Is it really almost winter here in this part of the globe? I can’t believe spring, summer, and fall whizzed by so quickly this year. This 1979 John Deere Spitfire can be found listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Redgranite, WI, and the seller is asking $1,000 or best offer. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Lothar… of the Hill People for the tip!
It’s finally a time to relax and enjoy nice temperatures for a lot of the southern part of the U.S., but for a few million of us, it’s time to hunker down, get the shovels and snowblowers out, and maybe even a snowmobile; preferably a vintage one. John Deere made so many different machines over the decades, and their snowmobiles are always fun to see at vintage snowmobile shows or online. I’ve never owned one, but I know a few of you have. The 1979 slogan was “Nothing Runs like a Deere.” I’m sure most of you have heard of that one; it’s one of the best marketing lines, in my opinion.
You can see that this Spitfire, made from 1977 for the 1978 model year, until the end of 1982, could use some cosmetic help. It appears to be complete and in really nice condition overall, despite some worn paint here and there. The Spitfire was revolutionary in being the first mass-produced direct-drive snowmobile. After over a year of testing and prototypes, the new drive system didn’t have a jackshaft or gearbox, and it was lighter than other similarly sized snowmobiles. As such, it was marketed towards women due to its lightweight and ease of handling.
That isn’t to say that male snowmobilers didn’t like the Spitfire just as much. A couple of people could put one in the back of a pickup rather than having to haul a trailer, and they were easy to ride. This second-year model appears to have both a speedometer and a tachometer, along with heated grips. A fuel gauge would have been available, but there aren’t any close-up photos showing the “dash” layout, and the seller doesn’t mention it.
The 1978 and 1979 Spitfires came with a Kohler K340-2FA, a 338-cc twin-cylinder with 25 horsepower. The last three model years used a Kawasaki engine. The seller says it runs well and has a good track. At 275 pounds, the Spitfire was much lighter than similar-sized snowmobiles of the era. Are any of you into vintage snowmobiles, and if so, have you owned or ridden a JD Spitfire?
Well, my friend(s), I’d be lying if I said the cooler temps and snow capped mountains( already) doesn’t get me thinking about snowmobiles, it does, I had a lot of fun with these things. Most fun you can have with ( a lot) of clothes on,,,I’m told. Naturally, JD hits a nerve, the snowmobiles were made in Horicon, Wis. and were good sleds. The “direct-drive” was a novel idea, and not sure why it wasn’t more universally adapted. Being light, it’s reminiscent of my Yamaha 340 Exciter, these are a blast to throw around. A bit shy on power ( 440 minimum for sleds) but I guarantee,,,you WILL have fun. The downside, is the free-air motor. Free-air motors are generally the most powerful, but need cold air, colder the better. They have no other cooling on their own. That may or may not jive with many who hate the cold. Liquid cooled are superior, but a PITA, and a fan cooled is the best all around setup, I’ve found. The hey day of snowmobiling has come and gone, like most of the things I held dear, and snowmobiles today are these objects of wizardry, with GPS, power steering, a/c( cough), when all we really wanted was this. What was fun was riding and stopping at a tavern, many had gas and great food, and seeing all the different sleds lined up. It was a sight to see. None particularly better than any other, just all out for the same thing, to enjoy winter, not hate it. Great find.
Hey Howard! I had one of these, think it was a 1979, had a Kawasaki engine. Really dependable sled, not that powerful or fast, 60mph was about it. Not great in deeper snow. Small track and minimal suspension. But they were fun! And yes good on gas. I always thought twin carbs would have given them some gusto and upped the fun factor a trifle. I miss those days, we used to go hundreds of miles on the Chippewa Flowage trails. Good times and good food for sure. Gas at most resorts, marked reflector groomed trails made sledding safe and fun at night too. The good ol days? You bet. And yes the free air sleds ran best at -10 and below and had a characteristic ring to their sounds.
The 1979 slogan was : “Nothing runs like a Deere.”
The reply to that, when I was a kid, was : “Nothing smells like a John.”
These may have been aimed at women or younger riders but they did appeal to those looking for value. My neighbor had one and it would go everywhere the other sleds went and it absolutely hated fuel. I would burn thru a tank on my TX-340 and Jim would have used around a quarter or so. He loved that sled.
I have never been on a snow machine when I was a kid I loved the snow I even drove up to Stevens pass once and made my way into the back country and built a igloo to camp in for a day or two but now if its below 65 I’m looking for a coat hopefully someone gets this thing dependable and has a lot of fun with it.
The ad now says Pending. Did someone here go for it?
John Deere overhauled its snowmobile line in the late 70s. The Spitfire was the first, followed by the Sportfire and the Trailfire. The Liquifire was right in there too. New machines, upwards of 100 lbs lighter which gave them a good chance in the mountains again.
For three years before that JD had some good reliable machines but they were way too heavy to do much along the mountain trails other than get stuck.
I often wonder about the relationship between JD and Kawasaki; it seemed that there were engine modifications up the kazoo. Ignition modules, carburetors, pistons; they never seemed to end. About that time Kawasaki was buying out Snojet and, needless to say, the Yamaha engines that powered Snojet were turfed in favor of Kawasaki units. I talked to a guy who worked at the Kawasaki dealership and he said there were only a couple of minor updates to their engines.
I guess we’ll never know; JD ended up selling its Snowmobile business to Polaris in the early 80s…
I was hoping we’d hear from you. John Deere had a kindred relationship with Kohler. I’m not sure when Kawasaki came on the scene, but JD used Kohler motors almost exclusively in the lawn and garden machines.
So,,,why didn’t more companies use that drive system? Were people actually changing gears in a chain case on other makes? This sure seemed like a better way.
Morning, Howard. I imagine you’re hearing the hum of a snowmobile engine on a regular basis by now. Won’t be hearing those for a spell here. We had a good wet snow last Friday (maybe 3 in) but it was all gone by Saturday afternoon. Forecasting sprinkles and flurries (1/4 in) this week and you’ll have to grow one leg shorter than the other one so you don’t tip over in the wind. Typical.
Anyways, JD’s 400 used a Kohler 300cc single. The 500 and 600, and the JDX8, used a CCW (Kioritz, Japan). The Kohler was virtually indestructible but the CCWs, especially the JDX8 tended to overheat and seize if pushed wide open. I had a JDX8 which worked fine in the mountains but not so good at 60 over a frozen lake…
Correction: The 300 had a Kohler ran a Kohler…
While all I have owned are Arctic Cats, since 1972, John Deere fans are highly loyal to the marque. I hate getting old, but am glad I lived through the snowmobile’s hey days. I still have one old Cat left. Sadly, the new machines all look the same, like a praying mantis, cost far too much and too complicated for myself. God forbid you have to pull a rope and not have hand warmers or GPS. How ridiculous. When I was in high school, there were roughly 100 snowmobile manufacturers. Today, a few off brands, and just Ski Doo, Polaris and Arctic Cat, which survived going under a second time.
This JD is sold, did one of you vintage snowmobile fans buy it?