• Please be sure to read the rules and adhere to them. Some banned members have complained that they are not spammers. But they spammed us. Some even tried to redirect our members to other forums. Duh. Be smart. Read the rules and adhere to them and we will all get along just fine. Cheers. :beer: Link to the rules: https://www.forumsforums.com/threads/forum-rules-info.2974/

nearly 70 years later

Pontoon Princess

Cattitute
GOLD Site Supporter
nearly 70 years later,

this 1951 Tucker Model 643 returns from Australia, with a wonderful rich history, after being in transit of almost two months, it was unloaded from a shipping container and placed upon our trailer for the last leg of it's journey home today.

in time it will be restore and with plans to use it for years to come.

this sno-cat is powered by a Chrysler Spitfire straight 8, mated with a 4 speed New Process transmission.

in time, it's story will be told here on the forums...

FYI, 1951 was the last year of the straight 8 power plants used in the freighters, there were no freighters offered in 1952, in 1953, the Chrysler 331 hemi was the new engine for the freighter.
 

Attachments

  • fullsizeoutput_4bb.jpeg
    fullsizeoutput_4bb.jpeg
    228.5 KB · Views: 334
  • fullsizeoutput_4be.jpeg
    fullsizeoutput_4be.jpeg
    321.3 KB · Views: 328
  • fullsizeoutput_4c1.jpeg
    fullsizeoutput_4c1.jpeg
    348.7 KB · Views: 339
  • fullsizeoutput_4c4.jpeg
    fullsizeoutput_4c4.jpeg
    293.4 KB · Views: 341
  • CE023FC3-AB8B-425F-B6E6-04C26A7C08CD.jpg
    CE023FC3-AB8B-425F-B6E6-04C26A7C08CD.jpg
    102.2 KB · Views: 344
  • fullsizeoutput_4c7.jpeg
    fullsizeoutput_4c7.jpeg
    333.5 KB · Views: 337
Last edited:

loggah

Active member
SUPER Site Supporter
Nice!! what is the s/n Jinn?? is it close to this one i been working on getting?

large.jpg
 

Pontoon Princess

Cattitute
GOLD Site Supporter
Nice!! what is the s/n Jinn?? is it close to this one i been working on getting?

large.jpg

151186, model 643, per the serial number info from Tucker

they are sequential numbered with the only one very very interesting difference,

the one you have is a 743 and this one is a 643, they are exactly the same machine

is the ID plate aluminum?
 

loggah

Active member
SUPER Site Supporter
Jinn,Its aluminum,but mounted on a wood panel dash !!!!! pretty neat that they both still exist. You guys sure do go thru a lot of trouble.effort to save these old machines. Keep up the good work. :thumbup::thumbup: Don
 

MNoutdoors RIP

Gone But Not Forgotten
GOLD Site Supporter
Kind of looks like this one:smile:
 

Attachments

  • C124D50B-1A2F-4DA8-9378-A45861DD9B4E.jpeg
    C124D50B-1A2F-4DA8-9378-A45861DD9B4E.jpeg
    43.5 KB · Views: 297

sno-drifter

Bronze Member
GOLD Site Supporter
It is that one Boggie

It has a New Process transfer case which it looks like is upside down and driven by the front output shaft. I wonder if it is a factory install? There were nine 643's which all had the straight eight cyl engines and two freighters called 743 which had the straight eight cyl engines. All freighters after had V-8s.
 

Attachments

  • 643 transfer care NP.jpg
    643 transfer care NP.jpg
    94.2 KB · Views: 292
Last edited:

DAVENET

Bronze Member
GOLD Site Supporter
The Clipper cat was originally a Pioneer cat, correct?
 
Last edited:

Pontoon Princess

Cattitute
GOLD Site Supporter
The Clipper cat was originally a Pioneer cat, correct?

yes it is, one in the same, with lots and lots of history and photos
 

Attachments

  • 1955 c. Large pontoons carrying the tracks of Snowcats enable them to travel over snow drifts, i.jpg
    1955 c. Large pontoons carrying the tracks of Snowcats enable them to travel over snow drifts, i.jpg
    27.7 KB · Views: 269
  • The-Nodwells0008.jpg
    The-Nodwells0008.jpg
    164.3 KB · Views: 251
  • The-Kosciuszko-Summit-1964-1.jpg
    The-Kosciuszko-Summit-1964-1.jpg
    117.8 KB · Views: 259
  • The-Tucker-Sno-Cat0001.jpg
    The-Tucker-Sno-Cat0001.jpg
    120.3 KB · Views: 251
  • The-Tucker-Sno-Cat0002.jpg
    The-Tucker-Sno-Cat0002.jpg
    136 KB · Views: 252
  • Tucker.jpg
    Tucker.jpg
    63.3 KB · Views: 244
  • Ski-Party-on-Main-Range-1964.jpg
    Ski-Party-on-Main-Range-1964.jpg
    168.8 KB · Views: 258
  • The Big Snow 1964 - Lake Albina Hut Kalymaro Ski Club.jpg
    The Big Snow 1964 - Lake Albina Hut Kalymaro Ski Club.jpg
    46.6 KB · Views: 248

Cidertom

Chionophile
GOLD Site Supporter
Slightly better condition than the one I found for her. OK, showroom in comparison....
 

1boringguy

Well-known member
GOLD Site Supporter
Ok, I was waiting for someone else to, but I guess I'll have to be the one to step up and remove all doubt. Was Pioneer a ski resort in Aus?
 

Pontoon Princess

Cattitute
GOLD Site Supporter
Is that the original engine?

yes,

Chrysler Spitfire industrial, 8 cylinder with a 4 speed manual transmission, only 4 of the model 643's were built, and 2 model 743 freighters, and the only difference that I can find and or know of, the transfer cases, the 643's used a New Process transfer case that was turned upside down and the 743 used a Tucker built one, otherwise, same machine.

1951 was the last year of the straight 8 engine, no freighters were built in 1952, and 1953 saw the return of the freighter with a amazing 331 hemi V-8, mated up to an automatic.
 

Pontoon Princess

Cattitute
GOLD Site Supporter
Ok, I was waiting for someone else to, but I guess I'll have to be the one to step up and remove all doubt. Was Pioneer a ski resort in Aus?

this snow cat was used on the Perisher snow fields in the Snow Mountains, there are 2 resorts with amazing skiing, along with a underground train to the ski area.

Originally the Tuckers were used in the construction of the Snowy mountain dam hydro electric project and later were used to move people and goods.

I do not know of any direct connection to any lodge and the snow cat, the cats seems to provide transportation to the Perisher snow fields
 

JimVT

Bronze Member
GOLD Site Supporter
was that engine bought with it? it looks rebuilt.
 
Last edited:

1boringguy

Well-known member
GOLD Site Supporter
Thanks PP,

Was a little farther south and west of there about Feb of 1980 at Falls Creek ski area. Didn't recall seeing any Tuckers in Aus but what was at the time, I think fairly new Thiokols.

The Snowy River Scheme is a huge project there, wasn't completed until about 1974 i guess. This Tucker might have still been in use in Aus in some fashion in1980?
 

Attachments

  • 20200819_172929.jpg
    20200819_172929.jpg
    87.8 KB · Views: 181
  • 20200819_173011.jpg
    20200819_173011.jpg
    102.4 KB · Views: 181
Top