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melensdad
Samba Member
Joined: January 02, 2006
Posts: 28
Location: Indiana
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 Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 1:10 pm Post subject: VW flat 4 powered "Snow Trac ST4" from Sweden |
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As the winter storms are starting to roll in I figured I show off my winter car  Well I admit I drive my Touareg more often than I drive this, but more people look at my Snow Trac than any other vehicle I've ever driven.
This is a 1972 Aktiv Snow Trac ST4 from Sweden. The body was made by Aktiv, but the engine is a VW industrial motor, the transmission is from a bus, the steering wheel is from a Schwimwagen. Almost all the lights, mirrors, interior switches, brakes, etc are surplus VW parts.
Snow Tracs were produced from the Mid-1950s to the early 1980's and the Aktiv company had a relationship with VW to supply them parts. Anything that VW discontinued or had in surplus were fair game to be added to the Snow Tracs. Typically a part that was discontinued one year from VW showed up in the following year's production of the Snow Tracs.
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My Antique Snowcat pages are at http://www.forumsforums.com/3_9/forumdisplay.php?f=65
I need information on Snow Trac, Kristi, Thiokol and old Tuckers.
If you like antique snowcats visit my discussions where they still live! |
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oorwullie
Samba Member
Joined: May 01, 2003
Posts: 2365
Location: fribourg,switzerland
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| Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 2:51 am Post subject: |
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i like!  |
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melensdad
Samba Member
Joined: January 02, 2006
Posts: 28
Location: Indiana
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oorwullie
Samba Member
Joined: May 01, 2003
Posts: 2365
Location: fribourg,switzerland
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| Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 1:40 pm Post subject: |
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nope,haven't seen any round here. but i do know of a few other wierd VW powered items. 
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90volts
Samba Member
Joined: August 10, 2005
Posts: 2637
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| Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 5:53 am Post subject: |
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| have you run it on sand and dirt too? does it run as well? nice. |
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melensdad
Samba Member
Joined: January 02, 2006
Posts: 28
Location: Indiana
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| Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 7:07 am Post subject: |
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| 90volts wrote: |
| have you run it on sand and dirt too? |
I've run mine on grass, mud, gravel, dirt, asphalt and snow. But not yet on sand.
It handles best on a loose surface.
A normal lawn is probably one of the hardest tings to drive it on because of the way these machines turn. To turn right the left track speeds up and the right track slows down. This creates a sort of "skid" turn. But with the metal cleats (called grousers) on the tracks that dig into the lawn it has a difficult time turning easily because there is very little skidding or slipping on the grass. In something like snow, gravel or sand, the surface lets the tracks slip during the turn and that is needed for easy operation. It will actually turn easily on smooth concrete or asphalt too, because it has minimal grip on those surfaces.
_________________
My Antique Snowcat pages are at http://www.forumsforums.com/3_9/forumdisplay.php?f=65
I need information on Snow Trac, Kristi, Thiokol and old Tuckers.
If you like antique snowcats visit my discussions where they still live! |
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Foxx
Uncle Meat
Joined: August 27, 2001
Posts: 4897
Location: at the computer,.......DUH!
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| Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 8:45 am Post subject: |
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saw this,. thought you could use it.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=378753
figured those parts are hard to find.
_________________
Frank
OG JHC
59 panel
Sarcasm is the body's natural defense against stupidity. i seem to use a lot.
Last edited by Foxx on Mon Jan 01, 2007 2:43 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Touch Nicks Thing
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2003
Posts: 2030
Location: Alexandria, VA
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| Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 8:50 am Post subject: |
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| oorwullie wrote: |
nope,haven't seen any round here. but i do know of a few other wierd VW powered items.
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Yo man, what models are these? The second looks like it has Bungartz fenders, but it is certainly something I've never seen in any literature!!! |
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oorwullie
Samba Member
Joined: May 01, 2003
Posts: 2365
Location: fribourg,switzerland
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dogapult
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2006
Posts: 552
Location: Qiryat Motzkin, Israel/ Allentown, PA
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| Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 6:36 pm Post subject: |
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1. Is it road legal?
2. Where can I get one if it is? (no one would dare cut me off, and I could "get revenge"(read "run over the cars" ) of people at my school who bother me!)
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I can haz beetle?
1963 Type 1:"Ellie"
gzg1406: "bamboo sounds almost like manboob" |
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melensdad
Samba Member
Joined: January 02, 2006
Posts: 28
Location: Indiana
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| Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 7:58 pm Post subject: |
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| vwpimpster wrote: |
1. Is it road legal?
2. Where can I get one if it is? |
#1 -- I imported mine as an agricultural vehicle (a snow tractor) so as long as I obey the agricultural laws for farm tractors then I can drive it on the road. In my state I am required to have the lights on and to use a SMV sign on the rear. But to be honest I've driven it on the road several times without the lights on and I've never used a tractor's SMV sign (and I have one, I just never bothered to mount one on the Snow Trac)
#2 -- As for where to get one, I imported mine from England. They are not really common anywhere in the world, but there were several hundred imported and shipped to Alaska. There are probably several hundred of them in Canada. As far as in the continental US, there are probably another 100 or so of them scattered around the lower 48 states, mostly in the snow regions. I know of some open top units that were used in the Texas oil fields. Snow Tracs are equally at home on sand dunes as on snow.
Over 2000 were built between the mid 50's and '81, making it one of the most successful tracked vehicles ever built. The reports I've found say that the only reason they stopped production was because they could no longer get the VW industrail flat 4 engines from Germany.
_________________
My Antique Snowcat pages are at http://www.forumsforums.com/3_9/forumdisplay.php?f=65
I need information on Snow Trac, Kristi, Thiokol and old Tuckers.
If you like antique snowcats visit my discussions where they still live! |
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dogapult
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2006
Posts: 552
Location: Qiryat Motzkin, Israel/ Allentown, PA
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| Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 8:13 pm Post subject: |
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could you take to the highway in it though? could it be used as a DD if absolutely necessary?
Also, how much would I figure to pay for a good one?
_________________
I can haz beetle?
1963 Type 1:"Ellie"
gzg1406: "bamboo sounds almost like manboob" |
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melensdad
Samba Member
Joined: January 02, 2006
Posts: 28
Location: Indiana
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| Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 2:24 pm Post subject: |
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oops
_________________
My Antique Snowcat pages are at http://www.forumsforums.com/3_9/forumdisplay.php?f=65
I need information on Snow Trac, Kristi, Thiokol and old Tuckers.
If you like antique snowcats visit my discussions where they still live!
Last edited by melensdad on Wed Jan 17, 2007 2:27 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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melensdad
Samba Member
Joined: January 02, 2006
Posts: 28
Location: Indiana
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| Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 2:26 pm Post subject: |
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I don't know of any tracked vehicle that is reasonable to use as a regular vehicle. They don't go as fast, they are loud, and you feel all the bumps on a hard surface. Plus, your track life would be miserable if driven distances on pavement, and tracks are expensive.
As set of belts can easily cost a couple thousand dollars.
A good Snow Trac can easily run $15,000.00 It is not uncommon to find them for less, but there are usually issues when you do. Bear in mind for $15K, you do not get a heater, radio or the comforts of a regular car either. There is no insulation in the walls, in fact they are single sheets of aluminum.
But for a fun vehicle for sand, snow and fields, its tough to beat these things.
_________________
My Antique Snowcat pages are at http://www.forumsforums.com/3_9/forumdisplay.php?f=65
I need information on Snow Trac, Kristi, Thiokol and old Tuckers.
If you like antique snowcats visit my discussions where they still live! |
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Ales-X
Samba Member
Joined: May 18, 2011
Posts: 1
Location: Czech Republic
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melensdad
Samba Member
Joined: January 02, 2006
Posts: 28
Location: Indiana
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| Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 4:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Ales-X wrote: |
| melensdad wrote: |
| Have you seen any Snow Tracs in your area? |
Yes, in the Czech Republic, snow trac after reconstruction. On Sunday we took pictures with his family. . . |
WOW, I had the opportunity to tour much of Czechoslovakia in the 1970's before the fall of communist rule. My family is that region.
Your Snow Trac (Snow Master ST 4-B) looks awesome!
_________________
My Antique Snowcat pages are at http://www.forumsforums.com/3_9/forumdisplay.php?f=65
I need information on Snow Trac, Kristi, Thiokol and old Tuckers.
If you like antique snowcats visit my discussions where they still live! |
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