The number of individuals who have at some point in their lives thought “man, I wish this hot tub had wheels and a V-8” can probably be counted on one hand. For LA engineers Phil Weicker and Duncan Forster, however, that very thought has been their dream since 1996.  After many years of experimentation and several failed prototypes, Weicker and Forster have finally built the perfect road-going relaxation pool. The “Carpool DeVille” began life as a 1969 Cadillac Coupe Deville, but has been converted to hold up to 5,000 pounds of water and function as a hot tub.  Housing the essential pool components in the trunk, such as the pump, filter, and overflow tank, the rest of the Caddy has been fitted with a custom fiberglass lining, and the steering column has been waterproofed for full drivability.  Instead of a traditional pedal and shifter setup, marine throttle and transmission controls have been fitted to what used to be the driver’s side door, with one handle controlling the acceleration and braking and the other operating the Carpool’s 4-speed automatic transmission.  As for the beating heart of this strange beast, the original 472-cubic-inch V-8 has been retained, which will propel the DeVille to its record-setting speed and heat the hot tub to a balmy 102 degrees.  Unsurprisingly, the legend of the Carpool DeVille started with a keg of beer and a casual conversation between friends. While living at McMaster University in Ontario, the pair was bequeathed an abandoned 1982 Chevy Malibu, to which one of their friends remarked, “I wish you could make this into a hot tub car.” Weicker and Forster, apparently not getting the joke, thought: why not?  After a successful Kickstarter campaign to raise $10,000 for race expenses, Weicker and Forster are headed to Bonneville Salt Flats for Speed Week in August with 100-mph as their goal. Whether or not they’ll reach such a lofty speed is yet to be determined, but one thing is for certain: they’ll be the most comfortable ones there by far.  Follow @NYDNAutos on Twitter and Instagram for more mobile hot tub news!
Many cars and other vehicles have attempted speed records at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, but only one hot tub will.