PS: If you’re into collecting vintage cats, the correct model year runs off the serial number, not the build date tag. All 1971 model year racers and trail sleds start with a 1 in the serial number.
My Dad raced one back in the day. Took out the 800 4, and built a 600 Tripple JLO experimental engine he bought off a guy from a machine shop and turned it into a nitro burning monster. Raced it for my Grandfathers Arctic Cat Shop in NNY.
If I’m not mistaken. They made a 650 triple after that one. The 800s ran like hell but they would blow up after about 50 laps at the Sue 500. I knew a guy that raced it.
my dad raced a 793 Hurst powered king cat in the Sudbury Ontario area. our basement growing up had well over a hundred trophies. he also raced snojets and moto ski silver bullet.
For 1971 they used everybody. The kings were available with the 800 Kawasaki four, the 793 Hirth triple and the 650 JLO triple. Truth is on most shorter tracks the 793 engine was a better choice. The 800 was heavy and slow out of the hole. On top end it was faster but races are won in the corners unless the tracks a half mile lol. For 1972 until 1976 it was mostly Kawasaki except for the single rotor Sachs Wankel that cat sold that had a cult following. They sold Wankels from 1968 to 1975 model year. For 1976 model years the Suzuki Spirits were dominant and the Kawasaki engine deal ended with the few 1976 model 250 Lynx twin FAs they made. I think it was about 2000. Mostly leftover parts from the 1975 run. Kids sled. 40 mph top end, 20 hp. Most people never saw one. Not a hot rod. Cat always used up parts from year to year on the base models. The 250 Z for 1976 used the Kohler LC engine. The Suzuki 250 race engine wasn’t ready for 1976 season so they bought what they thought was the next best engine. One year deal. Next year was all Suzuki. (1977 model year). Ex dealers kid here from the era.
