1982 Arctic Cat Puma prototype

This is another of the 1982 prototype snowmobiles that were hand-built at Arctic Enterprises, but were never released as a production model. As with the other 1982 prototype models it is generally believed that around 5 of each model were produced, but there could be a slight exception up or down to that number. This is a very original survivor that we  have mostly just done a mechanical restoration of. After seeing this featured in an issue of Snow Goer magazine, we purchased this in 2006 from LeLand Hall of Clearbrook MN; it had been his trail riding snowmobile for a number of years. It has a dealer sticker on it from an Arctic dealer in Fosston MN, LePeirs...they likely had it at some point. A few 1982 Pumas like this one do exist today but there is some uncertainty about the origins of these as they are very similar to the 1982 Jag model that was in development at the very same time. This unit shares a larger hood/belly pan, direct drive, rubber track and a 440 fan-cooled engine with the 1982 Jags...but...has a unique Puma seat, Puma graphics on the hood, Puma-themed console graphics, etc. It is documented that the Puma model that was destined to be produced for the 1982 model year was to have a slightly smaller hood/belly pan combo, a 2/3rds cleated track, chaincase drive and a 275cc free-air engine with oil injection. Knowing that many of the 1982 proto units were hand-built in late 1979 and into 1980, maybe the jag and Puma models were once considered to share much of the drivetrain and chassis as this one does? Or, maybe this unit was simply a platform to begin or continue testing of the components that would be used on the Jag model? It is also possible that this could have been a partially completed Jag model that had Puma graphics, seat and cosmetics added to it as snowmobiles were being prepped and sold off during the final days of Arctic Enterprises? We have quite a few original documents from Arctic covering this era and the 1982 proto sleds and the Jag/Puma model plans seemed to be constantly evolving and changing. As of this writing, we can not be certain of the full story of this Puma. this does have a vin number on the chassis, not all of the 1982 protos have one. Vin: 1000013. Engine number: G44-105399.  A frontal image of this sled is shown on page 120 of the book 50 Years of The Cat, by John Sandberg.