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.

Mercury 250 snowmobile on snowy trail with blue Snoboggan being towed behind it.
Old Sled Zone

Old Sled Zone: 1970 Mercury 250

Mercury snowmobiles were the brainchild of Carl Kiekhaefer, maker of the famous Mercury outboard motors

Back-lit barroom sign with a picture of a Scorpion snowmobile and couple sitting around a campfire.
Old Sled Zone

Old Sled Zone: What’s your favourite snowmobile collectible?

Nostalgia for the "good 'ol days" runs deep, even with snowmobilers.

A vintage Arctic Cat Panther.
Old Sled Zone

Old Sled Zone: Vintage Snowmobile Decals and Stickers

Vintage snowmobiles are interesting, and often the vintage decals plastered on them are equally interesting

An 1970's vintage Polaris sled.
Old Sled Zone

Old Sled Zone: Early 1970’s Polaris Snowmobile

By the time the 1970's hit, sleds were starting to become more sophisticated, with special-built engines and improved power and performance.

A Yamaha SRX 400 sled.
Old Sled Zone

Old Sled Zone: 1976 Yamaha 340 SRX

This week’s Old Sled comes from a recent post by Edson, Alberta's Calvin Robinson, on the enthusiast website Alberta Relic Riders

A Ski-Doo Elite, towing a cutter behind it.
Old Sled Zone

Old Sled Zone: 1970’s Ski-Doo Elite and Cutter

From the vaults we find a nice little Ski-Doo Elite, spotted at the Cranbrook Vintage Ride and Poker Run in February

Two John Deere Cyclone sleds sitting out in a field.
Old Sled Zone

Old Sled Zone: John Deere Cyclones

John Deere began producing snowmobiles in 1971 - at the time, dealers were excited to have a product to service and sell during the quieter winter months

1977 John Deere Cyclone.
Old Sled Zone

Old Sled Zone – 1977 John Deere Cyclone and more

What has our vintage and classic sled friend, Sid Samek, been up to? Samek gives us an update.

This vintage wildcat, an Arctic Cat Panther, was found on display in a local farmer's field - part of an estate sale.
Old Sled Zone

Old Sled Zone: 1972 Arctic Cat Panther 440

For all the performance features of the Panther 440, the crowning touch has to be the leopard print stripes on the seat

A classic Johnson snowmobile, Model 21, with view of mountains in background.
Old Sled Zone

Old Sled Zone—1970’s Johnson model 21

Here's another baby-blue classic Johnson snowmobile—model 21—produced by the Outboard Marine Corporation back in the 1970’s.

A 1970’s Rupp 44 Sprint snowmobile.
Old Sled Zone

Old Sled Zone: 1970’s Rupp 44 Sprint

Rupp, like many vintage snowmobiles, has a strong legacy in the snowmobile annals of history.

This black vintage snowmobile has red squares along the side with a white stripe underneath
Old Sled Zone

Old Sled Zone: 1976 Yamaha SRX 340 factory race sled

Calvin Robinson has a sweet-looking 1976 Yamaha SRX 340 factory race sled

John Deere Liquifire 440, black and yellow in colour.
Old Sled Zone

Old Sled Zone: 1980’s John Deere Liquifire

John Deere machines spent a relatively brief appearance on the competitive snowmobile scene back in late 1970's and early 1980's

Kris Peltzer is shown here riding an old Arctic Cat 440 complete with custom Mac Tools tool box strapped on the back of his machine.
Old Sled Zone

Old Sled Zone: Annual Poker Run and Vintage Ride in Cranbrook, B.C.

The Cranbrook Snowmobile Club held their annual Poker Run and Vintage Ride in February, attracting riders from as far away as Ontario and Saskatchewan.

A red vintage Scorpion Trail-A-Sled snowmobile.
Old Sled Zone

Old Sled Zone: Late 1960’s (?) Trail-A-Sled Scorpion

The Trail-A-Sled marketing slogan was “The only way to LIVE in winter!”

Speedway snowmobile, painted metallic blue in colour, with crossed American flags logo and 'Speedway' painted on side.
Old Sled Zone

Old Sled Zone: 1972 Speedway “the blue Ferrari”

This 1972 Speedway 440 Kohler FA is owned by Alberta Relic Riders’ member Kelly Grant

1973 Ski-Doo Blizzard, painted yellow and red.
Old Sled Zone

Old Sled Zone: Award-winning 1973 Ski-Doo Blizzard Rotax 298 FA

Congratulations to Jerry Kallal on his award-winning vintage Ski Doo Blizzard

An impressive vintage Arctic Cat Trail cat, along with an equally impressive vintage helmet.
Old Sled Zone

Old Sled Zone: 1980 Arctic Cat Trail Cat — Purring on the Trail

The Arctic Cat Trail Cat was considered a workhorse in the Arctic Cat lineup in the late 1970's and early 1980's.

A Ski-Doo 340 model.
Old Sled Zone

Old Sled Zone: 1970’s Ski Doo 340 & “The Silver Bullet”

What made the Silver Bullets unique from the more traditional Ski-Doo's, like the 340 model pictured?

A trio of vintage sleds on an Edmonton area trail.
Old Sled Zone

Old Sled Zone: A Salute to a Family Vintage Snowmobile Ride

Old sled or new sled, why not take the family out snowmobiling before the end of the season?