Kitty Cat snowmobile
 

Just finished a mild spruce up of a 1979 Arctic Cat Kitty Cat I bought to give to my grandkids (3 and 5 year old) for X-mas.

In the early 70's I can remember begging my dad to buy me one which of course never happened. I can't believe how tiny these things are. That said, I fired it up and it actually goes with my 165 pounds planted on it. :eek:

The kids are gonna love this as I got newer graphics which look somewhat similar to my old '89 Wildcat 650 that I have given them rides on last winter. Had to restrain myself to keep from doing a proper restoration (kids are gonna trash it). Gonna be a fun X-mas this year.

B4
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After
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that is damn cute..and badass

Super cool. I’ve been searching for one for the last couple years but they are like gold to some people.


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Way cool.

very cool!! are they getting matching helmets and suits?

When I was young the rich kid in the neighborhood had an arctic cat.
I remember one winter we had more than usual snowfall and that kid and his brother rode it to school.

I was three shades of green from the envy.

Nope.... they already have snowpants and coats. They can wear the mx helmets we have for them if need be (these things supposedly only do about 8 mph in stock form... not much different than riding their electric barbie jeep type stuff).

Sled came with a wheel conversion kit also..... even if we have no snow left, they will be getting to ride it around our property on X-mas day.

We will be keeping it at our house as they live in a sub-division now.

Tim - That is a very period correct seat.....AC was big on that pattern. My wife even had an AC snowsuit of that design back in the day.

I've fixed up old sleds and and dirt bikes for my wifes grandkids for year....When they outgrow something like that, sell it for a profit and do it all again with one a little bigger....

When I was around 11 years old my dad took me to buy a new kitty cat, just a tad disappointed when we saw how small it was.
Had to wait a couple years for my Yamaha GS250.

That would fit in the trunk of a Honda Accord...

Now several manufacturers make 120's which are better suited to bigger kids. The Kitty Cats were only made in the 70's -90's. This thing is really tiny..... My 3 year old granddaughter will not be too small for it.

I was probably about 7 when I first saw one of these at a dealership around 1973 or so. I wanted my dad to buy it for me so bad!

A scoobie roo motor would wake that puppy up....just sayin"

That's a really nice refurbish, very cool stuff

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513341590.JPG

Who needs snow?

When we were young the neighbor boys got one of those - while my brother and I got a Ski-do Elan. I remember feeling bad for them.

That old Elan took a bunch of abuse. I believe my dad's sled was a Nordic - bigger and heavier but it seemed fast to us.

When the TNT came out the rich guy in the neighborhood got one of those. I remember everyone thinking that was the hottest thing we had ever seen.

I've never seen or heard of these mini snowmobiles before.

In 1981 while in college a friend I worked with got a Chrysler Sno-Runner from his deadbeat dad that won it.

We both had a difficult time trying to keep that thing up, I thought it was a poor design.

https://www.hemmings.com/magazine/hmn/2013/02/1968-1972-Chrysler-Sno-Runner/3722031.html
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513347050.jpg

The Kitty Cat looks way safer.

Yep.... I am guessing the wheel kit will come in handy if we don't get a good winter this year.

That looks like a narrow runway in your picture.

Had a bunch of different beat up old sleds in my teens as paper route and lawn mowing money did not buy anything nice. lol

Early 70's Arctic Cat Panther 440
Mid 70's MotoSki 440
Late 70's Scorpion Whip 440
Early 80's Polaris Cutlass 340
Late 70's SkiDoo Blizzard 5500

Rode these things all over the place nearly every night there was at least two inches of snow when my friends and I were teens. Broke through thin ice crossing creeks... hit trees.... melted pistons.... hit culverts... etc. Somehow we always made it home without involving our parents. Never left home without a tow rope. lol

Hey Tim,
If it's not too much trouble, I'd love to see a picture of the engine/drive train in that Kitty.
What engine does it have in it?
Thanks.
GREAT job on the resto BTW. Your grandkids are gonna be hard to get off that thing.

60cc Suzuki two stroke w/ governor. Centrifugal minibike type clutch.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513357638.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513357827.jpg

You will be the best Grandfather around!

49cc with a centrifugal clutch?

No.... 60cc with a centrifugal clutch.

I might already be if you were to ask them.... Lots of rides on everything with engines
lol


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http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513359097.jpg

Thanks for the pics!
They're going to love it!

Just dug the big one out and got it running (needs a bath)..... First time to get them side by side for a comparison. Little one needs a back bumper and maybe a better looking tail light.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513379868.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513379868.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513379868.jpg

Something about the size of a sq side marker light would do it IMO.

Helmets.... get them helmets for Petes sake.....

I don't know, maybe a fake fur tail installed right above the round taillight.

They have Mx helmets.... That said, they don't wear helmets when riding their Barbie Jeeps... Not too concerned about an 8mph snowmobile ride in the yard.

8 mph sounds harmless enough...carry on!! But when one of ‘em starts hot rodding it watch out...


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*****Nice toys in your shop Tim*******

I've never seen or heard of these mini snowmobiles before.

In 1981 while in college a friend I worked with got a Chrysler Sno-Runner from his deadbeat dad that won it.

We both had a difficult time trying to keep that thing up, I thought it was a poor design.

https://www.hemmings.com/magazine/hmn/2013/02/1968-1972-Chrysler-Sno-Runner/3722031.html
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513347050.jpg

The Kitty Cat looks way safer.[/QUOTE]

Reminds me of the Heathkit mini bike that you could put a ski attachment over the front tire. I wanted one of those so bad... I guess they're a vintage thing now...

https://www.oldminibikes.com/forum/p...hsfdh_1262.jpg

When I was about 11 or 12, I strapped a plastic k-tel fun ski to the front tire of my Honda Z50 and wrapped some wire around the front brake lever..... It did not work out too well, but I did not have access to much in the way of tools back then.

Even though it was single digit temps and high winds, the kids rode their new toy... The 5 year old took to it well while the 3 year old needed someone running beside her.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1514421835.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1514421855.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1514423703.jpg Ha!

Nice!!!

He got neutered last week and destroyed his vet issued cone of shame the first day... Had to improvise with an airplane inner tube to keep him from chewing his stitches.


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http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1514470483.jpg