CAMI Hydra Spyder

The Hydra Spyder is a high-performance amphibious convertible from Cool Amphibious Manufacturers International (CAMI) of South Carolina, the makers of the Hydra-Terra tour bus. It took about 16 months from concept to completion and was intended as an entirely new kind of fast amphibious transport; at the time of the brochure the company said it was ready for full production, with a build time of about six months.

Design

The Spyder is a front-engined, front-wheel-drive two-door with four seats and a convertible top. It is about 5.64 m long, 2.13 m wide and 1.57 m high, and weighs about 1,500 kg, with 53% of the weight on the driven front wheels. The lower hull is 5052 aluminium alloy plate and the upper body is glass-fibre, and foam flotation approved by the US Coast Guard makes it unsinkable.

Production cars use a 400 hp Corvette LS2 6.0-litre V8 with a five-speed manual gearbox; the demonstrator had a 502 cu in fuel-injected V8 of 502 hp. Suspension is independent all round with air springs and automatic ride-height control, and it retracts for use afloat. In the water a Berkeley marine jet with power trim drives the car, and it can easily tow a water-skier. Options included a supercharger, nitrous injection, a six-speed racing gearbox and luxury trim.