NPOCP - classic snowmobile edition!

Kinja'd!!! "Jim Spanfeller" (awesomeaustinv)
03/02/2020 at 10:26 • Filed to: NPOCP, snowlopnik

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Look at that guy! Doesn’t he look like he’s having fun? Clearly, this weird snow thingy is a blast.

The top image is not the snowmobile in the ad, but it looks the same and the images from the ad are tiny:

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The odd vehicle you see here is a 1968 Bolens Diablo Rouge 502. It is an antique snowmobile. Snowmobiles of this era are often a bit weird, as the 50's, 60's and earlier were a bit like the early days of the automobile for snowmobiles. These were a new type of machine, and there was no specific idea yet of what a snowmobile should be like. So sometimes when looking at old snowmobiles, you’ll see contraptions that don’t look too far removed from modern snowmobiles, and other times you’ll come across something like this:

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Basically, the motor, clutch, tracks, gas, and everything are all in the front module, and then this module pulls you around on a little sled while you hold onto some handlebars attached to the front module. So you’re controlling the tractor while sitting on the trailer. Seems simple enough.

The most desirable Bolens Diablo Rouge is the 503, which featured an electric starter, a bigger engine, and a quieter muffler. This one, however, is the more common 502, which was the workhorse of the three Diablo Rouge models. Still an interesting old snow machine, though. The ad for this one doesn’t give a lot of information, though it does say it has been restored. It also says the price is $3,700. So... Is the idea of putting along on a sled behind this sturdy, shiny, red devil tempting enough for the price, or would you rather just use snows hoes?


DISCUSSION (17)


Kinja'd!!! Jim Spanfeller > Jim Spanfeller
03/02/2020 at 10:30

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Also, forgot to mention the ad can be found here: https://vintagesleds.com/classifieds/


Kinja'd!!! ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Jim Spanfeller
03/02/2020 at 10:54

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That thing seems like a terrible idea, but the best kind of terrible idea: a fun one.


Kinja'd!!! Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Jim Spanfeller
03/02/2020 at 10:55

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Not related, but that awkward moment when you discover what was under those tarps in your neighbor’s driveway when you see a Craigslist ad. I recognize those shutters! And that ugly shed! How could I never have known?

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But yeah, cool snowmobile.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a sn ow mobile, so this topic is pretty far removed from my experiences.


Kinja'd!!! TheRealBicycleBuck > Jim Spanfeller
03/02/2020 at 11:37

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It looks like it would be a very different kind of riding experience. It reminds me of the Gravely mowers. My uncle had one that he would bring out to my mom’s acreage to brush-hog it twice a year. His had a standing sulky (that’s what they called the trailer) instead of the sitting sulky pictured here.

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The power unit had a power take-off up front that could run a mower or a tiller, or you could just put a plow up there for winter work. Out back, you could walk behind it, tow a standing or sitting sulky, or even a small yard wagon or plow. It was a super-versatile machine.

It makes me wonder if they had other implements that could be attached to that snowmobile. Put it to use during the summer as well as the winter!


Kinja'd!!! Jim Spanfeller > TheRealBicycleBuck
03/02/2020 at 11:42

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I dunno. I’ve only ever seen them with a basic sled with a seat like the one in this post, but I imagine you could easily make a trailer sled for it to haul... logs or something? It seems like you could definitely put it to some practical use.


Kinja'd!!! TheRealBicycleBuck > Jim Spanfeller
03/02/2020 at 11:57

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I have a neat little trailer for my lawn tractor that I use all the time, mostly for moving materials for the garden or house projects. I bought a ball hitch so I could move my big trailer with the tractor. It’s a lot more maneuverable than trying to move the trailer with the Outback. The big trailer came in really handy as I’ve been working on my storage building. I can buy materials, load them into the trailer, haul the trailer home, then move them to the back without having to unload the trailer or tear up the side yard with the car.

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Kinja'd!!! Long_Voyager94 > Jim Spanfeller
03/02/2020 at 11:58

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I feel like I see them pop up randomly around here and they’re generally under $1k, so I gotta say CP at that price.

Then again I know absolutely nothing about them, but they look like hella fun, so my opinion likely means nothing.


Kinja'd!!! MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
03/02/2020 at 12:06

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classic “that’s a terrible idea - I’m in” moment


Kinja'd!!! Jim Spanfeller > Long_Voyager94
03/02/2020 at 12:28

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I think I’m inclined to agree with you. $3,700 for a tiny engine with tracks and a sled seems a bit much, though at that price I imagine it must be museum-quality. But at the same time, it’s like the podracer of snowmobiles! How could it not be fun? Even if it’s slow, it’d still be fun to put around with.


Kinja'd!!! Long_Voyager94 > Jim Spanfeller
03/02/2020 at 12:57

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It’s not like the “slow” part couldn’t be remedied......


Kinja'd!!! Jim Spanfeller > Long_Voyager94
03/02/2020 at 13:05

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LS SWAP IT wait, no, that’s a terrifying idea, don’t do that. ‘Busa swap it.


Kinja'd!!! Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > Jim Spanfeller
03/02/2020 at 13:49

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Kinja'd!!! Jim Spanfeller > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street.
03/02/2020 at 13:55

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....I love that that exists. That’s awesome.


Kinja'd!!! MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Jim Spanfeller
03/02/2020 at 15:10

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It’s only like a 3 hour drive for me...but I gotta say as cool as that would be to have, i’d have to have a lot of money burning a hole in my pocket to pick this up.


Kinja'd!!! HammerheadFistpunch > Jim Spanfeller
03/02/2020 at 16:16

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check out the snowdog

https://snowdog.com


Kinja'd!!! Jim Spanfeller > HammerheadFistpunch
03/02/2020 at 18:14

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Huh! Didn’t know there was a similar thing still being made. That’s interesting.


Kinja'd!!! HammerheadFistpunch > Jim Spanfeller
03/02/2020 at 18:23

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kinda tempting to look at for extending ski touring range.