The snowmobile world was going through some interesting times in the early 1980s. Brands like John Deere, Kawasaki and Moto-Ski were still in existence for model year 1982. Yet two other huge brands at the time had just announced their demise.
The “Answers on Arctic Cat” line on the cover of the Aug./Sept. 1981 issue of Snowmobile Magazine told an ominous tale. Flipping to the article on page 54, it got worse. It started, “There will be no 1982 model Arctic Cat or Scorpion snowmobiles. Instead, the snowmobile group of Arctic Enterprises Inc. will spend the coming season selling the remaining 1981 snowmobiles in its and its dealer inventories as well as clothing, accessories and parts.”
We know now that Arctic Cat would later make a triumphant return, but at the time things weren’t looking good on that front.
Yet, when paging through that classic issue of Snowmobile Magazine this morning, we were also inspired by some of the models shown in the ads. From the Blizzard 9500 to the Yamaha SRV, the Polaris Indy 500 to the Kawasaki LTD, the Moto-Ski Sonic to the John Deere Liquifire, the ads in the issue brought back some grand memories.
So, we decided to share those ads with you. Below are some of the interesting ads from the issue, in the order they appeared in the magazine. Enjoy.
1
Those were magical times, the industry was changing rapidly,, unfortunately, some manufacturers couldn’t keep up and decided to step aside.
I rode all those old sleds,had a great time,unbelievable how much they have changed for the good,wouldn’t ride an old one across the field again,put them in a museum and leave them there.
The famous John Deere Liquifire……
440 Kawasaki motor with a speed of 102mph on Fourth Lake Old Forge Ny.
What a sled….
Started in 1969 had them all loved the 775 and 9500 now on XRS 850 smart shox
Best sleds were in the 1980’s and 1990s most reliable, best price eg. 1982 Polaris TXL Indy 340 (C$4,000) 1994 Polaris Indy XLT (C$5,800), 1997 Polaris Ultra SP (C$7,200).
Ride the sleds 300 miles a day only replace skags, sliders, plugs and belts after 2,000-3,000 miles. Fuel filters cost $2, belts cost $30, skags $15. No recalls no issues.
Perfect sleds way better than crap now a days that always breaks down and constantly recalled.
Got into the sport in 1972 after buying complete inventory of AMF Ski-Daddler snowmobiles (Mark IV 300, Mark IV 400, and Mark V 500), the egg-shapped buggy, a single place trailer, spare parts, and the service manuals – all for about $2000 from an autoparts store in Jerery City, NJ. Rode the piss out of them for almost 20 years in the Poconos.
If I look in my collection I can probably find that magazine, and I do remember reading that magazine
I have that magazine and all those brochures and posters from 1968-present.