The excellent Carandclassic.com auction site has its second Dutton amphib in as many weeks in the form of an excellent example of the Mariner from 1996.

Tim must surely have been the world’s most prolific manufacturer of amphibious cars. Fresh from producing over 8500 kitcars moved into the amphibious car market with the Marina and the Commander – based upon the Ford Fiesta and Suzuki Samurai, respectively. Production ended in late 2022 – but these quirky little water-going motors have proven to have a marvellous flair for longevity.

This example is a particularly early Mariner, with a 1.8-litre twin-jet spec taken from the Fiesta and all of its inevitable reliability firmly in hand. The car has recently been subject to some extensive work, has a valid MOT until August 2024, and still carries a quintessentially retro colour scheme. What’s not to love?

While there’s naturally very little provision for luxury in an amphibious car, this Mariner does carry all of the mod-cons you’d expect of a mid-90s Fiesta. The Dutton Indicator panel takes pride of place, while the custom seats really set it all apart. As far as a water-going car goes, you’d be hard-pressed to find better.

With its deceptively simple mechanics, this Mariner shares much of the tight-handling, laid-back nature of the Fiesta it’s based upon. We’ve not been informed of any mechanical issues, and the recent mechanical work has left it in what appears to be superb fettle.

While there’s naturally very little provision for luxury in an amphibious car, this Mariner does carry all of the mod-cons you’d expect of a mid-90s Fiesta. The Dutton Indicator panel takes pride of place, while the custom seats really set it all apart. As far as a water-going car goes, you’d be hard-pressed to find better.

The Mariner is a particularly impressive-looking amphibious motor – with a tall stance and curved bow, it’s fair to say that it looks the part. The bright orange decals really finish this quirky water-going vehicle’s appearance, and the entire car is in good, clean condition with only the lightest signs of wear on display.

The auction ends at 20.55pm on October 18, 2023, and at the time of writing, bidding was up to £18,500.

https://www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1996-dutton-marina-18l-twin-jet-amphibious-car-gZpY04