Hand-built amphibious car is an actual supercar on water
Published on Jul 29, 2025 at 1:15 AM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Jul 28, 2025 at 2:48 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
This hand-built amphibious car is an actual supercar when out on the water.
The Sea Lion was built over six years and could reach up to 180mph thanks to its supercharged rotary engine, which came straight from an RX-7.
When it debuted in 2012, it was reportedly the world’s fastest amphibious car.
It’s going up for auction now – do you fancy finding your sea legs and taking this out to water?
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This hand-built amphibious car is going up for auction
Marc Witt worked on the Sea Lion for six years, debuting it in 2012 as the world’s fastest amphibious car.
Well…the fastest amphibious car on land.
It could reportedly reach speeds of 180mph – other cars were able to outpace it in the water.
In a roundabout way, this just means the Sea Lion can be thought of as a land car that can also be used in the water.
Witt got it up to 130mph in the water at Arizona’s El Mirage back when it was new.
This wasn’t a custom build either – everything was built from scratch, from the chassis to the body panels, and much of the internal workings too.
With a silvery exterior, the Sea Lion looks something between a submarine and a spaceship.
But we think that’s a selling point.
If you think you want to take this car out to water, keep an eye on Mecum Auctions – this thing goes up on September
Splish splash…cars out on water isn’t as strange as it sounds
You might be surprised to learn that amphibious cars are not some one-off creation.
There’s been a few of them over the years.
Even former US President Lyndon B. Johnson owned one, which he used to play pranks on people.
Then there’s the WaterCar Panther, which can hit speeds of 45mph on the water.
Or how about the floating V6 roadster, which set a strange record back in 2002?
And some conversions have come along too, like this 1999 Ford Mustang that was adapted for aqua use.
Cars – they’re not just for land use anymore.
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