Ford Model A Snowmobile

[arps corporation]

I have been looking at photos of Ford Model A Snowmobiles, lately, and have a question... It apperars that, once the attachment is installed under the Model A, the tracks will not allow opening of the doors, if they are adjusted tightly. On the other hand, if the tracks are too loose, the doors will open, but the tracks will slip. So what is the happy medium? All the Ford Model T's and A's around here have had the bodies removed, and only kept the cowl, gas tank, and hood, and radiator shroud, while the remaining portion, of the rear, had a wooden platform attached to the frame. They look nice with the complete bodies still attached, but how in the world do ya open the doors, without hitting the tracks?

[Roadster62]

I believe you cut the door and attached the cutoff bottom to the body. Google Model A Snowbird and you'll find a photo of a 28-29 Tudor with cut doors, about 3-4 posts diown. Bob

[ctlikon0712]

There was a version that didn't require door mods. See photo's. I don't know the mfg's company.

[Jerry Parr WI]

The standard ARPS kit required you cut the door to clear the tracks. The standard idler wheels were standard Model A wheels. ARPS offered optional smaller wheels shown on the car in the previous post and this one. With these wheels it was not necessary to cut the doors. These small idler wheels came in three styles all with solid rubber tires. A 4 spoke cast iron shown on both these cars, a wooden spoke, and a disc wheel styles. ARPS also had an instruction sheet that detailed how to modify the door so the halves could be reconnected for summer non track use. In 1930 ARPS came out with a cogged tire that eliminated the slipping in the track problem. Prior to that tire it was necessary to have chains on the drive tires. Those tires are currently reproduced.

[Brad in Germany]

....some photos of the Model A snowmobile pick-up in the Den Hartogh Ford Museum in the Netherlands:







Fordially,
Brad in Maryland

[miss victoria]

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im in wallisa alaska, they have model a snow machines in there train musium,should have taken pictures,but on my way back to calif.

[Jerry Parr WI]

An option all of these birds have is the front spindle that raises and lowers the front tire. Brad's picture of the bird in the museum has one tire up and one down. Raising the tire in deep snow reduces the drag. In very deep snow the tire can be removed and the ski moved outward to the tire location. This allows the ski and track to run in the same track.

[Brobrian]

Man, those things look cool!

[gunmetal blue]

I have pics of them and pictures of the Snow Bird magizen. my e-mail address is [email protected] or phone 574-221-1475 e-mail is (terry_rose2002@)