Amphicat
Encyclopedia
The Amphicat was a six-wheel-drive, skid steer amphibious all-terrain vehicle
manufactured in the late 1960s through the early 1970s by Mobility Unlimited Inc. of Auburn Hills, Michigan
. The product line was purchased by Magna American (a division of Magna Corporation) which produced the vehicle in Raymond, Mississippi
for several years.
The Amphicat was featured as the moon buggy
used by Moonbase Alpha personnel in the television series Space 1999 and as the Banana Splits' cars in the TV show Banana Splits
. It also appeared in the TV series Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp
around the same time.
Amphibious ATV
An amphibious all-terrain vehicle is a small off-road, and typically six-wheel drive, amphibious vehicle. They were developed in the early 1960s and quickly became popular in both the US and Canada. These vehicles are now used by enthusiasts and professionals worldwide.These vehicles earned...
manufactured in the late 1960s through the early 1970s by Mobility Unlimited Inc. of Auburn Hills, Michigan
Auburn Hills, Michigan
Auburn Hills is a city in Metro Detroit, Oakland County, in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 21,412 at the 2010 census. The city was formed in 1983 when Pontiac Township became the City of Auburn Hills.-Economy:...
. The product line was purchased by Magna American (a division of Magna Corporation) which produced the vehicle in Raymond, Mississippi
Raymond, Mississippi
Raymond is a city in Hinds County, Mississippi, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,664. Raymond is one of the two county seats of Hinds County and is the home of the main campus of Hinds Community College....
for several years.
The Amphicat was featured as the moon buggy
Space 1999 moon buggy
The Moon Buggy is a fictional vehicle in Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's TV series Space: 1999. It is Moonbase Alpha's all purpose land vehicle...
used by Moonbase Alpha personnel in the television series Space 1999 and as the Banana Splits' cars in the TV show Banana Splits
Banana Splits
The Banana Splits were four comedic animal characters who featured in a late 1960s children's variety show made for television. The costumed hosts of the show were Fleegle , Bingo , Drooper and Snork .The Banana Splits Adventure Hour was an hour-long, packaged television program that featured both...
. It also appeared in the TV series Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp
Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp
Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp is an American action/adventure comedy series that originally aired on ABC from September 12, 1970, to September 2, 1972...
around the same time.
Technical details
- Body — vacuum-formed Marbon Cycolac ABS plastic
- Engine — 16 hp air-cooled 2-cycle recoil-start gasoline engine
- Transmission — Ontario Drive & Gear Limited (ODG) manufactured a special transmission capable of forward and reverse for the Amphicat. ODG would use this experience to introduce their own Argo ATVs.
- Clutches — automatic torque converter for driving, disc-type for steering
- Brakes — band type on drum
- Tires — specially designed 11.5x20 Amphicat tubeless tires