Meet the H1-Panther, a Hummer that transforms from boat to truck in seconds
Published on Mar 20, 2023 at 1:31 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Mar 31, 2023 at 1:49 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
Meet the H1-Panther, a Hummer truck that’s also a boat.
This means you can drive it across the desert, all the way to the marina, and keep on ‘driving’ into the water.
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It was created by WaterCar, a company that specializes in amphibious vehicles, and it’s actually based on the original HUMVEE.
Even though GM eventually decided to make the Hummer H1, the street legal version, the first HUMVEE was designed for the US Army.
This makes the HUMVEE an ideal base for a boat because the HUMVEE is basically water-ready when it leaves the factory.
It’s fitted with chunky off-road tires, waterproof interior and a snorkel, and it has a ground clearance of 10 inches.
As standard, the HUMVEE is equipped with a big, meaty diesel but WaterCar decided to replace it with a Chevy-sourced V8 to give it more power and more torque.
Thanks to the new engine, the H1-Panther can reach 130 km/h on land and 35 knots (64 km/h) on water.
The range, according to the company, is 380 miles (611 km) on the road and 96 miles (155 km) on water.
Hummer fans will recognize the spartan, plasticky interior but WaterCar made a few changes to make it more minimalistic and tidy.
Several buttons and dials were removed and both the center console and dashboard were repainted and polished.
The company also ditched the cheap fabric upholstery and replaced it with supple waterproof vinyl.
And lastly, the rear section of the truck was polished to make it look and feel like a yacht deck.
WaterCar has built several versions of the H1-Panther, including one that’s actually based on the Hummer H2.
This one just fits the bill, though.
Speaking of fitting the bill, you need to be fit to avoid the inevitable seizure when you see the bill: it’s $465,000.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
