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2009 WaterCar Amphibious news, pictures, and information | ||
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WaterCar, Inc is the brainchild of Dave March and his two sons. For over thirty years March has been an avid high performance car and boat enthusiast. In 1998 March accepted an offer to sell his business and semi-retired. He was lòòking for a challenge when his youngest son expressed an interest in amphibious vehicles. Together, they restored a 1964 Amphicar. However, they were very disappointed by its performance. It was fun to drive into the water but once in, it traveled at a top speed of 7 mph. March discovered there had been a number of amphibious vehicles constructed through the years, but no one had successfully built one capable of operating at high speed in both the water, and on land. To do so became March's obsession.
Following 5 years of trial and error, major breakthroughs and major disappointments, March began development of his third model, which would incorporate the lessons learned throughout the prior years. He designed this WaterCar along the lines of an extended cab pickup truck. This provides the ground clearance and length to achieve the ride dynamics he has been seeking from the beginning. As an added benefit there is storage space for skis and fishing equipment or groceries depending on how it is being used. After six long years March achieved his original design objectives and has a product he anticipates offering for sale to the public later this year. The first public showing of the WaterCar will be May 2nd and 3rd at the Keels and Wheels Concours in Seabrook Texas.
The WaterCar is a fiberglass amphibious vehicle styled after the 2002 Convertible Camaro body style. It is powered by a Turbo charged 2.5 Liter 300 HP Subaru engine. The transmission is a Rancho Type I-4 speed manual transmission. (posted on conceptcarz.com) The four wheel independent suspension and brakes are late model C-4 Corvette wîth stainless steel rotors.
The WaterCar can reach speeds in excess of 125 MPH on land and the drivability wîth the Corvette suspension is outstanding. Once the WaterCars is driven into the water all four wheels are hydraulically retracted wîth the flip of a switch. The bottom covers that enclose the wheel well are also hydraulically extended to create a smooth high speed bottom which allows the WaterCar to easily hit speeds of 40 MPH on the water. The Marine Drive is a Berkeley 12JE Jet Drive wîth a place diverter to control the ride depending on water conditions. The WaterCar has four usable seats and the doors are fully functional. The aircraft style lock assembly assures the doors are completely water tight for water operation. The WaterCar has a removable center mount ski pole which makes it ideal for wake boarding or skiing.Source - WaterCar Inc.
Following 5 years of trial and error, major breakthroughs and major disappointments, March began development of his third model, which would incorporate the lessons learned throughout the prior years. He designed this WaterCar along the lines of an extended cab pickup truck. This provides the ground clearance and length to achieve the ride dynamics he has been seeking from the beginning. As an added benefit there is storage space for skis and fishing equipment or groceries depending on how it is being used. After six long years March achieved his original design objectives and has a product he anticipates offering for sale to the public later this year. The first public showing of the WaterCar will be May 2nd and 3rd at the Keels and Wheels Concours in Seabrook Texas.
The WaterCar is a fiberglass amphibious vehicle styled after the 2002 Convertible Camaro body style. It is powered by a Turbo charged 2.5 Liter 300 HP Subaru engine. The transmission is a Rancho Type I-4 speed manual transmission. (posted on conceptcarz.com) The four wheel independent suspension and brakes are late model C-4 Corvette wîth stainless steel rotors.
The WaterCar can reach speeds in excess of 125 MPH on land and the drivability wîth the Corvette suspension is outstanding. Once the WaterCars is driven into the water all four wheels are hydraulically retracted wîth the flip of a switch. The bottom covers that enclose the wheel well are also hydraulically extended to create a smooth high speed bottom which allows the WaterCar to easily hit speeds of 40 MPH on the water. The Marine Drive is a Berkeley 12JE Jet Drive wîth a place diverter to control the ride depending on water conditions. The WaterCar has four usable seats and the doors are fully functional. The aircraft style lock assembly assures the doors are completely water tight for water operation. The WaterCar has a removable center mount ski pole which makes it ideal for wake boarding or skiing.Source - WaterCar Inc.| One of the Three Final Cars Built by Famed Italian Engineer Giotto Bizzarrini To Be Offered at Russo and Steele's Highly Anticipated Monterey Auction | |
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| Corvette's Chassis Innovations Refined on the Race Track | |
 | Zora Arkus-Duntov's racing-bred development legacy continues to improve Corvette It's been said that racing improves the breed, and when it comes to the Chevrolet Corvette, nearly six decades of checkered flags are the proof. As Corvette marks its 60th anniversary in 2013, the design of the chassis, suspension and other drivetrain features are rooted in the rigors of competition. 'Candidly, Corvette was not a high-performance car until Zora Arkus-Duntov fitted it with a V-8, and be...[Read more...] |
| 1967 Can-Am Road America: The Beginning of the 'Bruce and Denny Show' | |
 | While Formula One will be forever considered the pinnacle of motorsport, from a period between 1966 and 1986 there existed a series that would likely be the closest to 'anything goes' as any motor racing series could truly get. Based upon the FIA Group 7 cars but allowed to showcase unlimited engine sizes and unfettered aerodynamics, the Can-Am cars would have to be considered the pinnacle of motorsport technology and power of their era. And for more than a couple of years there would be one tea...[Read more...] |
| Mopar Ram Runner Wins Truck Duel in the Desert | |
 | Leaves Ford SVT Raptor in the Dust Mopar Ram Runner 33 seconds faster than Ford SVT Raptor on punishing 4.73-mile loop PickupTrucks.com declares Mopar Ram Runner the winner May 30, 2012 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - This showdown was at sunrise. The Mopar Ram Runner and the Ford SVT Raptor met for a shoot-out at Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA), a state park in southeast California with 85,000 acres of nothing but dirt, dust and desert. When all was said and done,...[Read more...] |
| Carroll Shelby, Ford Family for More Than Half a Century | |
 | Carroll Shelby was a member of the Ford family for the better part of 60 years, producing stunning performance vehicles from concepts to production models. He once said his energy and passion for performance products were always strongest when he was working with Ford. Shelby most recently collaborated with the company on the 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang, the most powerful production V8 in the world. Working with SVT engineers at Sebring and the Arizona Proving Grounds, at times he drov...[Read more...] |
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