Coot Industries built a lot of small off-road vehicles in the 1960s and 1970s, and none were as cool as their “Funmobiles”. These were basically fast go-karts with fiberglass bodies and one of them was the Snoopy Red Baron edition. These are fairly rare finds more than 50 years later, yet what are the odds that two of them would show up here on Barn Finds in the same week? This one needs a lot of cosmetic attention but is largely up-to-snuff mechanically. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, this second Red Baron is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $1,200 OBO (or trade for a golf cart). Thanks for the nifty tip, T.J!
Earlier research conducted by our own Jesse Mortensen provides some background about Coot and the Funmobile. Since these things were built to be “played with,” I can’t imagine that any large number of them have survived the wrath of 1970s kids and teenagers. Coot produced three special editions, the Searcher (in blue), the Snoopy (in yellow), and the Red Baron (in red, of course). The latter is said to have had a more powerful 18.5 hp 2-cycle motor. To get “Peanuts” creator Charles Schultz to let Coot use the Snoopy name and likeness; they supposedly gave him one for his personal use!
This Red Baron may not look all that great, but the seller has been doing some work on it. We’re told it sports a brand-new engine (like the one from the factory?) which sits a bit high, requiring the seller to place wooden spacers in between the body and the motor. Also new are the rear axle, bearing, and manual brake. Yet to be done is perhaps the need for a hydraulic brake, too. The lighting is new, also. It sounds as though you could probably have fun with this thing the way it is or restore it like the other one, we found. What’s your pleasure?
Just the thing my parents probably thought I’d have killed myself on. I especially like the safety steering wheel.
Those were the days when kids had to exercise common sense. Just think of those 2 wheeled hazards that also ran around the streets! LOVE IT! I would not go 90 in it but it still would be a blast to play with as a kid. (under parent supervision, with strict punishment)
Snoopys are yellow. Red Barons are red. Elementary, if you read what Jesse said yesterday-
Hmmm…… I am a little confused, I thought that is what he said. Maybe I missed something.
Ok so if the Snoopy model was yellow and the Red Baron model was red, and there is obviously yellow paint under the red where it is scratched and beat up, wouldn’t this actually be a Snoopy cart that has been at some point repainted red?
Could be worth looking into. I know some glass is made in the mass produced color and the ” special edition” is a repaint.
This is why I’m assuming it’s originally a Snoopy cause it looks like there is yellow under the red, unless the painted painted over the yellow at the factory to call them the red baron 🤷