A Wooden Amish Sleigh Reimagined into a One-of-a-Kind Cutter
By Brent Corbin, Contributing Writer
My interest in snowmobiling goes back over 50 years ago when I started my first job in 1969 at John’s Sport’s & Marine in Owosso Michigan. My father was a manager for the company and brought me on to help uncrate the new Ski-Doo’s and assemble them for the showroom floor. That’s where it all began and my interest in snowmobiles has continued since that first job so many years ago.
I also have a passion for art which also started at an early age which I inherited from my mother. She was a watercolor, portrait and pastel chalk artist while I became interested in hand painted lettering, pin striping and airbrushing which continues to present day. Nevertheless, we did share the love to create something different than most and out of the ordinary! Which brings me to a recent build of mine.
I found an enclosed wooden Amish horse drawn sleigh on Marketplace. As you can see, it began with green paint, isinglass windows with lots of dust and dirt, but I had a vision to make it a one-of-a-kind cutter to go behind one of my 1970 Ski-Doo Alpine Twin Tracks!
I chopped the top 4 inches off for a better profile, hand-built window panels and added Lexan windows. I completely sanded the surface and painted it with single stage enamel. After the paint was cured, I hand lettered the doors and rear deck to honor the inventor of the Ski-Doo snowmobile.
Waiving out the back window is Joseph Armand Bombardier himself (1907-1964). Custom made flag masts fly the US and Canadian flags on the rear deck. A fabricated VW tow bar, brass sleigh bells for fun and a pedestal heater inside made from an old toolbox to keep it toasty warm inside. My wife agrees that a little wine should be added for a countryside cruise!
Thanks for reading! See you down the trail! •