Jalopnik: amphibious car

Corvette-Powered Python: Fastest Amphibious Vehicle Ever

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EDT

With the front-end of a truck and the rear-end from a Corvette, the Python amphibious vehicle can go 60 MPH on the water, making it the fastest amphibious vehicle ever. Photos and details below.

According to the company, the vehicle is capable of a mid-12 quarter-mile run and a 4.5-second jaunt to 60 MPH. This makes it relatively unparalleled in terms of amphibious watercraft. On the other hand, the offer of land speed only over 100 MPH isn't particularly impressive.

The Pyhtons appear to be built on a Dodge truck platform with a custom fiberglass body mimicking the Corvette in back, though we're not 100% sure. Each rolling platform uses 304 stainless steel for the frame and is designed to raise the wheels with a push of a button. You can have any LS-series engine you want assuming you can pay for it, meaning it's possible to crate an LS9 in one of these for the ultimate ZR1 boat. For the water it's powered by a Dominator Jet.

Prices start at $170K for the rolling chassis and over $200K if you want a Corvette-powered, fully assembled boat. We're guessing the LS9 is going to cost much more than that. Check it out in action below:

[WaterCar via GMA]

Gibbs To Set Up Shop In Detroit, Finally Build Aquada Amphibious Car

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:15:00 EDT

After the announcement earlier this month that Saleen is teaming with Gibbs for development and manufacturing work on their amphibious Gibbs Aquada, news comes down Gibbs is setting up their corporate offices in the Detroit Suburb of Auburn Hills. After a ten year development cycle, a million man hours of work, and $100 million invested in the project, the final steps are being taken to put the automotive platypus into production.

When the boat-car debuts, it'll be the first major amphibious civilian vehicle since the Amphicar went to market in 1961. The three seat Aquada will be able to hit 110 MPH on the street and about 40 MPH or 35 knots on the water and will sell for about $85,000. Production location has not be set yet, but Michigan is also high on the list for that one as well. We're just wondering how the insurance companies would handle water damage on an amphibious car. [Detroit News]

Detroit Auto Show: Amphibious Tang Hua Detroit Fish

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 13:15:00 EST

We practiced our love with the Tang Hua Book of Songs earlier, and now for the less phallic, more idiosyncratic Tang Hua Detroit Fish. "Detroit Fish" would be an odd name for a car if it weren't for the fact that this fish can evidently swim. Yes indeed, this is the only amphibious crossover at the Detroit Auto Show. While this might not be the most popular segment at the moment, Tang Hua's marketing team has an ingenious strategy - sell one to President George W. Bush for use on his Texas ranch. Tang Hua wants the renowned environmentalist to help kick start its US product blitz with some top notch product placement.