You may soon see what appears to be a Volkswagen Bus or 1970s Dodge Charger cruising on a lake, but it won’t be driving on water. It will be part of a new line of products called Floating Motors.
Italian freelance automotive designer Pierpaolo Lazzarini of Lazzarini Design Studio, in partnership with Italian watercraft builder Jet Capsule S.r.L., is creating restored floats, or resto-floats, based on classic car designs. The car’s design is copied, then built of fiberglass and/or carbon fiber. The resto-float is retrofitted with a floating hull and a gas or electric motor. The proportions and sizes of the original car are respected in the design of the watercraft, and the construction using advanced materials ensures durability in harsh conditions.
There are currently two versions of the classic Fiat 500 (a catamaran version and a hydrofoil version), a version of the original Mini Cooper, a version of the Jaguar E-Type, and a version of Porsche’s classic 550 Spyder. Floating Motors plans to develop resto-floats based on the design of the Mercedes-Benz SLS, the VW Bus, and more. Custom orders will also be available. The watercraft will range in length from 3 to 3.5 meters up to 7.5 meters.
