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RESTORING THE SPORT ONE PIECE AT A TIME. THE HISTORY OF MOTO SKI
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| The Moto-Ski was built in LaPocatière, Québec by Jean Yves Bélanger and Raoul Pelletier in 1963. This was not their first sled, as they built a contraption called "Le Cupidon" (cupid) first. Le Coupidon was green with a big windshield and a cleated track. The venture was financed by a Mr. C.E. Bouchard ( Industries Bouchard) for whom Mr. Pelletier was a salesman. Mr. Bélanger was the machinist-mechanic behind the venture. Mr. Bouchard owned a pharmaceutical manufacturing business (aspirin & cosmetics). |
| The Moto-Ski name was the result of a contest at a local school to name the new sled. |
My uncle and father
were the first distributors in the U.S. or anywhere for that matter.
They bought and sold all they could make in the fall of 1963. All
machines were sold in the Northern, N.Y. area and most customers were signed
as dealers for Dufrane Motor Distributors, Malone, N.Y.
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Beginning in 1964 ('65
models) they had fiber glass hoods and big metal trunks. They also
had leaf springs on the skis. 1965 was the first year for the long
track sled and Moto-Ski was the first to have it.
1965 MOTO SKI David: Any Moto Ski that looked like a 1965 with "Cadet" on the side & had a 10 hp 246 Hirth engine is a 1966. A lot of times Moto Ski would use up previous years parts on the Cadet. 1966 was the first year the name Cadet appeared on the hood |
In '65 they were not
yet called Cadet, Capri & Zephyr (the factory named them in late '65).
The engines were the 9HP - 247 JLO or the 12 HP - 300 Hirth. The
l966's had a new hood & chrome bumper, handlebars and grab rails on
the sides. Like the '65's they also had brakes. The '64 didn't
have brakes, but back then you were interested in going, not stopping.
1966 MOTO SKI |
1967 MOTO SKI |
The '68's had a new hood
design, body design, seat design, engine design (Hirth & JLO) and rubberized
steel cleats. The rubberized cleats didn't break nearly as much.
They also had plastic trunks. 1968 is the first year that the MS-18
is made.
 
1968 Moto Ski with a Single Cylinder Hirth Engine Serial number on this sled is 1395b8 - model #152 1968 MOTO SKI |
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and more powerful engines, including a 634 Hirth.  
1969 MOTO SKI |
The '70's had different
designs with thicker seats, new cleat design and more engine choices, Hirth,
JLO or Sachs. The 1970 - year introduced the Grand Prix. It
was a Capri with a gold metal flake paint job and larger front cam clutch
(11" vs. 10"). The MiniSno was introduced in late 1970. They
were the same as the '71's except with a white fiberglass engine cover.
1970 MOTO SKI GRAND PRIX |
The '71's were changed
again in colors, trim colors, hood and body styles. The Grand Prix
and the MiniSno were the first to have engine covers. Some had plastic
hoods (they painted some of the plastic ones and the paint peeled off).
 
1971 MOTO SKI - MS18 LEFT - ZEPHYR RIGHT |
| Dufrane Motor Distributors quit distribution in 1971 but had seen some of the '72 models. Not much had changed from "71, except minor changes in hoods, seats and BSE engines. |
| The factory was sold in 1968 after the death of Mr. Bouchard. Griffin Industries from Florida bought it, and was more interested in MONEY than PRODUCT. Shortly after Dufrane Motor Distributors quit, Moto-Ski sold to Bombardier to avoid bankruptcy in Moto-Ski division. |
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She still resides at her home located in the small hamlet of Constable only five miles south of the Canadian boarder. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I
would like to thank George Dufrane Jr. for creating and sending me a wonderful
selection
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EXPO-SNO
EXPO-SNO IS A FALL VINTAGE SNOWMOBILE SHOW & FLEA MARKET. IT IS LOCATED JUST NORTH OF MONTREAL IN ST EUSTACHE, QUEBEC. CLICK HERE FOR THE DATE & ALL OF THE DETAILS ABOUT THE SHOW. |
EXPO-SNO EXPOSITION DE MOTONEIGES ANTIQUES ET CLASSIQUES ET MÉGA MARCHÉ AUX PUCES DE PIECES ET MOTONEIGES. À L'AUTODROME - ST EUSTACHE, QUÉBEC. L'EXPOSITION EST CHAQUE AUTOMNE. NOUS ESPÉRONS AVOIR PLUS DE 150 MOTONEIGES ET AUSSI UN AUTRE GRAND SUCCÈS AVEC NOTRE MÉGA MARCHÉ AUX PUCES DE PIECES ET MOTONEIGES. APPUYEZ ICI POUR LA DATE & INFO.
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A DONATION OF $ 5 OR $ 10 GOES A LONG WAY. ANY CONTRIBUTION IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS - DAVID |
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DAVID'S VINTAGE SNOWMOBILE PAGE |
