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Amphibious Encyclopedia · Amphibious cars

Gibbs Humdinga

The Gibbs Humdinga is a four-wheel-drive amphibious vehicle about the size of a large SUV that lifts its wheels into the body and planes across the water on jet drives [1][7]. First shown as a concept in 2004, it was later offered for rescue and patrol work, built in limited numbers and licensed to Singapore's ST Kinetics, and the Malaysian marine police have taken delivery of Humdingas for patrol and flood work [3][5][6][7].

  • Amphibious cars
  • 2004 (concept) to 2010s
  • United Kingdom and New Zealand (licensed production in Singapore)

History

Gibbs Technologies, the British and New Zealand company behind the Aquada amphibious sports car, showed the Humdinga in January 2004 as a concept for a go-anywhere amphibious four-wheel drive [1]. New Atlas reported a five-seat vehicle with a 350 bhp V8, full-time four-wheel drive and air suspension, and quoted Gibbs figures of 160 km/h (100 mph) on land and 65 km/h (40 mph) on water. The company said it shared no parts with the Aquada and was not yet meant for production [1].

In February 2012 Gibbs presented a revised Humdinga II alongside a larger amphibious truck, the Phibian, and described both as amphibious trucks for patrol, rescue and similar work [2]. The Humdinga II had a supercharged 350 hp gasoline V8, seated five to seven, and could carry up to 750 kg (1,653 lb) [2].

In February 2014 Fox News reported that Singapore defense and vehicle maker ST Kinetics would build the Humdinga under license for emergency response and disaster relief in Southeast Asia, where flooding is common [3]. At the IMDEX Asia show in May 2015, ST Kinetics demonstrated the land-to-water change and said it planned to start production that year, quoting over 100 km/h (62 mph) on the road and over 50 km/h (31 mph) on water [4].

Police and rescue use

The Malaysian marine police are the best documented operator. In October 2015 The Star reported that the force expected five Humdingas the following year for flood evacuation, anti-smuggling patrols and coastal work [5]. In May 2019 the national news agency Bernama reported that the marine police had taken delivery of another five [6].

Design and how it works

The Humdinga uses the High Speed Amphibian layout Gibbs developed for its other vehicles: a planing hull with a wheeled chassis whose wheels fold up out of the water [1][8]. At the press of a button, hydraulics pull all four wheels up, drive is taken away from the wheels and sent to the jets, and the vehicle can plane [3][8]. The maker says the change takes under 5 seconds and that the vehicle reaches planing speed in under 5 seconds [7].

The maker's current figures list a Mercury Marine 4.2 liter diesel V8 of 370 hp, switchable two- or four-wheel drive, twin water jets, a range of about 150 miles (240 km) on land or 100 miles (160 km) on water at planing speed, and a gross weight of 4,000 kg (8,818 lb) [7]. Gibbs says it was developed and built in limited numbers by Gibbs Technologies in the UK, and that a small number have been sold to collectors [7].

Sources

  1. Humdinga - the 4WD amphibious vehicle, New Atlas (Gizmag) (2004-01-20). newatlas.com/humdinga-the-4wd-amphibious-vehicle/2823
  2. Gibbs unveils two new 'Amphitrucks', New Atlas (2012-02-08). newatlas.com/gibbs-amphibious-phibian-humdinga/21388
  3. Gibbs Humdinga amphibious truck sailing toward production, Fox News (2014-02-13). www.foxnews.com/auto/gibbs-humdinga-amphibious-truck-sailing-toward-production
  4. IMDEX Asia: ST Kinetics to move Humdinga into production, Shephard Media (2015-05-20). www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/imdex-asia-st-kinetics-move-humdinga-production
  5. Amphibious boats to patrol seas, The Star (Malaysia) (2015-10-12). thestar.com.my/metro/community/2015/10/12/amphibious-boats-to-patrol-seas-marine-police-to-get-five-truck-vessels-that-can-switch-from-land-to
  6. Marine Police take possession of another five Humdingas, Bernama (2019-05-28). www.bernama.com/en/news.php?id=1730600
  7. Humdinga, Gibbs Amphibians. gibbsamphibians.com/platform/humdinga
  8. Gibbs Humdinga, Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibbs_Humdinga

Last reviewed November 2026. Spotted something to correct or add? Tell us and include a source.

About the Amphibious Encyclopedia

WaterCar has designed and built amphibious vehicles in Southern California for more than 25 years. We keep this encyclopedia so anyone curious about vehicles that cross between land and water has one place to start, with the sources listed for every fact.

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