Dear Mrs. Hall:
We're all very saddened to hear of your reasons below for joining this List
and will try to help you steer on the right course. It seems from your
message below that you would prefer to sell the Amphicar whether restored or
not. This being the case, I would refer you to Mike Israel's excellent
"Amphicar Buyers Frequently Asked Questions" page at
http://www.carstrucksvans.com/amphicar/buyersfaq.htm, if only to learn
firsthand what many potential buyers would be looking at and for. For your
future reference, there is also an easy link to this page through the
International Amphicar Owners Club's "Classified Ads" page at
http://www.amphicar.com/ads.htm. This is the world's largest page of
Amphicar-related advertisements, so if you were to sell your Amphica either
restored or as-is, then this is probably the first place to consider
advertising it.
It would be impossible from where I am to hazard even the roughest guess of
the possible cost of restoring your Amphicar, but suffice it to say that it
is almost always more than one ever initially reckons, even with first hand
information. For contacts and possible estimates on the cost of restoring
your Amphicar based on a video, photographs and other information you might
be able to provide, you might want to get in touch with some of the
restorers listed on the Club's "Restoration Resources" page at
http://www.amphicar.com/restoration.htm. Most of those listed will even
come pick up your Amphicar, and all those listed are known as being true
"Amphicar restorers". Having heard various horror stories over the years
from folks who'd brought their Amphis for restoration to some local garage
or body shop, I would strongly urge this against this unless the mechanic is
someone very well known to you and moreover very enthusiastic about your
project, otherwise you stand a very high chance of it simply never getting
finished or worse, "finished" badly or dangerously. Bear in mind that most
regular mechanics have never even SEEN an Amphicar, let alone worked on one,
and that you will pay extra for his or her mistakes and head scratchings.
In the end, it would simply be better and probably cheaper to hire someone
who knows a bilge pump from a hole in their sock in the first place.
If you did decide to restore the Amphicar, some money might be saved by
completing your husband's restoration yourself, but although Amphicars are
essentially fairly simple and easy to work on when compared with more modern
automobiles, completing at least part of the restoration yourself will
require a wide variety of mechanical skills and aptitudes, huge amounts of
elbow grease and lots and lots of time. If your intention is to eventually
sell the Amphicar anyhow, you might want to give this option a pass. On the
other hand, if you might still be toying with the idea of perhaps fixing and
keeping the Amphicar, then you've already made a step in the right direction
by joining this List, since it is certainly the premier venue for support
and information concerning Amphicar restoration. The whole process, though
sometimes lengthly and frustrating is also an opportunity for a huge "growth
experience", and the sense of satisfaction that comes from driving one's
resurrected Amphicar into the water for the first time is truly
indescribable.
In closing, you might be happy to learn that there is one other member of
the International Amphicar Owners Club living in Arizona to whom you might
be able to turn for some first hand advice. To contact this Arizona membe
through the Club's Third Party Member Contact Service (a service offered to
protect members' privacy), please contact the Club President, Marc Schlemmer
at prez@amphicar.com. He can forward your message to our single Arizona
member requesting that he contact you. Make sure and include your phone
number if you contact Marc to make it easy for the member to contact you.
Best Regards,
Bill Connelly
"Bilgemaster"
Hello
I am new to the list. My question is as follows: I own a amphicar. It was
in
the process of being restored/repainted etc. My Husbands fun project. He
died
before it was completed. The question is should I have it finished or sell
it
as is? The body is in good shape and everything works but needs to be
sanded,
painted and put back together. Your comments and suggestion are welcomed.
S. Hall
Tucson, AZ
