A couple weeks back we were supremely creeped out by the video of the ZiL Russian military vehicle with its giant auger/screw drive system that we featured in our Motorized Freak of the Week column. It seemed like an otherworldly idea dreamed up by wacky Russian scientists in Siberia. Not so!

The Armstead Snow Motor Company of Detroit, Michigan was building these things for a short time in the ’20s. The company was a financial bust, but obviously someone thought the idea had merit.

Here is some video shot in 1926 of the vehicles in action. The Commies, once again, were way behind the eight ball on this thing.