John,
      Sorry first, but your out there a ways.... No car, (I must repeat
this) "NO car" in recent history has been "all new" or in your words
"designed from ground up". Even GM stated, several years back, the cost
(and risks) are just to much. Only a total economic chance would a ground
up design, ever appear again.
      AS for selling tens of thousands, Well I'm sure everyone wants
one of these? right?

            Eric                   86-VW4x4
            vw4x4@fyi.net          72-240z
            Pittsburgh, PA USA     1936-Chrysler

On Fri, 3 Dec 1999, John Benditt wrote:

> Well Dan
> It is not a crazy project. It is not a fun project. It takes a lot of long
> hours sitting at my computer designing every part, over and over until it is
> what I think will work. Then hour after hour hand fabrication of  each
> aluminum part to high tolerances. After many months and many thousands of
> dollars it starts to materalize. I would only go through this type of project
> if there is a monitery spin off. I expect to sell tens of thousands of these
> amphibious options for all 4x4 SUV's.
>
> I do drive an all aluminum state of the art amphibious gas/human powered
> bicycle. As soon as I am finishing up my first production run I will be
> selling it and I will have a web sight to show you an example of my work! My
> next product is the amphibious 4x4 SUV.
>
> The reason why I believe you don't see much innovation like this in today's
> society, is because most people are distracted. Whether it is the internet,
> TV, love making, to really sit down an design a vehicle from the ground up
> using one's own original design like Dr. Porsche did, with the VW back in the
> '30's. I have admired his originality. It seems that Volkswagen has maintained
> that originality even in present products. I am amazed how unique my '87
> Vanagon is with the master cylinder under the dash, the AC on the roof and so
> much more.
>
> I live in Florida
>
> John
>
>
> dan wrote:
>
> > What a crazy project:)  Where do you live where you can do fun things like
> > this? How much does it run to do something like this to a vehicle?
> > Honeslty, I never have even heard of it..
> >
> > Dan
>