Tucker Sno-Cat: Newest Status Symbol of Ultra Rich

Snow tank was once used largely by resorts, law enforcement and military.

Tucker Sno-Cat
Scott Schmidt, a legend skier that is known for being the godfather of extreme skiing, waits, Wednesday, March, 16, 2005, outside a sno-cat at Monarch Ski and Snowboard Area for a ride to extreme terrain at the area. RJ Sangosti/ The Denver Post RJ'S Cell 970 217 6147 (Photo By RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

For 75 years, Oregon-based manufacturer Tucker has produced Sno-Cats for a niche market that includes the military and ski resorts. But recently, the gold standard of snow-mobiles — boasting four narrow treads that move across snow without sinking too deeply — has become a status symbol of the ultra-rich. As Bloomberg Pursuits puts it: “The fastest-growing group of customers, however, is private landowners who want to get to their mountain retreats in style. Snowmobiles, after all, are cold and relatively crappy for listening to classical music.”

Because Tucker only produces 50 to 100 Sno-Cats a year, the base price for the 2000Xtra Lite, an entry-level model, starts at $125,000. So a market has emerged for older, used models which can be refurbished by the serious collector.

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