1982 Arctic Cat Cougar prototype

The 1982 Cougar model was to be yet another nearly all-new model for Arctic Enterprises, had they produced sleds for that model year. This sled shares a chassis, suspension and rubber track with the successful 1981 El Tigre 5000, but that is where most of the similarities end. All-new for this model was a re-worked 500 cc fan-cooled engine with oil injection, dual carburetors, lightweight crankshaft, 5-pole Kokusan stator and lightweight flywheel, and new plastic cooling shrouds. The target horsepower for this new engine package was 56 hp. This also sports a newly-designed hood, belly pan and console. As of this writing our best available information tells us that 6 of these prototype models were hand-built between 06/15/1980 and mid-January 1981. Interestingly, this sled surfaced behind the Arctic plant in November 1990 and we purchased it at that time. It was missing a few parts but we eventually tracked down what was needed to make it complete again as it sits today. This is the same Cougar that is featured on page 120 of the book 50 Years of the Cat, by John Sandberg. Vin number: 1021572. Engine number: ZTO 400-1 .