- From The Collection Of
- Ingenium
- Accession Number
- 2015.0005
- Discipline
- Humanities
- Classification
- Motorized Ground Transportation, Recreational vehicles
- Artist / Manufacturer
- Mercury Outboard Corporation (manufacturer)
- Date
- 1980 (creation date)
- 2015 (collection date)
- Place
- Hartford, Wisconsin, United States of America (creation)
- Canada, Ontario (use)
- Brand / Model
- Sno-Runner (model)
- Description
- Orange paint
Multiple saftey/warning decals (to much information to fit in markings field).
Sno-Runner decal - History of Use
- Recreational snowmobiling and snowmobile racing
- Narrative
- Motorized snow vehicles have a long history in Canada and many other northern countries beginning in the early 20th century. These vehicles, which date from 1968-1993, represent a variety of themes in the history of the snowmobile in Canada.
Made by the Mercury Outboard Corporation for Chrysler, the Sno-Runner is a mobylette for the snow. Small and light, this scooter-like machine was designed to break-down into four pieces for easy transportation and the fuel tank was designed for safe transport even when full. The official story for this vehicle is that is grew out of a US army request for and ultra-light and portable vehicle that troops could use in the snow. They were only made under the Snorunner name from 1979 to 1980. after that another company took over production and called the vehicle the Sno-Rabbit.
Chrysler sold the Sno-Runners for three years. In 1981, when Chrysler was in financial trouble, production was ended for good. The remaining stock was liquidated by COMB liquidators who changed the name to Sno-Rabbit by putting a Sno-Rabbit sticker right over the Sno-Runner sticker. COMB sold them for $288.00 each in the back of magazines. The remaining parts were also sold. It is believed that there was approx. 28,000 made, we will probably never know.
The Sno-Runner utilized a134cc. 2 cycle Power bee engine that produced 7hp. It had an integral 90 watt alternator and used a Tillotson 320A carb. Power was transferred via a centrifugal clutch. They had the ability to be broken down in a few short minutes by removing 5 quick disconnect pins for transport in the trunk of a car. They originally sold for $699.00 in 1979. - See Elsewhere
- ingenium.ca
- Record Rights
- © Ingenium
- http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
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