February 13, 2025
Polaris Celebrity Automotive: A Antique Snowmobile-Powered Racer

That is an authentic Polaris Celebrity Automotive, a Nineteen Sixties manufacturing open-wheeled racer that used to be designed to seem like a miniature Components 1 or Indy automobile from the generation.

Due to its rear-mounted snowmobile engine the Polaris Celebrity Automotive used to be stated to have the ability to speeds in far more than 80 mph, and a few declare that the vehicles went over 100 mph at the Bonneville Salt Apartments.

Rapid Details – The Polaris Celebrity Automotive

  • The Polaris Celebrity Automotive used to be presented in 1965 an offered till 1968, and then time Polaris attempted to recall all of them to ruin them – it’s believed simply 20 or so have survived to the trendy day.
  • The explanation they had been recalled is alleged to be because of prison liabilities – the little open-wheelers had been stated to have the ability to speeds between 80 and 100 mph, some distance sooner than the brakes or tires may safely maintain.
  • Energy used to be equipped by way of a 372cc Rockwell/JLO two-stroke snowmobile engine sourced from a Polaris snowmobile from the similar decade. The idea being that as a substitute of your snowmobile engine sitting idle in the summertime it’s worthwhile to take it out and use it on your Polaris Celebrity Automotive.
  • The Polaris Celebrity Automotive you notice this is an authentic unrestored instance with its engine nonetheless in position. It’s been in garage for over 30 years and now calls for a complete recovery, on the other hand it might be used as a show piece in its present situation.

The Celebrity Automotive: A Snowmobile Powered Racing Automotive

Polaris has been construction snowmobiles since their first prototype used to be made in 1954 in Roseau, Minnesota. The corporate quickly was main producers of the cars, and the snowmobiles themselves helped to turn out to be wintry weather existence for folks dwelling within the cooler northern latitudes.

Polaris Star Car Brochure

Image DescriptionThose are pages from the Polaris Celebrity Automotive, they provide the specs of the car and put it on the market “for the snowmobiler who desires to head all summer time.”

Most likely the important thing factor with snowmobiles then and now could be the truth that they spend part the yr or extra in garage, unusable because of the loss of snow at the floor.

The Celebrity Automotive used to be conceived by way of the workforce at Polaris to be powered by way of considered one of their snowmobile engines. With only a few bolts got rid of the engine might be transplanted into the Celebrity Automotive in the summer, then again into the snowmobile within the wintry weather.

This in large part solved the problem of the motionless snowmobile and unfolded new income alternatives for the corporate, promoting recreational cars to be used year-round.

The Polaris Celebrity Automotive featured a tubular metal chassis with a fiberglass monoposto frame fitted excessive, the engine used to be fixed within the rear and powered the rear two axles by the use of a series pressure. The engine used to be a 372cc Rockwell/JLO two-stroke snowmobile engine generating 18 bhp.

Polaris Star Car 20

Image DescriptionThe automobile is designed to deal with adults in addition to youngsters, despite the fact that it can be a decent have compatibility for some.

The Celebrity Automotive made use of double torsion bar entrance suspension and a partial leaf spring association used to be used within the rear. Even though it gave the impression of a move kart it used to be in truth higher and technically an open-wheeled racing automobile.

Strangely the car used to be most effective fitted with brakes within the rear, perhaps a results of the positioning of the brakes on snowmobiles. The disc brakes suited to the Celebrity Automotive had been woefully insufficient given the auto’s velocity, and the tires weren’t a lot better.

On account of those problems the Celebrity Automotive proved fairly unhealthy within the incorrect arms, manufacturing used to be ceased after simply 3 years because of issues about prison liabilities. Apparently Polaris issued a recall in 1968 for each and every Celebrity Automotive that were offered, all had been returned except for roughly 20 which have been stored by way of their house owners.

They’re now a collectible little historic interest and they are able to be quite a lot of amusing to pressure, simply as long as you take into account to not push them too arduous.

Polaris Star Car 14

Image DescriptionThis Celebrity Automotive continues to be fitted with its 372cc Rockwell/JLO two-stroke snowmobile engine, despite the fact that it wishes a complete rebuild now after many years in garage.

The Polaris Celebrity Automotive Proven Right here

The automobile you notice here’s a uncommon to find – an authentic Polaris Celebrity Automotive nonetheless fitted with the right kind engine and nonetheless dressed in its factory-applied livery.

This automobile hasn’t been began or pushed in over 30 years and so it’s obviously now a venture that can require a complete recovery and an engine rebuild earlier than any riding is tried. Engine portions must be quite simple to supply given their use in Polaris snowmobiles.

In case you’d love to learn extra about this ordinary antique racer or position a bid you’ll be able to talk over with the record right here on Carry a Trailer. It’s being introduced on the market out of Wylie, Texas.

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Pictures courtesy of Carry a Trailer

Polaris Celebrity Automotive: A Antique Snowmobile-Powered Racer