This article from an undated issue of Time gives a short description of the Coot, and its early history. Thanks to Daryl Royse for sending me this article!

The Coot was designed in 1964 by Carl Enos Jr., then an 18-year-old mechanic, as a utility vehicle for ranches. The car carries four passengers or 1,000 lbs. at 25 m.p.h over fairly smooth ground. Then in rough spots it is slower, but neither mud, sand nor grades as steep as 75 degrees will stop it. In water, it cruises at around 2 m.p.h propelled by its rotating wheels, or 5 m.p.h with an optional prop. The open tubs, which form the 7 ft. 6 in. body, keep it afloat like a boat. They tubs are connected by a jointed shaft that permits the Coot to flex with the terrain. With fourwheel drive and steering there is always enough traction and twist to prevent tipping, come hill or gully. To the driver, this may make the ride exciting, but it is hardly different from his car. There are a standard clutch, a brake and an accelerator, a steering wheel and a two-speed forward, neutral and reverse gearshift. Power is supplied by a 12-h.p. lawn-mower engine that can run two hours on a gallon of gas.

Two months ago, Founder Enos and his partner Robert Mauser sold Coot Inc. for just over $1,000,000 to Randtron, a new manufacturing conglomerate headquartered near San Francisco; Mauser and Enos stay on as president and vice president of the subsidiary. With 254 dealers throughout the U.S., and volume projected at $5,500,000, the company should show its first profit this year. "Off-the-road vehicles," says Mauser, "serve the purpose for which people used to keep horses: to be able to go off alone where automobiles cannot go. But you can keep the Coot in the garage - and you don't have to feed it any hay." Besides, what horse ever came equipped with an optional surrey top and roll bar?

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