>> All right, now put it in
gear, and off we go!
[splash]
Everybody seems to have
seen one.
>> But the one that catches
your attention in Sturgeon Bay
is owned by Russ Cihlar.
>> There's probably, oh, ten or
fifteen of them in the state.
It's just something really
unique that came out of the 60s.
>> "It" is an amphicar,
part boat, part car,
50/50 surf and turf.
>> The German background is
pretty cool because I'm into
WWII vehicles.
The developer of the German
Schwimmwagen of WWII,
after the war, he developed
this car.
But it was still the price
of a Corvette.
I believe they were right
around $2,300.
If you had a choice back
in the 60s to have one of these
or a Corvette, I think you
would've picked a Corvette.
There's four colors.
There's green, blue, white,
and red.
When I first got this car,
I thought, there's no way I'm
keeping it that color.
But trends change.
I love that color of all
the colors.
It's the neatest color.
People will buy them just in
terrible shape and get them
back going because they just
love 'em.
>> For Russ it was love at first
sight.
>> This car was in Door County.
It was about five miles from
my he.
A buddy of mine and I were
looking at it and we sat in it,
and I thought wouldn't this
be cool?
I was 16 years old.
So I kind of forgot about it
for about 10 years.
Then, I actually had a
dream about it.
And I thought, I wonder if it's
still there.
Sure enough, there it was.
It was sitting in the same spot.
So during the winters, I started
putting it back together,
and every year, I do a
little bit.
One thing I did learn with
the amphicar is that if you
don't give up, you'll get
it done.
Because when I got that
amphicar, I mean it was
in '84, I didn't get it done
until '98.
Every time I go in, you just
get the heeby jeebies a
little bit.
You wonder, you know, if
everything is going to be okay.
I'm were pretty cocky at first.
I like to power into the wakes
and make a big splash.
Well, one rolled up right over
the hood and right over the top
of the windshield, and it was
like two five gallon pails of
smelly bay water in our laps.
I mean, it's all vinyl seats
and rubber floor mats and
it just trickles down the bilge.
And one time the electrical
system quit on me after we came
out of the water.
Being that it has original
wiring from 1963, there's
always that in the back
of your mind.
Almost every time when we
pull out, there's a few
people that ask me, "Did you
just come out of the water?"
You know, they don't know
what to say.
It's hilarious.
>> The amphicar isn't really
built for speed,
it's built for fun.
>> All right!
There we go.
It's a 1963 amphicar.
It's a slow moving car
in the water and it's
an awkward car on the land.
The model is 7-70, meaning,
seven in the water and
70 on land.
I've had it up to maybe 60
on land, and it's pretty hairy.
It's a not a safe feeling.
It's got a peppy engine.
Those first couple of gears
you really get going
and then it's pretty slow.
It's only 43 horse power.
Just put the lever forward,
and off we go.
>> Cruising around the
Sturgeon Bay ship canal the
amphicar is dwarfed by those
big boats.
>> I wouldn't trade,
I would not trade!
>> And maybe it's the small
size that attracts all
the attention.
>> I'm glad I haven't caused
any accidents because, sometimes
when I go under the bridges
there are people
rubber-necking, looking down.
The best thing is you can
come home from work, and
have your wife say, "It's pretty
nice and calm out tonight,
isn't it?"
And that just means, let's go
for an amphicar ride.
So we'll just jump in the car,
five minutes to the boat ramp
and we're in the water.
Maybe a nice sunset cruise.
It is a special feeling when
you've rebuilt it yourself.
It's got nothing but
good memories.
[horn beeps]