Everyone knows that the automotive industry as an industry has been around for a long time. During all this time, engineers have sought to create perfect car that could meet the needs maximum number of people. And therefore, the fact of creating a car for its purpose is not at all surprising, we will consider varieties and features in this article.
Definition
First of all, let's find out what short description this car. From a technical point of view, an amphibious vehicle is a vehicle that is endowed with the ability to move equally well both on land and on the water surface. Simply put, the unit can drive on asphalt, on the ground, ford rivers, etc. Everyone is well aware that the civilian and military industries have always been to some extent side by side. As practice has shown, it was the military who initiated the creation of machines for which there would be no water obstacles.
If we consider the period when it existed, it is worth noting that then there was technical progress, including the automotive industry, which experienced a steady rise. It is the amphibious vehicles of the USSR that deserve special attention.
So, for example, the NAMI-055 car was designed on the basis of the Moskvich-410 car. In this amphibian, the hull was made of all-metal, welded, equipped with a smooth bottom. All wheels were driven, and the suspensions themselves, if necessary, were removed into specially created niches. In the water, the movement of vehicles became possible due to the presence of a propeller mounted on a retractable column. The speed of movement in the water of the car was 12.3 km / h.
In 1989, the NAMI-0281 multi-purpose amphibious vehicle was developed. Its main purpose was the delivery of military rapid reaction units to the place where they performed their assigned tasks. The body of the car had two half-doors, behind which two four-seater seats could accommodate 8 people. The power drive of the machine was installed in the stern. highlight vehicle was an independent adjustable type. It was she who allowed me to change ground clearance. transfer box had two shafts. Through it, power was transmitted to the drive and a forced stop of the differentials was carried out. On a dry surface, the car is capable of speeds up to 125 km / h.
Amazing specimens
A modern amphibious vehicle is no longer only an army servant, but also a vehicle for civilians with a wide range of capabilities. In particular, the Sea Lion is an exclusive development that can reach speeds of up to 96 km/h on water and 201 km/h on land. As a matter of fact, this car was specially invented for fixing world records.
Gibbs Quadski is another novelty that was released in 2012. It combines an ATV and a boat. The car is capable of driving both on land and water at a speed of 72 km / h. It has a marine jet engine and a wheel retraction system.
Gibbs Aquada. amazing car who went down in history. In 2004, it crossed the English Channel in just one hour, forty minutes and six seconds.
Rinspeed Splash. hallmark this machine can be considered the presence of a two-cylinder engine that operates on natural gas and does not cause any harm to the environment.
Do-it-yourself amphibious vehicles are created by an engineer It is he who owns a creation called SeaRoader His futuristic appearance combined with engine power and excellent functionality.
Floating motorhome
Such a car, which in its configuration is more like a bus, is called the Terra Wind. The machine is manufactured by the American company Cool Amphibious Manufacturers International. The huge salon has a set of any kitchen equipment, as well as luxurious furniture, a home theater and even a jacuzzi. Interior decoration is made of wood and leather. The speed of the camper on the water is 13 km/h, and on the ground - 128 km/h. The cost of the car is about 1.2 million US dollars.
Record holder "Guinness Book of Records"
In 2010, the WaterCar Python was listed in this book as the fastest floating car on the planet. Despite the rather creepy appearance(spare parts from pickups and sports cars were involved in the creation of the car), the amphibian had 640 under the hood Horse power, transforming into 500 forces in the mode of jet movement. This, in turn, allowed her to gain a speed of 96 km / h while driving on water. On the ground, the car accelerated to 100 km / h in just four and a half seconds.
In conclusion, we note: any amphibious machine, reviews of which may vary depending on its capabilities and build quality, is still a miracle of technological progress, since its versatility has ensured its demand for many years to come. And as reality shows, today's engineers do not stop improving this technique.
Until recently, equipment capable of moving not only on land, but also on water was created mainly for military needs. Release of civil amphibious vehicles has not yet received mass distribution, although a lot has already been created interesting designs. You can get acquainted with some of them in our review.
This is both an ATV and a boat, released by Gibbs Sports Amphibians in 2012. Amphibian speeds up to 72 km / h, both on water and on land, equipped with a jet marine engine and wheel retraction system. The transformation between the two modes of operation takes only 5 seconds.
Amphibious car 1961. Developed in Germany by the Quandt Group specifically for export to the USA. It lost out in speed and reliability to both cars and boats, so only about 4,000 models were produced before production stopped in 1965. However, the Amphicar is still regarded as one of the most successful amphibious vehicles of all time and is prized by collectors.
Another creation of Gibbs Sports Amphibians is a high-speed amphibious car. Develops up to 160 km/h on land and 50 km/h in water. In March 2004, the Aquada made history when entrepreneur Richard Branson set a new record by swimming across the English Channel in 1 hour, 40 minutes and 6 seconds.
The Swiss firm Rinspeed developed its amphibious vehicle in 2004. The maximum speed on water is 50 km / h, on land - 200 km / h. Unique Feature- two-cylinder amphibian engine runs on natural gas and does not pollute the environment.
The world's first amphibious Lamborghini was created by engineer Michael Ryan of SeaRoader based on the Lamborghini Countach. “If the car has wheels, then I will make it float!” - Ryan boasted and remade jeeps, motorcycles, taxis and even an ice cream truck for water travel. Turning a supercar into an amphibian is not a cheap undertaking, replacing only one glass cost the inventor three thousand dollars.
This is a five-seater amphibian with all-wheel drive and a 350 horsepower V8 engine. Speed on land - 160 km / h, in water - 65 km / h. Gibbs Sports Amphibians have built it specifically for the wild and rugged terrain, and it's based on the same technology as the Gibbs Aquada.
Modern hybrid of racing retro car and motor boat Hydra Spyder was developed by CAMI. On land, it accelerates to 201 km / h, in water - 85 km / h. The model weighs 3300 kg and is equipped with a six-liter V8 Corvette LS2 engine with a capacity of 400 horsepower.
This is an amphibian, thought out to the smallest detail. With the touch of a switch, it changes from "land mode" to "water mode". On land, its sponsons (protrusions on the sides) rise and become the wings of the car, in the water they drop by 20 cm, turning the car into a racing boat in a matter of seconds. The body is made of stainless steel, the engine is from Chevrolet with a capacity of 762 horsepower.
Designed specifically to set records on land and water, the Sea Lion is one of the fastest amphibians in the world. On the land maximum speed reaches 201 km / h, in water - 96 km / h. Technically, it's not even a car. The creator called it literally: "Amphibious machine for setting world records."
Watercar Panther, is a favorite brainchild American inventor Dave Mark. His previous amphibian, the WaterCar Python, was catching up with the Sea Lion in speed. Panther is not so fast, but it is great for the role of an SUV - it does not care about off-road, mud and sand. The amphibious design is based on the Jeep CJ8 Scrambler.
The Russian amphibious all-terrain vehicle VIKING was designed to withstand extreme conditions operation: from the Arctic to the tropics and the desert. This is the only amphibious all-terrain vehicle in the world that has been certified for compliance with UNECE requirements. On the highway VIKING develops up to 80 km / h. Amphibians provide buoyancy not only big tires low pressure, but also a sealed base boat. And the water propulsion even more so turns the all-terrain vehicle into a full-fledged boat. He confidently swims and maneuvers, reaching speeds of up to 12 km / h.
Amphibious vehicles are very specific representatives of the automotive industry. These cars allow you to move with equal success both on the roads and on the water surface. This review will focus on the most popular and high-quality examples of such vehicles created in the current and last century.
Scientific and technological progress is traditionally stimulated by two things - the crisis of something and the war. Frankly speaking, nothing moves science like war. So during the Second World War, the world received an incredible amount of the most unusual pieces of equipment. One of these was the VW Type 166 amphibious vehicle.
Cars of the Gibbs Aquada family are almost all amphibious. Available in several modifications. There is, including an amphibious SUV. In the late 90s of the last century, Gibbs Aquada was equipped with absolute record by speed of movement on water among cars this class. Piloted by Richard Branson. It is also worth noting that Gibbs Aquada was developed mainly for the needs of the police and rescuers.
3. Bond's Lotus Esprit
The Bond's Lotus Esprit concept car has been around for a long time. The only thing that significantly distinguishes it from all other cars of this class is the ability to turn into a full-fledged submarine, albeit with a small immersion depth.
Even today, the old Amphicar remains one of the best amphibians. The thing is that this unattractive car provides better cross on the water surface, due to the peculiarities of the body shape and incredible power engine. True, it is designed for only two people.
5 Ferrari Barchetta
That's right, Ferrari also tried to create amphibians. good example that is the model Barchetta. The first such car was designed by engineers widely famous brand even in the middle of the last century. The last sample, to date, was produced in the 90s of the XX century.
The most unusual amphibian is the Wooden F50. As you can see in the photo, the car is almost entirely made of virgin. As for the characteristics, it swims really very well, as well as any other log that has fallen into the water.
The Dutton Surf amphibious car has never been serial, if only because it is a unique handicraft model. It was created on the basis of a Suzuki car. For such a modification, the designer-enthusiast, according to some reports, almost ended up in jail. The worst has not happened, but he no longer modifies cars.
8.WatercarPython
The Amphibious Watercar Python is by far one of the fastest. Moreover, this is one of the few models that has a permit for sailing on the high seas. On the water, the convertible develops simply amazing speed.
9 Buick Riviera
It's hard to believe, but the Buick Riviera is also an amphibious car. Despite its considerable age, the car boasts good driving and swimming qualities. Moreover, it can be used for sea trips.
10Rinspeed Splash
And here is the most, most unusual amphibian. Unlike most other machines of this type, Rinspeed Splash uses special retractable skis to glide through the water. The car was created back in 2004.
In the middle of the last century, amphibious vehicles were one of those things, along with, for example, spaceships that shaped people's image of the future.
And although waterfowl did not end up being widely used outside of military missions, they are a very interesting phenomenon. We are offering to you brief digression in the history of Soviet amphibians.
GAZ-46 "MAV"
"MAV" stood for Small Car Waterfowl. This equipped four-cylinder engine from Pobeda and the transmission and suspension from the GAZ-69, the car began to be produced in 1953. On the water, the GAZ-46 moved with the help of a propeller. The purpose is quite standard: the crossing of paratroopers, engineering work on the water and other military missions. The model was copied from American Ford GPA and lasted until 1958.
ZIS-485 "BAV"
"BAV", as you probably already guessed, is big car Waterfowl. The ZIS-485 could carry 25 people or 25 tons of cargo, including even cars and artillery pieces, and the model was copied from another American amphibian, the GMC DUKW-353. Released in 1950, "BAV" lived in serial production 12 years old.
LuAZ-967
This all-wheel drive motorized cart was created by order of the Airborne Forces for the evacuation of the wounded from the battlefield and became the prototype for the legendary Soviet all-terrain vehicle LuAZ-969 "Volyn". The dimensions of LuAZ, as well as the carrying capacity, were extremely small. The volume of the engine did not exceed one liter, and it was driven by wheels. In case of special need, it was possible to control the amphibian in a reclining state.
NAMI-055
The predecessor of this model, the amphibian NAMI-011, like the GAZ-46, was copied from the American Ford GPA. NAMI-055 had a more streamlined all-metal hull, a 41-horsepower engine from Moskvich-410 and a rear propeller. As a result, the amphibian, even with a full load of one and a half tons on the water, developed a speed of up to 12 kilometers per hour. The creator of the legendary passenger "Rocket" Rostislav Alekseev was already working on the modification of NAMI-055V - as a result, the hydrofoil model accelerated to 55 kilometers per hour 40 seconds after the start.
VAZ-E2122
It turns out that VAZ also had its own amphibian - its Togliatti people, commissioned by the USSR Ministry of Defense, designed it in 1976 on the basis of the Niva. The waterfowl "Niva" differed from other Soviet amphibians, primarily in that it almost did not look like an amphibian. However, this car equipped with a 1.6-liter engine could move through the water at a speed of 5 kilometers per hour. True, the Togliatti amphibian never saw the conveyor.
It is little known that, despite the "Iron Curtain", in the Soviet Union there was an extensive family of military floating vehicles that did not have direct foreign analogues. And even though they were all created under the heading "top secret" and were known only to the highest military ranks, even though most of them never left the stage of prototypes, this whole small waterfowl army of amphibians "from small to large" in fact proved perseverance, creative the talent of Soviet designers and the power of the domestic military-industrial complex.
In our series about the secret vehicles of the USSR, we have already talked about the most unique Ural amphibians, camouflaged or.
In this review, scratching the bottom of the barrel, let's recall other no less original and secret amphibians for Soviet army.
VAZ-2122 "River" (1976–1987)
Let's start with a fairly well-known floating version of the legendary all-terrain vehicle VAZ-2121 "Niva", which, at the behest of the Ministry of Defense, was transformed into a reconnaissance amphibian VAZ-2122 "River", capable of moving along highways and sliding on the surface of shallow inland waters.
The idea of creating your own simple and inexpensive floating jeep on the chassis of the Niva SUV arose in the early 1970s, and for camouflage it was listed as "a car for fishermen and hunters, capable of overcoming water obstacles." In the summer of 1976, the first 80-horsepower E2122 samples with an all-metal displacement body were built, and all subsequent years the designers spent multiple revisions of the first-born, which were reduced to improvements in the engine cooling system.
Only in 1984, the Volga Automobile Plant assembled a trial batch of 10 cars of the fifth series VAZ-2122.500, and this whole long epic ended two years later, when the last three modified models of the VAZ-2122.600 appeared. Perestroika and the rapid disarmament of the country forced the VAZ to curtail its bold experiments at public expense. In general, he assembled 21 experimental jeeps of the 2122 series.
UAZ-3907 "Jaguar" (1983–1989)
(Photos from UAZ archive)
Being the leading Soviet enterprise for the production of light all-terrain vehicles, the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant could not help but come up with the tempting idea of creating its own floating version based on them. Work on it began in 1977, but only six years later appeared multipurpose amphibious vehicle UAZ-3907 "Jaguar" for the Soviet army and border troops, capable of delivering loads up to 600 kg, light weapons or wounded on a stretcher.
The car was equipped with an all-metal body with a safety arch and two side hermetically sealed doors with lever locks (flaps). Unified with the UAZ-469 series, the amphibian was equipped with a 77-horsepower engine and a transfer case with power take-off for propellers and a winch. Two water screws were installed under its bottom directly behind the front wheels, which, when deflected to different sides served to control the machine afloat. In the mid-1980s, two more test samples were assembled with nodes from the UAZ-3151.
Until 1989, UAZ assembled 14 amphibians that successfully passed factory and military tests. Among them was one border vehicle"Cormorant" for the northern regions, which was equipped with two pairs of skis and a cage for a search dog.
In 1991, the UAZ-3907 amphibian was put into service, but with the collapse Soviet Union all work on it was curtailed.
NAMI-0281 (1989–1990)
(Photos from the NAMI archive)
Having ingloriously completed the development of light amphibians NAMI-032, Scientific Research automotive institute(NAMI) for almost 30 years refrained from contact with this topic. Only in 1989, by order of the Ministry of Defense, they built the original low-profile rear-engined transporter NAMI-0281 of the 1.25–1.5 ton class for the delivery of rapid response units.
Structurally, it was a combination of a light front-line conveyor and an open combat vehicle with a central placement of the driver's workplace. In its open supporting body, on two longitudinal seats, a combat crew of eight people was placed back to back. The main novelties were independent hydropneumatic suspension, two-shaft transfer case with power diversion to the propeller and forced blocking differentials.
On the highway, the car developed a speed of 125 km / h and outwardly resembled a sightseeing boat rather than an efficient one. combat vehicle. It was latest work NAMI in the field of light army amphibians.
Ural-375P (1975–1976)
(Photos from the archives of NAMI and Andrey Karasev)
In one of the first chapters of our series, dedicated to, we mentioned the developments of other Soviet enterprises that preceded them. So in the mid-1970s, in the process of creating a promising military family "Land", important role played by the NAMI Institute. He was engaged in "studying the possibility of giving buoyancy to the Ural-375 truck", carried out research and development future car, assembly and testing of the prototype.
The unique floating vehicle Ural-375P was built at NAMI in 1975 under the leadership of chief designer N. I. Korotonoshko. Being the predecessor of the Land family, this machine does not require a detailed story about its design: it has long been described in sufficient detail in an article on. Here it is only worth noting the main features of the Moscow model: a steel sealed body with high sides, which provided buoyancy, a wave-reflecting shield with an air duct and hinged floats with polyurethane foam filler.
Unlike the future Ural-43221 Susha amphibian, only one propeller and a full-width hatch of the serial cabin roof were installed on it, in which the driver had to work in a waterproof suit.
In the early 1960s, after the transfer of all documentation on four-axle vehicles from the Moscow ZIL Automobile Plant to Bryansk, a critical moment came for the Special Design Bureau under the leadership of V. A. Grachev. It has lost state support and was forced to independently seek customers and sources of funding. Oddly enough, the most daring and most original projects of all-terrain vehicles, including the ZIL-135P floating vehicle, belonged to this period.
ZIL-135P "Dolphin" (1965–1970)
(Photos from the archives of SKB ZIL and Roman Danilov)
Unique soviet amphibian ZIL-135P (8x8) claimed the title of the world's fastest wheeled floating vehicle, and from a technical point of view it was one of the development directions. In former times, it was considered only "Grachev's ugly duckling", although it reached the highest world level, and was not used in the USSR.
Since 1961, work on the ZIL-135P car was aimed at using it as a self-propelled ferry "Chelnok", which had every chance to surpass the ferry cars produced abroad, but already in the design process it was recognized as unreliable and too expensive. After reworking in finished form, an amphibian with the code name "Dolphin" appeared in the winter of 1965.
Amphibian ZIL-135P with a fiberglass body during trials in the Baltic Sea
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The upgraded version of the ZIL-135P had a layout with a front control cabin, power units in the aft compartment and the central location of the passenger compartment to accommodate 22 people. Its base was the ZIL-135K long-wheelbase land chassis with two 180-horsepower engines, on-board transmissions, rigid suspension of all wheels and a tire pressure control system, on which a fiberglass supporting body was mounted. The drive of two propellers was carried out from crankshafts engines through gearboxes and universal joints, and the propellers themselves were placed in annular lifting and swivel nozzles, which made it possible to abandon water rudders.
The car failed its first tests on the Moscow River. Repeated tests took place in Baltiysk on the basis of the Baltic Fleet, where, in accordance with the needs of the USSR Navy, it was converted into an open cargo compartment, turning it into a ZIL-135TA seaworthy transport amphibian.
In the summer of 1970, the opportunity arose to test the ZIL-135P as a reloading craft (lighter) for the shuttle delivery of goods from offshore ships to the shore and back. To do this, the already abandoned car was reanimated and equipped with a transfer crane, and then for a short time it carried cargo on the coast of the Arctic Ocean. Upon returning to the bosom of her native plant, she was dismantled.
Ferry amphibian PMM "Volna" (1974–1985)
In the history of Soviet vehicles for crossing water barriers, the system of self-propelled four-axle ferries with the code name “Volna”, which is still used in the Russian army, is considered the most unusual and progressive.
The design of the aforementioned ferry vehicle "Chelnok" based on the fiberglass amphibian ZIL-135P led to the need to equip such equipment with more durable all-metal structures. Since the late 1960s, further development of such systems has been carried out by the Special Design Bureau of Engineering and Ferry Facilities of the Kryukov Carriage Works (KVSZ) from Kremenchug. In 1974, the first prototype of a pontoon-bridge vehicle (PMM) was built there, which was part of a self-propelled pontoon fleet (SPP).
The PMM amphibian, its aluminum hull and propellers were designed and assembled in Kremenchug on a 300-horsepower land chassis, on which a simplified three-seater cab from the ZIL-135LM model with an almost flat front wall was mounted. Movement on the water was provided by two propellers located in lifting annular nozzles with water rudders.
On the flat cargo platform(deck) placed two pairs of stacked pontoons (front and rear) and four medium lifting ramps. Afloat, they leaned back in different directions and, together with the deck, formed a typical single-link ferry with payload 42 tons. With the interconnection of such machines with each other, it was possible to create heavier self-propelled ferry systems or floating bridges to pass heavy military equipment. All 24 amphibians that were part of the SPP fleet could be combined into large 50-ton crossings up to 260 meters long within 30-40 minutes.
