Oversnow vehicles | National Museum of Australia

M29 Weasel

Front view of a reconstructed, red painted oversnow vehicle, with a large area of paint missing from a mounted metal box, black struts and tracks visible below. - click to view larger image — Front and left side, M29 Weasel, 1943–44

A reconstructed, red painted oversnow vehicle with track wheels on either side. An Australian flag is painted on the side at the front. - click to view larger image — Back and right side, M29 Weasel, 1943–44

Front side view of a tracked vehicle, with the cabin painted bright red. On the side below an open window and above the tracks are the Australian flag and a sign showing a kiwi bird, with text that reads: 'TAKITIMU'. - click to view larger image — Front left side detail, M29 Weasel, 1943–44

Detail image showing a black cylindrical instrument mounted in a brass casing on the side of a bright red vehicle. - click to view larger image — Directional compass mounted on M29 Weasel

Rear view of a a reconstructed, red painted oversnow vehicle, with a large area of paint missing from a mounted metal box, black struts and tracks visible below. - click to view larger image — Rear, M29 Weasel, 1943–44

I was fortunate to restore two vehicles that were involved in early Antarctic exploration. One was a Polaris Sno-Traveler and the other a M29 Weasel.

The Weasel was a product of the Second World War and was produced quickly using existing mechanical products of the time. By today’s standards, it was very agricultural but simple and reasonably reliable.

After the war, many of these Weasels found a place in Antarctic and Arctic exploration as there were not a lot of ready-made, light-weight tracked vehicles available.

They were there when a new era of mechanised polar exploration was opening up, bringing with it the challenges of maintaining a war-weary vehicle in the extreme conditions of Antarctica.

Polaris Sno-Traveler

Polaris Sno-Traveler K95, 1964

Polaris Sno-Traveler K95 logo, 1964

Detail image showing half-steering wheel in open cabin of oversnow vehicle painted bright red. - click to view larger image — Polaris Sno-Traveler K95 steering wheel, 1964

Engine painted dark blue, atop a bright red oversnow vehicle, with a small winch mounted behind. - click to view larger image — Polaris Sno-Traveler K95 engine and winch detail, 1964

The Polaris Sno-Traveler was one of many small single-tracked, toboggan-type vehicles that appeared in the late 1950s.

It was at the forefront of the replacement of dog sled teams with a mechanical and more efficient form of transport.

The Sno-Traveler’s early designs were simple, with the track being very rudimentary. Other manufacturers produced far superior, purpose-built tracks and engines, but the Sno-Traveler has always held a unique place. It was a rugged but reliable machine that traversed many thousands of polar miles.

These two vehicles stand alone as examples of a bygone era, when it was both a privilege and an adventure to participate in Antarctic exploration and sojourns on the Antarctic plateau.

K95 Polaris Sno-Traveler at Depot Peak, 1965

Dave McCormack is a recipient of the Australian Antarctic Medal, the Phillip Law Medal and the Polar Medal. His team favourite is from The Museum magazine. Buy the special Antarctica issue

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