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If you're a fan of vintage snow machines, you might want to pay attention to a unique offering currently available in Red Wing, MN: a 1956 R18 Bombardier, fully restored and ready for new adventures. Priced at $45,500, this stunning piece of history is accompanied by a 33-foot enclosed trailer available for $15,500, or you can purchase the entire package for $59,500.
From Facebook: "Fully restored 1956 R18 Bombardier. 318 motor, 727 automatic transmission, 8.8 ford 373 gears. New wiring, gauges, heater, belts and sprockets. Long shock kits, 6 core rad. New plastic gas tanks. All doors re-skinned including cargo and engine. Brakes installed. Gone through front to back. Ready to go. Always hauled and stored in enclosed trailer. $15,500 for the trailer, $45,500 for the bomber and $59,500.00 for the package.
Would trade for a comparable skid steer. No junk.
Can be seen in Thief River Falls. Due to the number of auto generated  responses, I will not respond to “is this is available” I will delete your message. No tire kickers please. See my other ad for more info on the trailer.
763-3 hundred-6817"
View the Facebook Marketplace Listing
The 1956 R18 Bombardier is a testament to Canadian ingenuity and craftsmanship, embodying the spirit of exploration and adventure. Fully restored, this classic features a 318 motor, a 727 automatic transmission, and 8.8 Ford 373 gears. The vehicle has undergone a comprehensive restoration, boasting new wiring, gauges, a heater, belts, sprockets, long shock kits, and a six-core radiator. Additionally, the Bombardier is equipped with new plastic gas tanks, and all doors, including cargo and engine, have been re-skinned. The brakes have been installed, and the vehicle has been meticulously checked from front to back, ensuring it’s ready to hit the road or the trails.
To appreciate the 1956 R18 fully, it's essential to understand its roots. Joseph-Armand Bombardier, the founder of Bombardier, was a visionary inventor who developed the world’s first snowmobile. His journey began in Valcourt, Quebec, where he built his first snow vehicle at the tender age of 15.
Before launching into the production of tracked vehicles, Bombardier experimented with propeller-driven aerosleds and snowplane designs as early as 1920. However, he soon pivoted to focus on tracked vehicles, producing truck-sized half-track vehicles designed for the harsh Canadian winters.
The company played a pivotal role during World War II, manufacturing half-tracks for the Canadian Army. Post-war, Bombardier innovated further, developing all-tracked heavy-duty vehicles designed for logging and mining operations in extreme conditions, including heavy snow and muskeg.
Their early designs featured a track system composed of rubber belts that provided traction in difficult terrains. This research laid the groundwork for the development of the lightweight snowmobiles Bombardier is famed for today.
In the late 1940s, Bombardier released the B12, a vehicle that could carry twelve people, and later the C18, designed for eighteen passengers. Both models were notable for their speed, exceeding 30 mph over snow. Bombardier's commitment to innovation led to the creation of the Ski-Doo, initially meant to replace dogsleds for hunters and trappers. The accidental misspelling of "Ski-Dog" to "Ski-Doo" sparked a new winter sport that rapidly gained popularity.
Despite the emergence of international competitors, Bombardier dominated the snowmobile market from the 1940s through the early 1970s. The Ski-Doo line expanded further in 1971 with the acquisition of Moto-Ski, enhancing their market presence.
The Bombardier legacy extends beyond snowmobiles. The company diversified into motorcycles, ATVs, and sailboats, becoming a multinational corporation known as Bombardier Inc. Even after restructuring in the early 2000s, it continued to produce a range of recreational vehicles, including Ski-Doo snowmobiles, Can-Am ATVs, and Sea-Doo personal watercraft.
Today, Bombardier's innovations are recognized worldwide, and their vehicles are still in use for various applications, including large-scale ice fishing in northern Canada. The Museum of Ingenuity J. Armand Bombardier in Valcourt, Quebec, honors the founder's legacy and showcases the evolution of snowmobiles and other tracked vehicles.
The 1956 R18 Bombardier isn't just a vehicle; it's a piece of history representing the ingenuity of Canadian engineering. If you’re interested in vintage vehicles, this could be a perfect addition to your collection, offering a unique blend of nostalgia and adventure.