Explorer’s Choice: 1965 Tucker Sno-Cat
The Tucker family of winter-friendly tracked vehicles has earned its chops in some of the harshest climates on the planet. While winter may be winding down, a Sno-Cat could likely still do work on a local beach patrol to groom the sand when it isn’t in use grooming ski trails in the mountains. The seller says he doesn’t want to give this project up, but if you make him an offer he can’t refuse, it’ll go. The asking price is $10,500 and it’s listed here on craigslist in Oregon (or go here if the ad disappears). Thanks to Barn Finds reader Peter Rettig for the find.
The Sno-Cat came in a variety of configurations, and this appears to be an open-bed design (though by now, it certainly could have been modified/converted). The interior is sparse, as you’d expect, hopefully is equipped with a stout heater. The seller says this specific model was used for snow grooming, no doubt helpful in preserving the west’s excellent reputation for fresh powder like no other region of the country. The four-track design employed by the Sno-Cat is a sort of Tucker hallmark, and it was proven effective in missions in both polar regions.
The seller mentions that this Sno-Cat is powered by “Military Jeep running gear,” which seems accurate. The “Hurricane” motor was a 3.8L inline-six that developed 140 b.h.p. and around 210 lb. ft. of torque. I’m not sure about parts availability, but I’m more encouraged than I was a few minutes ago wondering what on earth resided under the bodywork for means of propulsion. The seller says the Tucker runs and drives as intended, and all it needed was fresh gas and a battery to churn to life.
Looking perfectly at home in someone’s backyard serves as inspiration that the Sno-Cat can be put to good use in more than one season. What’s the value of a vintage piece of trail grooming equipment? The historical significance is only relevant in certain circles and its usefulness depends on your geographic location. I personally find them interesting vestiges of a not-too-distant path that showcases Americans’ desire to go anywhere we want – and come back to tell the tale. So if an adventure machine is on your list, this Sno-Cat may be worth a look.
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Comments
Is it just me or is there no brake pedal? Seems like brakes might come in handy on occasion.
Where we go in this puppy, we don’t need no stinkin’ brakes! lol
These early Tuckers did not have a pedal operated brake. Only a hand operated parking brake acting on the rear driveshaft. There was so much drag in the all metal track system that they would come to a stop on their own when you pushed in the clutch. All the metal track cats that I have ever seen (east coast) had Chrysler industrial slant six, or flat head 6 engine’s on the earlier models. I believe that the 318 V8 was only offered after the company switched to rubber tracks, sometime in the 1970’s . The drivetrain was all one ton Dodge truck components. The all steel tracks had metal bearings, riding on metal runners, on the drum like metal track pods … The noise was deafening
The motor in this is a Jeep Kaiser “Tornado” 230 cid OHC motor, not the “Hurricane”. This 6 cylinder motor was found in the Jeep M series military vehicles and some civilian models in the early 60’s. The “Hurricane” motor is a 134 cid F-head 4 cylinder motor commonly found in Jeep CJ’s from around 1953 until 1971. This is a cool machine, but seems over priced to me, despite it’s decent condition.
And the cab on this cool cat kind of reminds me of a Willys pickup.
As quiet as it’s kept, the Tornado engine is a Hemi, Overhead cam with only 6 lobes on the camshaft. It is a very well designed engine that has Continental origins. Great fuel economy was one of the reasons the military used them. I am building a 3 wheeler that will have a Tornado for power.
The vehicle of choice if you are going to spend the winter writing a novel at the Overlook hotel.
Okay, before anyone asks – NO, No and no!!! – No connection to Preston Tucker or the “Tucker 48” automobile. These were built in Medford, Oregon and the only similarity is the name but no relation, no connection other than that. No common mother Tucker that gave birth to both of ’em!
Nonetheless – I say buy it and flip it for 100 large to the same Nigerian prince that tries to buy our stuff.
“Congratulations on your purchase of a genuine Tucker. I’ll have my man deliver you the keys and a certified bill of lading in exchange for your shopping bag full of cash”…..
He’s a lot over priced on this. One can find running models, needing no work, for a little over half…I found one, needing just a ring and pinion, for like 2k, last fall.
These were built in my home town, Medford Ore and the Sno-Cats were a common sight in the parades when I was growing up. Used all over the world wherever there was snow, e.g. Antarctica, etc. They still make a good-sized line of machines for a variety of sources. My dad worked in a camera store Mr Tucker used in Medford and my dad would come home and tell us about their conversations. Interesting. And no, no connection to the Tucker Automobile whatsoever.
Cool vehicle to have just because. I would add a wide stake bed, faux Rolls Royce or Bentley grill, nice leather seats, air horn and rhino line paint job then tool around the estate.
…also made me think of Scatman Crothers in The Shining.
All engine/trans parts are readily available from various military surplus companies, the Jeep M715 series 5/4 ton truck was in regular army use just in time for the Viet Nam conflict, & used for over 30 years.
That said, I used to work on ’em in the military, and they were not known for their reliability! The Jeep Tornado engines were notorious for developing oil leaks where ever there was a gasket or seal. Especially that one-piece cast metal valve cover, they had only the 4 top center bolts holding them down. When tightened too tight, they would bow the valve cover on both sides, allowing oil to run down the sides of the head & block. And once bowed out, it has to be replaced, as it’s cast white metal.
I’ve owned a ’64 Tucker 442A for 20 years now. Restored it and built a passenger cab that holds four. I use it for backcountry skiing here in Colorado. See 2017 Snowcat Jamboree video on U tube for an idea of what you can do with them.
Being from N. Wis. and an avid snowmobiler, I’m very familiar with Sno-Cats. I’ve never seen one with this motor, a dynamite motor that never saw it’s full potential, as most of the Tuckers I saw had a Chrysler 360 V8 and Torqueflite. I believe this is a model 342, 300 series, 4 track, 2 door. Just about every club had a Sno-Cat back in snowmobiling heyday. (’70’s-’80’s) Trail grooming is essential, as anybody who snowmobiles knows, the trails get beat to heck and rough, and the groomer was always a welcome site. They generally have the right of way on a trail, and sometimes, they take up the whole trail, and you have to get out of THEIR way. After the groomer goes by, the trails are like a sidewalk. Most grooming is done between midnight and morning. I’ve seen groomers like this stuck, and it’s not pretty. Today, this is obsolete, and diesel units have replaced these.
Tuckers were used on an Antarctic expedition, and were tough units. Imagine being in this predicament. Still a cool find.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paperkosmonaut/7018398817
Are they four-track drive and would they work in mud as the ultimate off-road vehicle?
I’m in Medford as well.It is great to have Tucker Manufacturing provide solid jobs here. This one is overpriced and is certainly going to require track and other preventative maintenance before going out. Getting broken while off trail is not a fun experience. I have a lot of time driving these grooming ski areas in the old days, they were the entry lever machine for newbies before moving into bigger units. I think they had a 318 V8 auto installed though, went through 4 gears and still only did 15.
yes, 4 trac drive (that’s how U steer).
Remember them in the NE gromin trails/n slopes while skiin in the ’60s’n ’70s.
So yes, good 4 none sno trails’n mud. Not so good rock crawlin (metal on slippery roc? nah).
Very cool
We had 3 sno cats where I worked one would freeze up almost as soon as you stopped Medford never figured out why we carried a long piece of flex hose and stuck in each pontoon until you could move again
I have a 69 Tucker snow cat with a bed on it just like this one. Mine has a Chrysler slant 6 with all Dana running gear. For some reason they have a lever in the cab to engage the 4 wheel drive and it’s got a 4 speed trans. They turn by rotating both the front and rear track assemblies hydraulicly. Mine also has the steel tracks and pontoons like this one. A big word of WARNING to anybody looking at this and dreaming of the possibilities of going anywhere is the tracks!!! If they need replacement or you can convert them to rubber it’s going to cost you 10,000$ per corner that’s 40,000$ or you can convert to rubber for the same price!! These prices are correct, ask me how I know! Great machine will climb through snow like nothing else ever will but they are slow and replacement parts will make your wallet bleed!! Buyer be aware!
Hello, we are interested in this Tucker Sno as articulable, Please state its status, price and give us more information about it and if it starts or is all right, we want to buy it for a church in Romania Hunedoara county Muntii Poiana Rusca.Thank you very much. A good day !!!