1977
SKIROULE
1979
SKIROULE PROTOTYPE
David,...
As you can see, they used up some decals from different years on these
protos.
Interesting
that the SRX 440 decal is a trimmed down 1970 Skiroule SRX hood decal.
The
Sprint is from 1976. The heat exchanger is under the seat.
The
RTW in background will have been repainted partially by showtime. Doug
McIlwain
1979
SKIROULE PROTOTYPE
1979
SKIROULE PROTOTYPE
1979
SKIROULE PROTOTYPE
1979
SKIROULE PROTOTYPE
Doug
McIlwain.
1979
SKIROULE PROTOTYPE
Hi
David,.... A few notes about these sleds.
SKIROULE
GPI PROTOTYPE SNOWMOBILES
The
70's saw probably the largest exodus of snowmobile manufacturers from the
scene than any other decade.
Skiroule
was one of these. Having its roots in Quebec and being the brainchild of
Rejean Houle, they made several prototypes in
the
early 60's before going to production models for 1966. Business flourished
and in 1969, the company was sold to Coleman and
subsequently
to Herbert M Karol in 1974, then vanished in 1976 with only a few 1977
prototypes built.
Bankruptcy
inventory was dispersed and Growth Products
Inc (GPI) in Crystal Michigan acquired a large
amount of stock from the
Lansing
Michigan distribution warehouse. They commenced to selling the parts to
dealers and Skiroule owners and are still in business.
Along
about 1979 they entertained the possibility of reentering the snowmobile
manufacturing business and so from then until 1981
approximately
12 prototype models of Skiroule were built for testing ideas.
No two were identical although they retained the traditional
Skiroule
styling as seats, windshields, bumpers and hoods were off the shelf as
well as some other smaller components.
Most
hoods were black painted although at least one had a black original hood
as some 1977 models were to have that colour.
At
least one had a grey Laser hood. Instrumentation and handle bars were for
the most part from 1976.
Chassis
were custom built at GPI of aluminum while belly pans were also new and
made of fibreglass or a plastic material.
Slide
suspension, track and drive systems were not from the parts bin and varied
somewhat from one prototype to the next.
Some
had rear external shocks, some had internal shocks. Engines were 440 Kohler
liquid cooled which was to be an
available
engine for 1977 and was the same engine basically as the earlier Alouette
Super Brute LC sleds.
There
was at least one exception, with a higher performance 440 Kohler liquid
as used in Mercury Snow Twisters.
That
one is still owned by a Michigan collector. Engine cooling was by heat
exchanger, not sure if any were built with a radiator.
At
least one was built with the heat exchanger mounted under a raised seat
with ventilating slots in the raised seat support.
Hood
and tunnel decals varied but were mostly from nos Skiroule decals from
earlier years.
Hood
SPRINT decals were to be used on a planned 1976 sled that may have only
produced one or two.
SRX
tunnel decals were made from nos hood decals from a 1970 competition sled.
This
is pure speculation but some reasons for not jumping in to the manufacturing
business again could have been:
The
industry was in decline and it might be tough to come back with a sled
that even though it was substantially new still looked like
a
10 year old model. Also, a new and expensive modern factory would be needed.
The GPI sleds are becoming very collectible and
rightly
so. Even though they were all a little different, I have never seen one
I didn't like but that could be said of any Skiroule sled LOL.
I
believe that at least half of those built still survive as they are owned
by collectors so have good homes.
David,....
This is factual to the best of my knowledge.
Take
care,.... Doug McIlwain
1981
SKIROULE PROTOTYPE
1981
SKIROULE PROTOTYPE
1981
SKIROULE PROTOTYPE
HERE
ARE A FEW OF PICTURES OF MY SKIROULE SNOWMOBILE THAT BOUGHT FROM
RICHARD SHANTZ IN 2006. DAVID S.
HERE
ARE A FEW OF PICTURES OF MY SKIROULE SNOWMOBILE THAT BOUGHT FROM
RICHARD SHANTZ IN 2006. DAVID S.
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