443A, New England Find

[230 Pilot]

Recently found some New England history. This machine was originally sold to Attitash Mountain Ski Area in Bartlett , NH. I’m not sure when they sold it, but it went to a smaller hill , Pine Ridge Ski Area in Barre, MA. You can see both names painted on the doors on top of each other.

Parked on a trailer and not having run in 15 years, we winched it off that trailer and onto mine. Buying it in MA. and headed back to NH. that night.The next morning, with a new battery, some fresh gas, and a little tinkering, it started up. Not running smoothly yet, but running! So I took off the straps and drove it off the trailer, around the block and back on the trailer before it ran out of gas. Happy that it at least runs and drives, now making a long list of needed repairs.

I tried to convince Davenet since he has a lot of time on his hands, now that his 10 year restoration is done, he could start on this one !

 

[Blackfoot Tucker]

Great Find and Congratulations!!! It looks surprisingly "unmolested", meaning self-proclaimed "mechanical geniuses" didn't have their way with it.

I'm guessing 1969-1971 vintage?

Looking forward to reading of your progress! (It would seem since Davenet didn't rise to take the "Kitten bait" he should, as you suggest, have some free time...)

 

[Pontoon Princess]

great find and congratulations....wonderful piece of New England history, surprised davenet is not working on it right now, looking forward to many many many posts about your progress and adventures

 

[230 Pilot]

Yes it seems most of the parts are there. No back seats, and a couple panels are missing. The data plate is missing, the engine # says it’s 1969, so not sure yet.

 

[DAVENET]

It is pretty funny (sad?) when you finish a project like that just how much time you suddenly have. Looking around at the end of the day wondering "well hell, what can I dig up to do today"!

 

[DAVENET]

Great Find and Congratulations!!! It looks surprisingly "unmolested", meaning self-proclaimed "mechanical geniuses" didn't have their way with it.

I'm guessing 1969-1971 vintage?

I'm thinking early 60's with an engine swap from a newer machine. There is a patch where the original exhaust came out and the steering linkages, dash, park brake lever are completely different than the late 60's machines.

Looking forward to reading of your progress! (It would seem since Davenet didn't rise to take the "Kitten bait" he should, as you suggest, have some free time...)

It was tough for me to jump in on it as it was pitched to me with Stephanie standing right there! I'm pretty sure the sound from her was "Pffftttttt".

 

[Pontoon Princess]

ah didn't know the ID tag was missing. ouch, the the flat, taller dash with individual gauges was used on, or, there about, 1963 on, great machine to find especially, on the east coast, you boys ran them hard on what you refer to as snow (ice), and the amazing innovative ideas like the 30 grouser setup?

fyi, tucker did not put the ID tags on till the machine was sold, that would add a level of difficulty to establishing the correct year of a machine

 

[Bennyboy1337]

ah didn't know the ID tag was missing. ouch, early 60's on, still great machine to find especially, on the east coast, you boys ran them hard on what you refer to as snow (ice), and the amazing innovative ideas like the 30 grouser setup?

Any significance in the difference dash design compared to my 62? Pretty radically different as a matter of fact, from the shaped to flat/box design, to all the gauges being more like a 70s cat.

But yes... talk about an unmollested cat! Can't wait to see her running after some TLC.

 

[230 Pilot]

Yes , dash different, individual gauges , and the wiper motor is inside the dashboard.

 

[230 Pilot]

Rear floor shaped like an old coffin . Cast aluminum grill.

 

[230 Pilot]

Dash from a 1963 at the New Hampshire show last month

 

[230 Pilot]

63’ has a Chrysler industrial 30 eng. I have a 32, so 2 engine series later. Don’t know when Chrysler changed series.

 

[230 Pilot]

 

[Pontoon Princess]

the engine number is not in the serial number list, probably a replacement engine, the number does match up with engine numbers in 1969

 

[230 Pilot]

Guess I’ll have to look at all the 400 series and see when different things changed each year. Thanks for looking.

 

[Pontoon Princess]

Guess I’ll have to look at all the 400 series and see when different things changed each year. Thanks for looking.

pretty hard to do with this period of 400 series machines, very few to little clues to go on, the engine serial number was the only way to ID a year of said tucker....

 

[sledhead Ed]

Nice Find

 

[LakeTucker]

Glad I escaped blame on this one. LOL

 

[Track Addict]

64-67 ish. Ind 32

Still has the hydraulic pump mounted to the upper frame support and used the steering booster on my 53.

68 on had vickers mounted on motor and orbitrol steering. Maybe even 67.

Aluminum hood. Tucker loved glass hoods and roofs leading up to Woodstock.

Steering booster should have a serial number tag. That might help?

 

[Cidertom]

Well if they bought it new, Attitash opened for ski ops in Jan 1965. So that should set a lower date on the search.

 

[230 Pilot]

So as the hunt for historical information continues, I’m told that fiberglass pontoons started in 1965. Dual rear windows in the passenger compartment started in 1967, and the coolest info today , was that there were no 443’s sold east of the Mississippi in 1967, but There were 2 - 443’s sold in 1966, east of the miss. , thru dealers Central NY Tucker and Ed Gill Corp.
Looking more like a 1966 now.

 

[230 Pilot]

Thanks for the help finding out more about this machine.

 

[Track Addict]

Recon mission today at Attitash with J Tucker. Definitely found people who thought this Tucker was cool but nobody who knew this machine. All agreed to keep the history!

The shuttle driver did say the original owner lives down the road by the tracks on 302 and owned it up until they put in Bear Peak. Maybe a lead to follow up.

Nothing but modern cats in the yard.

Great news for any Attitash lovers, the triple is all done and new high speed quad being installed.

Much like the tucker history this is something to own. 22 minute summit ride probably worst in New England. Auction starts April!

Tucker would look great backed up to the Airstream.

 

[230 Pilot]

Thanks for the info, will check out the leads.

 

[Track Addict]

These summit triple chairs from Attitash were an 18-22 minute ride to the summit depending on speed that day.

Most likely this Tucker Sno Cat got to the top quicker by trail and had service time under them.

New quad will be a 6 minute trip to the summit. Progress!

 

[DAVENET]

You've been pretty quiet Pete . . . Been working on your new project?