Mini-Bikes & ORVs
Is a Mini-Bike with a ski a snowmobile or a Mini-Bike with a ski? What about Multi-Purpose Vehicles (MPV) in snow? Maybe not a snowmobile you might think of, but these made in Michigan vehicles are deserve their own special section. Thank you Cliff S for all the help.
Action-Age Scrambler
From what is known the Action-Age Scrambler around in 1968 started
out in Monroe, Michigan. Tracks were an option that made the
Scrambler great in deep snow. Production quickly moved to Ohio
and stopped in 1974. In 1980, Scrambler Manufacturing started
building ATVs in Genoa, Ohio.
American Pride Products
The Gnat was designed by Autodynamics Corporation of American in
Madison Heights for its parent company American Pride Products in
Troy. It was the first two-passenger side-by-side ORV ever--it
shocked attendees at the 1970 National Off-The-Road Equipment and
Racing show in Anaheim, California. At only 245 pounds coupled with
B.F. Goodrich High-Flex, cleated, tires (inflated at only 2 psi) a
foot-wide and 20 inches OD made it light as a feather on sand and
snow. It was excellent in hard pack and light-medium snow depths.
Electric start was standard. Standard steering wheel are on the
prototypes; butterfly wheel on consumer models. As far as we
know, the Gnat was offered in 1970-1972. If you know more please
contact us.
Amphicat
Manufactured in Auburn Hills by Mobility Unlimited in the late 1960s
through early 1970s then purchased by Magna American then produced
in Raymond, Mississippi. In Canada, it was made by Behoo Industries.
The Amphicat was great in hard pack to medium snow depths. An
optional Track Kit was available for those wish to traverse in
deeper snow. They also made the Amphikitty High
Flotation Tire All-Season Trail Bike.
Brooks
Production Products Company made Brooks (sometimes in
advertising Brook's or Brooks') Trail Bikes. Made in the Brooklyn /
Jackson area these were well built with ski, windshield, and luggage
rack as options.
Cricket
Fleming Manufacturing Company, in Jackson, who made the Cricket
started out as Fleming Service Company in 1960. They changed the
name to Fleming Manufacturing Company in 1972. The Cricket was
somewhat unique at the time because of the 2x1 (two front wheels)
configuration making it very stable and reduced ground pressure on
snow.
El Burro
Sand 'n' Sno Bike made by WIPCO in Lexington was one of the best Sno
Bikes. High ground clearance and with equipped with huge
tubeless chevron tires helped moved this true All-Terrain bike very
well on hard pack and low-medium snow conditions.
Eel Wheel
This Mini-Bike was made by Majineering Corporation in Pontiac.
One of the most cutting edge and radical designs of the day was an
off-shoot of the Vaverek Scooter (patent
PDF) for summer use on ski slopes . It was front-wheel
drive with rear articulated wheel, it was so efficient you could
turn figure 8s until the gas ran out or you went dizzy on a 4x8
sheet of plywood. Looking for a picture with a rear ski installed.
In the meantime, check out this
video.
Engray
Engray was a joint venture with Maico (Motorcycles) to develop a
Miniature Motorcycle. They hit a grand slam homerun with the
Spitfire. Rightly named, it had a 16hp Maico motorcycle engine! They
were made in Detroit.
Explorer
Owosso Explorer Corporation, in Owosso, was incorporated in 1973 to
1979 made seven different B.D.I. Explorer models. One even had a
Sachs 23hp rotary engine! They also made two street legal Trikes, an
Explorer 800R (Tecumseh 8hp with a top speed of 50 mph) and the
Exalter shown below (12hp Tecumseh) (Thank you Charles Renner and
Brett T). The one with a ski is the Explorer 500.
Grand Rapids Industries (GRI)
GRI's JB's Avenger was a six-wheeler, that had many different engine
options, made in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Being extremely low profile
and low center-of-gravity it was rated at 65% gradeability. 1970
models offered a Tecumseh 8hp or 12 hp Four-Cycle; 339cc 24hp or
399cc 28hp Rockwell JLO Two-Cycle. Engines all came with electric
start as an option.
Harrison
Made by Harrison Research in Utica. The company started in the late
1960s and made a few different model Mini-Bikes. Of note, the
Wildcat 400 had a really wide rear tire and an optional ski.
Heald
Carl Heald, Inc. and Heald Inc. out of Benton Harbor made what was
known as Kits by Heald starting in 1969. They were Mini-Bikes, Trail
Bikes, Trikes, and Haulers, They made an optional Front Ski. Of
note, for the SST-16 Super Trike and and VT-840 Super Bronc Trail
Bike with the Standard Chevron or an optional Knobby tire worked
excellent in the snow. Of note, the Super Bronc even came with
a tow bar to pull skiers! All Heald products were high
quality, very little is known about them after the mid-'80s.
Heathkit
The same Heathkit as all the electronic gadgets you could put
together? You bet! The Boonie-Bike was an All-Season Trail and Snow
Bike made in Benton Harbor.
Lil' Indian
One of the most popular and beloved Mini-Bike, Mini-Cycle, and
Go-Kart makers in Michigan. Made out of various cities in Metro
Detroit Michrina (Brothers) Enterprises, Inc were never to settle on
good enough. As kids grew out of Mini-Bikes they developed
Mini-Cycles. When they came out with the Back-Tracker it truly was
an all-season machine for adults. When equipped with the 7hp mated
to a torque converter with its huge flotation tires was great on
sand, mud, snow, and even ice! It was big enough to ride Two-Up. If
you would like to know more about Lil' Indian history check out this
link.
Metro Recreational Vehicles
Based in Taylor AKA "Wheels & Trails" and "MRV" made the Hunter 500
Trail Bike, the Warrior 777 Sport Three-Wheeler, and the NTW 333
large scale sport trike. Of note, the Hunter 500 and the
Trapper (see below) looked very much alike. However, the
engines were different: Hunter 500 5hp four-stroke; Trapper
10hp Chrysler Two-Stroke. Both the Hunter and Warrior
were great on hard pack and light snow conditions and the Sales
literature touted them both as a four-season vehicle.
Interesting that the Warrior 777: Had a synco-mesh differential rear
end that put MRV way ahead of other Trikes and Three-Wheelers of the
day; Had fairings over the left and right rear tires to help keep
the mud and snow off the driver.
Motion Development Inc (MDI)
MDI in Rochester was well known in the late and early 1970s for
selling ORV and snowmobile parts. The Tijuana "Taxi" (TT) was MDI's
first production ATV and fifty were made and test marketed in 1971
before Double S Motors in New York acquired the rights. The "Taxi"
was truly the first Side-By-Side (SxS) (not a dune buggy or chopped
auto) in the Powersports industry. In March, 1972 a refined TT was
sold under the name Sebring Stinger. Also of note, MDI in 1971 was
awarded a contract by Coleman Inc of camping fame to develop an ATV.
MDI completed the design, but Coleman MDI ATV never went into
production.
Ruttman Enterprises
They started building Mini-Bikes in the 1960s out of Dearborn
Heights, incorporated in 1974 and dissolved the corporation in 1978.
Not much is known about them after that. But, one this is for sure,
they did the best job of promoting a ski kit than any other
Mini-Bike manufacture in the world! Call a Ski Trac, the moto was
"All the Fun of a Snowmobile." Used not only for their bikes, but
for any using 5/8" front axles. Also, could be used Trikes and Dune
Cycles. Of note, in 1971 Ruttman came out with the Pak Mule
Mini-Bike, with their Ski Trac it was one of the best "Four Season"
Mini-Bikes ever made.
Sierra Trail Boss
Manufactured in Lapeer by the Vesely Company. This nimble Amphi' 6x6
was great in hard pack to medium snow depths. Of note, the
Vesely Company's claim to fame was it made one of the first Pop-Up
Campers.
Sport-King
Sport-King was based out of Metro Detroit. The made Snowmobiles
(Ski-Kat with optional wheel kit), Trail Bikes, and Trikes in Rogers
City. The Trail Bikes were some of the best state made, very high
quality. The Trike's best feature was a full body that keep dust,
dirt, mud, and snow off the driver. Both were great in hard pack to
light-medium snow conditions. Of note, the Ski-Kat and
Sport-King main graphics are some of the best loved among Michigan
Snowmobile and ORV collectors. Special thanks to Dan D, Cliff
S, Presque Isle County Advance, and members of the Rogers City
Snowmobile Facebook Page for the help.
Stephens Ski Kit
While not a Mini-Bike Manufacture, Stephens in Bridgman is listed
because they offered a kit to convert a Mini-Bike into a "Ski-Bike".
The ski utilized quick clasp lock install requiring no tools, rear
traction chain, and steel steering runners.
Terra Cat
From Rankin Manufacturing Inc. (RMI) in Durand. The Terra Cat (TC)
Flaming Red Cat model was great in the sand and snow. Tires were
huge, 11x20 and no ply bonded to the rim! The 10hp two-stroke
engine also helped. Also, some were painted Yellow.
Thanks Tom and Linda D for the three additional pictures. RMI
also made a few Trikes in 1971--very hard to find. The Trike
was powered by a 1971 6.5 hp Chrysler Two-Stroke engine. Thank you
Joe Van for pictures of his TC Trike.
Thomas
Thomas Company in Clinton made a handful of different models. They
offered an optional ski and the Explorer was excellent on hard pack.
Talk about Multi-Use vehicles, the Explorer had an optional
mower kit, yes you read it right.
Track & Sports
Located in Dearborn Heights, Track & Sports made The Easy Rider
sport Three-Wheeler and the rugged Trapper Trail Bike. Both
did very well on hard pack and light snow. Both were powered by a
10hp, 8000 rpm, Two-Stroke Chrysler engine. These were very fast
hitting speeds up to 40 mph. Of note, Track & Sports offered an
optional Hi-Performance kit. Installed it allowed both to reach 60
mph.
Trail King
Trail King Diablo was manufactured by Quality Axle Manufacturing in
Portland Michigan. The Diablo hit the market in 1971. Of note, came
standard with an 8 hp Briggs & Stratton engine, Salsbury CVT system,
and Uniroyal tires. Base price of $895 with electric start and
reverse as options. One advertising motto was, " Let Us Put You On
The Right Trail." The Trail King pictured is the only known picture
of the Diablo undergoing testing in Michigan. Thank you Bill S
(owner and rights). Trail King also offered Mini and Trail
Bikes.
Tricart
Wasn't the Tricart made in Ohio? Yes it was, but was invented in
Michigan by John Plessinger as his college project at Cranbrook
Academy of Arts and Science in Bloomfield Hills in 1967. John sold
the rights to Sperry Rand in Ohio. But, still was a huge part of the
Tricart starting in the late 1960s at the Sperry plant in Lebanon,
Ohio. The low ground pressure of the Tricart made it truly one of
the first personal multipurpose and all season ATVs. We salute John;
this website is a testament that inventors like him will not be
forgotten.
Wheel Tra
Lakeside Machine in Lakeview, Michigan built the Wheel Tra Trail
Bikes. It had a two-speed gear box somewhat like the Lil'
Indian's. These are very hard to find Trail Bikes. Many thanks to
Steve K for giving permission to use his photo of his Wheel Tra;
Cliff S for helping coordinate the use. Lakeview Machine also
built three Wheel Tra snowmobiles. Very rare. Looking for info and
more pictures for both the snowmobiles and trail bikes, can you
help?
Dedication and Thank You
Dedicated to those who invented; designed; made; sold; serviced; and
owned Snowmobiles, Over Snow Vehicles (OSV), and End Item related
OSV products made in Michigan. Thanks to those who helped contribute
with special mention US Patent Office, Google Patents, Lisa from the
Lakeview Area Museum, Oakland County Historical Resources, Top of
the Lake Snowmobile Museum, Richard L (Editor and Publisher of the
Presque Isle County Advance), twintrackworld web site, the late Bud
Knapp for inspiration, Chris B of Premier RPC, Bill S, Bob H, Bob L
and Norma in Special Collections at the Alpena County Library, Bob
W, Brent C, Brett T, Charlie and Marilyn V, Charles Renner, Cliff S
(Mini-Bike OSV Section), Doug L, Doug M, Edward J, Holli T, Jeff H,
Joe Van', John Gendregske, Kevin M, Larry K, Les H, Matt B, Richard
H, Roger and Karen J, Steve K, Todd H, Todd K, and John M for access
to his extensive research and photos.