So you are looking for an amphibious vehicle, where do you go? The choices are extremely limited, and manufacturers have come and gone in the past, but one which has stuck around is Dutton Cars. Dutton has been around for over 55 years, making over 200 amphibious vehicles and 8,000 cars.

The Reef 2wd starts with a donor car, which they can source for you, or you can source yourself. The vehicle in question, in this case, was a Ford Fiesta. Dutton then set about dismantling and converting the relevant components to be attached to their uniquely designed hull and deck. The result is an amphibious vehicle capable of travelling on land, like a Fiesta, or water, like a boat, to a speed of approximately 6mhp. 

This unique, amphibious Dutton Reef was purchased by the vendor just before the Pandemic lockdowns started, and there was a delay from the point of ordering to receiving it, but oh, was it worth the wait. To receive a car that can be driven and also go on the water is something pretty special we think you’ll agree. 

This car is also quite special because it is one of the last few built by Dutton Cars. Although Dutton says they constantly receive enquiries to build the amphibious cars, they will no longer produce them, but they are happy to carry out servicing and repairs. Although the vendor has only used the Reef for 15 hours, they have been a fun and enjoyable 15 hours on the water. 

When you step into the Reef 2WD, you will probably recognise the dashboard layout, which did, in fact, once belong to a Ford Fiesta. The dashboard is in good order, with no scuffs to mention. The instruments work as they should and have no warning lights displayed when the engine runs. The hour meter shows a total of 15 hours used since the Reef was built. The switch gear is all in good condition, and what is there works like it would have done in the Fiesta. 

Across to the middle, the centre display shows the radio, which works as expected, and there is a NASA Marine depth gauge fitted, all said to be working as it should. On the passenger side, a switch panel controls the three bilge pumps with auto float switches that are located within the boat.

 There is also a fan switch for the radiator that is now situated in the back by the engine, rather than the front, where they can be easily damaged. The centre console holds the gear lever as it would when the vehicle was a car, and you will notice a red lever next to this, which engages the jet clutch. 

The leather seats are in good condition; there is a small amount of patina, and they would benefit from a clean, but there is no damage to the front or rear seats. The carpets have been removed for obvious reasons, as you would want to avoid wet carpets sitting in the boat for long periods. The flooring is easily cleanable and sits flat against the hull. The door cards are in good condition and sit above the waterline, so they should never be in danger of getting too wet. 

The body of the reef is produced from fibreglass in two parts: the Deck and Hull, which are bonded together to form a single homogeneous monocoque structure. At the front, you will notice the Fiesta headlights, which are in excellent condition. The bonnet lifts up and holds the 42 litre fuel tank, water and washer bottles.

Along the sides, the doors open and close easily above the water line, making getting in and out of the amphibious car easy, even when in the water; these are also lockable with remote central locking. The windows are in good condition with no noticeable scratches. The rubber strip around the hull is in good condition, and four grab handles are fitted within the body. There is also a roof that can be attached, which is in like new condition as the vendor doesn’t use this.  

Around to the rear, the lights are encased behind 8mm acrylic plastic so that they do not come into contact with the water. There is a small scratch just to the left of the rudder. The exhaust system has been fabricated to exit higher up, which minimises the risk of water entering the tailpipe.   

The wheels are the standard 17” Fiesta alloy wheels; there are a few small kerb marks to these, and the centre caps have some signs of water ingress (hardly surprising considering what it is), and the tyres have a good amount of tread remaining. 

Fitted with a 1.6 litre engine, this starts via the push button just as the Fiesta would. In the Reef, it is mounted at the rear and set up to draw in air and exhaust well above the water line. You quite simply drive the car into the water, engage the jet clutch and off you go. The impeller is 8” Marine grade cast aluminium and runs on sealed for life maintenance-free bearings, and there is a stainless steel rudder to guide you over the waters controlled via the standard steering wheel. 

Due to the size of the hull, the maximum water speed for a displacement hull is approximately 6mph, which is pretty impressive when considering the extra weight of the suspension components it carries.

On the road, the car has a five-speed gearbox, which has a smooth change and drives with no issues. The suspension components on the vehicle have been stripped back and coated with three coats of marine phosphate primer, followed by marine undercoat and marine topcoat to help prevent excessive corrosion. The nuts and bolts used are marine quality AISI 316 stainless steel.  

The vendor has said that the amphibious car will get a service before the auction ends, even though it has only covered 15 hours. 

What an exciting opportunity to own one of the last amphibious cars produced by Dutton Cars. This 2021 example has covered just 15 hours since it was built and is in excellent condition. 

Please don’t forget that Dutton Cars continues to service their vehicles as stated on their website. 

Land ahoy, rest assured you will get plenty of looks as you exit the water and drive off into town.

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