Whenever I wake up and spot a Barn Finds tip that’s worded something like, “Does anyone know what this thing is?”, I quickly get intrigued and jump into a mystery-solving mode even before my morning coffee pot has gotten depleted. That’s what happened today when reader JDC sent us this unusual find that can be seen here on Facebook Marketplace in Lapeer, Michigan. Our thanks go out to him for sending the tip, but I’m going to have to turn to our audience in hopes that someone here may have more additional specific details than I was able to locate about this strange contraption. The seller’s description isn’t of much help either, as he calls this a “1994 Charlie Roberts ice skating” and offers little else in the way of useful clues. With an asking price of $7,500, this one’s got the potential to attract lots of attention without depleting your bank account, even if its primary function is just lawn art.
My initial thought was that this might be some sort of storm chaser, designed to plow through hurricanes or withstand other dangerous weather-related events. However, thanks to Google, what I was able to find out is that this appears to be an ice fishing rig, and perhaps this exact same example was previously sold on Facebook Marketplace about a year ago in South Bend, Indiana. According to that seller, only seven prototypes were made, and I have no idea what the number 107 on the side represents. A Reddit user with an account called “Weird Wheels” also featured that vehicle, and while there are a few fun comments to digest, not a whole lot more pertinent information is provided.
Going back to the previous Indiana listing, that seller tells us that his rig features a pair of augers on each side to drill holes through the ice plus a propeller, just in case it breaks through. Back to the one currently for sale, the word “Corl” can be spotted on the outside and also on the dash, with an internet search revealing there is indeed at least one fishing unit known as the Corl Ice Crew. It’s possible that this machine was the brainchild of that establishment.
It wasn’t until looking inside that I really began wanting to own this thing, as the interior looks more like a seventies van than a fishing vessel. The front consists of two individual seats, plus at least two more in the back that look large enough for a couple of people to sleep rather comfortably. I’m speculating that the two levers to the left of the navigator may control the augers, but if anyone knows differently, please advise.
There’s also one of those orange triangles on the back, indicating a slow-moving vehicle, which leads me to think this may be considered almost roadworthy, even if only for short distances. That’s entirely speculative though, and with the limited amount of information I could find online, I’m hoping our readers may be able to help fill in some of the blanks here. Is anyone finding the cost of $7,500 irresistible to own this?
❄️ 🏔 🧊 🐟 🎣 is that a big pipe on the backseat lol. 🚬 🥴 🍻
Looks more like a big socket wrench to me.
Gandalf-class…
Maybe a snorkel so you can look for the fish?
Gone fissin’,,,never cared for fishing. In fact, it got to the point nobody would take me with them fishing. Wrong attitude, I guess. This is pretty cool, again, necessity is the mother of invention, I hope it has a hole in the floor for um, other uses. Ice fishing is HUGE in the North. Ice shanys pop up in late Nov. and stay until March. It’s the perfect refuge from that nagging significant other. It requires the shanty itself, and a way to get out to it. This effectively solves both. For the record, if it has a propeller, it must be one piece, and if you “go through”, my biggest fear of snowmobiling, and in all my years doing such, I never did “go in”, but with this you may as well get out and walk. Whilst researching the vehicle, the author is right, not much here, and if you are a fan of the Red Green show, you’d be mighty impressed at some of the creations made for such activity. I wonder what powers it?
And remember, stick on the ice.
Just when you thought you’ve seen everything…
I see no practical use for this ice fishing. Maybe if on a lake that plows roads for the ice fisherman but this far to low with no tracks. I just see it being stuck more than moves. Certainly not for areas that accumulate a few feet of snow.
I am almost 100% certain this was built in Bremen, Indiana by Corl Corporation owned by Don Corl. He once owned a company called Corl Boat Company, but that went under in the 1960s. He later came into money from another venture and then started other companies. I left that area in the 1970s, so I have no knowledge of this particular venture.
now this story is starting to get my attention as i love old boats and bremen is fairly close to where i live!
From Don Corl’s obituary: “Donald L. Corl, 76, of Syracuse, formerly of Bremen passed away on Thursday, September 6, 2012. He loved boat racing, building his first boat while in high school, eventually introducing his family to the sport, which they still enjoy today. He was a pioneer of the bath tub and manufactured housing industries. Donnie loved to fish; living on Lake Wawasee, he and his wife would fish every day, no matter the weather. He was affectionately known as “the fish man.”
Sounds like you’re onto something.
“Corl Boat Company, but that went under “. Tee hee
The love child of a 70s custom van and a fully enclosed lifeboat. The write up mentioned a propeller in case of breaking through the ice, but didn’t mention if it happened to float. 🤔
Anchored to the mailbox by a chain big enough to moor the Manhattan.
Lol 😂 good one Bub ⚓️ 🚢
Stick an LS in it!
For ballast? Or an anchor?
For a second I thought it was a Brubaker Box
That was my first thought as well.
For a while, before global warming, the river froze over every year, and if it did not snow much before the freeze there would be about 100 ice shanties grouped on it, the catch were alewives, about 6″ to 8″ long, good when gutted, deboned and fried. I spent one long evening with a buddy who was into it. We had a kerosene lantern, it got warm enough that we were in T shirts before long, something below 10 F outside. A tidal river so the ice was constantly moving up and down and cracking at the edges. It was an experience, but no desire to do it again. We pulled the shanty off his pickup truck, it had runners that flippped down for the trip across the ice, and the flipped up so the edges rested on the ice, and the first cordless electric drills to make the hole to fish in. We just dropped the lines, maybe a dozen, and waited for a bite. This vehicle woud have the ability to go way out on the ice, clearly designed to float, if necessary. Yellow so you could find it in the dark in a snow storm or fog. It was really a community out there, lots of visiting back and forth, and in NH, a fine if you did not take your shanty off the ice before the thaw and it sank into the river.
Any “Trekkies” out there? You could paint it white and with some creative graphics you could have a road going Shuttlecraft. NCC 1701 #7!
I really like that idea!
Just add a few regenerated Dilithium Crystals.
May your journey be free from incident🖖🏿
“Make it so”
As a conversation-starter, this would break the ice.
1 o’ 7 or one of seven?
I thought it was Brubaker Box at first..does this thing drive?
Looks like an amphi-car with that propeller and teak back shelf and top door. Wish there were more inside pics
snobear forerunner
I always want stupid stuff like this. I don’t have fake book to look it up. Does it run? Does it float? Does it have a title?So many questions…
Honda powered per Reddit poster:
One of seven made prototype ice fishing vessels. Two augers on each side to drill holes. Has a Port-a- pot, brand new Honda motor. All hydraulic steering. Has a propeller in case it breaks thru ice. Has heater, TV, ship to shore radio, sonar.
Looks professionaly made.
Does it have a hole in the floor?
Gone from F.B.
Someone loved it enough to haul it home.
I hope it gets some use for what it was intended for.
Cut a hole in the bottom and use it for an APC ice fisher
I fish. A lot. East Tennessee is a haven for those like me. However, I’ve never understood sitting in a small hut, looking at your lure and line going into a hole in ice. Them folks is crazy.
up north when its minis 20 you would be happy to find a small hut