There are two weird automotive niches that refuse to die, no matter how many times they don’t really work out: the amphibious car, and the flying car. While plenty of amphibious cars have been built, none have really sold in amazing numbers. As for flying cars, there are lots of literally sky-high concepts, but they’re seemingly always “just” two years away.
Back to the amphibious angle: Let’s say you’re in charge of the world’s next amphibious car project, but it’s like a Top Gear episode where your car-boat has to be based on an existing car. What car are you building your boat out of?
This subject popped up in my head while I was writing about the 2012 Sea Lion yesterday. There’s something a bit silly, a bit stupid, and a bit wonderful about making cars do things that cars don’t do. Jason Torchinsky and I are weirdly drawn to cars that float, even though most of them are sort of terrible as cars and worse as boats. So, let’s embrace this!
I’ve been thinking about this subject throughout much of last night. I would think that, ideally, you’d want your floating car to have some good positive buoyancy. If you don’t, you run the risk of everything going all pear-shaped like it always does for the old Top Gear trio. Shoot, some purpose-built amphibious vehicles (like the DUKW, below) sink like a rock the moment they’re swamped.
So, my car-boat would be something that’s good at floating, and maybe has a good bit of freeboard. I suppose that second one would be pretty hard, so maybe just really good door seals? Oh yeah, and then there’s the body. If you build your car-boat on a sports car, that’s a pretty tiny space to enjoy your vehicle. I could see a limo-boat being entertaining, and a convertible seems like it would be an obvious pick. Amphibious Chrysler Sebring convertible, anyone?
Alright, let’s do this. If I were building an amphibious car from an existing design, I think I’d make my boat out of a General Motors dustbuster van. I’d fill the voids in the body with tons of foam, and cut off the roof after the B-pillar. Maybe I’d strap a few pontoons to it and make it into a party barge. Or, I don’t know, maybe that’s a horrible idea!
For a crazy answer, maybe take an Autozam AZ-1, give it a Honda K20 swap plus a fiberglass hull, and have that engine run a pump jet system. Gullwing Jet Ski!
Admittedly, all of these are bad ideas [Ed note: ARE THEY? – Pete], and it’s probably a good thing I don’t have enough money to implement the ideas rattling around my head. If I did, my daily driver might be a Cessna 172 fuselage converted into a car.
But hey, it’s Hump Day, let’s have some fun and get a little weird. You’re making a new amphibious car based on a car (or truck, or van, or …) already in existence. What are you making your car-boat out of?
Top graphic image: BBC
I’d try a Reliant Robin. That narrow one wheel up front would make it easier to push through the water, the fiberglass would make it light and easier to float. Using the seadoo design would be a good idea
A Meyers Manx always seemed like they would be good boats. IDK, just seems like there aren’t a whole lot of holes, they are already generically bathtub shaped, open top which is nice, and they are fiberglass like most personal boats.
Not a Bugatti Veyron. I heard they do terrible in water
I can’t believe this was back in 2009. it’s 16 years ago…
one year in prison and 600k later….
Amazing what stays in the cultural zeitgeist
Yup, that one and the 1.5 PSI low
That is why you must use a digital guage
An air-cooled Beetle! Reportedly they will float for longer than you’d expect a car to, without modifications. They even drove one into a lake for an ad in the early 70s. Another ad suggested that if Ted Kennedy had been driving a Beetle that night in 1969, things may have turned out differently.
Seal any gaps, and maybe build a foam-filled prow around the front bumper. Set up a propeller like they did with the Schwimmwagen and you’re in business, although I don’t think it would be very fast.
You’re on the right path with van.
Large footprint with great packaging seems to be the right call. But the correct van is (biased here) the Pacifica. The Stow N’ Go is the winning feature here, for obvious reasons. For practical reasons, instead of chopping the roof off, make the 3rd row windows and tailgate window operational, and use the retractable canvas roof of the Cerberus Jeep Liberty (yes I know, I’m incorporating the bad Jeep Liberty canvas roof, deal with it) and you have plenty of open area without completely destroying the on-road utility of the van.
Tucker Torpedo. Its in the name.
It wouldnt surprise me if this was on the table at some point based on how ambitious this car was.
So on one hand, I’d love for every single Cybertruck on the road to serve briefly as a boat, before serving as a reef or sandbar. On the other hand, no body of water deserves all that hazmat.
I’ll say the Silverado EV, It’s electric so no worries about the engine getting flooded, aluminum panels to resist rust, midgate so you have the cabin area for driving and can get to the bed area for partying/fishing, power on the back to hook up an outboard off the back of the bed, just throw some pontoons on the side and a canopy over the bed and you’re in the redneck yacht club easy peasy.
I was just checking one out at an EV showcase, they’re pretty sweet. Also very, very heavy.
Good point on the weight, maybe an old Avalance with the midgate would do better, put a snorkel on it.
The Flintmobile would be horrible. Open bottom, rocks for
wheelsrollers. I’m no naval architect, but it seems like a pretty bad starting point for a boat.It really seems that a lot could be done with a mid-seventies VW Thing. Seal up the body really well and add flotation to the rear to address the engine weight. Modify the front end a little to add some efficiency while in the water, then develop some kind of PTO from the engine to run a prop or two. Actually, two props in the back with the right gearing could be used for maneuvering.
like this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Schwimmwagen
I was going to say, it has been done.
Well, OK then. That looks a little more thought out.
Any car built without a Jatco Xtronic CVT can go ahead and become a submarine for all I care. Simply unworthy of the road.
Amphicar?
I mean, EVERY car ever made would at least temporarily be a terrible boat if it was dropped into a body of water.
I’ve said it was a terrible idea, but here goes:
I love this plan because I whole-heartedly agree with item #3.
Nissan Titan. Ick.
Hear me out, many boats are made of fiberglass. A Corvette is made out of fiberglass. Therefore a Corvette is the most logical answer!
Paging Griffin! Griffin, you’re needed in the comments section!
Always the Answer, NC Miata, the Yacht of Miatas.
A Mi-yacht-a, if you will
Submarines are boats, so Lotus Esprit, OBVIOUSLY.
Second (better) thought, An Aston Lagonda would be rather good as a boat.
The Cubans trying to get into America can turn any car into a boat.
http://floatingcubans.com/
First thought was the VW floating Beetle ad, and that’s before modifications.
https://youtu.be/1qB0lb401ZU?si=-fcrKx-CQ2qiHZNi
I had the same thought. Seal holes and doors, add outboard, and done. Better use a convertible, since the doors would be sealed
A 1961 Chrysler Imperial. Land yacht…… someone could do two masts.
Stout Scarab
Not a mid 1960’s Oldsmobile!
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/automotive-history-july-18-1969-chappaquiddick-brandon-k-hardison?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&utm_campaign=share_via
One could turn a 1973 Eldorado into an aircraft carrier with little to no modifications