(Fountain Valley, California, USA). Perhaps the most prominent amphibious vehicle company. Founded in 1999, it has made a name for itself by producing "the world's fastest amphibious vehicle" (2010's Watercar Python hit the Guinness Book of Records). Today the company makes one model - the Watercar Panther with a Honda engine, the generation of which was updated in 2017. Cars are built to order, taking into account the requirements of each customer, so there are no two absolutely identical (the company's website has a gorgeous gallery of Panther products).
The Panther is not cheap - from $ 139,000 to $ 172,000, depending on the configuration. Watercar Panther on the water:
In 2017, the company, in addition to the civilian, mastered the fire-fighting version of the vehicle. The main "trick" of the amphibian is that it can extinguish coastal objects from the water, sucking water right from under the bottom.
CAMI (Ridgeland, South Carolina, USA)... CAMI stands for Cool Amphibious Manufacturers International, which means "International manufacturer of cool amphibians." Unlike Watercar, CAMI has a very large product line, which has not only cars, but - most importantly - buses. It was amphibious buses that made the company a name and are the main line of their sales. Tourist bus CAMI Hydra-Terra accommodates up to 49 passengers (30 seats):
Diesel-electric amphibious vehicle for hunters or tourists CAMI Hydra Gator:
The main competitor of Watercar, the CAMI Hydra Spyder model, accelerates to 85 km / h on the water:
Chic floating caravan CAMI Terra Wind:
In addition, the company makes an extreme floating SUV CAMI H2OEX Extreme on a Ford chassis with two diesel engines, an amphibious vehicle for rescue services CAMI Responder, equipped with all the systems necessary for the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and so on.
Gibbs (Nuneaton, Warwickshire, UK). It's not just the Americans who make civilian amphibians. Gibbs is a well-known British company that held the speed record in its class of vehicles before Watercar, and is still famous for its fast and comfortable floating cars. IN production line Gibbs are eight different amphibians for a wide variety of purposes. For example, Gibbs Aquada, a chic convertible with 150 km / h on land and 60 km / h on water, competing with Watercar and CAMI Hydra Spyder:
And here is the Gibbs Quadski, an amphibious ATV. Also available in the extended version of the Quadski XL:
Even more amazing construction - the Gibbs Biski amphibious scooter!
Amphibious cargo Gibbs Phibian with a carrying capacity of up to 1.5 tons:
Sherpa (Moscow, Russia). We do not build recreational amphibians, but we build very cool amphibious all-terrain vehicles for extreme conditions. The Sherp company was founded in 2012, its models are based on the design of Alexey Garagashyan, an inventor and engineer specializing in ATVs. The first Sherpa model was shown in 2015.
"Sherpa" is not afraid of any conditions at all, it can pass through blockages, snowdrifts, water obstacles, any off-road. He can even climb steps up to 70 cm high!
It is produced in two main configurations - "Sherp" and "Sherp-Pickup" (as you might guess, these are passenger and cargo versions), plus it is being finalized for customers.
Searoader (Ackington, Gloucestershire, UK). The company, founded by Mike Ryan, produces a range of amphibious vehicles for various purposes. The main feature of Searoader is that the company converts ordinary cars into amphibians - its calling card is the waterfowl Lamborghini.
The SeaRoader Mk1 is the simplest amphibious vehicle sold as a DIY kit car. The client can modify the car in any way possible.
Cargo amphibious Searoader Amphitruck 4x4.
And this is an example of "rework". Searoader Amphicab was built in 2012 by order of the infamous Stephen Fry.
Amphibious vehicles are very specific representatives of the automotive industry. These cars allow you to move with equal success both on the roads, there and on the water surface. This review will focus on the most popular and high-quality examples of such transport, created in the current and last century.
Scientific and technological progress is traditionally stimulated by two things - a crisis of something and a war. Quite frankly, nothing moves science like war. So during the Second World War, the world received an incredible amount of the most unusual pieces of equipment. One of these was the VW Type 166 amphibious vehicle.
2. Gibbs Aquada
Almost all cars of the Gibbs Aquada family are amphibious. Available in several modifications. There is, including an amphibious off-road vehicle. At the end of the 90s of the last century, an absolute record for the speed of movement on water among cars was set on the Gibbs Aquada. of this class... The car was driven by Richard Branson. It is also worth noting that Gibbs Aquada was developed primarily for the needs of the police and rescuers.
3. Bond's Lotus esprit
The Bond's Lotus Esprit concept car has been around for a long time. The only thing that significantly distinguishes it from all other cars of this class is the ability to turn into a full-fledged submarine, albeit with a shallow immersion depth.
Even today, the old Amphicar remains one of the best amphibians. The thing is that this ugly car provides better cross-country ability on the water surface, thanks to the peculiarities of the body shape and the incredible engine power. True, it is designed for only two people.
5. Ferrari Barchetta
That's right, Ferrari also tried to create amphibians. The Barchetta model is a good example of this. The first such car was designed by engineers widely famous brand back in the middle of the last century. The last sample, today, was produced in the 90s of the XX century.
The most unusual amphibian is the Wooden F50. As you can see in the photo, the car is almost entirely made of wood. As for the characteristics, it really floats very well, as well as any other log that has fallen into the water.
The Dutton Surf amphibious vehicle has never been serial, if only because it is a unique handicraft model. It was created on the basis of a Suzuki car. For such a modification, an enthusiastic designer, according to some sources, almost ended up in jail. The worst hasn't happened, but he doesn't modify cars anymore.
8. Watercar Python
Amphibian Watercar Python is one of the fastest today. Moreover, it is one of the few models that has a permit for sailing on the high seas. On the water, the convertible develops an incredible speed.
9. Buick Riviera
Believe it or not, the Buick Riviera is also an amphibious vehicle. Despite its considerable age, the car boasts good driving and swimming qualities. Moreover, it can be used for boat trips.
10. Rinspeed Splash
And here is the most, the most unusual amphibian. Unlike most other machines of this type, the Rinspeed Splash uses retractable hydrofoils to glide through the water. The car was created back in 2004.
If the flying machines, which we recently talked about, appeared simultaneously with the birth of aviation, then the first amphibious mechanisms capable of moving on land and on the ground appeared when neither the Wright brothers nor Karl Benz were even in the project! More precisely, at the end of the 18th century. And the first self-propelled amphibian, driven by a steam engine, was created in 1805 by the American inventor Oliver Evans, who simply put a floating excavator on a wheel drive to deepen the bottom.
But the main impetus in the development of the direction of amphibious vehicles, as is often the case, was given by the military. And one of the firstborns here was an army Volkswagen Type 166 Schwimmwagen development of 1940. The military quickly appreciated all the advantages of floating command vehicles and transporters, then all sorts of oil geologists pulled up ... But today we will not remember military vehicles and all kinds of special waterfowl equipment, but civilian amphibious vehicles, most of which were made purely for entertainment ..
Germany
The four-seater West German convertible Amphicar 770 is currently the only civilian amphibious vehicle in history that was produced not individually, but more or less in large quantities. The floating machine was created by the German self-taught designer Hans Trippel, who began to design amphibians even before World War II. By the way, it was he who designed his famous Gullwing doors for the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL.
Production of the Amphicar 770 began in 1961 at the German Quandt Group plant, but almost all cars were exported to the United States, for which, in fact, this amphibian was created. By the way, the then President of America Lyndon Johnson even started one such car.
The rear-engine and rear-wheel drive "Amfikar" turned out, of course, less elegant, because they had to swim, not show off. It moved along the water due to the displacement body and two propellers at the rear, and turned the "ship" due to the front wheels. At the same time, the lower edge of the doors was below the waterline, which increased comfort, but required constant monitoring of the condition of the door seals. And in case of such flooding, a drainage motor pump was provided. The amphibian was equipped with a 1.1-liter engine from the British car Triumph Herald 1200, boosted to 43 hp. and paired with a 4-speed "mechanics". On the water, the motor provided a speed of about 11 km / h, and on the highway - up to 112 km / h.
But the project did not gain much commercial success. From 1961 to 1965, only 3,878 Amfikars were produced at the plant. Affected by the considerable price (up to $ 3,000 in the US and 12,000 DM in Europe), mediocre seaworthiness and difficulties in operation and maintenance. In addition, for the Americans, the amphibian turned out to be too small and with very modest speed data. And for its use on the water, permission was required to operate sports bots and yachts. But "Amfikar" all the same did not prevent to go down in history and now this rare waterfowl is highly valued by collectors on both sides of the ocean.
Switzerland
The famous Swiss design studio Rinspeed also managed to try its hand at the projects of amphibians - twice, and each time creating unique machines. So, in 2004, the Splash prototype was presented in Geneva. And it was not an exhibition model, but a perfectly workable apparatus. And not just an amphibian, but a hydrofoil boat! On land, the side wings were hidden in the body, and the rear ones rose to the stern in the manner of a spoiler - on land, almost nothing gave out the essence of the car. But in the water, Splash spread them down and to the sides using the hydraulic system.
Thanks to hydrofoils, the Splash rises completely above the water even at a speed of 30 km / h.
And since hydrofoils greatly reduce hydrodynamic drag, the concept was able to gain on the water speed of about 45 nautical knots, which is equal to 83 km / h! The "winged" amphibian is set in motion on the water by a 3-blade propeller on a retractable steering column. The propeller itself and the driving wheels are powered by a 2-cylinder 750cc Weber turbo engine powered by natural gas and developing 140 hp. At the same time, due to carbon fiber, Splash weighs only 825 kg, so its driving performance on asphalt is no less impressive: the car accelerates to "hundreds" in just 5.9 seconds, and maximum speed reaches 200 km / h.
The sQuba moved under water with two screws under rear bumper and two swivel water cannons at the front, while the propellers and drive wheels are rotated by separate electric motors powered by lithium-ion batteries. At the same time, under the ode, the cockpit remains open - before the "dive" the driver and passenger put on masks with tubes that lead to the onboard oxygen cylinder.
Alas, the Splash prototype never went into production due to the complexity of the design and the high cost. And in 2008, the Swiss again noted the "water" theme, presenting an even more exotic concept sQuba. It looks like a regular Lotus Elise roadster. And in fact - the world's first submarine car, inspired by the car of James Bond from the movie "The Spy Who Loved Me" 1977.
Floating cars have long been a common thing, if not widespread. But what can you say about a floating mobile home the size of a bus ?! Such an unusual car named Terra Wind is in lineup American firm Cool Amphibious Manufacturers International. It was founded in 1999 by the spouses John and Julia Gilgem, literally obsessed with travel and decided to build the corresponding machines.
Actually, initially they made a 13-meter luxury floating camper Terra Wind for themselves, which from the outside is almost indistinguishable from their purely land-based counterparts. The huge salon contains a complete set of kitchen equipment, luxurious furniture, leather, wood, marble, a home theater and even a jacuzzi! On the highway, a 330-horsepower diesel engine paired with an automatic machine accelerates the camper to 128 km / h, and on water the speed reaches 13 km / h. Like? Just $ 1.2 million - and you will have one built to order!
While afloat, the wheels are drawn into the body due to an independent active air suspension - and then a 400-horsepower Corvette V8 with a volume of 6 liters accelerates the amphibian through water to 46 knots, that is, 85 km / h.
In addition to the houseboat, the CAMI lineup also includes a floating 49-seat passenger bus, an SUV based on a Ford pickup truck, a golf cart, a rescue vehicle - and even a sports car! The company builds a four-seater open craft named Hydra Spyder to order at a price of about $ 155,000. The bottom of the machine is a planing aluminum "boat", on which is placed on top plastic body convertible. And all this together weighs 1.5 tons. Amphibians front-wheel drive on land and water jet propulsion - on water. On the road, the Hydra Spyder accelerates to 200 km / h, and the creators of the car promise a good drive due to the low body position, suspension settings and a manual transmission.
Gibbs Humdinga / Phibian
Great Britain
Founded in 1999, the British private company Gibbs Technologies is the most famous developer of floating cars and ATVs today. In 2003, the British introduced the acclaimed three-seater Aquada, which at that time was the fastest amphibious in the world. The car was produced in a small edition in 2003 and 2004, but this was enough that Aquada went down in history and set several records!
So, in 2003, Aquada set a new world speed record for amphibians, accelerating on water to 52 km / h. And in 2004, businessman Richard Branson swam the English Channel in 1 hour and 40 minutes, setting another record for amphibians. On the pavement, the Aquada was also quite playful due to the 175-horsepower V6 rover engine, which, paired with a 5-speed automatic, allowed it to accelerate to 160 km / h. And the adjustable hydropneumatic suspension with electronic control helped to manage well.
The company has now switched from passenger cars to the development of floating trucks, which Gibbs wants to interest both private buyers and the army, police and rescue services. Four-wheel drive 6.6-meter Humdinga model for 6 passengers and 750 kg of cargo - more compact, with one diesel or gasoline engine and afloat speed up to 50 km / h. But the flagship 9-meter model Phibian is already the most natural floating transporter, which can accommodate up to 15 people and 2 tons of cargo. Moreover, the amphibian no longer has one, but two diesel engines of 250 "forces" each, two water-jet propellers and the ability to choose between the rear, front and four-wheel drive wheels!
Watercar panther
American Dave March really liked the German amphibian Amphicar, which we wrote about above. I liked it so much that in 1999, inspired by this car, Dave decided to found his own company WaterCar and try to build something similar himself. The idea took off in January 2010, when the WaterCar Python prototype created by a small company was officially entered into the Guinness Book of Records as the fastest floating car in the world! The creepy-looking apparatus was assembled from different elements. American pickups and sports cars, and under the hood sat a V8 from Chevrolet corvette, which on land produced 640 hp, and in the mode of the jet propulsion drive - 500 "forces". This was enough to gain a record 96 km / h on the water, and accelerate to 96 km / h on land in just 4.5 seconds!
The Panther runs pretty well: on water - up to 70 km / h, and on land - up to 190 km / h.
However, Python has remained a prototype. But on commercial rails in WaterCar put the model Panther, which debuted in 2013 - a kind of cross between a boat and a Jeep Wrangler. At the heart of the amphibian is a frame made of light pipes, sheathed with fiberglass panels, so that a 4-seater unit weighs only 1.3 tons. Everything that is possible is made of stainless steel or epoxy resin and other stainless materials, so as not to fear corrosion from sea salt. At the stern, a Honda 3.7-liter V6 with 250 hp is mounted. paired with a 4-speed manual transmission. And then a transfer case patented by the firm is docked to the power unit, transmitting thrust for the rear drive axle and a water jet.
For Panther in WaterCar they ask $ 155,000 and they say that the waterfowl toy really liked the Arabs, because "Panther" is equally effective both on water and on sand dunes. By the way, there were proposals for the supply of these amphibians to Russia. In mid-2014, merchants offered to bring the "Panther" for six months and $ 230,000, taking into account all customs, registration with the traffic police (as regular car) and the State Inspectorate for Small Vessels (like a small boat). But the idea somehow did not take root. Moreover, Russia has its own, cheaper and no less spectacular
Previously, amphibious vehicles were popular only with the military. For civilian use, they were too expensive, impractical and not very attractive, reminiscent of a boat with wheels attached to it.
The first mass civilian "waterfowl" car was the German Amphicar, which was produced from 1961 to 1968. The convertible, "armed" with a 1.1-liter engine, developed up to 104 km / h on asphalt and sailed at a speed of up to 11 km / h.
For 7 years, about 4 thousand amphibians were produced, each of which cost about DM 12,000. To be able to move by land and water, the owner of "Amfikar" had to have not only the usual driver's license, but also a permit to operate a yacht. 
After the bankruptcy of Amphicar, the amphibian market froze for years. Among the few specimens collected by private craftsmen or small companies, there are also quite interesting specimens. For example, the creators of Amphiborghini took a replica of the Lamborghini Countach assembled on a tubular frame as a basis. The floating supercar has an adjustable suspension and a smoke screen, similar to the James Bond car. 
The same team of British specialists "launched" the famous london taxi Austin FX4 (the project was named Amphicab), and also participated in the preparation of floating cars for the Top Gear program. 
In the 2000s, there were much more interesting projects of floating cars. In 2004, Rinspeed offered an interesting Splash model. Thanks to the folding hydrofoils, the seaplane vehicle can move through the water at a speed of up to 80 km / h. 
On land, the front fenders fold down to the sides of the body, while the rear fenders are converted into a developed spoiler. Good aerodynamics and light weight allow a 140-horsepower passenger car to gain a hundred in 5.9 seconds and move at a speed of up to 200 km / h. 
After 4 years, the Swiss presented another concept called the Rinspeed sQuba. A nice roadster could not only swim, but also dive to a depth of 10 meters (the driver and passenger had to wear special masks when diving). 
The electric motors provided the sQuba with a top speed of 120 km / h on hard surface, 6 km / h on water and 3 km / h under water. 
Interesting amphibians are produced by the American company C.A.M.I. Constructed from aluminum and fiberglass, the Hydra Spyder is powered by a 6-liter V8 Corvette LS2 delivering 400 hp. Its "maximum speed" reaches 85 km / h on water and 200 km / h on asphalt. 
There is another amphibian manufacturer in the USA called WaterCar. The design of these cars is reminiscent of Jeep SUVs, and under the hood is a 3.7-liter Honda VTEC. 
GIBBS Sports Amphibians Inc. more like an ATV capable of transforming into a water scooter and a snowmobile. 
Such a "toy" will be useful not only for extreme sports enthusiasts, hunters and fishermen, but also for rescuers and security officials. 
Dutch tuning company DAT creates amphibians from SUVs Toyota Land Cruiser and large sightseeing buses. The first project was named Amphicruiser, the second - Amphicoach. 
In the future, it is planned to release another AmphiMini (floating 19-seater minibus), as well as special vehicles AmphiAmbulance and AmphiFire.
In the Philippines, you can see 2 amphibious vehicles at once: the three-wheeled promenade Salamandra, intended for the entertainment of tourists, and the CROC coast guard vehicle. 
Domestic car manufacturers have also mastered the production of amphibians. In Naberezhnye Chelny, the production of Viking-29031 all-terrain vehicles has been launched, capable of moving on water, off-road, as well as on public roads. 
Amphibious vehicles able to travel on public roads as well as simple cars, are registered with the traffic police. And for movement on water, they are registered with the State Inspection Service (State Inspectorate for Small Vessels). The bottom is designed in such a way as to develop the maximum speed on the water. Moving from land to water, watercar amphibians easily switch to planing speed and in a matter of seconds they can turn into boats that are able to move quickly and easily on the water.
Amphibious vehicles from the American company Water Car (Delivery time to Russia, 6 months, taking into account the queue at the plant in California)
Download commercial offer
Video with amphibian WaterCar Panther
Specification
|
Watercar panther |
|
|
Amphibian car (Registration with the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate + State Inspection Service) |
|
|
Water speed |
|
|
Ground speed |
190+ km / h |
|
Engine: |
Honda 3.7 liter VTEC (250 hp) |
|
Number of passengers |
|
|
Transmission |
Mechanical 4-speed |
|
Brakes: |
Disc hydraulic |
|
Length, cm: |
|
|
Width, cm: |
|
|
Height, cm: |
Height: 1752 mm (To the top of the windshield), 1295 mm (When removed windshield), 1117 mm (With the windshield and wheels removed) |
|
Cooling system |
|
Interior of Water Car Panther
The legendary Jeep Wrangler was taken as a basis. In the basic configuration, we put vinyl seats and dashboard Jeep Wrangler supplemented with devices related to the operation of a water cannon and an indicator of the transition from "water" mode to "road".
The seats are designed to make the ride as comfortable as possible, no matter how uneven the road surface. They are made of stainless steel and nautical vinyl for a truly nautical interior. But, as is usual with similar products, corrosion is the main problem. The WaterCar team took care of the possibility of corrosion at every level. All that is possible is made of stainless steel, the rest is either epoxy resin or other stainless materials. "Panther" is designed for long-term use in aggressive salt water.
Manufactured by WaterCar from the Chewrolette Corvette line, WaterCar Python is believed to be the fastest car. This car accelerates to 100 km / h in 4.5 seconds, the maximum speed of the amphibian on asphalt is 160 km / h. The weight of the car is 1725 kilograms, and on the water you can safely open the car doors and at the same time the car interior will be absolutely dry. Engine y amphibious vehicle V8s from the Corvette are used, from the LS1 to the newest LS9 with a 6.2-liter capacity of 640 hp, just like the ZR1. It takes 2-3 seconds to transform into a boat, just like previous amphibious vehicles. The driver is offered to choose the body color from 60,000 colors and the interior color from 4,000 thousand colors.
The car is priced at $ 200,000.
Auto amphibian Watercar is very similar Chevrolet camaro 2002. The amphibian is equipped powerful engine from Subaru wrx 2.5 liters and accelerates on the road to 200 km / h, and on water, it can accelerate to 74 km / h.
On the water amphibious vehicle moves with a water cannon, and its wheels are retracted thanks to a hydraulic mechanism. In a car, the frame is made of a rectangular profile and inserted into the car body, and the bottom is made of high-quality fiberglass, in the shape of the letter V. The cost of this amphibious vehicle is $ 150,000.
Amphibian Aquada
The Aquada car is manufactured by Gibbs Technologies, looks like a Mazda 5 car with unusual marine bumpers, also without doors, perfectly drives on the roads, also floats on water. The driver's seat and all controls are in the middle, and passenger seats located on the sides, when driving on water, the passenger seats can be lifted up. On the water like most amphibious vehicles the wheels are retracted into the arches with a single button. Engine - 2.5-liter V6 Land Rover freelander capacity of 175 hp, rear drive... The engine easily accelerates the amphibious tracedo 160 km / h, on water the maximum speed does not exceed 48 km / h. The transformation time into a boat is only 6 seconds. The cost of this amphibious vehicle in England from 139,000 to 260,000 USD.
Almost all manufacturers such as GIBBS, C.A.M.I, Aquada and WaterCar went the logical path, which made them so that the wheels could lift on their cars while driving, and the bottom amphibious vehicle made as for ordinary boats, so that it does not create resistance when moving. Among the developers amphibious vehicles there are those who strive to do something new, not ordinary, like Rinspeed, which created unique car Splash hydrofoils that raise the car 0.5-1 meters above the water!
Rinspeed Splash amphibious vehicle
Such can quickly and easily move on the ground, and if necessary they are they can turn off the road at any time and continue their travels on the water with a breeze. Among the most unusual amphibious vehicles Today, the Rinspeed Splash is not at all like other amphibious cars, it is the only one that can move on water using hydrofoils.
The Rinspeed Splash amphibious vehicle was produced by the Swiss company Rinspeed, which develops unique concept cars. With the help of a hydrofoil system, which raises the concept by as much as half a meter from the surface of the water, and thus gives an advantage on the water to reach speeds of up to 84 km / h. On normal roads, its maximum speed is 200 km / h, up to hundreds of acceleration is only 6 seconds. To use hydrofoils, you need a water depth of 1 meter, if the depth is less than 1 meter, you can move with a propeller at a speed of 50 km / h. Hydrofoils can lift a car at a speed of 30 km / h. Have amphibious vehicle hydrofoils are located in the rapids, thus they are hidden and you can easily turn them 90 degrees downward, and the rear wing plays a role when driving an anti-wing, thereby pressing the rear of the amphibian to the ground, for a car without passengers the weight is only 800 kg ... The amphibious car has an engine of 750 cubic meters of 140 hp, it also has a turbine that runs on ordinary natural gas, when using a turbine, power is transmitted through the system to the rear wheels.
Auto amphibians from C.A.M.I. Hydra spyder
C.A.M.I. The Hydra Spyder are manufactured by the American C.A.M.I., which also manufactures C.A.M.I Terra Wind and Hydra Terra buses. Amphibious vehicle Featured as a sports car and featured in the 007 movie "The World Is Not Enough", the Hydra Spyder can comfortably accommodate four people and pull one person on a jet ski. In the basic configuration on amphibians A 6-liter LS2 Corvette V8 engine with 400 hp is installed, and there are also turbocharged models with a 502 CDI Chevy 500 hp engine with front-wheel drive. The amphibian is equipped with two front sports seats and a flat rear one. With a payload of 3300kg, this weight is distributed to the front of the vehicle 53% and to the rear of the vehicle 47%. When entering the water, the driver just needs to press a button and the car will automatically, with the help of a pneumatic system, easily remove the wheels, then change the type of drive to the desired one and only after that will be able to accelerate on the water to a speed of 80 km / h. The cost of such amphibious vehicle ranges from $ 155,000.
