
1972 Polaris
TX 500 LImited
Here’s your chance to get your hands on possibly the finest 1972 Polaris TX 500 Limited out there, a machine that will absolutely generate smiles and huge thumbs up when you’re riding it down the trail.
And you can ride this one down the trail! It looks as good as a trailer queen but runs and rides even better than she looks.
This machine has won more than her fair share of first place trophies at vintage snowmobile shows all over Minnesota and Wisconsin, including a first place at the world famous Waconia show in 2000.
This was the top-of-the-line model for Polaris in 1972, geared toward the discriminating, high-performance orientated buyer. Polaris updated the 500 triple-cylinder free-air motor in the following years, but none of them matched the power and top speed of the 1972 engine. She’s capable of 80+ MPH, and is the most fun trail machine you may ever drive!
The History
While we don’t know who owned this machine originally, Dr. James L. Saurdiff (“Doc”) bought complete in the late 1990s, and restored it to perfection by 2000. He took it to the big time Waconia show and won his class with it that same year. Doc kept it for some time, and it was ridden on the infamous “Live on Skis” in his hometown of International Falls, Minnesota every year.
Restoration guru and then collector Dave Larsen bought it from Doc, and kept it for several years before I bought it from Dave. After doing a few more trail rides with it, I sold it to Bob Weaver who put it on display in his showroom in New York.
If you know Mr. Weaver, Mr. Larsen or Doc, you know they only buy the best of the best to put in their garages. Bob and a I made an agreement that if he ever wanted to let it go, he would give me first crack at getting it back. He’s a man of his word, and I bought it back a a few years ago.
I have since moved to Arizona, and this baby deserves to keep making great memories for someone where it can be ridden and enjoyed for generations to come.
condition
You won’t find many, if any of these in this good of shape. There are a few bolts showing a little surface rust, a small bit of paint missing from the front of the bumper and some (normal) fine cracking in the original hood. The belly pan on 72 ATX machines are aluminum and typically dented pretty bad. This one looks great from the front, but if you crawl under and look you can see some minor wrinkles just before the track, under the engine.
This is about as original as you can get – the seat, gas tank, hood, skis, track, suspension, engine, exhaust.. are all the ones it came from the factory with. Based on photos from before the restoration, these are the skis the machine came with (some have said they are 73 vs 72 skis because the loop is a slightly different size).
The only thing I know has been changed is the clutch. Doc upgraded that to a slightly newer, much better clutch. He also tuned it to perfection, so its an absolute hoot to ride.
IMPORTANT UPDATE:
Internet slueths and ’72 Polaris gurus tell me the skis appear to be 1973, as does the suspension. The difference in the skis is that the loop is a slightly larger diameter. The 1972 suspension had fiberglass rails, this does not appear to have those. This is, to the best of my knowledge, is the way it was when Doc Jim bought the sled. It is possible that the skis were replaced in production, as it was not uncommon to use what works to complete a production run, or it’s possible a previous owner swapped them out. The suspension, if it is 1973, was updated by someone prior to Doc Jim. But this was restored to be ridden, and Doc may have picked this sled because it did not have the fiberglass rails, and the hyfax is a better setup.

Photograph taken right after winning It's Class in the Waconia Show, 2000.
Terms
Offered on a “buy it now” basis, or on a 30 day auction.
Make Sure You get it - Shippping INcluded - Buy it now!
You can buy it now with a debit or credit card. The shipping will be covered up to $1,000.00, which means it can be shipped (via U-ship.com) pretty much anywhere in the lower 48 states.
Taking the Buy it Now option stops the auction, however some important Terms and Conditions apply.
All sales are final, and all shipping is at your own risk
You have the option to pick it up within a reasonable amount of time, from Scottsdale Arizona, or arrange the shipping yourself, and you will get the $1,000 credit.
30 Day Auction
Here’s the auction process:
- You must be a Qualified Bidder in order to place your bid.
- The Auction will begin with the first Confirmed Bid.
- As Qualified Bidders set or increase their maximum bids, the highest price bid will be increased by $100 or $10 until the highest bidder comes out on top.
- All questions will be answered and additional photos provided (upon request) for Qualified Bidders.
- The auction will end after 30 days, plus 24 hours after the last bid – bidding will continue until it end.
- There is a reserve that will be lifted when it is reached.
- You can increase your highest bid at anytime while the auction is open.
- Winning bid must pay the rest of the winning bid within 72 hours via credit or debit card, check, money order or wire transfer.
- Payment by check or money order will require the funds to clear prior to shipment.
- Failure to pay the remaining balance of your bid within 72 hours will result in the loss of your bid confirmation and the next lowest bidder will have the option to buy if they have surpassed the reserve.
- Paid money is held in escrow until the item is delivered.
- Ff there is a problem with the item after you take delivery, you may request to return it (shipping at your expense) for a full refund.
Important Terms and Conditions apply. Please note by placing a bid, you are entering a binding contract.
All sales are final, and all shipping is at your own risk
Auction Shipping
Winning bidder has the option to pick it up within 30 days.
Otherwise, shipping can be through U-Ship and will cost approximately $700 -$1,000. We have great shippers that are down here about every 3 weeks, so should have it within 1-4 weeks.