Prototype 1978 Liquifire?

strokerb · Post by **strokerb** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 5:34 pm

Can anybody help identify what this snowmobile is or was used for?

It has a 1977 cyclone tunnel (never painted green), rear suspension looks like a dator lite, Product Engineering tag along with a series of numbers stamped in front pan, floorboards have dimples punched in them in same pattern as a 1978 but no hole openings, has cooling system similar to a 1978 liquifire and has a 440/23LC engine.

Thanks for any insight or help on the sled.

harleysportster · Post by **harleysportster** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 5:48 pm

The tunnel is a 1978 with the rainbow decals.

strokerb · Post by **strokerb** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 6:05 pm

I should add the tunnel is stamped with J44FC prefix and a 10/76 build date.

harleysportster · Post by **harleysportster** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 6:14 pm

Is there a model type printed in the decal near the back of the side strips.

harleysportster · Post by **harleysportster** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 6:17 pm

strokerb wrote:I should add the tunnel is stamped with J44FC prefix and a 10/76 build date.

This could have been built in Nov of 76 as a proto type for the 78 Liq.

Horicon Joe · Post by **Horicon Joe** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 7:11 pm

Here are some more pictures of it.

spitfireguyII · Post by **spitfireguyII** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 8:58 pm

That is cool. Deffently a 78 by color and decals but it's hard to argue with a stamped build date.

AirborneX4Special · Post by **AirborneX4Special** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 9:28 pm

I think it's a 78 prototype.

deere memorabilia · Post by **deere memorabilia** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 10:44 pm

This is for sure a 77 tunnel. If you look the support brace has been cut for the decal and the holes are punched for the 76-77 suspension. Very neat sled!

TASKY · Post by **TASKY** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 10:50 pm

Did'nt Mike Hudziak have something like this? He had his stuff stored in a dairy barn the same way.

JoeRainville · Post by **JoeRainville** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 11:51 pm

Bill,

If Mike had a sled like that, I never saw it. Several of Mikes former sled reside in my barn, but that does not mean I saw everything he had. "I think" there were pic's of a 76 LF with a "Property of Horicon Works" tag on it floating around a few years back.

If its NOT a factory 78 proto, its a darn good fake. We know these sleds were not supposed to get out, but Jesse has ETD sleds that were supposed to be destroyed, two 440 Liquidator proto motors made it out, and there was the unpainted mid-mount tunnel too.

This sure looks to be a 78 proto, but all you can deffinately prove it that it was a factory owned 77 Cyclone at one point. It would be VERY cool to find out Deere built it into a 78 prototype! Good luck to the owner, hope she is the real deal.

-Joe Rainville

skoalmint · Post by **skoalmint** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 12:00 am

I have had several Deeres and have never seen a tag like that on the bulk head frame 76 thru 78.WAY COOL!!!!!!!!!Brock.

TASKY · Post by **TASKY** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 12:17 am

He had something with a strange tag or Serial number. I am going to have to consult the Oracle on this one.

spitfireguyII · Post by **spitfireguyII** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 1:02 am

The picture with the four liquifires in it. It's the one in the bottom corner with no cab? If so where is the cab and is there any differences?

strokerb · Post by **strokerb** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 1:13 am

The sled no longer resides in that barn.

Found that there were 2000 '77 Cyclones built (according to the website) starting at serial no 70000. This one is 71989. Possibly the very last group of sleds/tunnels were pulled off the line? Should be able to verify that with destinations/dealer info on the last 10 to 20 built if anything shows up on them.

Prototype 1978 Liquifire?

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