Rare 1990 RMA Amphi-Ranger Heads to Mecum Auction
A 1990 RMA Amphi-Ranger 2800 SR, one of only 70 built, is set for a Mecum auction in September. This amphibious 4x4, with just 16,000 km, is believed to be the only 1990 model in the United States.
A 1990 RMA Amphi-Ranger 2800 SR is scheduled for a Mecum auction in September. This amphibious four-wheel drive is one of only about 70 examples ever built and is believed to be the only 1990 model currently in the United States. It has covered just 16,000 kilometers and retains its original tires, green aluminum-alloy body, 5-speed manual gearbox, locking differentials, alloy wheels, and Ford 2.9 liter V6 engine.
Development and Production
Rheinauer Maschinen und Armaturenbau (RMA), a German specialist valve manufacturer, developed the Amphi-Ranger in the 1980s. The firm's managing director, Gerhard Faulhaber, reportedly wanted a vehicle to inspect pipelines across marshes, rivers, and swamps. Series production of the 2800 SR model ran from 1985 to 1995. The vehicle was extraordinarily expensive, which limited its production. German magazine Auto Bild counted 35 examples in December 1986 and reported roughly one was being built each month.
Design and Construction
The "SR" in the model name stood for "seewasserresistent," meaning seawater resistant. Its hull was built from 3mm to 4mm thick aluminum sheet welded to an aluminum ladder frame, forming a sealed tub. Most mechanical parts were protected inside this hull, providing roughly 10 inches of ground clearance. Cooling was handled by a large fan pulling air through vents in the B-pillars, with a secondary radiator behind a grille in the nose.
Performance and Specifications
The Amphi-Ranger was a capable off-roader with independent suspension, locking front and rear differentials, four-wheel disc brakes, and power steering. Later models, like this 1990 example, used Ford's fuel-injected 2.9 liter Cologne V6 producing 143 bhp. A 4 or 5-speed manual gearbox sent power to an RMA-engineered dual-range transfer case. In water, an electrically deployed Z-drive propeller provided propulsion, with steering handled by the front wheels. RMA claimed a water speed of roughly 15 km/h (9 mph).
Contemporary magazine tests provide performance figures for the vehicle.
| Publication | Issue Date | Top Speed | 0-62 mph Time | Fuel Economy | Weight | Length | Price (New) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto Motor und Sport | January 1986 | 88 mph | 18.7 seconds | 18.8 L/100 km (~12.5 mpg) | 4,189 lbs | 15 ft 5 in | 95,000 DM |
| CAR | 1990 | - | - | - | - | - | £96,286 (as tested) |
Operational History and Legacy
RMA's customers were mostly pipeline operators, water-borne police forces, and reservoir authorities. Private sales were rare. For instance, Hessen's Wasserschutzpolizei (river police) ran two Amphi-Rangers from 1987 to 2000. The high cost was a major barrier to wider adoption; RMA reportedly quoted a prospective American buyer $200,000 USD in 1993. Production ceased in 1995.
Amphibious vehicle historian René Pohl notes one Amphi-Ranger rode out a Force 10 storm off the North Sea coast. Another appeared in the second season of Baywatch. A 1986 example was offered for private sale in Germany in 2024 with an asking price of €180,000 (approximately $208,000 USD). The vehicle heading to auction retains its original equipment and low mileage, presenting a rare opportunity for collectors of unconventional classic cars.
