Euro ski-doos
Lohnerwerke
Stefan from Sweden and Timo from Finland sent the following information and pictures (thanks Stefan and Timo): Lohnerwerke made ski-doos under license by Bombardier in Wien, Austria. The model names were R8, R10, and R14. R stands for Rotax and the numbers for the engine power in horsepower. The R8 was made in 1964/65, R10 in 1966, and the R14 in 1967/68. In 1969, there were a few Olympic 12/3s (called Olympics in Europe) assembled before the production discontinued. The Austrian made ski-doos had 90/ first in the serial number. Example: 90/3299.
Also, from a ski-doo expert in Sweden, and overall good guy Robert The Elan Man. Here's a picture of a "utility" euro-doo made by Lohnerwerke (you can see the round sticker on the side of the hood). I believe the air box is like the one on the '66-'67 Olys? This might suggest that it is made in 1966-68 although the chassis is a 64? Great photo Robert and thanks for sending it in.
R8
R10
R14
1964 Utility
Lohner Utility snowmobile used in the 1964 Winter Olympics
in Innsbruck, Austria.
Utility
1968
R14
Gerard's R14 that was used in the Grenoble (1968) Winter
Olympic games. The sled had to be de-emblemed as all
snowmobiles used in the Olympics have been starting in 1968 . It has a 299cc
Rotax with a Tillotson HR10 carburetor. Thank you Gerard for
sending in pictures of your rare ski-doo.
1969 Euro Olympic
Lynx
Pretty cloudy history. From my research,
the first Lynx was built in 1968 in Austria with a Rotax
engine--thanks to Jukka for the photo of his, what I believe is a
1968, Lynx. A 1969 Lynx snowmobile was built in Rovaniemi,
Lapland, Finland with a Sachs engine. According to Claude, The
Finnish Lynxs were produced by Velsa Oy of Rovaniemi and became
Bombardier-Nordtrac (Lynx ©)
in early 1994. Thanks to David and Claude for
their research.
1968 Lynx
1969 Lynx
Rolba
In Switzerland, Rolba snowmobiles built by Bombardier, were sold in
the early to mid '60s. If anyone has anymore information or
Rolba pictures please send 'em in. Thanks to Renee in Canada
for the three below!
Rolba Mid-1960's
(Sent in by Renne)
Garard found this 1974 ROLBA Alpine 640ER at a French ski
resort. Thanks Garard!
Varg
In 1963, Colbjørnsen & Co started production, under permission of
Bombardier (ski-doo), in Norway, under license from Bombardier. It
was called Varg (wolf). The Varg models were mostly built according
to original Bombardier specifications. The early Vargs resembled the
ski-doo Tin Cabs; however, the Varg had a fiberglass hood not steel
like the Tin Cabs. Vargs were made for around 10 years. Many
thanks to Erlend L in Norway for the use of the picture of his Varg.
1970 Varg (Wolf)
Jon from Norway sent in: Just got my fathers old snowmobile back
and now in the process of ripping it apart. In Norway the Olympic
was called Varg (Wolf) or Pukkelvarg (Humpbackwolf). The marking on
the side was somewhat different from the American counterparts.
Instead of 12/3 its labeled 12/15 as in horsepower and reference to
track width. Some also had a snowmobile/wolfhead logo on the side.
Mine has a serial number starting with 7010. Which is a 1970
Olympic 12/3, but with a Rotax 247 cc engine. Best regards Jon in
Kirkenes Norway. Thanks Jon for sending this in! More pixs on the
Varg logo below from Swen