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Seeing a car transforming into a boat upon hitting water is typically a sight reserved for movies scenes, but it turns out we have the technology now. In fact, we’ve seen amphibious vehicles in several variations over the past 60 years! Check out these awesome models, with the first dating back to the 1960s.
Amphicar Model 770
I, Dontworry, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Produced in the 1960s, the Amphicar Model 770 is one of the most well-known consumer amphibious vehicles. It could travel both on land and in water, powered by its rear wheels on land and a propeller in water. The innovative model made its public debut at the 1961 New York Auto Show. Unfortunately, it only saw a 3,900 units roll off the line before production ceased.
In 1965, two Amphicars made their way down Alaska’s Yukon River. Just a few months later, two more made the voyage across the English Channel. President Lyndon B. Johnson also owned an Amphicar and enjoyed tormenting guests by driving into a lake.
Gibbs Aquada
The Gibbs Aquada is a step above the previous entry, largely thanks to its 2.5L V6 engine. While the 1960s amphibious vehicle was far from speedy, the Aquada was capable of hitting nearly 100mph on land and over 30mph in water. Don’t get your hopes up on owning one, though. The Gibbs Aquada was a concept car with a limited production run that ended in 2004.
It was one of the first, if not only, model with a unique design that allowed it to make the transition from road to water with ease.
WaterCar EV
Photo Credit: WaterCar
Now, how about an amphibious vehicle you can purchase today? The WaterCar EV is, as the name implies, a complete and total electric vehicle. It’s capable of reaching speed of up to 35mph on water and 25mph on land. It isn’t the speediest vehicle, nor is it the cheapest, bearing a price tag upwards of $100,000.
Built from advanced aluminum alloy with precision that rivals the world’s finest boats, the WaterCar EV is hand-built according to each customer’s requests. Each model takes up to 12 weeks to build. To date, the WaterCar EV has been delivered to over 50 countries!
With more than 60 years of innovation, amphibious vehicles are becoming more than just a movie gimmick. While price and availability will likely prevent them from going mainstream, the technology and innovation could make waves into other vehicles and markets in the near future!
