AMF Snowmobiles

Founded in 1900, AMF, the American Machine and Foundry Corporation grew by aquisition to become one of the largest recreational equipment manufacturers in the world. The victim of a leveraged buyout in the mid-1980s and subsequent sell-off of divisions, all that remains of the company today is AMF Bowling. At one time, AMF owned many leading brands including AMP and Potter-Brumfield electrical com

ponents, Voit, Hatteras Yachts, Head Sporting goods, Ben Hogan Golf, Roadmaster Bicycles, Slick Craft boats and, of course, Harley-Davidson motorcycles. In the sixties many companies, AMF included, jumped on the snowmobile bandwagon. In late 1965 The Western Tool Division of AMF debuted the 1966 Sno-Clipper along with the 1966 Ski-Daddler Power Sled. Both models were similar and powered by a small JLO single cylinder engine. The Mango Design Studio was quickly employed to redesign and restyle the Ski-Daddler line for the 1967 model year, resulting in the unique "gray line" snowmobiles that would be manufactured through 1969. Big revisions were in store for the Ski-Daddler line in 1970, with a new orange line of sleds resembling the contemporary Ski-Doo models in shape. But not before the disasterous 1969 Wide Track 18 model, the 5818, was introduced. Wide Track 18 Ski-Daddler employed a very underpowered Lloyd engine that resulted in poor performance and a flood of complaints from unhappy owners. AMF stood behind the WT 18 and offered unhappy purchasers a 1969 1/2 interim model with a 399 Kohler, the MK 23. Basically a "gray line" sled with an orange paint job, this model was a precursor to the new 1970 orange/black Ski-Daddlers and is a sought after snowmobile today by vintage collectors. In 1970, the orange Ski-Daddler models debuted. From 1970 to 1972 over 15,000 AMF Ski-Daddler snowmobiles would be manufactured including the legendary "XX" racing sleds. In late 1972, AMF made the decision to again redesign and rebrand the snowmobile line, dropping the Ski-Daddler name in favor of their hugely popular Harley-Davidson brand. The Harley-Davidson sleds were advertised as using "Harley's own engine" which was actually an Aeromacchi-manufactured two stroke design. Aeromacchi was indeed owned by Harley-Davidson and also manufactured the Harley Sprint, MX and Enduro motorcycles under the Harley Davidson brand. It was believed by AMF that they would sell more snowmobiles through the Harley-Davidson network with the Harley name. But, at the end of the 1976 snowmobile model year, production of AMF Harley-Davidson snowmobiles was discontinued. The Sno-Clipper, Power Sled, Ski-Daddler and Harley-Davidson snowmobiles have remained popular with vintage collectors and have a special place in snowmobile history while the AMF name, once an icon of the recreation industry has faded away.