About Snoplanes

Back in the 1930's, there were various ways to move about in the snow: the traditional horse-drawn sleigh or cutter, early versions of what we now know as snowmobiles - which were sometimes referred to as "power tobggans", adaptations of automobiles and snoplanes.

Propeller-driven snoplanes had the ability to efficiently skim over the surface of the snow rather than contacting the snow mechanically through a tread mechanism. In an era when ploughing roads was nonexistent, these vehicles were able to move doctors, police and emergency personnel around at impressive speeds when other forms of transporation simply wouldn't do.

About Our Fudge Snoplane Project
by Tom Racz

Our project Fudge snoplane was originally owned by Dr. Johnston who served the Elkhorn, Manitoba area then by Mr. Issac Clarkson, also of Elkhorn, who collected the cars that now form the basis of the Manitoba Antique Auto Museaum Collection. Issac, as it turns out was a good friend of my wife's family which makes this a special project for me.
(for more info about "Ike" Clarkson and the collection, visit the museum web site HERE)

Growing up in Portage La Prairie (near Winnipeg), I remember seeing and hearing (!) these planes on Crescent Lake. I always thought I would love a ride in one. When I saw this snoplane while on a hot rod trip through Manitoba, my first reaction was that I would have loved to own it but, alas, that wasn't in the cards. However, I did offer to take on the restoration of the snoplane on behalf of the museum.

The plane was incomplete when we brought it to Calgary as it had no engine but we detemined that "L" head Chrysler's were a common engine and we have since acquired one for this project.

We hope you enjoy the project. We certainly will.