Amphicar Crosses the English Channel

[Bill Stoneberg]

Granted it is one of the new ones but still pretty cool....

CALAIS, France (Reuters) -- Entrepreneur Richard Branson has set a new world record by driving across the English Channel in an amphibious sports car in under two hours.

The flamboyant Virgin Group chairman, who has set world records crossing the Atlantic by hot air balloon and speed boat, slashed four and a half hours off the previous amphibious channel crossing record set by two Frenchmen in the 1960s.

Branson crossed the 22-mile (35 km) stretch of water to Calais in France in a smooth run in the £75,000 ($135,000) sleek gray and black Aquada sports car in just one hour 40 minutes and six seconds.

As the car drove up on to Calais' sandy beach, its windscreen wiper still going, a very wet but elated Richard Branson emerged.

"A few big ferry waves engulfed us a bit, but it was rather refreshing," Branson said. "Its a remarkable car and it definitely gets a lot of smiles from people on the ferries."

The amphibious car, which seats 3 people, can travel at more than 100 miles per hour on land and 30 miles per hour on sea.

At the flick of a button the British engineered Aquada's wheels retract and its jet engine engages, propelling the car through the water.

Only two previous amphibious crossings of the channel have been recorded, the first by Englishman Ben Carlin in the 1950s with a time of seven hours and 33 minutes and the second by two Frenchmen in the 1960s.

"We had to take something back off the French," Branson said, referring to France's last minute Euro 2004 soccer victory over England in Portugal late on Sunday.

"It may not be quite as important as the football, but right now it feels important."

Branson praised the car as a "great beast," performing as well on water as on land. "It is remarkably easy to drive."

Prototypes of the Aquada were first produced in 2001 and over the last few years the cars have developed to meet all UK vehicle regulations for land and water.

[Peter J.Heizmann]

Hi, Bill...hope all is well in the Lone Star.

Thanks for posting this. Interesting to say the least.

Peter J. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Amphicar BUYER]

It was not an Amphicar! It was an "Aquada". Very different animals. You see the "Aquada" is not an amphibious car, but just a boat with wheels. Hold on a minute, There is a significant difference! The Aquada does not have a top, side windows nor operable doors. This is what makes it a mere boat with wheels rather than an amphibious car.

Had he been in the same conditions as the 2 Amphicars that held the previous record, he would have been swamped & sank! The 2 Amphicars that crossed the channel in 1968 did so in gale force winds and 20 foot seas! Try that w/o a top! This in a car a mere 14' long. (barf bag anyone?) One Amphicar towed the second the last mile to Calias when it's bilge pump became blocked allowing it to ship water. Then drove on to Berlin as one the pilot of the other car damaged his IDs during the crossing and was refused passage into Germany. The recent crossing in the Aquada is a feat to be sure, just don't overlook the history and hardships of the first crossing.