1983

[gary_in_neenah]

Here's a few print adds from more than 30 years ago compliments of SnoGoer magazine.











This was during the time I had taken a break from snowmobiling because of career, family, etc. so I'm not too familiar with these models. I didn't realize that John Deere was still making sleds in 83. You may notice there's no ads for Arctic Cat, they went out of business/bankrupt in 1982 and had no sleds for 83.

 

[skiroule]

Yeah, I think Deere was in until 84, although they may have been Kawasaki's in Deere skin but I could be wrong about that. What I don't remember is Moto-Ski still being in the game.

Seems like all of the remaining manufacturers were struggling during this time frame (some sources indicate that sled sales dropped from 500.000 in the 70's to 80.000 in 1983). According to articles on Polaris history, the company started production with only 100 employees following management buyout of the company from Textron in 1981 so it was very close to being yet another casualty of the declining market.

 

[Bradzoo]

Ya MotoSki was still in there I had an 82 that I bought used in 84 when I got out of the AF. Bombardier was the parent company basically they orange rebadged SkiDoo's eveything was interchangeable.

Bradzoo