There are people that just have a calling. Some want to become world-class architects, some enter medical research to cure cancer, and then there are some that just want to drive hot tubs at high speeds. This story concerns the latter. In 1999, two Canadian engineers, Phillip Weicker and Ducan Forster, took a 1969 Cadillac DeVille and built it into world’s fastest hot tub. But before we go into the details concerning this amazing advance in automotive engineering, let’s travel back to the very beginning.
It all started back in 1996 when Weicker and Forster, 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 that states: “Always do sober what you say you’d do when intoxicated.” Empowered with inspiration from the great author, they planned to build what was considered impossible. This, of course, was taking an abandoned convertible left on campus (a 1982 Chevrolet Malibu) and turning it into a hot tub – a fully-operational, fully-drivable hot tub.
It wasn’t long before the work began. With the help of other presumably misguided engineers, Weicker, Forster, and team completed the project in just a few months. It didn’t look like much but it worked and was officially nicknamed the MK1. As you can likely imagine, it didn’t take long before MK1 became a well-known entity at McMaster University and was the focal point of many festivities (read: raucous parties and fraternity bashes.)
Fast-forward several years and Weicker and Forster have graduated from McMaster University and both are working as professional engineers. For both, life is comfortable and work is rewarding. Then it happened. The urge to make it “bigger and better” reared its ugly head and thus began the “The Carpool Deville” concept. And, no longer did they have to utilize an abandoned car for a mobile hot tub, now they could afford to build the very best.
The first thing Weicker and Forster did was purchase a ginormous 1969 Cadillac DeVille. This land yacht was one of the biggest convertibles to ever come out of Detroit and it was perfect for their project. They purchased the convertible for $800 from eBay in 2008, and then they worked for six years to convert it into a hot tub car and attempt the long-evasive land speed record.
Building The Hot Tub Car
First, they removed the interior and an elaborate custom fiberglass tub was installed. Secondly, to drive the vehicle, they fitted a marine-style steering wheel, gauges, and throttle controls fitted into the dash. Thirdly, they fully rebuilt and modified the factory-installed 427-cubic inch V8 to perform two important functions.
The first, of course, was propelling the DeVille around and second, the exhaust manifolds were modified to heat the pool water. We asked our technical consultant at Len Stoler Lexus of Owings Mills, a local Lexus dealer in Ownings Mills, MD, how this technical trick was accomplished. He explained that this was relatively easy. Weicker and Forster probably installed the exhaust manifolds from a V-8 boat motor. Because they are built with internal channels to funnel off engine heat. This heated water would then be used to heat the car’s hot tub.
To keep the experience smooth and relaxing, the team made sure the steering column was completely watertight. And because no hot tub is complete without warm water, they installed a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger. That works with the engine coolant, heating the Jacuzzi water to a toasty 102°F (38.88°C) in just 35 minutes.
On a sunny day in August 2014, the inventors, Weicker and Forsters, took this unique vehicle for a spin near the Bonneville Salt Flats in Wendover, Utah. In their two best runs, they averaged an impressive speed of 52.28 mph (84.14 km/h). However their crowning moment came when they hit a top speed of 54.8 mph (88.19 km/h) on the third run. The speed was carefully measured using three mobile GPS devices and verified by stopwatch timing over a precisely measured 0.3-mile (482.80-meter) stretch of flat land. This feat entitled the DeVille the world’s fastest car with a hot tub, as endorsed by the Guinness Book of World Records.
But speed isn’t the only thing this hot tub on wheels has going for it. The Carpool DeVille is fitted with 11 powerful water jets, a spa filter, and an overflow tank. It ensured that up to five people can soak in style. When filled with 375 gallons (1,419.53 liters) of water, this heavyweight beauty tips the scales at a whopping 9,000 pounds (4,082.33 kilograms). It’s not just a car – it’s a rolling spa experience that you’ll never forget.
Since the completion of the Carpool DeVille, both engineers have become minor on-line celebrities. They are emblematic of what can occur when you think creatively. Those who said that “a fast hot tub was just a dream and could never be created” were proved wrong. Let’s face it, these two persistent engineers have made automotive history. Ok, it’s sort of weird history, but it’s still history. Hey, the guys at Ripley’s just love it.
The duo finally sold the hot tub car for $26,500 at a Barrett-Jackson auction in 2018. They never really spilled the beans on why they chose to let it go, but as the saying goes, “They’ll always have Paris”—and that incredible world record to brag about!
