The seller has this ASV (All-Season Vehicles) Track Truck 2500 listed as a 1979 model, but from all of the info on the ol’ interstreams, even on the ASV website, it says that the company was founded in 1983 so I’m not sure what year this rig was made. They have it listed here on eBay in Paris, Illinois and there is a $7,795 buy-it-now price listed or you can make an offer.
We’ve seen a few of them and I think they’re always interesting, whatever the year is. Let’s just say that it’s probably a solid four decades old, give or take. What I wouldn’t give to be four decades old again and look this good. Snowmobile legend, Edgar Hetteen, founder of both Polaris and Arctic Cat (!), partnered with one of the highest-volume Arctic Cat dealers in the country, Gary Lemke, to create ASV back in 1983, according to the company’s website. Yes, they’re still in business.
The combination of ATV-like front balloon tires and rubber tracks in the back gave these rigs a softer ride, or I should say, they had less of an impact on the ground than many other vehicles at the time. They were used by snowmobile trail groomers, emergency responders, farmers and ranchers, etc., and just as basic work vehicles for folks who needed something that could traverse snowy trails and use even in non-winter months.
The seats always seem to be lacking enough padding whenever we see a Track Truck here, and it’s the same with this example. It looks great inside and out, though, condition-wise. The cab is heated, of course, and there are no pedals, the tracks and steering coincide with the steering wheel, which is a pretty slick setup. Mr. Hetteen was no slouch in the machinery engineering department. There’s a decent-sized pickup bed in the back for gear, sand, salt, pepper… er…
With this model being a “2500”, it has a Jeep 2.5-liter four-cycle inline-four, which has liquid cooling and around 110 horsepower. The seller says it’s in excellent condition and it sure looks nice. Would any of you ever have a use for such a half-and-half vehicle like an ASV Track Truck?
Eeep! A Jeep motor,,,always risky business adding anything to such well written posts, in fact, one of these was written up in 2016, and another in 2021 by none other, but, I must add. Actually, I read, I believe this is the 151( 2.5?) Iron Duke motor, used in Jeeps and others, and a great motor. They offered all kinds of motors, including diesels. Consumers were wary of any 4 cylinder from GM after the Vega fiasco, but the Iron Duke more than made up for it. While the Track Truck was the humble beginnings, ASV went on to make all kinds of small, tracked vehicles for a wide array of customers. Snow plows, fire fighting, van bodies for recovery, even mini excavators. The cab tilts forward like an old cab over semi. I would expect skis would help, which were available, but the steering is unique, in that, when the steering wheel is turned, the one track stops turning, eliminating the 2 levers, like a dozer. Flotation is what the front wheels are for.
I think winter has been put on hiatus until next year, 50s in CO. next week, we didn’t get one snow where I am. In the hills, however, this could be a lifesaver, plenty of power, I could easily imagine taking this thing WAAAAAAAAAAAAY back in the hills. What a neat rig!
You’re probably right, Howard. This would have been the AMC era, too. I was going by this brochure (last page) https://www.solhem9.se/broschyrbank_ovrigt/Track_Truck_ASV_2500.pdf and a couple of other sites that listed “Jeep” engines in the 2500.
It’s funny that these gents came up with this thing after a couple of bad winter seasons of hardly any snow, just like now.
Looks good for it’s age. Not something you see often enough. Maybe handy to have around the property. All function no fluff.
Very cool, a video would be nice. Unless the ad was changed, it is Buy It Now only, no place to make a offer.
The cab looks sorta like a Ford cab. Wonder if they did their own stamping or bought obsolete dies?
Wow. I’ve never seen one of these. But I don’t live in snow country. Pretty cool truck, with the best 4 cyl. engine GM ever built.
Auction update: the seller lowered their price to $7,395 and there are still five days left on the auction.
Now it’s $6,995!