Lyndon B. Johnson owned an amphibious automobile he used to play a legendary prank on his guests
- President Lyndon B. Johnson used to prank friends with his Amphicar
- The President was known as something of a practical joker
- The Amphicar provided the perfect prop for the POTUS to scare his guests
Published on Apr 26, 2025 at 8:31 AM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Apr 24, 2025 at 6:36 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
United States President Lyndon B. Johnson was once the proud owner of a 1960s amphibious Amphicar, keeping it at his ranch in Texas.
The US President was a big fan of the car, which has become a bit of a cult icon among automotive enthusiasts and is now a very desirable classic.
Johnson used his Amphicar to play a prank on some friends, one that has become the stuff of legend.
The prank showed just how good the president’s sense of humor was and how much fun he liked to have.
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The Amphicar was a legend of the 1960s
The Amphicar itself was a Model 770, and it remains the most successful mass-produced amphibious vehicle ever made.
Production took place in West Germany, and under the hood, it had a 43hp engine from the British Triumph Herald.
On land, the Model 770 had a top speed of 70mph, and it was able to reach a stately seven miles per hour in the water.
A standout feature was the ability of the car to seamlessly convert from road to river.
This was thanks to its twin propellers and convertible body.
President Johnson kept his Model 770 on his ranch in Texas, and it was here that he played pranks on his guests.
Johnson pretended the amphibious car’s brakes had failed
What Johnson loved to do with his guests was take them for a drive in the Amphicar.
However, he did not disclose that it was an amphibious car.
What Johnson would then do his drive the car towards a lake, and shout that the brakes had failed.
His passengers, of course, were terrified.
But they suddenly realized what was going on when the car floated in the water and kept on going.
The prank became the stuff of legend, and its little wonder that Jonhson loved to keep doing it over and over again.
It also added to the fun of the Amphicar, and few later vehicles have had anywhere near the level of success that the 1960s classic did.
The Amphicar was also one of the inspirations behind BBC Top Gear’s two amphibious car-building challenges.
The car makes us want to try that prank out for ourselves.
Not that we can afford an amphibious car, of course.
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Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
