[Rennes Templar]

I don’t know why they started calling them snow machines. We still say snowmobiles. Too similar to the Popemobile?

[smokingfrog]

I think the snow machines are a little more hot-rodded.

[jjotto]

Snow machine is more generic and indicates a wider variety of adapted and dedicated vehicles. Pretty sure it predates the use of ‘snowmobile’ popularized after 1960. Typical Alaska term.