Water Car Panther
The WaterCar Panther is powered with a rear-mounted Honda Acura 3.7-liter engine, and a "Panther"-Jet boat drive engine. The vehicle can transition from land to sea and vice versa in under fifteen seconds, and has a hydraulic off-road suspension that retracts the wheels in less than eight seconds.
This allows the Panther to drive into the water at 15 mph (24kmph). Once in the water, the driver puts the vehicle in neutral, pulls a handle that switches the transfer case over to jet drive, pushes a lever to hydraulically lift the wheels and tires out of the water, and begins operating the vehicle just like a car. The process is reversed when going from water to land.
Each vehicle employs a lightweight chassis made of chromoly steel (an alloy of chromium and molybdenum) that fits into a fiberglass hull. This development model allows for the light weight needed for an amphibious vehicle. The interior is made of road suspension seats as well as US Coast Guard approved closed-cell Styrofoam.
Spec
Weight :
2950 lbs (1338 kg)
Height :
69″ (175.26 cm) windshield up
51″ (129.54 cm) windshield down
44″ (111.76 cm) windshield down, wheels retracted
Length :
180″ (457.2 cm)
Width :
72″ (182.88 cm)
Water Speed :
44 mph (70.8 kmph)
Land Speed :
55+ mph (88.5 kmph)
Passengers :
4
Engine :
Honda 3.7 liter VTEC
Transmission :
4 speed manual
Marine Propulsion :
Panther Jet
Tire Size :
30X9.50R15
Brakes :
Four wheel disc
Wheel Retraction :
Hydraulic
Fuel :
91 Octane Pump Gas
Cooling System :
Closed with marine heat exchanger