Ford Model T Snowmobiles?

[AzScorpion]

Yes, you read that right. A local NH Ford dealer thought up the idea back in 1917 and then patented the idea. Kind of cool how things evolve, I guess there is hope with all this EV talk. ?

https://www.yahoo.com/autos/ford-model-t-snowmobiles-serious-170000419.html

The history of these Ford Model T snowmobiles stretches back further than you might expect. It was Virgil D. White, a Ford dealer located in Ossipee, New Hampshirewho dreamt up the idea, which he called the “snowmobile.” Quite literally nobody had thought of such a thing before, so we have him to thank for an engine-driven vehicle with skis and treads.

Rather than making a completely new vehicle, White fabricated a conversion kit for his Model T. It allowed the car to travel in deep snow, making impassable roads accessible in the bitter New Hampshire winter. It included wooden and metal skis to replace the front wheels, plus an extra axle and wheels around back. The early kits used tracks made of metal cleats connected by heavy fabric, but that was later updated to stamped steel shoes with chain links connecting them. To accommodate the modifications, the factory rear axle, rear spring, radius rods, and driveshaft were swapped out. In their place went a 7:1 Ford truck worm gear driveline, which was anchored to the frame using two cantilevered semi-elliptical springs. The car would also need heavy-duty wheels to accommodate the TT rear axle, plus anti-skip chains were also in the kit.

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[Stevedbvik1]

Yes, you read that right. A local NH Ford dealer thought up the idea back in 1917 and then patented the idea. Kind of cool how things evolve, I guess there is hope with all this EV talk. ?

https://www.yahoo.com/autos/ford-model-t-snowmobiles-serious-170000419.html
Evolution at it’s best

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Yes, you read that right. A local NH Ford dealer thought up the idea back in 1917 and then patented the idea. Kind of cool how things evolve, I guess there is hope with all this EV talk. ?

https://www.yahoo.com/autos/ford-model-t-snowmobiles-serious-170000419.html

Hi Dave,

This is so cool....never saw one at the Museum, So Builds and Mods were not just for 5G, eh?

Best,
Phil

 

[AzScorpion]

Hi Dave,

This is so cool....never saw one at the Museum, So Builds and Mods were not just for 5G, eh?

Best,
Phil

Nope, looks like mods date back long before any of us were around. Good to see we're all carrying on the tradition. ?

 

[AzScorpion]

That's really cool! ?I wonder what people here would think if I added those to my Ranger? ?

 

[Stevedbvik1]

That's really cool! ?I wonder what people here would think if I added those to my Ranger? ?

That’s never stopped you before ?

 

[IdahoRanger]

Cool, I've seen those pics somewhere else but not sure where.

 

[RedlandRanger]

Yes, you read that right. A local NH Ford dealer thought up the idea back in 1917 and then patented the idea. Kind of cool how things evolve, I guess there is hope with all this EV talk. ?

https://www.yahoo.com/autos/ford-model-t-snowmobiles-serious-170000419.html

That is the vehicle (the mail truck) from "Santa Claus is Coming to Town".

 

[AzScorpion]

That is the vehicle (the mail truck) from "Santa Claus is Coming to Town".

You're right, I forgot about that.

 

[PltFX4]

Always wanted a set of those... just because. about $25K last time I looked.

These folks built their own (Demo vid starts at ~5:20 minites into the vid) and sell the plans for $99 on their site. ( The plans )
They say about $1500 in parts and machining, CNC plasma cutting (and welding if you don't do your own).

 

[LaBalbe]

Nope, looks like mods date back long before any of us were around. Good to see we're all carrying on the tradition. ?

But did they add dampers...??

 

[AzScorpion]

But did they add dampers...??

Probably not, I wasn't born yet. ?

 

[RedlandRanger]

Always wanted a set of those... just because. about $25K last time I looked.































These folks built their own (Demo vid starts at ~5:20 minites into the vid) and sell the plans for $99 on their site. ( The plans )















They say about $1500 in parts and machining, CNC plasma cutting (and welding if you don't do your own).

Interesting. They said about $1500 for each tread, so about $6,000 for all$ 4. Still a lot better than $25,000!

 

[HenryMac]

Yes, you read that right. A local NH Ford dealer thought up the idea back in 1917 and then patented the idea. Kind of cool how things evolve, I guess there is hope with all this EV talk. ?

https://www.yahoo.com/autos/ford-model-t-snowmobiles-serious-170000419.html

On the green Model A Tudor Sedan shown above in the photo's.... how do you get in and out of the car?

My old '31 Ford does great in the snow... (not)

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

On the green Model A Tudor Sedan shown above in the photo's.... how do you get in and out of the car?

My old '31 Ford does great in the snow... (not)

Merry Christmas John - nice to see you sharing photos - those baby moons look cool - had them on my VW Dune Buggy with chrome reversed wheels. Those red wheels look great! ?

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