That´s me...

... and my first true love which changed my life so much.
It all started with an old HOBBY magazine featuring the Amphicar. Those days I was a teeny, but already infected by the Bazillus Automobilius Antikus and realized my four wheeled dreams in scale models. This Amphicar article fascinated me that much, that I built a model of that as well and I started a small Amphicar model production. That was noticed by the Amphicar Club Berlin and they invited me for a ride. What an experience! This first water ride impressed me so much, that all my thoughts were around the Amphicar from that moment on.
However I had to wait two more years to be old enough to get the driving licence - the licence for a better life! In the meantime I saved up all my money I earned with the scale models or assistance jobs during school holidays for my amphibious dreams only.
Finally I bought my love from an old man, who was not able to drive it anymore. Nevertheless it took me almost two years persuading him to sell this car to me! By that time I had just finished Grammar School and started my civil service in a aged people´s home as a nurse assistance. Because the vehicle was in a pretty bad shape it required a complete restauration. The nurses watched my hands in sorrow those days, because I couldn´t get the dirt off 100% for such a time. My father nearly despaired watching me not only had wasted all my hard saved money on a piece of junk, but taking it apart completely. He bet on I would never make it work again, but he lost. Most mechanic jobs I did the very first time, like getting out the engine and fixing it, refurbishing the axles and braking system or even the whole welding job. The vehicles bottom was rusted out pretty much and I had to cut out a lot of body parts. I couldn´t believe myself, but when I finished welding it was absolute watertight! Only the self made paint job did not really satisfy me.
Of course the following time saw me driving both on land and water all day long.
The fun I had (and still have) strengthened my amphibious fascination and formed the ambition to design my own amphibian car one day.
Towards this goal, I learned basic skills at RMA (Rheinauer Maschinen u. Armaturen GmbH), where they used to manufacture the Amphi-Ranger. Additionally, I studied vehicle engineering (Fahrzeugtechnik) at the University of Applied Sciences Cologne (Fachhochschule Köln). My studying time I used for many amphibious experiments and projects. Like the Westfalen prototype, a light structure vehicle with retractable wheels, which runs more than 30mph on water with a 70hp engine only! A friend of mine developed it in the 70s, but let me have it for two years while I performed experimental work. In exchange I restored it. Now the owner has the car back in his possession, but I really learned a lot on this vehicle.
Also I have tested some of Hanns Trippels prototypes, to whom I kept close contact.
My research on amphibious prototypes has been ongoing for many years. Beside I wanted to know what was already tried and developed I wrote a book on this subject based on all the collected information. The analysis of each vehicle formed my own ideas how to built the "perfect amphibian".
Meanwhile I finished graduation in vehicle engineering at the University of Applied Sciences Cologne and I became a vehicle safety inspector working for the TÜV (e.g. German MOT)... - stay tuned for continuation!
 
I am very thankful to my loved wife Christien not to be scared off by my obsession, but supporting my ideas and projects. A family can totally change a man´s life - you know - but gladly the amphibious passion became part of our family daily fun. She enjoys our river tours same as a cross country trial with our little LuAZ. And even our little son Jean-Philippe is already trained...