Weird Car Of The Month

Have you ever heard of the Gibbs Aquada? If not, prepare to have your mind blown by one of the weirdest cars ever made.

The Aquada was designed by British inventor Alan Gibbs, who wanted to create a vehicle that could transition seamlessly from land to water. And boy, did he deliver.  Designed in the early 2000’s, this vehicle was an archetypal example of the technologically advancing era itself.

At first glance, the Aquada looks like a regular sports car. It’s sleek, aerodynamic, and boasts a top speed of 100mph. But here’s where things get interesting: with the push of a button, the Aquada’s wheels retract, and it transforms into a high-speed powerboat with a visual likeness to an Orca!

Yes, you read that right. The Aquada is a car that turns into a boat. And not just any boat, but a seriously fast one. It’s powered by a 2.5-liter V6 engine that delivers 175 horsepower on land and 80 horsepower on water.

The Aquada’s amphibious capabilities are thanks to its patented “HSA technology” (that stands for “high-speed amphibian,” in case you were wondering). This technology uses a jet propulsion system to propel the Aquada through the water, and the transition from land to water takes less than 12 seconds.

But the Aquada isn’t just a novelty item. It’s actually a pretty capable boat, with a top speed of 30 knots (that’s about 34mph) on water. It can even perform tight turns and maneuvers that most other powerboats can’t.

Of course, all this innovation and versatility comes at a price. The Aquada was a limited production vehicle, with only a few hundred ever made. And with a price tag of around £150,000, it was certainly not cheap.

Despite its high cost and limited availability, the Aquada captured the imaginations of car and boat enthusiasts alike.  Billionaire Richard Branson took to the drivers seat, and broke records by crossing the English channel.  It was also featured on the popular TV show “Top Gear,” where presenter Richard Hammond took it for a spin on the water.

The Gibbs Aquada was an impressive feat of engineering, and it paved the way for the creation of the Gibbs Quadski.

The Quadski is another amphibious vehicle designed by Gibbs, but it takes the concept even further. Unlike the Aquada, which is primarily a car that can turn into a boat, the Quadski is a true hybrid that combines the best of both worlds.

The Quadski looks like an ATV (all-terrain vehicle) on land, with four wheels, a high ground clearance, and a powerful engine. But when it encounters water, it transforms into a jet ski, with retractable wheels and a water propulsion system.

The transition from land to water takes just five seconds, and the Quadski can reach speeds of up to 45mph on both land and water. It’s designed to be used in a variety of environments, from rugged off-road trails to open water.

So how did the Aquada lead to the creation of the Quadski? According to Gibbs, the Aquada was just the beginning. He saw the potential for amphibious technology to revolutionize the way we think about transportation, and he set out to create a vehicle that was even more versatile and capable.

The Quadski took years of research and development to perfect, and it represents the cutting edge of amphibious vehicle technology. It’s been used by the military, law enforcement, and adventure seekers around the world, and it’s become a symbol of Gibbs’ dedication to innovation and ingenuity.

In short, the Gibbs Aquada was a groundbreaking vehicle that opened up new possibilities for amphibious transportation. And the Quadski built on that legacy, taking the concept to new heights and demonstrating the potential for even more exciting amphibious vehicles in the future.

Do you want to see more Gibbs Amphibians heading into production? Let us know in the comments.

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Aquada – Gibbs Amphibians