Old Sled Zone

Welcome to the wonderful world of vintage snowmobiles

It's sometimes unfathomable the changes that have occurred in the snowmobiling industry since the first sleds came out. Snow machines have evolved from pretty basic models to today's highly specialized units carefully designed for particular terrain and purpose. For many sledders, there is great nostalgia in those early snowmobiles, and older riders have fond memories of family time on sleds when they were young. That evocation of times gone by seems to be, at least in part, why we find the value in vintage snowmobiles and love to see them brought back to good-as-new condition.

A blue Sno Scoot in front of six red Sno Scoot snowmobiles.
Old Sled Zone, Manitoba

Ancient history: The best vintage snowmobile museums we’ve seen (so far)

For vintage sled enthusiasts, there are a number of museums worth exploring to take in the history of the sport

by Kyle Born
Gil Mangels stands behind a red 1943 Eliason Snow Toboggan.
Old Sled Zone

Military vehicles and old snowmobiles comprise Miracle of America Museum

Miracle of America Museum in Polson, Montana, contains vintage snowmobile items dating back to the 1940s that have been procured by founder Gil Mangels

by Kyle Born
A blue Sno Scoot in front of six red Sno Scoot snowmobiles.
Old Sled Zone, Minnesota

A history of Western Canada’s most obscure snowmobile brand: SNO SCOOT

Valdi Stefanson, vintage snowmobile collector and reconditioner, details how Calgary-made Sno Scoots came to be and their doomed drawbacks

by Valdi Stefanson
Two men stand behind a 1966 prototype Evinrude Sail Master in a room full of vintage snowmobiles
Old Sled Zone, Manitoba

SnoRiders’ top 10 most-read vintage sled stories

From Rupp to John Deere to a museum full of vintage sleds, these old snowmobiles will make you say “WOW!”

by Kyle Born
A turquoise 94 Safari snowmobile.
Old Sled Zone

Old Sled Zone: 94 Safari with 370 original miles

Scott Sandquist got this 94 Safari snowmobile for $800. Best of all, it only has 370 original miles on it

by Kyle Born
An old 1980 Enticer 340 snowmobile.
Old Sled Zone

Old Sled Zone: 1980 Enticer 340

Scott Cory can't stop raving about his 1980 Enticer 340 snowmobile

by Kyle Born
1973 Ski-Doo 440 Silver Bullet.
Old Sled Zone

Old Sled Zone: 1973 Ski-Doo 440 Silver Bullet

Darrell Tarapaski, owner of a vintage 1973 Ski-Doo 440 Silver Bullet, sent in some classic pics of his sled

Restored 1973 Rupp Sport.
Old Sled Zone

Old Sled Zone: Before and after pics of restored 1973 Rupp Sport

Darrell Tarapaski, owner of a vintage 1973 Rupp Sport, sent in some classic pics of his sled

1972 Ski-Doo TNT 400 F/A.
Old Sled Zone

Old Sled Zone: 1972 Ski-Doo TNT 400 F/A

Darrell Tarapaski, owner of a vintage 1972 Ski-Doo TNT 400 F/A, sent in some classic pics of his sled

Brad Douglas submitted this photo of his 1978 Arctic Cat El Tigre 5000.
Old Sled Zone

Old Sled Zone: Flamin’ 1978 Arctic Cat El Tigre 5000

Brad Douglas submitted this photo of his 1978 Arctic Cat El Tigre 5000

(L to R) Lorne Larson and Valdy Stephonson, president of the America Vintage Snowmobile Association, pose with a 1966 prototype Evinrude Sail Master.
Old Sled Zone

Best of Old Sled Zone 2019: #1 - The owner of Lorne’s Vintage Sleds has “a crazy passion for sleds”

Yama-holy cow! Lloydminster has a whole lot of old snowmobiles

This eye-catching sled is a John Deere Liquifire 440, owned by Wade Boardman.
Old Sled Zone

Best of Old Sled Zone 2019: #2 - 1980’s John Deere Liquifire

Being light, nimble, fuel efficient and stylish worked for the Liquifire and other Deere sleds of the 1980s

Calvin Robinson takes pride in his Canadian 1976 Yamaha SRX 340 factory race sled
Old Sled Zone

Best of Old Sled Zone 2019: #3 - 1976 Yamaha SRX 340 factory race sled

How do you tell if a 1976 Yamaha SRX 340 is a Canadian or USA model? Calvin Robinson fills us in

The Eskimo was produced for a short time in Quebec.
Old Sled Zone

Best of Old Sled Zone 2019: #4 - 1975 Eskimo Snowmobile

The Saskatchewan Snowmobile Show is a great venue to spot rare sleds

You just never know where you'll find a vintage sled - this beauty was spotted on a walk back to the office.
Old Sled Zone

Best of Old Sled Zone 2019: #5 - JD “Green Machine” spied

John Deere had a short but rich legacy in the snowmobile industry - they produced machines from 1971 to 1982

Larson’s favourite sled is his 1967 Johnson Skee Horse 20-inch track.
Old Sled Zone

Best of Old Sled Zone 2019: #6 - 1967 Johnson Skee Horse

Lorne’s Vintage Sleds displays a bevy of snowmobiles in Lloydminster, Alberta

A vintage 1970's Mercury snowmobile.
Old Sled Zone

Best of Old Sled Zone 2019: #7 - 1970’s Merc Snowmobile

Known for their raw power and high speeds Merc sleds dominated racing circuits across the snowbelt

A Polaris factory XCR sled, customized to boost horsepower.
Old Sled Zone

Best of Old Sled Zone 2019: #8 - 1996 Polaris XCR 600 — customized

Semi-retired snowmobiler Cam Webber gives us the rundown on this 1996 customized Polaris XCR 600 sled

A beautifully restored Arctic Cat Jag, spotted at the Saskatchewan Snowmobile Show last fall.
Old Sled Zone

Best of Old Sled Zone 2019: #9 - 1981 Arctic Cat Jag

The Arctic Cat Jaguar was known as a fuel-efficient and rock-solid snowmobile, ideal for a first sled

A trio of vintage sleds takes Michael Kaplan's family out for a Family Day adventure.
Old Sled Zone

Best of Old Sled Zone 2019 - #10: Family Vintage Ride

Alberta resident Michael Kaplan took his kids out for a Family Day adventure back in February

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