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The History of the Chrysler SnoRunner
(Rare Yellow SnoRunner tank decal)
SnoRunners were built by the
Chrysler Marine Division between 1979 and 1981 at the Hartford Wisconsin plant. They were powered by a 134CC PowerBee Motor
and had an aluminum frame that doubled as the fuel tank. SnoRunners used an automatic centifugal clutch sending power via
a chain drive to a 4" chain driven track with 21 molded polyurethane cups that propelled them to roughly 25MPH. They used a band type brake that went around the clutch drum for
stopping power. They were equipped with headlights and tail/brake lights. Weight was published to be 72 lbs and they could
be quickly taken apart by pulling 5 quick-disconnect pins to transport in the trunk of a car. There were several different model numbers of SnoRunners over
the years. Although it is not always possible to determine 100% what model you have, the model number can SOMETIMES be located
under the seat flange on the aluminum tank in the form of a decal (by the stamped serial #). If the decal is missing, the following model information may help.... The models were: .
• Model 6000SR: Early standard model with low performance
exhaust, two head gaskets, no side brace. VERY early models have the
rare narrow seat. Later models have the regular wide seat. They had a 17 tooth clutch and regular drive chain. Uses Champion
L90 sparkplug. • Model 6001SR: Standard
model- with Low performance exhaust, side brace kit, wide seat, 2 head gaskets and 17 tooth clutch. Uses Champion L90 sparkplug. • Model 6002SR:
High performance Model- with Nelson HP exhaust, side brace kit, 15 tooth clutch, modified drive chain (link removed), all
were built with 2 head gaskets. Uses Champion L86 sparkplug. • Model C6002SR: Canadian model- a HP model which is basically
the same as US version 6002SR, but with an ignition key as required in Canada. Warning decals are in both French and English.
They have an additional VIN decal with Canadian Compliance notations. • Model 6003SR: High Performance Factory Test Unit-
These units were factory painted in yellow with black decals. They also have an hour meter and a rubber drive belt setup
with a geared clutch. They came with a very rare medium width seat with a rear storage pocket. Only 100 or so of these units
were built and they were not for production sales, but instead for the testing of the rubber drive belt system. They were
also provided for snowmobile magazine tests of the time. This model never became a production model. •
EXPERIMENTAL USMC MILITARY MODEL: the "HOLY GRAIL SNORUNNER" It is unknown
how many were actually built for USMC Military testing. However, it is rumored that they were rejected by the military due
to track and performance limitations. (See below for additional military model information.) • SnoRabbit
Model: There were also SnoRunners that were later sold as "SnoRabbits" thru C.O.M.B. Co., a national liquidation
company that sold the remaining SnoRunners after Chrysler Marine was dissolved. SnoRabbits were identical to SnoRunners,
aside from the SnoRabbit sticker placed on the fuel tank over the original SnoRunner decals.
Example of SnoRabbit sticker on a C.O.M.B. Co. SnoRunner in the shipping crate:
And yes, some will say there were no Canadian version of SnoRabbits. But, since SnoRabbits were basically just relabeled leftover SnoRunners, there were also Canadian versions of the SnoRabbits.
Canadian version of a SnoRabbit
Due to how easily parts could be interchanged, determining the actual model you have may be difficult.
For example, as mentioned above, a "SnoRabbit" can easily become a SnoRunner by simply removing the paper SnoRabbit
sticker and revealing the SnoRunner decal underneath. Also, its very easy to swap low performance parts for later hi-performance
parts and therefore changing what a model might look like. It is also important to note that there is no official way to determine
what year your SnoRunner is aside from a Canadian model. The motor number and/or serial number will not provide that information.
Although, a higher serial number certainly would indicate a later production date. The Canadian SnoRunners do have an additional
decal with "Date of Manufacture" on them.
We have had well over a dozen SnoRunners over the years. Although the SnoRunners we have
now are for display purposes, we still have 8 of them in various models, including low performance, high-performance, modified,
Canadian and even two super rare ones
Years back, we bought the remaining inventory of a few former Chrysler SnoRunner dealers and were selling parts. However, we no longer sell any parts. (We also have no plans to sell any of our machines.) If you are in need of parts, most parts are still available through a company called snorunner.com.
One of our very early 6000SR SnoRunners with the
narrow seat, low HP exhaust and no side brace.
Our yellow 6003SR SnoRunner
is a super rare, later test model of which only 100 were produced. They were
factory yellow with different decals, an hour meter, medium width seat with rear pocket, high performance exhaust and a rubber
belt drive system. Very few of them survived.
The "Holy Grail Chrysler SnoRunner"..... an EXPERIMENTAL USMC MILITARY SnoRunner The
story of the Experimental Military Chrysler SnoRunner has been shared many times. It was rumored that the SnoRunner was developed
as a military machine. However, based on research, I do not believe that the SnoRunner was originally designed and/or built
for Military use. I believe that idea came later on. The early SnoRunners were shown in ads
and brochures with the narrow seat, narrow front ski mount, low performance exhaust, and no ski brace or side brace. In fact
the early 1979 6000SR basically came that way. The only photo of the USMC Military
SnoRunner I know to exist, the three "EXPERIMENTAL USMC" ones, depict them equipped with the later version wider
seats, later front skis with the longer reinforced mounting point and the high performance Nelson exhaust that came out on
the 6002SRs. Therefore, based on the features shown in the documented military SnoRunner
photo, it appears that they were presented for testing to the USMC in later years. This was most likely done through General
Dynamics Land Systems (in 1982 General Dynamics acquired Chrysler Defense and General Dynamics Land Systems was formed). I
believe this occurred around the time frame that Chrysler was in its financial downturn and the US Government bailout that
followed. During that time, Chrysler was looking to save the company from demise and
was forced to sell off non-automotive related assets including the Chrysler Marine Division (where the SnoRunner parts
were manufactured). This is the reason the SnoRabbit existed. It was merely a relabeled SnoRunner sold through C.O.M.B. Co.,
a national liquidator who obtained the remaining unsold SnoRunners. I believe this SnoRunner, with
the only known surviving USMC Military SnoRunner tank to be the "Holy Grail of SnoRunners". In all honesty, when
I first saw pictures of the tank I wasn't sure. But, not only does the tank have the proper white with "EXPERIMENTAL
USMC" decals, but it is stamped with an "X" at the beginning of the the serial number/VIN. The tank appears
to never have been repainted, with no signs of different paint under the old, worn off white paint and years of oxidation
showing in the aluminum where there are scrapes and scratches (including in the serial number stamping area). The "EXPERIMENTAL"
decals show degradation due to age with slippage and adhesive exposure (as do the stock SnoRunner related decals with the
top clear coat peeling from age). Therefore, I am very confident that this tank is indeed the Holy Grail "USMC
Experimental Military SnoRunner".
We converted this SnoRunner into what we call "SnoRacer".
We painted it yellow and added custom designed decals, a race pipe, aluminum
track cover, race carb and modified kick starter.
Contrary to what some believe, SnoRunners were in fact sold in other countries besides the US and Canada. Although, the different countries may have required additional features to meet their regulations.
It is somewhat difficult to see in the below photo, but this Swedish 'Runner was required to be equipped with dual brake levers, a speedometer and license plate.
Some differences and options for SnoRunners over the years.....
Narrow
Normal Rare test seat
early seat
wide seat with pocket
Hi-Performance Exhaust Low Performance Exhaust
Early front ski on top. Later, reinforced front ski on bottom.
Very early clear, non-production track as seen in early brochures
Wire Stands
Additional SnoRunner Information......
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