Snowmobile Vintage
by Nick for Snowmobile Style
Snowmobile Vintage, often called Vintage Snowmobiles, refers to the hobby of collecting and riding older models of snowmobiles. Many snowmobile enthusiasts simply call it a labor of love because they don’t do it with monetary goals in mind. Snowmobile vintage collecting and restoration is an often frustrating passion because time isn’t kind to anything that runs in the snow, gets wet, and then dries off repeatedly.
In talking with friends and other enthusiasts it becomes quite clear that snowmobile vintage is synonymous with remembering good times. Vintage snowmobiles bring back memories of snowmobile trips taken with families. My earliest memory of riding a snowmobile was when I was 4 in the Grassy Narrows area of Eastern Canada. My mom drove with me seated in front, my hands firmly on the engine cover for warmth.
This John Deere Liquifire Snowmobile brings back fond memories for me, it’s a 1980 440 model with hand warmers that kept my hands toasty and me riding for hours. It has two cylinders and nothing fancy under the hood which meant I could work on it with my then limited knowledge of snowmobile engines. If you knew about gas tanks, carburators and had minimal electrical component knowledge you were in business.
This Manta Snowmobile is an excellent example of another factor that makes vintage snowmobile collecting fun. The Manta is different in that it has twin-tracks while most of today’s snowmobiles have a single wide track.
Rare snowmobile vintage is always a factor in determining which sleds become the most attractive to collectors, if it’s harder to find it has to be worth more doesn’t it? Not really, again this Manta is an excellent specimen in that the owner has all records for the vehicle. He knows how many original miles it has, which is very few, and that it still has the original belts in place. He has the manuals, jackets and emblems that often came with new snowmobile purchases too. By keeping all of the records and paperwork and by properly maintaining the sled it’s value increases in the eyes of prospective buyers.
This is a 1964 Polaris Voyager Sno-traveler. Yet another factor to consider when determining snowmobile vintage is the history of its manufacturer. Many enthusiasts are loyal to one brand and owning older models from that maker is an honor. The sno-traveller doesn’t have any suspension to speak of, it has a wide bench for a seat, it weighs a lot and has little ground clearance so what makes it popular? It’s a Polaris classic that any Polaris enthusiast would love to take out for a spin, nothing fancy required.
Perhaps the best way to get involved in snowmobile vintage collecting is to keep an eye on what is currently available on the market and to monitor the prices and details. I do this regularly because it’s a hobby of mine and I’m always looking out for my next project so to speak. Here are some of the current vintage snowmobile auctions being offered now.
