Sno-jet made snowmobiles from 1964 to 1976 and then they were sold to Kawasaki who continued to make sleds until 1982. Throughout the boom days of snowmobiling, Sno-jet was a brand known great reliability, innovation and style. I have always liked the old Sno-jets even though I was born in 1979.

When I was 10 I got my first ride on a snowmobile, it was a 1975 Sno-jet, Astro Jet 295. Years later I remembered that old sled and how fun it was. Eventually, I went on a hunt for it to discover it was still stored in a barn under the original cover and had 134 original miles! I was also told that I probably put the last 2 or 3 miles on it in 1989. But that machine isn't the first Sno-jet I went after. Here's how my new hobby came to be..

In 1999 I bought my first Sno-jet which was a 1976 SST. It was in decent shape but it had ignition problems. I restored it and tried to fix the engine up to work right. I would say the resto job was a good amature job but the engine still doesn't run right!

Next, I bought a 1972 Super Jet in 2001. It had a tore up track and no seat. The engine ran super and the speedo read 1195 miles. At first I figured I could restore it but then I figured I would save it for parts. I actually ended up using alot of the parts off of the sled. The engine is awaiting restoration.

The third (actually second full machine) sled I aquired was a 1973 Sno-jet Star Jet. I first heard about it when I put an ad out and got a response from a guy who knew someone with some Sno-jets. After the 4th week of running the ad I was a little broke and discouraged because noone had called. So when I went to investigate the sleds in question I couldn't buy any of them.

There turned out to be a 1973 Star Jet 338 in super shape, 74' Whisperjet in half stripped for parts shape, and a 1968 Standard which was in pretty good restoreable shape. I was after the shining 73' Star Jet. After having one quick look at it I wanted it emmidiately! I beat around for almost a year, never quite having enough money or being out of a job. Finally, I started a decent job and I was threatened that the sled would be sold to someone else If I didn't buy it like I said I would. So on Halloween, 2002, I bought it.

While I was picking up the Star Jet, I had a close inspection of the 68' Standard that was becomming more of an interest to me all the time. I really didn't put too much thought into it but it was in really good restoreable shape for being 34 years old. The frame was perfect except for the backrest sheet metal needing some welding, the hood was faded but not damaged. The original track was good! and so were the skis. So taking all that into consideration, I picked it up.

After aquiring the 76' SST and 72' Star Jet, I became fixated on the first sled that I ever drove. I thought it to be a 1972 Star Jet 295 but I learned it was a 1975 Astro Jet 295. You may say that an Astro Jet is a fairly common and simple sled but this one has 134 miles on it and an original cover to match! So I ended up buying it but still have not brough it out of the place where it has been stored.

The very first sled I envision when I think of Sno-jet is the 1972 SST. From day one my Sno-jet of choice to find would be a 1972 SST or even a close but not quite 1973 SST. In February 2003, I found one advertised as a 1974 SST on an internet classifieds page. I sent some e-mails to the seller asking various questions about it. After awhile, the 'plastic tool box' on the back and steel in frame fuel tank made me wonder just what it was that this guy was advertising. I asked to see some pictures and when I got them I couldn't believe it. It was a 1972 SST 433 in what appeared to be astounding condition!

I became fixated on getting the sled home even though I had never taken a real-life look at it before. It was 200 miles away from me in Fredricton, New Brunswick. After attempting to compile the necessary funds, I okay'd the delivery of the machine. When I got it there were lots of surprises, good ones! The machine was in astounding shape, inside and out and even included 3 original 'Sno-jet' brand belts!

Sno-Jet

Here is my 68' Standard. It needs some work but I think I found it in pretty good shape considering the age. I have already started to find stuff to restore it. I am going to start with the engine. I have already found a new old stock piston, and top end for it, I am next going to get all the crank redone. The clutch is pretty solid but I have to clean it up, then I will do the painting. The Ignition is Bosch so it won't be hard to update all the parts on it since there's lots of old Ski-doo stuff around that use the same ignition.

The frame is excellent to start with, the track is great and the original skis are there. Some of the chrome on the sled is a little rusty so I don't know what I'll do in that department. Good chrome shops are hard to find around here.

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Here is my 1972 SST 433, all it needs is some very minor cosmetic work, gas tank cleaning and then it will be in near mint condition! This SST was offered with bogey wheels and a standard 433 engine. I wonder how many were made, I have never seen another SST with bogeys before but it is certainly listed in the books. These machines were known for being simple, tough and great running even with the Tillotson carburetors. They competed against Ski-doo TNT's which had volatile engines that were hard to tune.

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This is my 1973 Star Jet 338, like the 72' SST...It only needs some cosmetic work and the engine needs nothing! It is another extremely good running sled. I can let it sit and idle for 5 minutes and it doesn't load up at all.

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