28 November 2014

A boat and a car on the boat

This is a péniche or barge on the Seine over near the Place de la Concorde. I assume somebody lives on it, because there's a car parked on the stern of the boat.


If I'm not mistaken, the little red car is an "amphibious" vehicle. It can be driven on the road, or it can be launched on the river and driven like a little boat.


It's the Amphicar and dates back to the 1960s. It's German and was the first vehicle of its type that was mass-produced for sale to the public and for recreational use. Here's a link to the Wikipedia article about it.

7 comments:

  1. I like it...
    "Barge with Lifecar"...
    the car is now probably worth almost as much...
    as the barge...
    £100K at auction last year for a fully restored, concours version....
    cheaper in the States where they just took off in the 60s...
    and there are plenty left...
    I've always hankered after one!!
    Since the 60s!!!!

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    1. I had time last night to read the Waki entry...
      I never realized that they were mainly made for the US market...
      that explains the difference in price between a UK right-hand drive...
      with only about 100 made...
      and the US prices.
      When I win the lottery....

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  2. Well spotted, Ken. I would have thought it was a Henry J, if I had noticed it at all.

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  3. Good find, Ken! Your walk is providing us with lots of entertainment.

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  4. Wow, cool! Hope your Thanksgiving was nice��

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  5. you certainly cannot drive a barge down the boul saint-denis! ;-)

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