4 times automakers built winter vehicles that weren’t cars
Car people dream of winter wonderland conditions for a couple of reasons. Some look forward to holing up in the garage and working on their project car, drinking a warm cup of coffee while reading a great book about road trips, or maybe even planning their next drive when the salt finally washes away. If you are faithful to a brand and not the car itself though, the winter season holds plenty of interesting options that encourage you to make the most of the fluffy power while we have it. Here are four examples of car makers embracing the winter season.
BMW Bobsled
Audi might have climbed the ski jump, but BMW took sliding back down the hill to a new extreme when it partnered with the U.S.A. bobsled team to crate its racing sled. While there might not be an engine, the heavy use of lightweight materials and complex aerodynamics is where the automaker’s knowledge came into play. The Bavarian-designed sleds first went dashing through the snow during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and replaced a 20-year-old platform that Team U.S.A. had previously been using. The top speed was just shy of 80mph at the bottom of the run.
Chrysler Sno-Runner
For those who prefer a more adventurous route down the mountainside rather than a perfectly smooth one, Chrysler has you covered. Well, not technically covered, but at least an option for getting around out in the fluffy snow. The Sno-Runner was born in the late 1970s out of Chrysler’s desperation to make a profit. In 1979, this wild cross-breed between a snowmobile and a minibike was unleashed into the wild.
The narrow rear track is powered by a West Bend two-stroke engine originally produced for chainsaw use. The frame is sealed and holds fuel that is pumped into the cylinder by a type of carburetor rarely found on motor vehicles. A single ski up front makes for interesting handling and the whole operation does not do great with loose, fluffy snow but it stands as an interesting attempt at something different.
Ford’s snowblower
The Sno-Runner was Chrysler trying new things, but Ford has typically been more risk-averse and keen on partnerships. That’s why you could be forgiven if you forgot about the Ford Snowblowers. Some people love to work, or at least love to get out of their driveway in the winter months, and that can often mean clearing your own escape route. Ford was still in the tractor and implement market in the 1970s, but rather than produce everything itself, it decided to re-brand machines built by outfits known for various products. These two-stage snowblowers were produced by Gilson or Jacobson and then painted Ford Blue and branded. They can still be found in the secondhand market today if you are looking for just the right snowblower to match your vintage pickup.
Porsche snow bike
Porsche was a brand born on the Austrian ski slopes as Ferry motored up and down the mountainsides in what would become the 356. The brand evolved over the years and has put the Porsche name on a good number of non-Porsche-built items, but the Avora-Porsche 212 Skibob is one we learned about recently and still has us a little perplexed. The first bicycle with skis instead of wheels was patented before 1900 but it took until the mid-1950s to have an international race of skibobs or snowbikes.
From there it only got weirder. This Porsche-branded skibob is from the 1970s. It’s constructed of molded polyfoam and folds up neatly for transport to and from the slopes. With no brakes, limited suspension, and small skis that attach to your feet to help aid in balance, it sure seems like skibob riding is only for the brave. The handling characteristics of the rear-engined 911 might be interesting, but this is another level entirely.
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Funny, I use a Ford machine to remove snow from my driveway (which is about 1/4 mile curved down a 6-degree hill). It has an hydraulically adjustable drag blade that attaches to the 3-point hitch. My Ford is a 1952 8N tractor… and I love the danged thing!😁
Ill bet Lamborgini made one of them too!
Do skis for the front wheels and a set of tracks for the rear wheels – with a bogie wheel – fitted on a Ford Model T count? I have seen pictures of these set-ups – including pictures of current clubs that have rallies for these vehicles. I am old enough to have driven a Model T – but young enough not to have seen the option book for a T.
Our local Post Office used one in the early 20’s. “Neither rain nor snow…stays these couriers…”
Here’s a video of it:
https://youtu.be/Fo31_3UzTTY?si=giphvXTstAMNhsLJ
Wow, that Fordson setup is really something, it glides over the snow, even deep fresh snow!
Surprised we don’t see more of them being used even today.
Wonder if it floats on water.
Who said that Ford didn’t offer an engine with a blower in the 70’s?
Sorry, couldn’t help myself :-).
Wot no Weasel? Why, ya sissies.
I have a Porsche Arova for sale. No foot skis but otherwise complete and in g-vg condition. howzyadoin@gmail.com
You’re kidding, right?
Not kidding about Arova for sale. Interested?
Someone already mentioned the Studebaker Weasel that was used by the military to great success in WW II, through Vietnam. There is also the DeLorean line of snow machines which John DeLorean purchased from Thiokol when he was trying to get his automobile manufacturing started.
These snow “bike” or whatever they are are pretty wacky.
I think 80 degree weather is wonderful, am I alone?
I second that emotion!
A ski slope near me had a snow making machine powered by an industrial VW air cooled engine. The engine turned the prop and I think it drove the water pump too (to force water through nozzles in order to produce ‘snow’). I don’t think it was VW branded but it was VW powered.
Does anyone know who made these machines?
I had one of the Snow Runners in the early 70’s I used to get back and forth to my ice fishing shanty with.
You had to stay on the snow though or you’d go A** over ban buckle on it ! Wanna Ask me how I know,,,LOL
Clear ice was a No No .
Generally though , if you could get it to start it did pretty well for what I was using it for, but NOISY,,,OMG ! You needed ear plugs to run it for any length of time.
I kept it <2 years and got a 3 wheel Honda instead , that worked much better and I could tow the shanty with that at least .
You forgot the BMW Streetcarver skateboard! Cool but short lived because it was expensive!
You missed the Chrysler produced motorcycle.
Not an automobile company, but these products reminded me of when AMF-owned Harley got into snowmobiles. That was before my time, so I can’t say how good they were or weren’t. I’ll assume that since they didn’t last, maybe they weren’t especially competitive on capability, price or both.
Seems as if Global Warming (I know! It’s a hoax) has killed winter so far in the Finger Lakes region. Plenty of time left to make up the snow deficit, but things sure have changed since my first Buffalo, NY winter in 1954.