Every large car company has a small secret it would just love to sweep under the rug and forget about, a car that's neither pleasant to look at nor particularly interesting to drive. For the Romanian budget brand Dacia, that's probably the 1300 Pick-up. It was built during some of the darker days of the local economy to do a job and die afterwards. Not many are left, as the vast majority having been scrapped or broke down, but one example seems to have found a new life as a boat.
A few students of the Marine University of Constanta have turned this old rust bucket into an amphibious vehicle, with help from their teachers of course. What better way to learn how boats float and travel through the water then to actually build something that does this?
So, how did they turn a rust bucket into a boat?
The floating bits were bolted onto a solid metal frame that was welded to the chassis. MDB and polystyrene panes were then used to build a light and very cheap hull.
"The idea for the Dacia amphibious car was born during our 3rd year. We each left for our cadet cruises and then in the fourth year of college, that is March 2014, we started practical work. We managed to finish a few days before the license. Dacia 1310 Double Cab was purchased by us, removed from circulation, then donated Constanta Maritime University, "Andrei Stroe, who is one of the members of the team who built the car, told local media.
The engine bay had to be made watertight, a snorkel was installed for the exhaust and a propeller fitted around the back takes care of generating forward thrust.
It's not going to win any speedboat races and would probably sink after the first big wave, but the first amphibious Dacia model in history is amusing enough to share with friends. And while you're at it, the Volvo 240 wagon-turned-boat from New York is also a good conversation piece.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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