More often than not, when we begin an article with something like “At Autoshippers we don’t only ship cars” we launch into a detailed account of how we crate and ship Motorbikes (if you haven’t seen any of these then feel free to click on one of these links Shipping a Ducati 996S, Shipping a Honda RC213V-S & The Journey of a 1960s Lambretta)
On this occasion though, we can give you something a bit different. The story of this shipment started way back in May 2020, and you’ll be as amazed as we were when you see the fantastic restoration project that was undertaken on this amazing vehicle.
What actually IS an Activ Snow-Trac?
The Aktiv Snow-Trac was originally manufactured by AB Westeråsmaskiner in Västerås, Sweden beginning in 1957. Company founder Allan Philip had designed the initial Snow-Trac prototype himself in 1954 using parts from a Steyr-Puch 500cc snowmobile. The early production Snow-Tracs were built in small batches by a team of skilled engineers and technicians. Body production involved hand-laying fiberglass over plywood and metal frames.
In 1964, Aktiv Väg AB was formed to focus solely on Snow-Trac production. The company steadily scaled up manufacturing capabilities to meet growing demand, especially from European ski resorts. By the late 1960s Aktiv was producing around 400 Snow-Trac units annually. In 1971, Aktiv relocated manufacturing operations to Främmestad, Sweden to expand production capacity further.
Aktiv produced over 8,000 Snow-Tracs between 1957 and 1982. However, declining sales led Aktiv to cease operations in 1984. The company dissolved in 1993. In 1997, two former Aktiv engineers bought the rights and inventory to restart Snow-Trac production under the name Original Aktiv Snow Trac. They modernized production by implementing CAD design and CNC machining but kept the iconic Snow-Trac design. Original Aktiv continues small-batch manufacturing from its workshop in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. Over 10,000 Snow-Tracs have been built to date.
The Snow-Trac remains one of Sweden’s most recognizable specialty vehicles. Its unique 60+ year production history reflects the craftsmanship, innovation, and pragmatism of Scandinavian engineering. Aktiv’s focus on continuous improvement enabled the Snow-Trac to evolve over decades while retaining the durability and purpose-built functionality that made it an icon.
The 1968 ST4 Activ Snow-Trac
The 1968 Aktiv Snow-Trac ST4 was one of the company’s classic utility snowcat models. It featured Aktiv’s iconic fiberglass body mounted on steel skis, providing seating for up to 4 passengers. The ST4 was powered by an air-cooled Volkswagen engine placing out 25-50 horsepower, giving it decent mobility over snow-covered terrain.
With a curb weight of around 1,980 lbs, the 1968 ST4 had a payload capacity of 1,100 lbs – enough for passengers along with cargo/equipment. It sat on 39-inch-wide steel skis that kept it on top of deep snow while maintaining a 15-inch ground clearance. This enabled the ST4 to keep moving even in freshly fallen powder. The model had a 14-foot turning radius thanks to Aktiv’s articulated steering design.
The 1968 ST4 had a top speed of around 25 mph in optimal conditions. The snowcat was robustly built and designed to handle temperatures down to -40 degrees Fahrenheit. Aktiv marketed the ST4 as the workhorse of the Snow-Trac line – a no-frills backcountry utility vehicle focused on performance and safety. Brochures highlighted its heavy-duty construction and suitability for ski resort maintenance, expeditions, and recreation in remote snow-covered regions.
The ST4 remained one of Aktiv’s most popular and versatile models through the 1960s and 70s. Its blend of hauling capability, ruggedness, and affordability made it a mainstay in Alpine regions and Arctic areas worldwide. The 1968 ST4 helped cement the Snow-Trac’s reputation as a rugged winter transportation icon.
How do you ship an Activ Snow-Trac to the USA?
The dimensions of the ST4 Activ Snow-Trac are 364cms long, 190cms wide and 180cms high. This means that it would it into a standard 20-foot shipping container. We did offer Ian, our customer and the person who is responsible for this amazing restoration project, a price based on our full container service, but he decided to ship on our Ro/Ro (Roll On / Roll Off) shipping service.
Ro/Ro shipping services utilise specially designed vessels, where vehicles can be driven on and off them using integrated ramps. This service is typically faster than standard container shipping, and can also be more cost effective as well. It is very safe, and vehicles are stowed below decks securely to ensure they do not move during transit.
The Ro/Ro service chosen for this shipment was loading in Southampton port in the UK and destined for New York port in the USA. We arranged with Ian that we would collect the Snow-Trac using specialist vehicle transportation, so he did not need to worry about trying to get the vehicle to the port himself. We can also accept deliveries, so if you would prefer to drive your car or motorbike to the port this can be arranged as well as us collecting from anywhere in mainland UK.
Once arrived at the port, all vehicles undergo a non-electrical condition report. This shows the condition of your vehicle before it is loaded onto the vessel, giving you peace of mind in regards to your insurance coverage. Once the vessel is ready, the ramp is lowered and all of the vehicles are driven on and secured. The vessel that this vehicle was shipped on, the MV Traviata, has a capacity of 8,000 cars, and has electrically hoistable deck panels. This is known as a HERO class vessel, with considerably reduced emission levels compared to other vessels of its size and nature.
ST4 Back from the Dead
Although the shipping of this Snow-Trac is fascinating, it is certainly not the most interesting part of this story. This vehicle was purchased by Ian in May 2020 as a restoration project and, as he puts it himself, was brought back from the dead.
When Ian first bought it, the only identifying number was on the gearbox, the data plate was missing and there was no engine number or key numbers. The engine needed replacing, it was beyond economical repair, so one was bought from ebay. New brake parts were fitted – wheel cylinders, master cylinder, shoes, hoses & pipes and the gearbox was stripped down and inspected.
By June 2020, the Snow-Trac was ready for its first test drive, and happily Ian recorded the event and uploaded it to YouTube;
ST4 Snow Trac first run (youtube.com)
The Snow-Trac was lucky enough to have a complete overhaul, right down to the windscreen wipers and the interior dials. If you’d like to see more details of the restoration project then Ian noted everything on a forum site, there are many pictures and details of how he managed to source parts and restore this amazing Snow-Trac;
ST4 back from the dead | Forums Forums
After the restoration was completed, Ian took the Snow-Trac to some UK classic car shows, but then decided the best option was to ship to the USA. He explained “I shipped it to the States because it is one of the few places where there is a strong following for the vehicles as they have plenty of places they can be used – there are a few in Norway/Sweden/Iceland etc but the strongest market by far is the USA”
Autoshippers – The Vehicle Shipping Experts
We can rightly say we ship more than just cars AND motorbikes, if you have anything on wheels (or tracks!) that you need to transport to one of the countries to which we have shipping services, then feel free to get in contact with us.
Using our Ro/Ro, shared container or dedicated container services, and with specialist marine insurance cover for your peace of mind, we can make sure that you use the safest, most secure, cost effective and most suitable shipping type available.
Just complete the quotation form on this page, or contact us via the website or via phone on 01179828123 or 0800 389 0784, giving us all details of your vehicles and chosen destination. If you would like to utilise our national collection service then also make sure you give us the UK collection address.
Ian was happy enough with the service he received from us when shipping this fully restored ST4 Activ Snow-Trac, he told us that he would use our services again as “all went very smooth and easy”.
We look forward to hearing from Ian on his next project, and from anyone else who need to ship their car, motorbike or fully restored Snow-Trac to the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Dubai, Cyprus or other global destination that we have car shipping services to.
