Snow Weasel?

A car which has been in the family for this long deservers a name!  I call my daily driver, a California White, 1966 four-door 122S, which is doing faithful duty on its third time around the odo., the Snow Weasel.  I ran across this name in the British book "Tuning S.U. Carburettors, published by Speedsport Motorbooks 1975, ISBN85113-072-0" where the (vehicle application) chart lists the fuel metering needles and other internal components which were to be used when the SU carb was fitted to a (1965,66,67, Volvo B18B engined) "Snow Weasel".  

From that information, I figured these were some sort of B-18 powered, tracked vehicle, clattering around research stations in the arctic, and after some helpful folks, responded to the Wanted page, here is want I've been able to put together.  

My "Snow Weasel":


122S Snow Weasel!

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The original "Snow Weasel":

It's a Bandvagn BV202 (maybe its the vehicle that ABBA used to get around in the winter!...) communications vehicle.  Thanks to Anders Welen [http://welcome.to/anders_welen] for passing along the link to the (British) Royal Corps of Signals Museum: [http://www.royalsignals.army.org.uk/museum/Displays%208UNBANDVAGN.htm]


Info accompanying the mediocre picture on the Signal Corps site:  This vehicle was more commonly known as the SNOWCAT.  It was in service from 1962 to 1981 as a 'Tracked over-snow vehicle'.   It was used as a communications vehicle by 249 Signal Squadron and would have a C42 and C11/R210 VHF and HF suite of radios.   The vehicle had a Volvo B18 engine and was capable of 40kph for a range of about 400km.

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In forest green camouflage.

Bandvagn BV202 picture with regards from vintage Swedish military vehicles enthusiast site [http://www.foreningenp5.com/page52.html ].  Special thanks to Mats P. and Fredrik N. and the Swedish military vehicle preservation society in Sweden for the pictures and providing information on this vehicle.    

BV202 is an articulated vehicle built by a Volvo company "AB Bolinder-Munktell" in Arvika, Sweden.  Mats believes production began in 1963 but is not certain how many were made.  They were also exported to England [see above] and Norway.  There was also a command version; Radiobandvagn 203 (Rabv 203), it had a 24 Volt electrical system, radio equipment, and room for 6 passengers. 

Technical Data:
Engine:  Volvo B18 (91 hp SAE @ 5300 rpm) 
Electrical:  24Volt, Alternator
Gearbox:  Volvo M42 and a Volvo secondary dual range gearbox 
Crew:  Driver+co-driver in front, 8 passengers back 
Length:  6.2 m 
Weight:  3200 kg 
Load:  1000 kg on road, 800 kg of road, + a 800 kg trailer 
Speed:  40 km/h 
Range:  300 km 
Amphibious 


A handy extinguisher location...maybe the Swedish military experienced the curse of the leaking SUs also.


It doesn't look like much will stop this this little muscleman from getting through.  The trailer tracks are also powered...by way of an articulated driveshaft powered by the B18 and transmission in the tractor.


See anything familiar in there?  Interesting ducting of outside air to the radiator, and what looks like a typical 122 ATE brake master cylinder and 140 cable actuated clutch, but this particular BV203 has been changed over to breathe through a single downdraught Weber.  Notice also the completely metal shielded ignition components, important for minimizing ignition noise and getting the best operation of the sensitive onboard communication equipment located in the trailer.  There is also a second battery in front of the visible one, for the 24V system, and some additional hydraulic equipment, necessary for steering the tracks.  The next time someone calls an Amazon a tank, you might chuckle, then explain to them of this vehicle and tell them how right they really are! 

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...this is why its called a Bandvagn.  (I couldn't resist a little Photoshop fun.)

 

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