New member, old memories

[stickandtin]

Hello everyone. I'm new to this forum. I recently got a call from a guy my wife works with. He asked me if I would be interested in a couple of snowmobiles that were taking up space in his barn. I live near Lubbock, TX so snowmobiles are not a hot item down here and I was wondering what he was doing with two of them. When I was a kid, I lived in Allegany, NY and snowmobiles were a hot item there. My grandparents raised me and when I was in high school(early 70's)I talked them into buying a snowmobile. I found a used Scorpion. Here is where the memory gets a little foggy. I believe it was a '68 or '69. I remember it had a single cylinder Sachs engine. It had a black bubble hood, but I don't remember it having a red stripe on the hood or a red seat. I seem to remember the seat being black and possibly a grey stripe on the hood. From that description, can anyone tell me what year/model that Scorpion was? I realize it's not much to go on.

Back to the guy who called me about the two snowmobiles. He said if I would come get them I could have them for free. Unfortunately neither one is a Scorpion. One is a '72 Arctic Cat Cheetah, the other is a John Deere. I'll be bringing them home next weekend. This whole experience has stirred up a lot of fond memories of my old Scorpion and snowmobiling. Even though I don't live in snow country now, Colorado and northern New Mexico aren't that far away and I am finding out there are vintage sled clubs/rally's all over the U.S. Call me crazy, but I am going to try and find another Scorpion like the one I had almost 40 years ago.

[scorp11]

welcome to the site !!

If you go here, you will find all kinds of brochures with pictures for scorpion. The site is a real pain to navigate, you have to scroll down a LONG ways to get the the model year links. But it does have some great info.

www.vintagesnowmobiles.50megs.com/BROCHURES_SCORPION.html

I believe from 68 on the black hoods had a red stripe from the factory.

[stickandtin]

Scorp11, thanks for the link. I looked at the 67 brochure and it had a different hood/look than mine. My Scorpion was definitely the body style started in 1968. A bright red stripe and seat seems like it would be a strange detail to forget, but it was nearly 40 years ago. I remember it being black and fast. That single cylinder Sachs engine growled pretty good. So does this model sled come up for sale very often?

[ddub]

The 68 and 69 both had red stripes and seats.

I would say the 68 is considerably harder to find than the 69 but neither is hard to find.

Both years have a rubber track which is impossible to find in useable condition. If you want to run them, you will have to purchase it with a updated track or plan on doing an update.

Good luck on your quest!

[stingerIII]

The"1969 Scorpion Mark I 275cc" is the only bubble hood pictured with out stripes on it,
but my 1969 Mark I has stripes and a red seat.

[ddub]

May 1, 2013 19:28:00 GMT -5 stingerIII said:

The"1969 Scorpion Mark I 275cc" is the only bubble hood pictured with out stripes on it,
but my 1969 Mark I has stripes and a red seat.

Learned something new. I think everyone I have seen (which is not many) had the stripe including the one in my barn. Could have easily been added at some point.

[scorp11]

May 1, 2013 19:28:00 GMT -5 stingerIII said:

The"1969 Scorpion Mark I 275cc" is the only bubble hood pictured with out stripes on it,
but my 1969 Mark I has stripes and a red seat.

My Dad had this exact sled that was picked up right at the factory. It did not have a stripe on it. That is the first I have seen that backed that up. I assumed they just hadn't gotten around to putting them on yet before they picked it up.

[stickandtin]

OK, so i'm not crazy. My old Scorpion was probably a '69 and could have had a black hood and seat. Thanks for all the input. My search for one of these machines won't be easy looking from the panhandle of Texas.

[ddub]

I still think it would have had a red seat like this one.



The mach 1's are out there, but that will make life a bit harder and they are a bit sought after from what I see.

I actually have one that is very solid but needs a total redo. I don't even remember how complete it is. Came in a package deal that I set up in the barn for a project "someday" as I do like the mach 1's.

I am sure with the connections here one could be found. Just have to keep your ear to the ground and knocking on doors. I'll try and keep my eye open for one, but I currently have snowmobile blinders on as I do not need any more projects!

[pararailer]

ddub, I think you you got your Ski-doos on the brain with "mach 1" . J/K

[pararailer]

stickandtin,
Never seen a stock black bubble hood with a black seat but nothin would suprise me. Back then they did whatever they wanted to.
Texas has cool cars for sale but I dont imagine ANY Scorpion snowmobiles??!!
If you really want to get a sled, the guys on this forum could find one for ya. You could wait till the Scorpion show next year and pick it up. Ride around in scorpion country! Maybe you could sell those other goofball sleds on the way through town. Road trip. Can ya handle the COLD?

[ddub]

May 3, 2013 23:10:33 GMT -5 pararailer said:

ddub, I think you you got your Ski-doos on the brain with "mach 1" . J/K

I guess I do! Been working on finding parts for a 93 Mach Z! One of 333 built. The fingers/brain are just in that mode I guess. ;D

I even looked at it when I posted and said something is wrong here!

[scorpionlilwhip]

if the machine was purchased used, it is possible it could have ended up with a black seat, also, many sleds ended up getting the seats eaten by dogs

i have seen that '71 Wedge at the '13 scorpion Reunion that was a snack for two dogs (ok, the dogs were trying to get something that was in the sled)

[stickandtin]

ddub- I'm afraid you are right, not many sleds here in TX. I did a Craigslist search for snowmobiles in every city listed in TX and came up with a big zero. Not one for sale. I dont even think TX has any snowmobile laws or registration requirements. Lots of wave runners, Sea Doos and ATV's.

Sure I can handle the cold. I lived in Allegany, NY until 1977. Might have to dress a little heavier now than the natives in snow country, but I remember what it was like.

I'm going to Pick up those two machines on Friday. Guy that has them was gone to El Paso all week on business. Found out the Arctic Cat is a Panther, not a Cheetah and the John Deere is a 600. Back to Scorpions. My chances of finding one down here are probably slim to none. My first question is how hard is it to find parts for these Scorpions and the Sachs or JLO engines? What about tracks? Does anyone make replacement tracks?

I consider myself pretty handy mechanically. My business is restoring vintage travel trailers. I also work on vintage vehicles, mainly pickups. Right now I'm working on a '49 Studebaker for a customer. I guess if anyone comes across a '68 or '69 Mark, let me know. I have to find one first before I can figure out how to come get it.

Thanks for all your help and input.

[ddub]

Later I will pm you "john Deere Joes" info. He currently lives in tx and hauls sleds. I am sure something can be worked out.

Will any bubble work or does it have to be a mark 1?

[stickandtin]

ddub- I can't remember which Mark my sled was. I just remember it had a Sachs one lunger. So any '68 or '69 bubble hood with a Sachs one lunger would work great. so how hard are parts to get for these old scorpions?

[stickandtin]

Nobody is commenting on how hard it is to get parts for the Scorpions. Should I take that as a bad omen?

[pararailer]

Its not hard to get parts. Of course some models are rare and hard to find but most common parts are available.

[ddub]

stickandtin,
I sent you a pm.

I have a 69 Mark III that I might let go. South of Fargo.

[stickandtin]

ddub-

Send me some details and pics of the '69. Sent you a pm

Ron