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The 1971 Big Al snowmobile
Manufactured by Alouette by Featherweight Corporation of Montreal, Quebec,
Canada.
The 1971 Big Al was not a production line vehicle, but one of the
extravagant and short-lived machines built by manufacturers to promote their
company through rapid-acceleration competitions. It joined the ranks of
models named Boss Cat by Arctic Cat, the Sno Pony Challenger, OMC Pegasus,
and Bombardier’s X4R.
Unlike other extravagant vehicles, the Big Al was made mostly of
Featherweight production parts used in its regular snowmobiles. Its
originality stems from how these components were combined.
Other features
Body made from two Alouette Big Bird tunnels equipped with 45.75 cm (18 in.) centrally driven tracks.
Rack-and-pinion steering with adjustable front deflector and rear spoiler.
Carburetors synchronized with a hydraulic pedal.
Two Hurst Air Heart hydraulic disk brakes.
Uncharacteristic features
3.6 metre dragster-style parachute.
Two stainless steel gas tanks that could be jettisoned.
Formula extinguisher that automatically put out flames.
Complete series of aeronautic-style luminous dials.
Communication helmet with integrated transmitter for the pilot.
Drag-reinforced acceleration seat.
Roll bars.
Aerodynamic, plastic-coated skis.
Note: The Big Al snowmobile was designed to
reach speeds of up to 300 km/h. It never saw the racetrack, however: it was
released as the energy crisis hit, knocking out snowmobile demand.
The Big Al snowmobile was designed by the celebrated Georges Barris, well
known in Hollywood for his automobile creations. He also designed the
Batmobile, Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang and the ambulance in Ghostbusters.
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