polar expedition
Amsnow
In production for just one season - a brief pit stop between Polaris Industries and Arctic Enterprises - Edgar Hetteen's Polar snowmobile hada very short life span. However, the tracks it left in the snowmobile industry are visible yet today. Polaris co-founder (and later Arctic Enterprises founder) Edgar Hetteen left his Polaris partners Allan Hetteen and David Johnson in 1960, and opened the doors to the Polar Manufacturing Company in January, 1961.
Hetteen first targeted utility companies as well as state forestry and conservation departments. But before he could pour money into developing his new snowmobile he had to generate some cash flow. Being the inventor he was, he designed and built a portable steam cleaner, which he called the Polar Model 24. Soon after, an old friend contacted him to build an insect killer, the Bug-O-Vac. These two products brought in enough money to continue work on the snowmobile.
The first snowmobile, the Polar 500, was a rather crude creation. Itwas heavy, with an advertised weight of 590 pounds, and was powered by a9.5 horsepower, Kohler four-cycle engine that was coupled with a gear boxthat provided a forward, neutral and reverse feature. The 1961 Polar 500 listed at $1,295 and offered a choice of skis or rubber tires. The Polar 500-E was essentially the same sled, with the addition of a battery, lights and a starter-generator.
Optional equipment included a wheel ski combination for $60. Other accessories included a snow shoe rack at $3.50, a first aid kit and holder for $10.50,a clutch guard for $9.75 and a compass for $8.75. A crating charge was added if the unit was to be shipped via a common carrier; if a customer collected his new Polar at the factory in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, there was no additional charge.
The Polar 200, a smaller version of this workhorse, was soon introduced. It featured a seven horsepower, four-cycle Kohler engine, wheel steering and reverse transmission. Lights and brakes were optional.
POLAR 200 POLAR 500
Height: 30 Inches Height: 36 Inches
Width: 32 Inches Width: 39 Inches
Length: 84 Inches Length: 96 Inches
Weight: 345 lbs. Weight: 590 lbs.
Traction Surface: 765 sq. Inches Traction Surface: 1,320 sq. Inches
Engine: 7 HP Kohler Engine: 9.5 HP Kohler
(16.6 Onan optional)
Primary drive: V belt Primary drive: V belt
Clutch: Fully automatic Clutch: Fully automatic
Seating capacity: Two persons Seating capacity: Three persons
Standard equipment: Seat cushion and backrest, tow bar Standard equipment: Seat cushion and backrest, tow bar, hand brake, reversing transmission
Optional equipment: Hand brake, reversing transmission, electrical equipment Optional equipment: Electrical equipment
Body: 16- and 18-gauge steel Body: 16- and 18-gauge steel
Windshield: Vinyl plastic Windshield: Vinyl plastic
Steering: Rubber tires or skis (wheel ski comb optional) Steering: Rubber tires or skis (wheel ski comb optional)