Chameleon Car Coolest of ’03

Alan Gibbs’ Aquada skims into Time magazine’s list of ‘Coolest Inventions of 2003.’ The Aquada also featured in Arthur Lubow’s article ‘Inspiration: Where Does It Come From?’ for the  New York Times, alongside the Band-Aid, the dripless popsicle, and the new US $20 note. “Because design stands at the intersection of artistry, engineering and commerce, ideas can blow in from many directions … The New Zealand businessman who designed the Aquada car-boat was annoyed by the inconvenience of dragging his boat to the harbour by tractor and trailer. He developed an amphibious vehicle that moved easily enough through water but lumbered on land – until he stumbled upon an ingenious form of retractable wheels.”