We have shown a few snowmobiles here on Barn Finds over the last few years and they’re really only useful for areas that get snow.. (says Cap’n Obvious). Something like this 1969 Playcat is useful year-round no matter where a person lives. Well, ok, Manhattan might be a stretch but you know what I mean. This rare and unique tracked ATV is on Craigslist in Ray, Michigan and the seller is asking $3,500 or best offer.
There are only three photos, unfortunately, but you can get the gist of this cool machine. It’s made for traveling over almost anything other than air. Speaking of that, where are those jet packs that they said we should have had by now?! Here’s a YouTube video showing similar Playcat being used in the aforementioned snow. Yes, there was a snowplow attachment, in case you were wondering. The Playcat was made in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada by Playcat International Corporation. The seller says that the “Tracks are in real good shape. Overall the machine is in real nice original condition.”
There are no close-up photos and of course no engine photos, but here is what the original 28 hp Kohler K399-2T, a 399 cc two-stroke twin should look like, although hopefully without all of the wire nuts and stray wiring. They had four sets of four tires, actual pneumatic tires, not solid like a snowmobile and there isn’t a ton of information on them out there. One forum noted that the “drive train includes a snowmobile type clutch which turns a gear box that has forward, neutral and reverse gears. The gear box turns a chain drive to each track. The steering is accomplished using a clutching/braking system which disengages power and applies a brake to one track or the other depending on which way you’re turning.” Apparently, Playcat was drummed out of business because of copyright infringement for the drive system. Have any of you seen a Playcat before?
Another Scotty G/ BF’s exclusive. I don’t know how he finds these things. IDK, for being designed in Canada, hey, looks pretty lame. I think for hard packed, looks ok, but in the slightly deeper snow, it bogs down, and probably weighs a ton. Have fun getting this unstuck. And a bumper hitch, what you going to pull with 28 hp? Half the hp is sucked up in the drive system. Copyright infringement,( wonder who that was?) nice going, hey.
Very cool!
What’s “Snow?”
Back in the day when I had a snowmobile shop, I had one of these come in for service. Pretty simple machine really. It was jerky to turn as the steering clutches were either full engaged or not engaged. Grossly under powered, especially when turning and a brake was applied to one track
Front view has an odd Pontiac resemblance to it.
We had another Canadian ATV, the Jigger.
http://www.jiger.ca/Jiger/Home.html
Looks like an Argo, or does an Argo look like it?
It seems to me that there were a couple other companies that built similar ATVs. One was (I believe) Fox(?). I only saw photos of it (and I attempted to Google it) but the photos show skis. I’m positive I saw one with (2) tracks only. Another company was ‘PasseParTout.’ There were a few of the latter out west (I think that a dealer either in Great Falls or Conrad, MT, sold them). They had a CCW engine, similar to the one that powered the first series of John Deere snowmobiles. Those who ran them liked them, except for their tendency to pull the screws out of the drive lugs. Ranchers used to throw bales of hay on an old station wagon roof and drag it out to feed the cattle.
I’ve driven it’s counterpart the ‘PasseParTout’ a really bad name that means, in French, “to pass anywhere”
The drive system was ingeniously simple. A slight turn to the right would disengage the drive to the right track and a harder turn to the right would engage the right brake. That was it. Not much to go wrong.
It wasn’t fast, it was pretty noisy and the ride was ok, but certainly not the smoothness of todays snowmobiles. All in all it was just a little ‘quirky’ but I’d buy one if the price was right. Which would be about $200 for me
And no that’s not me in the pic. That’s Santa Claus and his Passepartout.
Knock off of an orignal Cushman Traxter……..almost the same engine and everything (we commonly use Kohler’s as replacement for the orignal) Like my Bombardier Snow Dozer is a knock off of a DMC/Thiocol. Seems the Canadian’s are nearly as bad as the Oriental’s for stealing our product designs………By the way, DMC was owned by John Delorean and made in Utah.
Just who do you think stole what from whom??? It is widely acknowledged that Joseph-Armand Bombardier invented and developed the modern snowmobile in the late 30’s in Quebec. Should I be accusing all of the subsequent American producers of stealing his design?
likin the tracks best cept for no water crossings. Seeking a:
DUCK
(that can’t fly) I guess.
Don’t name the Amphicar but that’s 1 that does the trick…
i was wondering if you still have the machine. Im working on the very same thing i found in a scrap yard.
where’s the scrap yard. I was somewhere in PA at a scrap/towing yard and found some. Can’t remember the place though. can you help me out.
I just plowed my driveway tonight with my 1972 play cat.My father had it before me since 1972.My tracks have the optional ice cleats for gription while plowing.The plow is heavy-duty and like a bulldozer you can create a ramp when plowing snow.399 nobler,,,24hp.I have the shop manual as well.There’s a guy in western Canada…flyn enterprises..he has lots of parts and info .The company became Raid Track after play cat.My father and I used to visit the factory in Drummondville since that was his hometown.Laser par tout was also there.Play cat has an aluminum body,,,very light,,,passe par tout was steel.I like the machine,,I use it for snow removal.Turns on a dime. Cheers
Does anyone know if this machine sold? I am looking for one .
I know where is one for sale in Grande Prairie Alberta
Little far for me that’s 1700 miles one way. What condition and price is it?
Where can we find tracks for thesez
Just bought one tonight! $600. Fair deal. No hood no seats. Wish me luck lol
The junkyard in Yale picked up two of them and sold them as fast as he put them out there for $2,500 a piece. So they are out there
looking for 1969 or newer play cat to buy, i like the one in ray michigan.
I might be selling mine this summer
Send it in when you are ready to sell!