Salamander

[Barry]

Hmmm
Thought I should test the water in Off-Topic lounge.

http://www.philstar.com/motoring/2015/01/28/1417373/h2o-floats-amphibious-salamander-concept-answer-our-flood-prone-streets

Amphibious three wheel 250cc car (microcar?) that carries 5 passengers and a driver.  Just needs a good launch.

[marcus]

Interesting, might be useful in the West Country!

[Stuart Cyphus]

 Whoops, I was thinking of something else entirely there when I saw the topic title... 

 Here kitty kitty.....

[Bob Purton]

Yes. so did I.

[Big Al]

A floating car of large microcar proportions by Lamberto Armada? One F. Drake and the Bonds will run rings round them. History repeating itself.

[Bob Purton]

We were thinking of this Salamander

"The Salamander was designed as a replacement for the soon to be withdrawn Villiers-engined “Invacars” and was commissioned by the Salford and Manchester Social Services (hence the name SALaMANder). Based on a, somewhat modified, Kitten chassis, built over a space frame, it was a 2 seater hatchback powered by a Ford 1,100cc engine and C3 automatic gearbox. Well specified with power brakes, electric windows & tailgate release plus a flat floor, with doors opening right town to the bottom of the sill, it was easy for the disabled to get in and out of, and to load a wheelchair into the rear hatch. In production from 1981 till 1984, by which time the current (then new) “Motability” scheme rendered a specialist disabled vehicle obsolete. The GRP body was flimsy compared to the Reliant ones, but quite adequate." Must admit, from this picture the new one does look more fun and very handy in a flood!

[Barry]

Thanks for that Bob.  Very interesting.  Looks like you could be heading for the dark side.

[marcus]

Thanks Bob, I had completely forgotten about that Salamander.
From the relatively low cut of the new ones windows I would guess it's suitable only for inland waters and relatively calm conditions

[Big Al]

But the British Salamander is not a microcar, even if it is a IC. I know, I tried pushing one. Pigging heavy little sod.

So can microcars float. Sounds like a Rally to Lindisfarne, Holy Island to find out. My betting is RHD Isettas do not!

[marcus]

So can microcars float.

Funny you should say that, each of my solo CD covers has a Heinkel-Trojan on it, the most recent one is flying, the next will have it sailing down a river!