The 60's and 70's, the great years of snowmobiles. My Dad was a Cat Dealer from 1966 until 1990 and later also Sold Yamaha, Kawasaki, and John Deere. Dad received the First Arctic Cat El Tigre' for the 1978 model year. A Series 6000. When Dad passed back in early 2004. I had the responsibility to Liquidate all the Sleds he had. The sale took 7 weeks. But Sold all 600+ machines. Some were still in the Factory crates.
I love the early years of snowmobiling and that's why I'm dedicated to preserving the history of these early machines both in restoration and in video. PS thank you for that cool story about your dad and his dealership
Those were the days; things were so much simpler back then. I bought a new 1973 Chaparral SS III 440, and it was a great sled. I was young then and ran you know what of it. Back then we used to have plenty of snow to ride our sleds. Winters of late here in southeastern MI have not been good for winter activities if you like to play in the snow. If I remember correctly, I paid 1100 for it and got a Chaparral 10 speed bicyclical thrown in on the deal. The tachometer was extra otherwise it would have been just over 1000 bucks. I hired into GM Truck & Bus in Pontiac Michigan in 1972 right after I turned 18. My first big purchase was the Chaparral SS III 440. Wish I would have kept it and restored it. I sold it to my younger brother, and I don't remember what he ended up doing with it. Thanks for the memories.
Hey wow, I'm class of 72 as well. Dad was a Chaparral dealer so got to ride a 74 SSX 440 liquid cooled for the winter. I raced it in a cross country race up by Roseau MN where Polaris were/are built and I was pretty much keeping up with the first two Polaris factory triple cylinder mod sleds. Until I blew a belt, that put me behind. But I got a new belt on it and finished anyway. Good times!
@@oneninerniner3427 The 74 liquid cooled Chaparral's were much quicker than the air-cooled engines of the previous years. I remember racing a 74 SSX 440 on one of the many lakes in our area in the winter of 74-75. It was not even close, my 73 SSIII 440 was no match for the liquid cooled 440 SSX. If I would have known Chaparral was going to make a much better sled the following year, I would have waited for the 74-model year. Too bad they went out of business shortly afterwards. Chaparrals were great handling sleds.
I had a 1973 Boa Ski. It had a 340 Hirth engine and was really fast for it's time. My older brother has a Homelite snowmobile that was like 400 pounds. Really heavy and if you got stuck with it, you needed three or four guys to pull you out.
@@lennybrown5292 I only knew one person that had a Scorpion. I think it was a 340 Whip if I remember correctly. I never rode one so I knew nothing about them. I saw a few Mantas passing by riding on the trails over the years. Never knew anything about those either but they looked cool.
I had a Boa ski 493 hirth twin, 20 inch track (smooth) was fast but very heavy took 2 men and a n ape and mother nature to melt the snow in the spring to get it unstuck
There sure was a lot snow sled brands back in the 60s and 70s, but some of theses I never heard of like Ski Dadler, and AMF. I did have a late 60s Rupp for few years. Another famous brand back then was Moto Ski......
Makes me sick to think I paid 100 for a 72 AC chetteah 440. The last sled I bought new was the AC Zr 600 efi still have em both I think I paid 6k in 2000 so in todays money what’s that maybe 10k doesn’t justify the ridiculous prices now. I bought my grand kids two of those little ac 120 sleds this year for Xmas dealer wanted no lie 4K for new ones each. I laughed bought em used with barely any hours or use for $1300 for a 2019 and 1800 for a 22 for one that some kid maybe rode a handful of times. 80’,90’s and early 2000’s snowmobiles were reasonable. I can afford any one I want but hell no I don’t want to look at 25k in my garage 9 months out of there. Personally SXS hurt snowmobile sales esp when u can use 90% like one of the posters here stated and that makes a lot of sense because even here in MN our winters have been crap for last 20 years. And then blame these CEO’s doubling price of a snowmobile in 2012 to current times
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The 60's and 70's, the great years of snowmobiles. My Dad was a Cat Dealer from 1966 until 1990 and later also Sold Yamaha, Kawasaki, and John Deere. Dad received the First Arctic Cat El Tigre' for the 1978 model year. A Series 6000. When Dad passed back in early 2004. I had the responsibility to Liquidate all the Sleds he had. The sale took 7 weeks. But Sold all 600+ machines. Some were still in the Factory crates.
I love the early years of snowmobiling and that's why I'm dedicated to preserving the history of these early machines both in restoration and in video. PS thank you for that cool story about your dad and his dealership
what state did your dad have the dealership?
@tman8939 Colorado
Those were the days. My dad bought a Ski Doo Nordic in the early 70s. GREAT TIMES with that sled.
Those were the days; things were so much simpler back then. I bought a new 1973 Chaparral SS III 440, and it was a great sled. I was young then and ran you know what of it. Back then we used to have plenty of snow to ride our sleds. Winters of late here in southeastern MI have not been good for winter activities if you like to play in the snow. If I remember correctly, I paid 1100 for it and got a Chaparral 10 speed bicyclical thrown in on the deal. The tachometer was extra otherwise it would have been just over 1000 bucks. I hired into GM Truck & Bus in Pontiac Michigan in 1972 right after I turned 18. My first big purchase was the Chaparral SS III 440. Wish I would have kept it and restored it. I sold it to my younger brother, and I don't remember what he ended up doing with it. Thanks for the memories.
Hey wow, I'm class of 72 as well. Dad was a Chaparral dealer so got to ride a 74 SSX 440 liquid cooled for the winter. I raced it in a cross country race up by Roseau MN where Polaris were/are built and I was pretty much keeping up with the first two Polaris factory triple cylinder mod sleds. Until I blew a belt, that put me behind. But I got a new belt on it and finished anyway. Good times!
@@oneninerniner3427 The 74 liquid cooled Chaparral's were much quicker than the air-cooled engines of the previous years. I remember racing a 74 SSX 440 on one of the many lakes in our area in the winter of 74-75. It was not even close, my 73 SSIII 440 was no match for the liquid cooled 440 SSX. If I would have known Chaparral was going to make a much better sled the following year, I would have waited for the 74-model year. Too bad they went out of business shortly afterwards. Chaparrals were great handling sleds.
Back when everybody could afford a new snowmobile and lots of brands to choose from.
Kids want cell phones now.
Not everybody
Let's hear it for Moto Ski in Kittanning PA 😊 Loved my 440 sled.
I had a 1973 Boa Ski. It had a 340 Hirth engine and was really fast for it's time. My older brother has a Homelite snowmobile that was like 400 pounds. Really heavy and if you got stuck with it, you needed three or four guys to pull you out.
My Brother had an Alouette back in the 70’s friend had a Merc . Loved my Boa Ski !
Traded my 69 Scorpion in for the Boa Ski , a step up 🤭
@@lennybrown5292 I only knew one person that had a Scorpion. I think it was a 340 Whip if I remember correctly. I never rode one so I knew nothing about them. I saw a few Mantas passing by riding on the trails over the years. Never knew anything about those either but they looked cool.
I had a Boa ski 493 hirth twin, 20 inch track (smooth) was fast but very heavy took 2 men and a n ape and mother nature to melt the snow in the spring to get it unstuck
I had a 72 TX500, came with a plate on the dash that said, we certify that the owner is a professional rider..lol
There sure was a lot snow sled brands back in the 60s and 70s, but some of theses I never heard of like Ski Dadler, and AMF. I did have a late 60s Rupp for few years. Another famous brand back then was Moto Ski......
I read somewhere that there was over 200 brands at one point
days of my youth, My town had arctic cat, Polaris, John Deere and Skirule dealers in the 70's.
Thx for sharing
It would be great if someone was to bring back a new old school sled regular people could afford!
Fully agree. I think there is still a market for a simple cheap sled
Ha, they did put a Rupp in there, fast she was for the time..
Makes me sick to think I paid 100 for a 72 AC chetteah 440. The last sled I bought new was the AC Zr 600 efi still have em both I think I paid 6k in 2000 so in todays money what’s that maybe 10k doesn’t justify the ridiculous prices now. I bought my grand kids two of those little ac 120 sleds this year for Xmas dealer wanted no lie 4K for new ones each. I laughed bought em used with barely any hours or use for $1300 for a 2019 and 1800 for a 22 for one that some kid maybe rode a handful of times. 80’,90’s and early 2000’s snowmobiles were reasonable. I can afford any one I want but hell no I don’t want to look at 25k in my garage 9 months out of there.
Personally SXS hurt snowmobile sales esp when u can use 90% like one of the posters here stated and that makes a lot of sense because even here in MN our winters have been crap for last 20 years. And then blame these CEO’s doubling price of a snowmobile in 2012 to current times
Had a 69 Scorpion 🦂, fun 😊 . Not so fast 🤔 !
For all the advertising Chaparral and Outboard Marine did they sure didn't last too long....
Did chaparral make trailers?
I think so they made boats
LOL no one wearing helmets
You don't need a ( bleep ) helmet