THE lucky driver of the mystery amphibious car marked on the River Great Ouse newly has spoken to The Hunts Post about his unique experience.
Exclusive rights attorney Paul Hicks, from Papworth, was loan the bright yellow Aquada by its manufacturer Gibbs Technology. Mr. Hicks, who works for Cambridge-based firm Boult Wade Tennant, has helped the British company apply for more than 60 patents to defend the pioneering technology integrated in the wonderful car.
The Hunts Post previous week published the first pictures of the car in the river at St. Ives, taken on June 19, and readers have since been calling us with information.
This incredible picture of the Aquada was captured a week later by amateur photographer Moira Cleland, of Beech Drive, St. Ives, who was cycling along the river with her colleague Nick Boulding when she marked saw it approaching.
Mr. Hicks, who was tracked down by The Hunts Post, said: “I work with the guys at Gibbs Technology. There is a lot of innovative technology concerned in the Aquada to do with its cooling systems, propulsion etc. “It’s a fantastic piece of engineering and it’s nice to see real British engineering in action.”
He explained that the car was exposed to the world’s press in 2003 but added: “It’s not accessible on the open market yet – people can only register their interest.
“It is a fantastic bit of kit. On the river there is a speed limit of four miles per hour so we were limited to what we could do but we have taken it out on a water skiing lake and put it through its paces and did some water skiing with it.
“The car gains a lot of interest wherever it goes. It is amazing to drive on land and on the water. It’s unbelievable fun.”
Entry to the water is via beach, boat ramp, and slipway or directly from the water’s edge and once afloat, the transition from road vehicle to High Speed Amphibian (HSA) is “effortlessly” achieved – the entire driver has to do is press a button and drive into the water. The wheels automatically rise and as you press the accelerator nearly a ton of thrust pushes the Aquada onto the plane. The whole process takes less than 12 seconds and the Aquada can plane at over 30mph.
The website finishes: “The Gibbs Aquada is the ideal leisure vehicle. It combines the adventure of an open top car with the sheer delight experienced in a high performance speedboat.”
Exclusive rights attorney Paul Hicks, from Papworth, was loan the bright yellow Aquada by its manufacturer Gibbs Technology. Mr. Hicks, who works for Cambridge-based firm Boult Wade Tennant, has helped the British company apply for more than 60 patents to defend the pioneering technology integrated in the wonderful car.
The Hunts Post previous week published the first pictures of the car in the river at St. Ives, taken on June 19, and readers have since been calling us with information.
This incredible picture of the Aquada was captured a week later by amateur photographer Moira Cleland, of Beech Drive, St. Ives, who was cycling along the river with her colleague Nick Boulding when she marked saw it approaching.
Mr. Hicks, who was tracked down by The Hunts Post, said: “I work with the guys at Gibbs Technology. There is a lot of innovative technology concerned in the Aquada to do with its cooling systems, propulsion etc. “It’s a fantastic piece of engineering and it’s nice to see real British engineering in action.”
He explained that the car was exposed to the world’s press in 2003 but added: “It’s not accessible on the open market yet – people can only register their interest.
“It is a fantastic bit of kit. On the river there is a speed limit of four miles per hour so we were limited to what we could do but we have taken it out on a water skiing lake and put it through its paces and did some water skiing with it.
“The car gains a lot of interest wherever it goes. It is amazing to drive on land and on the water. It’s unbelievable fun.”
Entry to the water is via beach, boat ramp, and slipway or directly from the water’s edge and once afloat, the transition from road vehicle to High Speed Amphibian (HSA) is “effortlessly” achieved – the entire driver has to do is press a button and drive into the water. The wheels automatically rise and as you press the accelerator nearly a ton of thrust pushes the Aquada onto the plane. The whole process takes less than 12 seconds and the Aquada can plane at over 30mph.
The website finishes: “The Gibbs Aquada is the ideal leisure vehicle. It combines the adventure of an open top car with the sheer delight experienced in a high performance speedboat.”
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