Category: Snowmobiles
Massey Ferguson, a well renowned Canadian farm implement company, began making snowmobiles for the 1969 season. Their contribution to the growing snowmobile market was a big, sturdy machine from the company’s Des Moines, Iowa, plant. Styled after their line of farm tractors, Ski Whiz snowmobiles were sold through their network of rural dealers and backed by their proven parts and service operations.
By 1973 Massey Ferguson realized that if they were going to remain in the snowmobile market they were going to have to remodel their "Snow Tractor" and make it more sporty and attractive.
And remodel they did.
Sales brochures for the 1973 model year boasted of 28 new design features from the handlebars to the track and lightened the weight of their machines by 50 pounds.
The boxy farm tractor styling was softened with rounded corners while retaining the classic Massey look. They kept the red hood but changed the chasis color from silver to black.
Upgrades included the windshield, seat, front bumper, ski spindles, storage compartment, gas tank, drive belt, passenger hand holds and snow flap. Safety upgrades included an engine kill switch, side reflectors, larger taillights and a bigger handlebar pad. JLO, a German engine manufacturer, remained the only Ski Whiz engine supplier, but the new models had increased horsepower and better mufflers made them quieter.
Efforts were made to improve the ride and handling by shortening the skis to reduce steering effort and ski shocks became an option on most models. The three-position spring adjustment for ski pressure was kept from earlier models.
Engines were lowered and moved forward within the chasis for improved stability and the bogies were moved forward to improve deep snow performance and hill climbing. The new polyurethane track provided more "bite" and had easier tension adjustments. Two new wide track models with 18-inch tracks were added to the lineup, while other models continued with 15.5-inch tracks.
Drive clutches remained a major problem for Ski Whiz and in 1973 they had a major recall. Updated machines were issued a Series 2 decal but location of this decal was not uniform by any means.
Sales jumped 60% for the redesigned Ski Whiz but a combination of factors including the 1973 gas crisis caused by the Arab oil embargo, caused sales to slide to the point Massey discontinued Ski Whiz after the 1974 model year.
1975 seen Scorpion take over the Ski Whiz snowmobile lineup until they exited the market for good in 1977.
Ski Whiz History > Go
Ski Whiz - 1969 Promotion > Go
Ski Whiz - 1969 Advertisement > Go
Ski Whiz - 1970 - Massey Ferguson > Go
Ski Whiz - Patch > Go
Ski Whiz - 1971 - Massey Ferguson > Go
Ski Whiz - 1973 - Massey Ferguson > Go
Ski Whiz - 1974 - Massey Ferguson > Go
Ski Whiz - 1975 - Massey Ferguson > Go
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