Montana Pipes: Just where did the name come from?

Arctic Cat Montana Pipes have an unmistakable sound and style. But where in the heck did the term "Montana Pipes" come from? Charles Plueddeman asked that questions several months back, and you all responded. It's really a very interesting mystery. But since there are a lot more people out there smarter then me, let's see what they say:

"The name "Montana Pipes" was derived in Bute Montana years back when Cat owners in the altitudes of 6000 feet and higher could not get good performance, so they added the large chrome exhaust along with extensive carb changes and modifications, clutch work, high octane fuels, etc. Thus the name "Montana Pipes". (Always true; Cliff Claven..)

"What I heard is that the pipes were meant for more power for flat out running and wide open spaces. Best used in Montana as they were a p.i.t.a. for PA woods use. The tight corners, narrow trails and deep woods running we did around here did nothing but ding them in! We "unconverted" a few sleds that had them, at customers requests, back to the stock can mufflers after enough maple trees had plugged them off, back in the day. Another reason they came and quickly went. Same thing would happen on the race track too." (Glen Mallory)

Click on the photo to watch and MPG (Quicktime) movie to hear the famous "Montana Pipes".

"This is my Montana piped Panther [Purple one to the rite]. The sled belonged to a VP of Arctic Enterprises that had something to do with the accessories group. Hence the accessories purple color to match the helmets. and stripes on snow suits , boots , gloves and patches , oil cans etc. The sled also has the accessories all rubber track (NO cleats) that was sold thru dealers. They sold a lot of these tracks on the East coast due to lack of snow. The sled is equipped with the accessories gauges etc. I found the sled in a old brick garage in Excelsior Mn." (Bob Ritzschke)

"I don't know where the term Montana pipes originated. Back in the day we called them chrome side pipes. I have a 1971 Arctic Cat accessories catalog that lists them as Arctic Cat expansion flow custom exhaust system kit. It says kits available for most twin cyl. engines. I have seen these kit pipes and they are a universal fit using flex pipe in place of the solid header pipes. A friend of mine had a new 1970 399 Puma EXT that had these pipes. I also saw a 71 Puma 440 Sachs with them and the owner said they were dealer installed. (Darv)

"I talked to [Editors Note: Name removed by request, but I can tell you he's an Arctic Cat insider from way back] about the Montana pipe thing. He said the pipes in the picture where what he knew as ASC pipes built in Toronto and MONTANA pipes where built some where else possibly, Montana. What he remembered as MONTANA pipes where located under the hood and had some different shape possible flat on one side he thought someone named Monty Wright a skidoo distributor in IDAHO FALLS and Doug Dennert from Arctic Cat might have had something to do with them." (Nathan Westlund)

"I have no real idea, but could it be " Big Air " ? Thought I had heard that phrase used to describe the state of Montana when I was a kid..." (Don White)

"I always thought ( no proof of course ) that Cats Montana pipes were named after the large chrome exhaust pipes that point skyward on highway tractor trailer units. Maybe some of the semi driver readers could enlighten us on what their pipes are called? For what it is worth. Have a great winter.... (Don McLennan)

"Montana derives its name from mountain. A mountain per Webster's Dictionary is -a very large amount. Montana has always been associated with the word "big". Thus the large pipes (much larger than anything in its time or since then for that matter) would reasonably be called Montana Pipes. Now, no one has ever probably called a women's large breasts Montanas, but that is a whole different story" (Anonymous)

"Montana Pipes were big in diameter & designed for greater flotation in the deeper snows out west, thus the word Montana. Big Sky Country. Also the snowmobile manufacturers did a lot of testing out west." (Jeff Haugen)

"Here is my observation... I never heard of these being called "Montana Pipes" until the late 90s when the vintage crowd started using the term. My dad was a cat dealer in the 60s and 70s and actually received an award in 71 for selling over 70 760s (with pipes) in a single season. He was very familiar with the "pipe" models and he as well does not recall the "Montana pipe" phrase until recent years. The first time I personally heard the term was from a gentleman named Lyle Cue in Iowa, probably about 1999. Of course I have heard it a thousand times since then. Side note: It was common in our area for decades to have people refer to the "piped" Panthers as King Cats, that drove us crazy! Funny how stuff like that gets started." (Tom Rowland Thomas Sno Sports Ogilvie MN.)

"Is it because of the High Elevation that they put them on in Montana to gain HP? That is what I always thought anyway..." (Chris Schumm)

"I' m not a 'Cat guy , but here my theory/guess on the Montana pipes... Do you suppose the first appearance of these was at the races in West Yellowstone ??? Could that account for the pseudonym ?? (Rude Dog)