From the mid 1960s into early 1970s snowmobiling was a different experience. There were not as many trails as today and there were companies manufacturing snowmobiles that might surprise you. How about BOA-SKI, RUPP, JOHN DEERE, MERCURY and even HARLEY DAVIDSON just to name a few. At one time Montgomery Wards, Sears and J.C. Penney sold snowmobiles. Yep, it’s true. Wards and Sears sold snowmobiles from catalogs made by Polaris and Pennys did the same but Arctic Cat built theirs.

These old sleds did not have the suspension modern snowmobiles do. True Ski Carbides were not really added until 1973, so turning was an issue with the old machines. Vintage snowmobiles had limited horsepower, and reliability was not great either.  Those old sleds were not the warmest to ride either. So why did and why do people still ride vintage sleds today?

When people see a Model-T, an old Ford Coupe or any classic car driving down the street, everyone looks. Why? Their parents may have had a similar vehicle or that’s the car and model they wish they had when they were younger. Seeing old cars could bring back memories and has started many conversations because they stand out. If you are walking in a parking lot and see an old classic car, I guarantee no other car caught your eye. Vintage snowmobiles do the same thing.

Here is the only difference between vintage cars and snowmobiles in my opinion. If you call a friend one winter night and asked what they were doing and they replied, “I’m in the garage, working on my old car” you wouldn’t think twice about it, right? Call a person on a warm summer night and ask that same question and they say, “I’m in the garage, working on my vintage snowmobile” you’d probably think their crazy

People restore old cars as a hobby. Put that vehicle in a car show when it’s done. Then there are others that just like driving that old or classic car around town. Well, people restore vintage snowmobiles for the exact same reasons. People join car clubs, go to car shows and even go to swap meets looking for parts for their old cars. Same goes for old sleds. There are vintage snowmobile shows, swap meets, vintage rides and trust

In the winter, stop at a resort or bar in the Northwoods and there could be 20 snowmobiles out front, and one sled will catch our eye. Which one gets the most attention? Yep, the vintage snowmobile does, because just like old cars, they each have their own defined look.

I have been asked; how old does a snowmobile have to be before it is considered vintage? It has been argued that 15 to 20 years old is considered vintage by some, while others say it’s 25 years. That would mean a 2000 and/or 2005 would be considered a vintage snowmobile along with a 2010.  Personally, I do not consider those to be vintage as I wouldn’t consider a 2000, 2005 or a 2010 automobile vintage or classic. I do not believe a snowmobile from any manufacturer in those years would draw that much attention.

I would consider an old snowmobile that would stand out from other sleds, would be called an antique, but wait, a 35-year-old snowmobile (1990) can be registered as antique, so now I don’t know what to call an old snowmobile that would make people look twice, because I love the 1960s and 1970s snowmobiles. So, I came up with a new name VINTAGETIQUE for the sleds I rode.

If you hear there is a vintage/ANTIQUE snowmobile show in your area, try to attend. Better yet, take a ride to one of the snowmobile museums in St. Germain (HALL OF FAME), Sayner (VILAS COUNTY MUSEUM) Eagle River (WORLD HEARQUATERS) or Naubinway Michigan (TOP OF THE LAKE ANTIQUE SNOWMOBLIE MUSEUM). Then I think you might understand why people love these old machines.
What would you consider vintage?

If you have an ANTIQUE not a vintage snowmobile, send a picture of it to our email and we would love to post it.