Fiat Panda Terramare 4

The Fiat Panda Terramare 4 was built by Maurizio Zanisi, a Milan-born independent engineer who had previously worked for Iso Rivolta. It is based on a Fiat Panda 4x4 chassis. An inflatable flotation belt keeps it afloat, and a waterjet driven off the rear axle propels it in the water.

Channel crossing

Before coming to Britain, the Terramare had been tried out on the Italian lakes, the River Po and the sea off Sardinia, and had made a return trip from Naples to Capri. On the evening of 20 July 2006 Zanisi gave it a final systems check on the lake in Battersea Park, London. The next morning, at about 10.15, it entered the sea at Folkestone, Kent. Just over six hours later, at 4.30 pm London time, it drove up the beach at Cap Gris Nez in France on its four-wheel drive, having covered about 25 miles (40 km) across one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. Zanisi then intended to drive it home to Italy.