Playing in the snow with a Ford Snowmobile

[85_Ranger4x4]

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.

The soviets played with something similar:

Wow that looks like a death trap.

Hey, at least it has a shield over the drivechains.

 

[Curious Hound]

Hey, at least it has a shield over the drivechains.

I don't think OSHA would find it to be sufficient.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

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

I just wanna drive it.

 

[adsm08]

Wow that looks like a death trap.

Keep in mind though that thing was built in an era where speedometers were optional equipment that would double the price of a car and the guy who invented seat belts was probably still in diapers.

 

[Ranger850]

Keep in mind though that thing was built in an era where speedometers were optional equipment that would double the price of a car and the guy who invented seat belts was probably still in diapers.

... and mirrors on vehicles were still decades away.
... and everything from that era was a deathtrap. The softest thing a lot of those things had was wood. No soft rubber or plastics. Just wood and Cast iron.

 

[adsm08]

... and mirrors on vehicles were still decades away.
... and everything from that era was a deathtrap. The softest thing a lot of those things had was wood. No soft rubber or plastics. Just wood and Cast iron.

And the headlights were gas powered.

That's actually where we get the term "B-tank" for acetylene. That was the size a bus used.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Keep in mind though that thing was built in an era where speedometers were optional equipment that would double the price of a car and the guy who invented seat belts was probably still in diapers.

You could break your arm just starting it. Thanks to the worm gear differential a lot of the wheel ones would easily flip over backwards.

Then you put meatgrinders on each side for this thing...

 

[pjtoledo]

I wonder if that thing would float.

actually quite well,,,upside down. at least that way the fuel tank was no longer directly above the engine

 

[Bird76Mojo]

There was a postal driver that still ran one of the original Ford conversions up north until just a few years ago. It had been in his family for decades.

There were lots of different track conversions for model T and model A's. I know where one is parked in a collection. It still runs and drives perfectly.

http://theoldmotor.com/?p=137664

All the videos you'd ever want to see on tracked T's..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9CgOhj0HP0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4DbO9rX8DU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6W6Bw1n-6Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOblftuA6D4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQz2coLcJuI

Model T's racing..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZP0oinlpws

An interesting video on early track conversions for Fordson tractors.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DmMPfCoE6E

Extremely vintage video of early conversions with an odd center drive and four skis

http://www.filmarkivet.se/movies/varldens-forsta-automobilslade/

Cool old steam tractor with tracks..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmpYe7_tIZ4