Amphicar sales. This example of the bulletin comes from the Bearcat Files.
To take advantage of the sharp increase in leisure time activities and spending in the US, German company Eriba Trailer Company is being considered to become a partner with the Amphicar to create a package of car, boat & trailer in a single offer from dealers for $4800.00 total. The bulletin asks to please respond to Glenn if you think this idea is worth moving forward with on a larger scale. It is not clear if any responses were received or if any packages were ever sold.
The car and trailer together are only 11 feet long including the trailer hitch, which would need to be installed on the Amphicar. Seems like this detail was not overlooked by Ranchero, as a diagram of the installation of the trailer hitch was found in the Bearcat Files and is included as a compliment to this offering as a necessary component to complete the sale. Instructions to install were not found. The trailer is only 660 pounds and has a draw bar pull of only 77 pounds which should not be a problem for the 43 horsepower Amphicar engine, according to the literature.
This Eriba trailer was very popular with the VW owner community in the US due to the ease in towing and the lightweight sturdy construction and low cost. Today they are highly prized and can be quite expensive to acquire.
During the 1960s, another new innovation was born – the Suleica F430 in Germany. In 1966 a modified version dubbed the F430S SwimmCaravan was developed. A variation of the original Suleica model, which was a lightweight and practical camper, but the F430S was built to be amphibious and could be pulled across lakes using the Amphicar as seen in the photo. Perhaps the Suleica would have been a better companion to be offered alongside the Amphicar from dealers than the Puck?
I found a nice video of a floating camper from Great Britain
which is more of a home made solution.
