“No snow too deep, no hill too steep” is the motto of Tucker Sno-Cat, a manufacturer of elite snow equipment in Medford, Oregon. Tucker has been around since 1941 when its founder, E. M. Tucker, decided it would be easier to ride on top of the snow around his home near the Rogue River than wade through it. Early efforts at a snow vehicle were not very successful, but when he hit upon the idea of four independently swiveling tracks, his Cats were off and running. Here on eBay is a 1959 Tucker Sno-Cat Model 222 “Kitten”, bid to $20,300, reserve not met. The Kitten is located in Canaan, Connecticut, and it is one of just three models Tucker made that has two tracks instead of four. Made for trail grooming instead of polar exploration, only about 110 Kittens were made, with many of those exported to Russia. The seller knew the previous owner for a few decades and tried to buy his Kitten several times. This past Fall, the previous owner agreed, and the non-running Sno-Cat went to its new home. Now, the seller has decided to buy an RV so the Kitten is once again up for adoption.
Pre-sale, job number one was to get the Kitten to run. The seller details the steps he took to clean up and recommission the motor. After several false starts (couldn’t resist), the motor is now running, as you can see from the video in the listing. While I have no idea what motor this is, original equipment was a Ford Anglia four-cylinder, with about 32 bhp. Speeds are not high: about 11 mph is all you can expect, thanks to the heavy steel tracks on the two pontoons.
The Kitten has a no-nonsense interior (kid not included!); this photo shows the levers and gearshift used to control direction and speed. There are three forward gears and one reverse. Resources say there’s no heater, but with a cabin this small, I suspect body heat would be sufficient. The seller also indicates that a decrepit wood sled accompanies the sale, with seating for eight.
Lest you worry that you’ll be all alone out there with this rare Kitten, take heart, because Tucker has a “Classic” division dedicated to helping owners of vintage Sno-Cats navigate their restoration projects. A forum I found has a stray entry detailing an excited new Kitten owner’s acquisition, and mentioning Kip Motors – specialists in the weird – as helpful for parts. The steel tracks appear to be the most daunting restoration issue; parts are rare and expensive. As far as what to do with it, other than grooming your trails, there are always snowmobile Jamborees. Prices have apparently been climbing for vintage Tuckers but without comparables. it’s anyone’s guess where this one will sell. The price might be more generous given our weather lately!
This is a little different to what I’ve normally seen from the Snow Cat family. Most of the ones I saw were the 4-track versions but when I toured the museum in Polson, MT, I saw a couple that actually used a ski in front with obviously track clutch/brake mechanisms. It was quite the compact version compared to the larger one (museum has one of those too). I understand that Tucker is still around.
I like the wheel idea, but why are the skis facing the wrong way? :)
They aren’t unstoppable. Once, in N.Wis., in a swampy setting that hadn’t quite froze yet, one went through, and while it wasn’t deep, the Tucker became hopelessly stuck. Being in a remote area, I think it took a helicopter to get it out.
Excellent observation! I was so busy taking in everything else that I completely missed the skis. Guess I should get back to the Christmas village and our guests…
Look closely at the nearest ski. Curved at both ends incase you need to “back up” !
The skis are probably on backwards to save space in a trailer is my guess.
Yep, even better eye by William. Open the photo to fully show everything and you’ll see both ends are curved.
Both the tips and the tails are curved up. Otherwise it cant go in reverse without them digging in. Tucker is still in Medford making grown up Sno-cats. Luckily they missed getting burned out by the huge Almeda fire there a couple of years ago.
Sorry, I didn’t realize the skis were uni directional
I driven by there,but never stopped.There was a
Nash Metropolitan on the roof out front.
I’m thinking that this would the perfect vehicle
right now,as the sellers in Conn.
Reminds me of “Katy the Snowplow”. My mom read that story to me a million times. Never heard of the “Kitten”, and I beg to differ with the creators motto, on an Antarctic expedition, the snow was indeed too deep.
https://offroadaction.ca/2014/01/22/the-commonwealth-trans-antarctic-expedition/
Not sure why they say no heat, heater hoses clearly go into the cab, and it is the Ford 71 ci flathead 4 used in many British cars. These have a funky drive/turning setup, similar to a dozer I worked on. I think the springs weaken and affect steering. It’s a lot of mass to stop the track from turning. Not sure about parts, they used all off the shelf stuff. The boxes may have an inch of dust, but they are out there. Modern Tuckers have nothing in common with these humble beginnings. Diesels, cushy interiors, joystick controls are anything but this, however, at almost $200grand, most faltering snowmobile clubs went back to Freds old SkiDoo Alpine and a steel drag. At one time, snowmobile clubs were huge, and had raffles and fund raisers to buy a Tucker. Groomed trails was the cheese and rightly so. Groomed trails are the absolute best time. With declining interest,( and snowmobiles going for over $10 grand) many of these are for sale, and with the winter this is shaping up to be, for a specialty vehicle like this, $20 grand seems plausible. It’s a great find.
That cab with no heater would be a beat down in-30..Ski’s are in summer mode and reversed as to not hit something when tires are lowered for moving it around.
Both ends are curved up.
I looked at a super rare Kristi snowcat this summer to possibly buy. Where I live(d) before covid they have snowcat fests, and all the rich people get together for a few days and ride their snowcats around.
Hard to believe that most of these were exported to Russia. Being it the height of the cold war,and Russia was rattling it’s sabers. Hmmmm
Great observation. The Cold War kicked off in 1947 but the US still trickled exports into its economy. We also imported a fair amount of fuel from the Soviets. It took some time for embargoes to ramp up and even then, there remained a lifeline of trade between the two economies.
Wow !!! I just saw one of these plowing a driveway 4 miles from my house. I thought it was very cool.
Always wanted a Sno-Cat, especially after seeing that famous National Geographic pic of one hanging over a crevasse in Antarctica. However, Not everybody in my house thinks I need one……. Or lots of things (eg, Pierce Arrow, Plymouth GTX, bobcat, used ski lift chair, small oil pump jack, collection of antique skis, other stuff, the list goes on…..)😫
Everybody needs a little pumping unit(pump jack).
These things all seem quite reasonable especially the bobcat
Perhaps a buyer in Buffalo may want this???
I’m there. There’s actually a newer version of one of these driving through my residential neighborhoods- rumor is is he drove it up from a town about a half hour south to help out. I would love this thing regardless of location lol, but yeah it’d be cool right now. It can obviously get pretty bad around here, but honestly more recent winters have been pretty tame; in the 30’s to 50’s but then an occasional big storm gets mixed in within that, which hits the news and late winter can get frigid. At the end of this week it’s supposed to be in the high 40’s for days. That’s the way it is around here.
No heat!, in the woods in below freezing wetter, better gave eating a pound of beans each person to keep warm inside.
At $20 grand i would drop the reserve and be happy.
Are the skis on backwards OR are the curved at both ends as these did have reverse…..
I think this is the coolest non road vehicle I’ve ever seen. It’s somehow adorable and tough looking at the same time.
Kudos to the seller for actually providing good history, information and video. Although the wood sled was a bit confusing at first. They threw in a couple of old photos; it was once beautiful but now in rough shape.
Another great post by Michelle, quickly becoming by fave author. No offense meant to others, of course.
Unless you owned a ski resort one of these units would not be very practical. For a ski resort this would be a valuable addition. For a private owner , unless you lived in an area that experiences heavy snow fall every year it would not be practical.
Ya kinda hit the nail on the head right there… Sure, you live in an area that gets a lot of snow (been there, did that, still trying to defrost the Tee shirt) you could use it….but…. practical? I dunno..
So, you own one of these when the big blow comes in (for the 5th time this season). You hop in and fire it up…and go………where?
Only if your JOB required you to be out and about and mobile would this make any sense. “Weeee! look at me! I’m the only one on the road!” Yep…no deliveries, no employees, no nothing. All dressed up and no place to go..OK..maybe a sled behind it with provisions (heat/light/food) for your neighbors who might be without? Sure.. but the best way to deal with deep snow is to stay inside where it’s warm and look outside and go “Man, I’m glad I don’t need to go anywhere right away” and not running some cranky snow machine that might well leave you stranded somewhere….excuse me while I toss another log in the stove….
Another common application for these was/is getting to communications sites in the mountains.
If you’re the engineer for a big-billing TV or radio station way up there, and particularly if you have parts and equipment that need to go along, that’s the tool for the job. (Sure beats the alternatives… toboggan full of parts behind a snowmobile, or backpack full of parts and a pair of snowshoes!)
Granted, a broadcast license isn’t exactly the license to print money it once was. But it seems most of the bigger TV stations out west had a Sno-Cat back in the day… and/or a helicopter service standing by, if the trail was truly impassible.
lotsa older work vehicles on this channel. Here’s nother, good for the landed rich. No need for the current million dollar model. But only for those who tinker as well. We got those type round here (well, they hire me to go out’n wrench).
I looked it up & found out that they’re made in Medford,Oregon,
about three hours from where I used to live.
I used to see these in the local PG&E yard all the time.
“Here’s Johnny” why does this make me think of THE SHINING??