Playing in the snow with a Ford Snowmobile

[Jim Oaks]

Imagine having one of these to play with in the snow?

A weird part of me would like to see a black 1983-1988 Ford Ranger with ski's on the front, and a tandem axle with metal snowmobile tracks. The wheelwell opening formed perfectly to fit the tracks.

https://www.blueovaltrucks.com/ford_articles/ford-model-t-snowmobile/

 

[fangotango306]

Love this! I have seen a variant of something similar on a 20s essex with a single ski in the front about 20" wide. A gentleman near dresser wisconsin has it in a barn.

 

[adsm08]

I could get behind that wheel.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Anyone remember the old Christmas cartoons? There was an intro where an old bearded guy (cartoon) came driving across the snow in one of these. I think he was a mail man. I searched on youtube, but couldn't find it.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

How bout this?

Fordson snow machine. Theres a video on youtube of it thats from like 1929 if you search it.

 

[adsm08]

Anyone remember the old Christmas cartoons? There was an intro where an old bearded guy (cartoon) came driving across the snow in one of these. I think he was a mail man. I searched on youtube, but couldn't find it.

I remember one in one of the claymation movies, it was a mail man, but he was young and skinny. I think it was Rudolph, but it might have been a different one. I can't think of the title, but it had a guy named Burgermeister Mersterburger.

EDIT: Got it.

The character was modeled on and voiced by Fred Astaire. Some of the places I found these pictures implied the vehicle may have been called a "Playing Mantis".

 

[fastpakr]

How bout this?

Fordson snow machine. Theres a video on youtube of it thats from like 1929 if you search it.

I saw one of those up close in a museum in Fairbanks last summer. Quite a rig! Apparently the fuel efficiency was mind blowingly awful.

 

[91stranger]

I remember one in one of the claymation movies, it was a mail man, but he was young and skinny. I think it was Rudolph, but it might have been a different one. I can't think of the title, but it had a guy named Burgermeister Mersterburger.

LOL you can't remember the title but you surely remember burgermeister mersterburger lol. Cracks me up.

 

[adsm08]

I saw one of those up close in a museum in Fairbanks last summer. Quite a rig! Apparently the fuel efficiency was mind blowingly awful.

I'm not surprised by that at all. In addition to the huge screws it is running with the engine in the snow basically, it probably never makes it to temp.

Probably something on par with the gas turbine powered M1A1, which gets about three gallons to the mile.

LOL you can't remember the title but you surely remember burgermeister mersterburger lol. Cracks me up.

How do you forget a name like Burgermeister Meisterburger?

It was "Santa Clause Isn't Coming to Town" BTW.

 

[Ranger850]

Imagine having one of these to play with in the snow?

A weird part of me would like to see a black 1983-1988 Ford Ranger with ski's on the front, and a tandem axle with metal snowmobile tracks. The wheelwell opening formed perfectly to fit the tracks.

https://www.blueovaltrucks.com/ford_articles/ford-model-t-snowmobile/

there is a "Parts List & Instructions" section, so I don't' know why it hasn't been done yet?:(Sarcasm)

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I saw one of those up close in a museum in Fairbanks last summer. Quite a rig! Apparently the fuel efficiency was mind blowingly awful.

Dunno how fast the snow version went but the wheel version only went 3-4mph which hurts mpg ratings.

The worm gear rear differential wasn't particularly efficient either.

 

[fastpakr]

Just realized I took a couple of pictures when I was up there...

 

[Ranger850]

I wonder if that thing would float.

 

[91stranger]

I wonder if that thing would float.

A modern one could. Them old ones are mostly cast iron. I doubt those hollow cylinders could keep it afloat. They make these in RC cars now. They can actually zip across the yard, water, dirt pretty good.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Wow that looks like a death trap.