History Main / AmphibiousAutomobile

* In ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkull'' a modern replica of a Ford GPA amphibious jeep (see RealLife section) is used as a getaway car down a river and over three waterfalls.

* A few real examples, excluding the beetle, are amphibious cars like the WorldWarII Schwimmwaggen and GPA,the TheSixties Amphicar and a host of less famous cars. Ironically, by far the most successful wasn't a car at all: it was the DUKW amphibious 2-1/2 ton truck, which are popular among military vehicle collectors and used as emergency and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck_tour excursion vehicles]] even today.

* A non industrial example: Floating Cubans. Cubans take normal cars ([[http://www.rowand.net/Shop/MechanicalFunnyBone/1959BuickBoat/1959BuickBoat1_files/040204_boatcar_hmed_2p.hmedium.jpg often old American cars]]) and modify them so they can float across the Ocean to Miami, using propellers, buoyant oil drums and/or water sealer.

* ''ChittyChittyBangBang'' can float, as well as [[FlyingCar everything else]]

* In ''Film/TheSpyWhoLovedMe'', JamesBond's [[CoolCar Lotus Esprit]] becomes a sub (see RealLife example)

* In ''{{Cars}} 2'', the JamesBond pastiche Finn [=McMissile=] transforms into a hydrofoil and a submarine.

* In ''[[TheLoveBug Herbie Rides Again]]'', the bug is shown to float and propel itself in the pacific for around 30 minutes. But, this is [[CoolCar Herbie]].

* The colossal German Panzer VII 'Maus' was to weigh around 200 Tons. This being far too heavy to cross most bridges, it was instead intended to wade across rivers. Hatches and hull openings could be sealed, and the tank would be driven across the riverbed. Since the Maus used a diesel-electric transmission, the tanks could work in pairs, a second Maus on the riverbank supplying electric power to the submerged one by a cable. This eliminated the need for a snorkel.

** It's not like the Germans had a choice, when you look at some of the tanks they put snorkels on. The Panzer [=VIII=] ''Maus'' was heavy enough to crush most European bridges, and the Nazis tried to come up with even ''bigger'' tanks.

* The trope picture is from a 1967 Volkswagen advertising campaign. The beetle could stay afloat for several minutes more than a normal car due to it's quality engineering.

** But driving underwater was possible in [[MarioKart Mario Kart Super Circuit]] too although it was extremely slow and you only had little while before [[PitfallRescueService Lakitu]] fishes you out anyways.

* While [[TankGoodness tanks]] usually cannot float, both the British and the Americans figured out how to make them amphibious in WorldWar2, the Americans using pontoons and the British using canvas displacement screens. The Germans, on the other hand, developed deep water fording kits using snorkels to allow their tanks to motor across the bottom, Postwar, with tanks grown too big to be floated, several other nations also developed deep water fording systems, an idea that has since been given up as impractical.

[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/2385872186_de3b0fd6a0_1363.jpg]]

In real life, cars tend to sink in water. This however, can be averted in fiction ([[TruthInTelevision and in Real Life]]). This trope applies whether a normal car can inexplicably float or work as a submarine, or a modified car can do this (more realistic). These can overlap with CoolCar, the AllegedCar, and WhatAPieceOfJunk. Contrast to SisterTrope, FlyingCar. SubTrope of WeDontNeedRoads.
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[[AC: Advertising]]
* The trope picture is from a 1967 Volkswagen advertising campaign. The beetle could stay afloat for several minutes more than a normal car due to it's quality engineering.
** The [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qB0lb401ZU TV ad]] shows it even better.

[[AC: Anime And Manga]]
* [[Anime/SpeedRacer The Mach 5]] can not only float but can be a submarine for short periods of time.
* In ''{{Kokoro Library}}'' lina drives a VW Schwimmwagen (see RealLife section). Comes in handy once or twice when she forgets to look where she is driving and ends up in the riwer.
* Seta's van from ''LoveHina'' can function as a submarine for no apparent reason, but considering he's such a horrible driver, it's probably in his best interest.

[[AC: Film]]
* In ''[[{{The Love Bug}} Herbie Rides Again]]'', the bug is shown to float and propel itself in the pacific for around 30 minutes. But, this is [[CoolCar Herbie]].
** Obviously inspired by the VW ads.
* In ''{{A Goofy Movie}}'', Goofy's [[TheAllegedCar AMC Pacer]] floats down a huge western river with two people on top. It's only the waterfall that beats it.
* ''ChittyChittyBangBang'' can float, as well as [[FlyingCar everything else]]
* In ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkull'' a modern replica of a Ford GPA amphibious jeep (see RealLife section) is used as a getaway car down a river and over three waterfalls.
* In ''Film/TheSpyWhoLovedMe'', JamesBond's [[CoolCar Lotus Esprit]] becomes a sub (see RealLife example)

[[AC:Literature]]
* The Polish adventure novel series, ''Pan Samochodzik'' (Mr. Automobile), was about an amateur detective whose [[WhatAPieceOfJunk car]] happened to have such a capability.

[[AC: Live-Action TV]]
* The DiscoveryChannel show ''Monster Garage'' featured the cast attempting to turn a Mazda Miata into one of these. It worked until the air intake (placed too close to the nose) took in water, killing the engine.

* LarryTheCableGuy met someone who built a working part-boat part-car vehicle on ''Only In America''. Also counts as a RealLife example.

[[AC: Magazines]]
* ''National Lampoon'' ran [[http://www.yourememberthat.com/media/7863/National_Lampoon_Ted_Kennedy_VW_Ad/ a Parody version]] of the VW ad, basically saying that if Ted Kennedy had been driving a VW he wouldn't have had that trouble in Chappaquiddik.

[[AC: MulitpleMedia]]

[[AC: Real Life]]
* A few real examples, excluding the beetle, are amphibious cars like the WorldWarII Schwimmwaggen and GPA,the TheSixties Amphicar and a host of less famous cars. Ironically, by far the most successful wasn't a car at all: it was the DUKW amphibious 2-1/2 ton truck, which are popular among military vehicle collectors and used as emergency and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck_tour excursion vehicles]] even today.

* While [[TankGoodness tanks]] usually cannot float, both the British and the Americans figured out how to make them amphibious in WorldWar2, the Americans using pontoons and the British using canvas displacement screens. The Germans, on the other hand, developed deep water fording kits using snorkels to allow their tanks to motor across the bottom, Postwar, with tanks grown too big to be floated, several other nations also developed deep water fording systems, an idea that has since been given up as impractical.

[[AC: Tabletop Games]]
* ''Warhammer40K'' : the Inquisitorial Chimera ignores water features (it even has "Amphibious" as a Special Rule)

[[AC: Video Games]]
* Amy Rose in ''SonicR'' drives a car which has the ability to float on water.
* In ''SpyHunter'', you can drive into the water and your car automatically becomes a boat.
* The cars in ''{{Diddy Kong Racing}}'' can stay afloat and even move in water, albeit extremely slowly.
* The JamesBond game ''Nightfire'' includes an Aston-Martin that converted into a submarine.

[[AC: Western Animation]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/HeathcliffAndTheCatillacCats'', the Cadillac could convert into a boat.
* Part of the opening to ''SpeedZone'' featured a supercar being skipped across a body of water. Not quite floating, anyway.
* Dr Claw in the ''InspectorGadget'' cartoons could turn the [[{{Thememobile}} Madmobile]] into a submarine ([[FlyingCar and an airplane]]).
* The Belgian series ''Kapitein Zeppos'' also had an amphibious car.
* The eponymous ''{{Supercar}}''.
* The Commvee in ''TheWildThornberries''.
* During a chase, ''KimPossible'' called [[GadgeteerGenius the Tweebs]] to ask if [[CoolCar the Sloth]] had aquatic modifications. After hearing the answer "sure", she tried to follow Shego and Junior into the water. Unfortunately, the Tweebs thought she'd asked if they ''could'' install aquatic modifications, and had not actually done so.

** The [[http://www.rinspeed.com/pages/cars/squba/pre-squba.htm Rinspeed sQuba]] is designed to behave like the aforementioned Lotus Esprit from ''TheSpyWhoLovedMe.'' However, it's open-topped rather than watertight and as such, requires the passengers to wear SCUBA gear.

* In ''TheSpyWhoLovedMe'', JamesBond's [[CoolCar Lotus Esprit]] becomes a sub (see RealLife example)

* In The fourth ''{{Indiana Jones}}'' a modern replica of a Ford GPA amphibious jeep (see RealLife section) is used as a getaway car down a river and over three waterfalls.

* While [[TankGoodness tanks]] usually cannot float (one attempt to do so ended in disaster in WorldWar2), some can roll underwater for some time. The vehicle is either sealed and fitted with snorkels and a raised exhaust pipe, or a collapsible screen is raised around the tank to keep water out (though the tank is too heavy to float.)

* A few real examples, excluding the beetle, are amphibious cars like the WorldWarII Schwimmwaggen and GPA,the TheSixties Amphicar and a host of less famous cars. Ironically, by far the most successful wasn't a car at all: it was the DUKW amphibious 2-1/2 ton truck, which are popular among military vehicle collectors and used as emergency [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck_tour vehicles]] even today.

* The fourth ''{{Indiana Jones}}'' has a DUKW (see RealLife section) used as a getaway car down a river and over three waterfalls.

* A few real examples, excluding the beetle, are amphibious cars like the [[WorldWarII Schwimmwaggen, the DUKW]],the [[TheSixties Amphicar]] and a host of less famous cars. They are generally used a tour vehicles ([[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck_tour the DUKWs especially]]) or novelties for the rich.

[[AC: Toys]]
* ''{{BIONICLE}}'': the Vahki Transport used by the Toa Metru to travel to and from Metru Nui to Mata Nui was conveniently seaworthy.

* While [[TankGoodness tanks]] usually cannot float (one attempt to do so ended in disaster in WorldWar2), some can roll underwater for some time.

* [[SpeedRacer The Mach 5]] can not only float but can be a submarine for short periods of time.

* This was part of a competition on TopGear, to transform a car so it could drive on land and '''across the English Channel'''.

* Dr Claw in the ''InspectorGadget'' cartoons could turn the [[TropeMobile Madmobile]] into a submarine ([[FlyingCar and an airplane]]).

* In ''HeathcliffAndTheCatillacCats'', the Cadillac could convert into a boat.
* Part of the opening to ''Speed Zone'' featured a supercar being skipped across a body of water. Not quite floating, anyway.