Here’s what happens when a guy needs a thing that doesn’t exist. I can imagine the imperative that led to installing a Chevrolet G20 van on a Bombardier snowcat chassis: your family lives on a mountain, and you need to pick up the kids from school; or you deliver mail on a snowy route and you know what they say about rain or shine; or your roadless ski lodge needs a pick up vehicle for guests. Whatever the impetus, here we have a 1993 G20 running around on dual metal tracks, with the steering box connected to a couple of front-mounted skis. This contraption is available here on facebook Marketplace for $17,000 (marked down from $18k). Thanks to Tony Primo for the intriguing tip!
Believe it or not, Barn Finds covered this vehicle back in 2017, noting that back then it was used to ferry tourists around Yellowstone in wintry weather. It’s equipped with a rear-mounted wheelchair lift and plenty of seating; a small-block V8 provides power. A video embedded in the listing shows the van running on a level packed-snow surface, presumably near its current home in Merrill, Oregon. We can’t get a sense for how capably the snomovan handles hills or deep snow. And running it on pavement likely won’t do either the road or the tracks any good.
Speaking of which, tracks are tricky. They don’t last forever, and finding parts – depending on the make – can be challenging. This is a Bombardier, as mentioned, but we don’t know the make, model, or year. I’m no judge of condition here – anyone have an idea whether these appear serviceable?
Snowcats are slow, and possessed of nearly no suspension; I’d expect about the same from this marriage with the G20. One photo reveals a hefty coat of bondo where the paint has broken away from a rusty surface. We don’t know anything about the condition of the interior, though the seller reports that “everything works”. Even used snowcats are quite expensive, but what do you think of the price here?
I seemed to have missed this the last time around. What’s hard to believe, is that post was 7 years ago, I think, anyway, I don’t recognize ANY of the commenters names. Where did they all go? The cycle of a site like this, I suppose.
This is pretty neat, but I hope the tracks can be steered individually, because those skis up front are basically worthless on a vehicle this size. Deep snow too, you DON’T want to get this baby stuck. I’ve seen Tuckers that got stuck, and not a pretty scene. One needed a helicopter, as it gets pretty remote where they go. For simple transportation, like across a frozen ( you hope) lake, like Madeline Island in N. Wis. becomes snow( ice)bound and I believe they have a unit similar for winter for transport of the folks that stay, but is an airboat type. Again, in snow, snow gets everywhere, and could choke the motor or controls. I’d have to think someone could use this for transport. Alaska? With Tuckers and similar snow related transport going for 6 figures, makes this a bargain.
Hey Howard, I’m still here! Man, time does go by doesn’t it.
Might be nice to have at Mammoth Mtn, they get clobbered and this would be handy. Price is still good, factoring inflation One thing, these get REALLY poor MPG, 5 if you are lucky.
I worked on a lot of ‘cats in my day, these tracks are pretty easy to service and quite durable if not cracked. The tires are usually foam filled solid.
I recognize several of the names, and I thinks it sad when a regular contributor just stops posting.
This reminded me of something I saw as a kid in a museum. Granted, it was a model T and more bare bones than this, but Im sure it got the job done. I was thinking the same thing as Michele about parts. Before I’d buy something like this I’d like to know what they built it out of, if the parts are available etc. Tracks can be very tricky too I work with a rental company with tracked skid steers, mini excavators etc and lost count how many times customers popped a track off and the mechanics have to go out snd reinstall them. Howard touched on a good point too about frozen lakes ( you hope)….
This is a neat find.
Thanks so much for posting the Snowflyer! It’s a beauty. I love Model Ts, As too… check this out:
https://www.fordmodelt.net/model-t-ford-uses.htm
That is a great article with a lot of insight into the past and how well the T served people of that generations needs. Thanks Michelle!!! I was hoping someone would appreciate the Snowflyer.
I seem to remember old timers ( that now I’m one of) used to talk about those Model T “snowmobiles” in N. Wisconsin. They doubled duty as a mail carrier/ emergency vehicle. It, in many cases, was all they had.
Losing a track is indeed a pain. When I delivered trenchers and dozers, sometimes the machine to pick up had thrown a track. It became a complicated corkscrew method of getting back to the truck. When a snowmobile jumps the track, it’s no fun either. On most tracked vehicles with tires, best to take a tire off. Dozer tracks you’ll need another skid steer, they weigh a ton.
Re: allegedly frozen lakes. Visual is most important, and if a “wet spot” is detected, usually from another snowmobile, standard rule, DON’T SLOW DOWN, mash the gas and get the heck out of there.
I saw something similar at the Owl’s Head museum in Maine.
This reminds me of the Hannibal 8 from the Great Race.
Too big to take on any back trail. Yellowstone makes sense. Nice wide roads that are car free, but not anywhere else. Howards right, the Apostle Islands in Wisconsin does come to mind, maybe Mackinac Island in Lake Heron as well. Otherwise, complicated and useless. A rich person would be better off with a tracked high end UTV. One that is enclosed and heated. Narrower, so able to get into many more places, plus lighter so less likely to get stuck. I have a friend with a remote cabin deep in the hills of western Wisconsin along the river. About two miles up the bluffs and through the woods. He only uses it 3 seasons as there is no road, just little goat trails that only a UTV can go. Once in a while in the winter he uses a snowmobile, but he (as am I) not young anymore and that gets old (and cold!). I think the heated tracked Polaris idea is a good one, though as he is now in his 80s, he wonders if it is a worthwhile investment. Says the money would do better in his estate. (He has provided well for his family, but mostly all to charity. A truly decent man. Plus, I might add, he made it all by running businesses that produced needed goods for the public, and he took amazing care of his employees. He will be remembered as member of a dying breed of good men)
“Honey, the low tire air pressure light came on while I was driving the kids home from school…”
Another cool find Tony Primo!!!
For the man that has(almost)everything.
Can’t say I’ve seen that before…
Cool, the snow we get here in Hells Canyon doesn’t stick around long enough to justify this purchase. I know from watching Matt’s off road recovery on YouTube that yes you can get new tracks made to fit I bet they are expensive. That lift on the back is typically rated for 800-1100 pounds depending when it was installed they do pick up more than just wheel chairs, looks like a fun toy overall.
One more item I want but don’t need. Doesn’t mean I still don’t WANT IT
I think the owner is stuck with this. Would anyone even have the capacity, need or room for this, even if it was free?
Sell it to the Stanley Hotel in Colorado.
I attempted to post here, but it vanished, for SOME reason… Sorry
I still want it but I think I missed the Cyber Monday sale. If it was around 9k it would be Hint….Hint
There’s one of those Model T snow ‘goers’ in Nain, Labrador. Runs, but I haven’t seen it out and about in some time.