Suleica F 430 S

The Suleica F 430 S was an experimental floating caravan from Schäfer, the maker of the upmarket Suleica caravans. Schäfer had covered buoyancy in utility-model (Gebrauchsmuster) applications in 1961 and 1962. The 430 S was shown publicly at the Hanover Fair several years before the British firm Creighton launched its own amphibious caravan, the Gull, in 1967.

Design

The 430 S was based on the normal Suleica 430 caravan. Afloat it was meant either to be pushed by a 25 hp outboard motor or to be towed by an Amphicar. It never reached series production because of technical uncertainties. Its Hanover appearance is nonetheless remembered as a first-class publicity stunt.

Suleica caravans

Suleica caravans were expensive "prima donna" designs bought mainly by enthusiasts and the wealthy. About 800 were made in total, of the 500 and 430 models together.