Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:13p.m.
An amphibious van that managed to sail across the Cook Strait has sold for more than $9000 on the auction website TradeMe tonight.
The winning punter, whose username was "fyfie1" placed a winning bid of $9100 that beat 141 others for the duel-action vehicle.
A $1 reserve had been placed on the auction.
The matt black DIY diesel boatvan, called "Roofliss - the Toyota Townace Interisland Van" by its builders Adam Turnbull and Dan Melling, crossed Cook Strait on September 6.
It took 10 hours for the 65km journey from Waikawa Bay Marina to Mana Marina
The pair of aeronautical engineers, both 23, dreamed up the interisland voyage to keep busy and out of Blenheim's bars. They completed the conversion of the Toyota Townace for about $2000.
Their auction description attested to the power of the "only van you can't get done DIC in".
It has no WOF or registration, and to turn it into a roadworthy vehicle would take a fair amount of work, the pair said in answering a question on the auction website.
"The doors don't open, it has half of the driver's seat remaining, no seatbelts, rigid rear suspension, knarly prop on the back..."
However, it did have a "mean home theatre system" and dolphins were attracted to it, the men said.
Its "massive sunroof" also provided pretty good air conditioning.
Fyfie1 has not only purchased the van, Mr Turnbull and Mr Melling were promising to throw in a few litres of diesel, a "flash" Pioneer amp, maybe a few Tui beers and some gas.
It also came with a floating keyring.
NZPA
