Bolens Diablo Rouge and Hus Ski Discussion Forums

Earlier this year a fellow told me he had a hus-ski factory "race sleigh" and wanted to know if I wanted to buy it and when I heard that I was very interested to see what it looked like. At first glance, it looked like nothing more than a standard ski seater literally cut in half! But a closer look at it and from what he told me about it, I have every reason to believe that it is a race sleigh! Some of the things he told me was that it was his dad's and he was a hus-ski employee who worked at the factory in Pointe Claire, Que. He also said the sleigh was taken off the assembly line and cut down on site and was used on a 444. Some of the notable things about it - the frame never had a tool box welded on to it, it never had hinges welded on to the frame, the seat was attached to the sleigh using period correct electrical clamps. It appears the sleigh only made it as far as primer and was then brush painted - very crude paint job and not what you would use on a full production sleigh.
Skis were also cut and mounts relocated further forward to balance out the skis. The ski mounting plates also have those additional brackets on them.
The pictures will help explain some of the stuff I am talking about. I thought I would share this on the forum. Another thing I've noticed is that is that it is similar to the ski seater on Barrie Graham's prototype...Coincidence??

Because of the condition it was in I had to do a semi restoration on it, mostly skis, seat and paint. The following picture before and after

the next three pictures are showing some of the items I mentioned ie. primer paint, and the picture with the pencil shows where the hinge would have been welded for the seat. The other picture is showing the brush paint over primer.

old and new seat

The skis were in particularly rough shape. After repairing and gluing them back into shape there was 4 coats of varnish to reseal them so they will last for many more years.

and this is how it looks now

I borrowed this picture of Barrie's prototype sleigh off the interweb and posted it here just so you can see the similarities between this "race sleigh" and this prototype sleigh. Hmmmmm

Interesting. You've done a great job of restoring it. Jim

I took the race sleigh out for a test run

I like it!

Pete,
What is in the tractor? Maybe it's me but it appears from the picture that your 200A Hood is much wider than an original. Looks more like a 444 or 400 Hood without a scoop.
Is it the picture giving me that optic.
Anyway, very nice job.

Jeannot