Built on a 1942 Ford 1 ½ ton commercial chassis converted to all wheel drive by Marmon Herrington, model number KMM5-4, serial number 472367, the truck was delivered to Klauer Mfg in Dubois Iowa on December 3 1941.
On January 27, 1943, SNOGO unit model LTR, serial number 1086, powered by an International Harvester IGC U-21 engine, serial number UH3311Z1 was fitted to the chassis. The truck was then delivered to the Ford Willow Run Bomber plant on June 16th 1943 where it was assigned the Defense Plant Corporation number of MI-4862-A3.
This unit continued to operate in front line snow removal service until 1970 when it was moved to backup status along with one of the other original 6 machines, the fate of the other four is unknown.
In 1982, this unit, along with one other was sold to the Ann Arbor Airport where they served as front line units once again, apparently well into the 1990’s.
In August 2006, SNOGO 1086 returned home to Willow Run when the Ann Arbor Airport donated it to the Yankee Air Museum.
Showing only 3925 miles on the odometer, the years have been kind to this truck, despite 63 years of service, the vehicle retains much of its original hardware as well as its original paint, making this vehicle a fine candidate for restoration. The Yankee Air Museum Restoration Department is working on plans to have this vehicle undergo a full restoration beginning summer 2007.
We are currently looking for a few of the missing bits, original mirrors, one of the fender mounted marker lights and the center piece trim for the hood (the one with the hood release in it)
If you are interested in making a donation to help the museum restore this piece of history, you can send it to
Yankee Air Museum, Living History Dept/SNOGO PO Box 590, Belville, MI 48112.
