Ryan Z1A

The Z1A was a fully amphibious sports car built by Mike Ryan, styled on the Lamborghini Countach. Ryan built it after the Ryan Streamline and an amphibious Fiat Panda. On the road it gave no hint of its abilities and looked like £100,000 worth of Italian exotica.

Design

The car had Formula 1-style push-rod suspension with hydraulic actuators that pulled the wheels up in the water to stop them drooping and causing drag. A hydrofoil under the nose lifted the front once afloat, and there was a smoke ejector among other gadgets. Ryan called it a nightmare to build and expensive, with the glass alone costing £2,000.

Media

The Z1A drew television and press attention wherever it went. It was tested by the BBC's Top Gear, an episode Ryan was unhappy with: the car was not ready, having grounded and bent a propeller in earlier testing, and its radiators boiled during filming. It later spent time in Hollywood doing promotional work, given as four years in one account and twelve months in another, and was then converted back to right-hand drive.