We cover all types of vehicles here at Barn Finds, but I honestly never thought we would cover a genuine Zamboni ice resurfacer! Not only that, but one powered by an air-cooled Volkswagen engine! For all the ice hockey fans out there, it’s located in Langdon, New Hampshire and is listed for sale here on craigslist for $1,500. Thanks to AMXBrian for this uniquely slippery find!
The model HDB Zamboni was produced from 1969 to 1978 according to this nice chart provided by Zamboni, who of course are still in business and are still the industry leader. Also, if you are interested in how one of these things works, check out this illustration and explanation. The HDB was said at its introduction to offer improved hydraulic and hydrostatic drive systems.
There’s a neat story here about a “famous” HDB, the “Spamboni,” being sold in 2014 for $2,000 to a Stanley Cup winner’s son. Apparently, there were many wheel choices, with these looking like American Racing aluminum wheels.
Just look at those armrests to hold you in the seat, and the sporty steering wheel! I wonder if it could be made street-legal?
This should look very familiar to many VW fans out there. The seller tells us that they haven’t even tried to get it running but they were told it did a few years before they took it in on trade.
All kidding aside, a Zamboni is a pretty neat piece of equipment, especially if you are far enough north to use it outside for your home or neighborhood ice rink, and this isn’t much money. I just wonder who really would want it?
Slick! (badumpbump) Didn’t they all have VW power? (& probably propane)
You betcha der ehh
I’d buy it buy my assets are frozen . . . would I get in trouble if I tried skating a check on this?
Be great for the “Zoo” at Brainerd this year,,,
I am making a comment here just so I can see all the wisecrack responses. Knowing this group, this should be fun! Uh, but does it have A/C? Zero to sixty times?
A terror on the skid pad…
A true Zamboni never sits in the yard due to creating icey conditions .
One would think they would retire in Iceland or North Pole
Canadian daily driver.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ftw/2016/12/23/man-inspires-nation-drives-through-canadian-tim-hortons-on-a-zamboni/95787320/
There should be an air horn option known as the Zamboni Tromboni!
Great headline Jamie! After looking at your link on how they work, I started thinking. Old ice fishing auger, check. Old Willys 4 by 4, check. Welder, check. Dang it, gotta go to the village for that missing box of beer.
Surprised nobody mentioned that it needs an SBC.
Bring back memories of the my ice skating days at a rink in Elmsford, NY. The Zamboni driver wore a blue tuxedo. He would high five us as he went by.
Be fun to gear it to go highway speeds, hang a license plate on it, and put it in the fleet rotation.
Built in Canada at the Bathurst, N.B. plant……
This could keep my beer and my friends beers,
Ice cold all summer long…!!..yes this needs a small block v8..,
heater/AC..Cd player…and leather seat…!!LOL..Very interesting
find !…,but what could someone need this for..? I say COLD BEER..!! LOL
Someone should tell Bo and Luke….,I’ve located their stolen wheels…
but the 440 is missing…!
Being a Minnesotan, I think I need this.
The VW bus fans will convert it to Subaru power and then forget to drain out the water. I can hear the law suit now.
In Colorado you would hear this. Wow man, I was like following this, this thing. And all of a sudden the road turned to ice! I couldn’t stop. Now I have this VW engine on my hood. This is truly a nightmare! It must be some bad weed man.
True Zambonis come from Brantford , Ontario, Canada
Built on Chev 4×4 platforms
Never heard of a California unit
Why would they start in California
Home of Wayne geskey the greatest hockey player of all times
If I could find a way to get the zamboni home I would buy it . I have been driving zamboni,s since I was 16 I am turning 61 next month.