![]() ![]() But, it did make a record as the first amphibious vehicle to pass through the Panama Canal. ![]() The trip, which covered 30,000 miles on land and 3,000 miles at sea, traveling through 28-countries and 38-states fell short of the original goal, mainly due to the lack of funding. The craft was powered by a 250-hp GM 6.5Liter turbo diesel that was converted to marine use by Peninsular Diesel. The idea behind 'Project Earth-Trek' was to circumnavigate the Earth, over land and sea without any type of support vessel. Rick decided this would make a suitable starting point for an amphibian, surmising that if it was designed to keep the milk inside – it should also work pretty well at keeping the water outside. The Orbiter began life as a 1959 Heil milk tank trailer. ![]() Ten years later, in their 60th Anniversary issue, (January 2008) it was listed as #41 in their list of “ The 100 Most Influential Hot Rods of all Time.”Īlways looking for a challenge, Rick’s next project would be a thirty-two foot long amphibious craft, The Dobbertin Surface Orbiter. In Hot Rod Magazine’s 50th Anniversary issue, (January 1998) the J-2000 was called “ The Ultimate Evolution of Pro Street” by the editorial staff. ![]() Revell model company even offered the J-2000 as a scale model kit. The car was awarded Hot Rod Magazine’s prestigious 1986 Hot Rod of the Year and went on to win all four of the major national magazine sponsored shows in 1986 – The Hot Rod Supernationals, The Popular Hot Rodding Super Street Meet, The Car Craft Street Machine Nationals and the Hot Rod Super Cruise. There was only 8.25” between the rear tires, yielding a real 'steamroller' effect from the rear. He decided to begin with an extremely narrow and small body as a starting point to better accentuate the engine, wheel and tire modifications.ĭue to its small size, he decided that the starting point would be a 1985 Pontiac J-2000, which would feature a tubular stainless steel frame, 24” wide rear tires and a twin-turboed, twin supercharged, nitrous injected all-aluminum small block Chevy mated to a 4-speed Lenco transmission. A few years later, Rick began plans for an even more radical Pro-Streeter. ![]()
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