Mom, Where do Tundra Buggies come from?

Len Smith built his first Tundra Buggy in 1979 right in Churchill, Manitoba. The first buggy built was small (holding about 16 passengers), had a gasoline engine and exterior walls and roof made with aluminum sheeting and very little insulation!

Over the years, 16 Tundra Buggies in total have been built. In the 1980's, five buggies were built with a unique body style that has become the prototype for the most recently built buggies. All carry about 26 passengers, run on 466 IH diesel engines and recycled differentials and drive shafts from Oshkosh fire trucks (interestingly enough, we've purchased two of these fire trucks over the Internet: one from Virginia, one from California!).

In the 1990's, Len built Buggies 7 and 8. These are large, 50 passenger units, with steel frames, steel sheeting, 8 wheel drive tandem tires with 892 Detroit diesel engines. One of these 50 passenger Buggies, Buggy #7, has been sold to the Baltimore Zoo for their new Arctic Watch Exhibit that opened in fall 2003 to coincide with bear season in Churchill. During Buggy #7's southward journey, she was weighed, coming in at a paltry 67,000 pounds!

In 1996, Len built six 40-passenger Buggies. Our experience has shown these units are the best fit for our guests. In 2002 we built two more buggies - both 40 passenger Buggies - containing upgraded propane heaters, upgraded flooring, more efficient insulation and dual pane thermal windows.

Every real Tundra Buggy has been, and will be, built in Churchill, Manitoba in our own facility, affectionately dubbed the 'Igloo'.