£24,000 for Amphicar that sinks C-charge

The bright yellow Amphicar was bought by a collector to tow his children around a waterski lake and for trips to the coast.

Now auctioneers Coys, who are putting it under the hammer tomorrow, say it could be the answer to every London commuter's prayers.

With an estimate of £18,000 to £24,000, it's the only car in The Spirit Of Motoring sale that, as well as an MOT, has two propellors, navigation lights and a mooring rope.

A notice on the dashboard alerts the driver: "Warning - before boating: 1. Put bilge plug in. 2. Secure front luggage deck. 3. Seal doors."

Mounted on the boot - purely for emergencies - is a pair of wooden oars.

With a top speed of over 60mph on land, the open-top Amphicar is more than a match for London traffic.

In water, the 1100cc engine pushes the car along at a stately six and a half knots, ample for taking the direct route to the City - along the Thames.

"What could be better for dodging the queues on Vauxhall Bridge than nipping down to the bank and chugging across instead?" asked owner Mark Perkins, 45, of Ascot, who bought the car 12 years ago.

Today, it is one of only 200 still in existence in Europe, although 600 were exported to the US in the Sixties before production ended in 1968. It is also one of only about six in the UK that are still seaworthy.

The best part is getting in and out of the water, a procedure that requires deft use of the throttle, brakes, a lever that engages the twin props and not a little nerve as water splashes over the bonnet.

The front wheels act as a rudder, making steering leisurely rather than precise. The seals aren't perfect but the bilge pump makes short work of this problem.

This particular model was forced to work overtime in 1965 when two British Army officers crossed the Channel from Dover to Calais in seven hours and 20 minutes.

The Amphicar will be up for auction at Ascot racecourse.