Custom vs. Original values- Does it matter?

[4TrackCat]

I hate to ask dumb questions, but I don't know enough about snowcats yet to answer it myself.

Is a Spryte that has been modified and customized well worth less than an oem one?

Should someone expect to pay less for an after market cab or is the value equal if the mods are done well?

This Spryte has aftermarket aluminum cab on it and is nicely done inside. It is only a three door as opposed to the 4 door models but access is good.

In your opinions, is it worth the same?

 

[jo5]

I think its a "Salt Cat" made in Salt Lake City Utah by Bill Salt

 

[4TrackCat]

I think its a "Salt Cat" made in Salt Lake City Utah by Bill Salt

Any idea on his reputation?

 

[BigAl]

Bottom line is how well it is designed and modified and how it will fit into the use you have intended for it . Cats are not like old cars that lose value when customized . If done correctly they can gain value .

I would think that my customized Kristy KT7 is worth more now than when it was stock . I improved on so many orginial design aspects of it and spent big dollars doing it . It is now a very operator friendly machine that will take you and friends into or out of most any snow conditions and it will do it in extreme comfort.

 

[wesley]

I restored antique boats the military vehicles in the past. In both cases keeping things as original as possible was top priority. In the case of military vehicles, the jeep collectors were the most obsessive. Every nut and bolt had to be correct not only for that maker of the jeep, but correct for the year or even month it left the factory. I always thought that was a bit much. I'm from the family of restorers that wants to use the vehicle, and I think this is were the snow cat owners fit in. At this time I don't think there is a hard core collectors market where big money collectors are looking for the perfect factory restoration. The exception would maybe be Wetherbys 601. I believe most snow-cat owners want a snow vehicle other than a snowmobile, to access their cottages and camps in the wilderness in winter. Because it is mostly about purpose we are always looking to make improvements. Because I come from a background of restoration, my advice is this. First you must decide what you want. a collectors machine, that is so perfect you don't want to take it in the woods, or a machine that you can drive in the woods, and your friends can spill beer in. Either way I suggest whenever making a repair or replacing a part try to find original replacement if you can. Also never throw anything away. What may seem a worthless broken part may turn out to be a that one part that the hard core restorer has been looking for and money is no object. I restored M29 weasels, the gateway drug that got me hooked on snowcats. I made more money selling spare parts, than the weasels themselves. I own a Thiokol 601 and, after the military vehicles, I was amazed at the simplicity of the design and engineering. The thing is, it was designed with the limitations of 1963 technology.