For　years　there　have　been　rumors　about　floating　Volkswagens.　(The　photographer　claims　this　one　stayed　up　for　42　minutes.)

Why　not?

The　bottom　of　the　Volkswagen　isnt　like　ordinary　car　bottoms.　A　sheet　of　flat　steel　runs　underneath　the　car,　sealing　the　bottom　fore　and　aft.

Thats　not　done　to　make　a　bad　boat　out　of　it,　just　a　better　car.　The　sealed　bottom　protects　a　VW　from　water,　dirt　and　salt.

All　the　nasty　things　on　the　road　that　eventually　eat　up　a　car.

The　top　part　of　a　Volkswagen　is　also　very　seaworthy.　Its　practically　airtight.

So　airtight　that　its　hard　to　close　the　door　without　rolling　down　the　window　a　bit.

But　there‘s　still　one　thing　to　keep　in　mind　if　you　own　a　Volkswagen.　Even　if　it　could　definitely　float,　it　couldn’t　float　indefinitely.

So　drive　around　the　big　puddles.　Especially　if　theyre　big　enough　to　have　a　name.