Everyone on this planet has a calling. Some strive to lead, some strive to heal, some strive to innovate and some strive to build hot tubs that travel over 50 mph. This story concerns the latter. In 1999, two Canadian engineers, Phillip Weicker and Ducan Forster, took a 1999 Cadillac DeVille and built it into world’s fastest hot tub. Some said it couldn’t be done (or maybe they said “It shouldn’t be done,” – minor issue). But before we go into the details of just how this was feat was accomplished, let’s travel back to the very beginning.
It all started back in 1996 when the two were attending McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario (Canada). Presumably after drinking a lot of Molson beer, the two engineering students became inspired by the famous Ernest Hemingway quote: “Always do sober what you say you’d do when intoxicated.” Empowered with such inspiration, they planned what was considered impossible. This, of course, was taking an abandoned car left on campus (a 1982 Chevrolet Malibu) and turning it into a hot tub – a fully operational, fully drivable, hot tub. Being serious about endeavors of this magnitude, they soon completed the project and it was named the MK1. As you can imagine, it didn’t take long before MK1 became a well-known entity at McMaster University
Fast-forward several years and both Weicker and Forster are both working as professional engineers. As what sometimes occurs to those born with insatiable creative urges, the desire to make it “bigger and better” reared its head. Thus began the beginning of “The Carpool Deville” concept. The first thing they did was purchase a monster 1999 Cadillac DeVille and gutted it. The interior was removed and an elaborate, custom fiberglass tub was installed. To drive the vehicle, marine-style steering wheel, gauges, and throttle controls were fitted. The 427-cubic inch V8 was rebuilt and serves two important purposes: propelling the DeVille forward and heating the pool water to a balmy 102 degrees. The trunk has even been modified to hold the air-ride system, pool filter, pump, and various electronic sub-systems. They estimate that over 1000 hours of work were invested in their remarkable creation.
Since the completion of the Carpool DeVille, both engineers have become minor celebrities and emblematic of what can occur when you think creatively. Those who said that “a 50+ MPH hot tub was just a dream and could never be created” were proved wrong – very wrong. Let’s face it, these two persistent engineers have made automotive history. Ok, it’s sort of odd history but it’s still history.
Source : Palmerdodgegeorgia
