More than 20 years ago, there was a car that was known as the Gibbs Aquada. This was a special car, though, as it could drive on the road like a normal car, but it could also drive on water like a boat!
What Was The Gibbs Aquada?
The Gibbs Aquada was built in the early 2000s by some clever engineers in the UK and New Zealand. They wanted to make a vehicle that could drive on roads and in the water. They called it a “high-speed amphibian” – like a frog that’s happy on land or in water!
It had a V6 engine from a Land Rover, could drive faster than 100 miles per hour on land, and go around 30 mph in water. That’s about as fast as a dolphin swims!
How Did It Work?
The Aquada had some very smart tech:
- It looked like a sports car, but was boat-shaped underneath.
- When it entered the water, the wheels tucked up into the body.
- Then a jet engine (for water, not flying!) would kick in and drive the car through the water.
Record Breaking
Businessman and explorer Richard Branson drove an Aquada across the English Channel in just over 1 hour and 40 minutes. That was a new record and was faster than some boats could cover the distance.
Why Don’t We All Have One?
The Gibbs Aquada was an incredible machine, but it had a couple of problems:
- It was very expensive to build, which meant you could only buy one for £150,000.
- And because it was both a car and a boat, it had to follow two sets of complicated safety rules.
Only about 50 Aquadas were ever made. Today, they’re extremely rare and are mostly owned by collectors who keep them just to look at.
Other Amphibious Vehicles
Another type of amphibious vehicle that has been around even longer than the Gibbs Aquada is the Amphicar. You’ll most likely see these at Disneyland, but here are some pictures to show you what they look like.
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