Combining vintage snowmobiles and Wankel engines?! Win-win, at least for the unusual factor. I’m trying not to overdo the vintage snowmobile thing here, but this 1972 Arctic Cat Panther with a 303 Wankel engine and Arctic Cat Cutter was just too good to pass up. It can be found here on Facebook Marketplace in Dolgeville, New York, and they’re asking $2,750. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Jeff C. for the tip!
If something looks a little off here, it’s because this Arctic Panther sounds like it was restored or rebuilt, and there are no decals on it. You can see that the Cat Cutter pull-behind sled does have decals, and I’d get some for the snowmobile pronto. They’re available on eBay and probably elsewhere, and it would make a world of difference to have them on the snowmobile. The shocks on the front skis appear to be missing here; maybe they come with the sale, or the next owner can find a set of them at a swap meet or online. This one would have cost $1,250 new in 1972.
I love seeing this unusual snowmobile out in the wild, covered in actual snow. What a concept for photos, showing a vehicle in use where it’s meant to be used! They weren’t as unusual as I make it sound, as Arctic Cat sold around 10,000 of the Wankel-engine versions of this sled. They also reportedly made 451 versions with an 8hp Kohler engine (The same one in our white-cowl 1966 Arctic Cat 141!), and 16,600 with a Kawasaki-sourced 440 engine. Zinnnnnng! This rotary-powered Panther was about 360 pounds, so not a lightweight by any means.
The “dash” could use some help from a silver pen to touch up the worn spots. Have any of you used those to redo the silver trim on dashboards? Arctic Cat listed a Sachs-Wankel engine on their model list as early as the 1968 model year, and they appear to have gone away after the 1974 model year. Cat was one of the big manufacturers offering them; they even had a riding lawnmower with a similar Sachs-Wankel engine. Regulations for noise came around in 1973, and snowmobile companies started insulating and enclosing the engine compartments. A kill switch (the red button above) was a new safety feature for ’72 Cats, as were kink-resistant cables. Sadly, there is no optional lighter on this one; you’ll have to bring a match for those cigars out on the trail.
The seller says the 303-cc Sachs-Wankel rotary engine has a “fresh rebuild,” including new seals, new o-rings, decarbonized rotor, a NOS carb, an updated recoil (is that a Honda pull-starter?), and more. This looks like a winner with just enough cosmetic work left to do to make a fun summer project out of it for next winter. Have any of you ridden or owned a Wankel-powered snowmobile?
Great write up!!! To answer your pull start question Scotty, Yes, that’s either a Honda or possibly an aftermarket Honda pull start on there. Who knew that would fit? Cool snowmobile and I have never seen a tow behind sled before. Thats a great combo.
Actually I’d feel sorry for the kids in the tow behind. Sleds kick up a LOT of snow! Plus no heat coming off the engine. They’d likely be frozen blocks by the time they got to wherever they were going!
Some things look cool but…
Bring a few more 👨👩👧👦 to the ice ❄️ fishing 🎣 hole 😃🙌
I saw one of these and that was it; it disappeared almost as fast as it showed up in the mountains at Essex, MT. It was there the one day and vanished after that. No one knows for sure although the dealer said they were experimenting with a new concept and that might’ve been it…
Well, my friend, I, and the previous 3 and many others once this goes “public”, can assure you, you couldn’t possibly overdo the vintage snowmobile thing. In fact, we all probably have a wish list of sleds we would love to see again. Now, I did a LOT of snowmobiling, no brag, just fact.( Walter Brennan, remember him?) I can say without reservation, never saw one. I did see an Arctic Cat like this that was a hydraulic drive, hydrostatic(?) goofy thing, motor turned a pump to the drive motor on the track, but like this, weighed a ton, and not good in the cold. As mentioned, I had a Johnson Rotary I got for nothing in the 80s, it had 50 miles on it, like brand new, never even tried to get it running, and took it to the dump. A fate of many of these,,oddballs. In snowmobiles, there’s something to be said about traditional power, and not much could beat the 2 stroke. The pull sled is a novel addition, not for scary rides with aging family members screaming for dear life, more for a simpler time, a slow putt through the woods, a modern sleigh ride, as it were, just hope they like oil fumes,, I would.
Find a ’79 Kawasaki Interceptor and we’re talking! Dad’s friend had one when I was a kid. Did 110 across a corn field on it. She booked! Had to lean real far forward off the dig to keep the skis on the ground.
If I remember right, there were only about 500 Interceptors and they are very sought after by the vintage crowd. Getting pricey!!
please don’t stop the vintage snowmobile stories and I also enjoy the vintage dirt bike ads as well. It’s cool to see these old sleds of my youth. I do remember those tag along trailer things and saw many little kids wrapped in layers riding in them. My wish list for old sleds are Arctic Cat El Tigre, 70s SkiDoo Blizzard, Polaris TX 340. Your not overdoing anything, your making it more interesting
Had a TX 340. Absolute rocket ship. The windshield would bend over.
Never been on one, but how much snow would get thrown onto the cutter riders? Looks like it is plastered after the last ride…
Theses Panther are a blast to run in full snow, large track, aluminium body, rear tank to get a better weight distribution.
There is not many better sled to run in 6′ of snow from that era.
This one brings me so much memories, it will be a long text.
My dad bought a new 1971 Panther with the same engine and with the trailer too. He reminds us every time he talks about it, he paid 1300$ for the sled with the the snow suit and helmet. The 1971 with the rotary engine had a different cab with chrome front grills.
When we were around 8-10 years old, my bro and I were always excited when we saw the first snow. The sled was parked behind bundles of stock, we wanted to have a ride, dad says, pull all the stuff around and we will ride the sled!
At 14, I asked my dad to ride it more, but thoses rotary engines are quite hard to start, I wasn’t able to start it. So my dad replace the engine with a 340 Suzuki. Then we restored the sled, paint, shining the aluminum frame, etc. On the second winter that I ride it, I crashed it on a stalled tractor in the middle of the trail. I didn’t adjust the brake before my ride and knew they were not ok…
The sled was still running!
So I came back slowly to home. Then I cried and was so afraid of my dad reaction. He was not mad at me but I saw his regard, he was really disappointed, it happen just because of the brake adjustment that I skipped.
We repaired the sled and ride it another full winter.
I always said to myself that I would restored it in secret and show it to my dad. But life isn’t going that way, dad is not with us anymore. But I still have that goal, I still bought different parts for the cab on ebay. I have almost everything.
Thanks for this post!
I walked two of these in a row with my 1972 SkiDoo Olympic 399 twin. The kid and his dad were not happy, but his sister ended up riding with me the rest of the day.
You know, I often wonder how well a Wankel engine would stand up to a hydraulic lock? I remember quite a few winters back; it was nearing spring but there was still a fair amount of snow and most of the lakes were still frozen. A couple of guys got on their machines in the early evening and went blasting across the lake. They were going a good 50 mph, heading from east to west. Little did they know that the Chinook winds had been blowing for some time and the ice was pretty much gone from the west end; there was a good 200 yards of water to cross.
Well, before they knew it, the ice had disappeared and they were now planing across frigid water. Both panicked and backed off the throttles, which allowed the machines to founder and go down (normally you would keep the throttles pinned and slide back to try to keep planing, for what it’s worth.
The guys managed to get out and get themselves thawed out and a couple of days later, went back with some ropes and a come-along and retrieved their sleds.
On the shore, they took the spark plug out of the one (with a big single), pulled the rope and got fuel flowing again. Put the plug back in and crazy enough, it started, albeit not running well at all.
The other one, a next to new Ski Doo Everest, wouldn’t even turn over; it was locked right up.
Back at the shop, an inspection showed the Everest’s engine was completely destroyed while the older one actually ran, albeit very rough. A teardown showed a bent connecting rod which they were able to fix right away. The Everest got a new engine.
Anyways, it makes me wonder how much damage can happen to a Wankel if it got a huge drink of water?
There were so many snowmobile makes and models back then. I forgot about these having the rotary engine.
i think the skiroule had wankle engines back then
Good one, by golly, I had to look that up, and you are correct, that was the 1974 RTW. Claimed less than 100 were sold. Skiroule, made by Coleman, was a nice sled too.
I was a city kid that was transported to live with relatives in Adirondack State park back in the late 70s. Rode mini bikes and dirt bikes, but hadn’t tried snowmobiles yet. Man, what a blast. What was interesting was that at that time Ski doo, and Artic cat were introducing beasts. 2500, up to 9500. Lesson learned, Always wear a wool facemask or your face will freeze off your head…
What manner of mystery and wizardry is this of which you speak? “… some help from a silver pen to touch up the worn spots.” A quick search of Amazon did not yield much. Pray tell more?
BTW, great snowmobile stuff!
Ha! mystery and wizardry, that’s excellent, sir.
A Barn Finds reader/commenter mentioned it to me a few years ago in regard to the worn silver trim on the dash of my 1980 Dodge D-50 Sport pickup, I think…There are a few websites that show before-and-after results, and it’s pretty amazing.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1255149-silver-trim-on-instrument-cluster-and-radio-bezel-easy-and-cheap-trick.html
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/interior-upholstery-8/best-way-restore-silver-outline-1972-dash-41191/
https://www.classiczcars.com/uploads/monthly_10_2011/post-7641-14150816367269.jpg
And, many videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kNP6BQtel8
Scotty! Thx!
I agree it needs the original decals and they are readily available.
The asking price is a little on the high end.
It’s okay Scottie, no need to worry about over doing it. Most of us over the age of 60 who grew up in the snow belt during the golden age of snowmobiling were captivated by these machines. We were just kids and we were wild about them.
Kneeling on the seat, looking over the cab, watching the skis cut wakes in the fresh powder, winding along the deer paths after dark. Shutting down in a field under the stars with our girlfriend onboard. They unleashed a freedom and joy of winter that was second to none. Their imprint is indelible. I enjoy every one of these listings.
A brisk winter evening, a bright quarter moon,
Temps below zero frostbite setting in soon,
The fields sparkle silver in the creeping twilight,
Best wishes to all, and to all a good night.
Head about an hour northwest of Dolgeville up to Tug Hill and you’ll have sledding for 6 months out of the year.
Cool little sled, one of our neighbors had a tow behind trailer sled like that that he would take his two kids on in the field behind the house. They would usually come back looking like snowmen. You could double the size of the windshield and they would still get plastered.
I’m with a lot of the others, seeing these is a nice change up from the usual.
Used to sled from Thanksgiving to Easter on the Tug Hill
Early 80’s I was a mechanic at a Polaris snowmobile dealership in Truckee Ca., but we would work on anything. Do you remember the original 340 TXL INDY? Wow, what a game changer. That little 56hp mill would blow right by a 500 Centurion on a trail, even if it had pipes. Pin the throttle and just leave it. Rife it like you stole it applied. Those were the days. I still have my blue/yellow TXL INDY Ca plate, I just loved that sled.
But I digress. One of these rotary Cats came it for a service. It was pretty neat. What I recall was that it was really heavy and smoked A LOT. Perhaps it had a 20:1 mix to lube the rotor? It seemed gutless to me and I couldn’t figure out why they bothered with the engine over a 2 stroke.
I don”t think you will see many of these out there and someone has done a lot of work to keep it running. As for the Cutter, they were very useful for hauling loads of groceries back or wood hauling or just about anything. And kids would do anything to be out in the snow, even if they turned blue.
Thanks for the memory trip. Now Scotty, go out and find a pristine 1981 340 TXL Indy, my favorite…
Back in the 70s the group we rode with there were 3 of machines with wankels all ran good little hard to start and heavy on fuel, not fast but good trail machines for 2 ups !