Most of the history focuses on snowmobile business, which is great but as of 2007, the sales of atvs surpassed the sales of snowmobiles. Here are some notable dates in the history of the snowmobile. Founded in 1962 by american formula one racers hap sharp and jim hall, it was named after the roadrunner, a fastrunning ground cuckoo also known as a chaparral bird. Book, snowmobile history vol i history of machines m through ski doo. Chaparral snowmobiles were one of the more dominant makes on the ice oval circuit. Jan 05, 2014 this blog is all about snowmobiles from the 1960s thru the 1980s. The later was the first major victory for an unknown named gilles villeneuve. Book, snow goers vintage snowmobiles written by david wells.
Jim halls chaparral built some of the wildest and most creative race cars ever seen. Rupp industries operated from 1959 until bankruptcy in 1978. Jan 17, 2014 chaparral snowmobile ad craigslist sled for sale page 5 hcs snowmobile forums stay safe and healthy. This book covers that amazing journey from the early 1900s to 1960 and beyond, where often amusing experiments in design and construction led the way to a blending of power and hitech engineering with comfort, safety and reliability. Every attempt is made to ensure the data listed is accurate. In the summer of 1972, denverbased chaparral industries inc. Book, skidoo 50 years experience 50 years of skidoo history.
In 1980, a group of polaris managers and investors bought polaris from textron, who had bought the company in the late 1960s. The golden age of snowmobile manufacturing was from 19681976 with a gradual slow down leading to 1982. However, differences between sources, incomplete listings, errors, and data entry mistakes do occur. Alouette, arctic cat, chaparral, kalamazoo, kawasaki, kohler, mercury, polaris, rupp, scorpion, skidoo, skiroule, snojet, suzuki, and yamaha. No snowmobile ever deserved this epitaph more than the 1974 chaparral ssx the second liquidcooled snowmobile to hit the market the brut was first was not only ahead of most of the industry in engine technology, but also in chassis construction and equipment options. Snowmobiling has been a part of the canadian landscape since new years eve 1922, when a 15yearold named josepharmand bombardier took his first oversnow vehicle for a test ride on the streets of valcourt, quebec. In 1985 they produced their first allterrain vehicle, and in 1989 they introduced the indy 500, which quickly became a legendary model. Find 1974 chaparral ssx 440 vintage liquidcooled snowmobile. Interestingly, the earliest ssx ifs racer 1972 used an aluminum skidframe with outboard mounted shocks and 4inches of travel but relented and went to a more durable and heavier steel one in 1973. Chaparral snowmobile parts snowmobile parts catalog. They used an all aluminum chassis with weight, performance, durability and appearance in mind. Book, snowmobile history vol iii pierre pellerins third book on. Unfollow chaparral snowmobile to stop getting updates on your ebay feed.
Armco recreational products, in turn, was a division of armco steel corporation of middletown, ohio. Thank you kyle tokar for the pictures first picture is don rick on a sled he sold a few weeks ago. For the first two or three years, chaparral was a highly independent division. As i drove through my home town one day i noticed two red snowmobile covers in a garage. Yamaha, chaparral, skidoo, rupp, scorpion, polaris swedish sleds pioneers of snow travel so much more. Snoriders takes a look at the history of snowmobiling and the inventions that continue to shape our sport. How to survive alone in the wilderness for 1 week eastern woodlands duration. Carving a timeline of snowmobile history snoriders. Clear oem replacement this part is aftermarket equipment designed to replace the original manufacturers part numbers specified here. This blog is all about snowmobiles from the 1960s thru the 1980s. Featured are the big names like arctic cat, polaris, skidoo, yamaha, john deere, scorpion, snowjet, mercury, rupp, motoski, as well as the many smallcompany brands like allied, boa ski, chaparral, evinrude, harle.
Chaparral, founded in 1967, was purchased by armco in 1969. I knew the owner of the house so i stopped in to check it out. The history of snowmobile development in north america is an exciting adventure in true pioneering spirit. Aug 26, 2014 chaparral the company january 1974 chaparral was a division of armco recreational products, inc.
No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you. Chaparral engine carburetor sprocket chain model make model displ. Vintage sled events listings, classifieds and much more. This book is a look at all the most interesting, rare, or.
Used snowmobile part used snowmobile trailer used snowmobile. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. The new owners changed the brand name to chaparral, which was previously the lowend model in the snowbirdie line, and poured on the product development dollars. Vintage snowmobiles, vintage sleds and even vintage snow. Chaparral racers tell us there was a lot of scrub and bump steer with the ifs design and the company was never quite able to get it figured out. The daily posts will feature stories, ads or press releases for a classic snowmobile during that period from various snowmobile magazines and other publications during that period in snowmobile history.
This book is a look at all the most interesting, rare, or collectible snowmobiles from that time period. Snowmobile history the first attempts at building a vehicle that would move over snow on runners happened over 70 years ago. Chaparral xenoah 340 lc vforce reed kit with manifold to correct for vm3638. The only disappointing thing about this book is that it does not talk much about how arctic cat entered the atv allterrain vehicles business. During this time literally hundreds of snowmobile manufacturers sprung up and then disappeared. Visit the international snowmobile manufacturers association web sites at. Chaparral wanted to show how good its snowmobiles were in the 1970s, so it went racing. Chaparral ssx snowmobile, sn d82775, liquid cooler 432cc 440, engine sn unknown, miles on odo 3,242, registration outdated, has not been run for several years, engine turns over pull start, windsheild broke, seat needs some repair, tools. Unfortunately, chaparral was one of the victims of the oil shock of the 70s, like many other snowmobile manufacturers. Thanks year book booklet handbook hand race racer racers races racing snowmobiling snowmobilers snowmobilers snowmobile sno mobile time times ralley. The supersleek new design was based on its successful 1971 factory racers who had taken the mod 340 class at the eagle river, wisconsin, snowmobile derby and mod 440 at the second annual united states snowmobile association world series in boonville, new york. Make model ratio size 1973 firebird chaparral 248 249cc mikuni 38mm 15. On november 14, 2012, i released volume 1 of the english version, which will equally be the first of its kind, covering snowmobile history from its beginning until.
Feb 16, 20 taking the chaparral for a quick ride around the property. Lack of snow in the snow belt, the energy crisis and the lack of dealer confidence led armco, on feb. Featured are the big names like arctic cat, polaris, skidoo, yamaha, john deere, scorpion, snowjet, mercury, rupp, motoski, as well as the many smallcompany brands like. Chaparral cars was a pioneering american automobile racing team and race car developer that engineered, built, and raced cars from 1963 through 1970. By that fall chaparral also had 440cc and 650cc models ready for snow racing, and they featured something new. Rupp xenoah 250,340,440,and 440 chaparral vforce reed kit. Their short production time spanned from 1968 to 1974. Rupp industries was a mansfield, ohio based manufacturer of gokarts, minibikes, snowmobiles and other offroad vehicles founded by mickey rupp in 1959. This book is about the history of the snowmobile from its beginnings until the year 2000. We have the best prices on the net for all items in this snowmobile parts catalog after shipping and handling. Forerunners of the snowmobile existed as early as the 1800s, and versions of the snowmobile have been around since as early as 1910. I am restoring a 1972 340 firebird and need a set of track drivers. The french version, which has sold mostly in quebec, was the first of its kind in the world. Vintage snowmobiles photo gallery from the snowmobile hall.
We visited hall to see the amazing 2j and witness his first drive in it in 30 years. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. See more ideas about vintage sled, snow machine and sled. As the snow flies a history of snowmobile development in. Collectors, sleds and the historical figures that made snowmobiling great. It was name snowmobile of the decade, and is still produced today.
A global vintage snwomobile resource, bringing people interested in antique and vintage snowmobiles together from all over the planet. As i travel around central minnesota, ive always got my eyes out for cars, motorcycles and snowmobiles. It is manufactured using highquality materials, to the same specifications as the original part. Started second pull, after sitting since last winter. Rupp vehicles are known for their performance and bright red coloring, particularly the snowmobiles and offroad vehicles. From 1970 through 1974, more than 65,000 chaparral snowmobiles were built and sold, but it was not enough to show a profit. Apr 26, 2018 the supersleek new design was based on its successful 1971 factory racers who had taken the mod 340 class at the eagle river, wisconsin, snowmobile derby and mod 440 at the second annual united states snowmobile association world series in boonville, new york. Chaparral the company january 1974 chaparral was a division of armco. In 1972, however, armco began to play a more active management role, highlighted by the appointment of a long time armco executive, to. This racy 1973 chaparral firebird ssx featured a carlike trailing arm front suspension. Jan 23, 2017 jim halls chaparral built some of the wildest and most creative race cars ever seen. Taking the chaparral for a quick ride around the property. Modified and raced by rich shepherd, jackson montana. Everything chaparral related, pictures, stories and questions.