In fact, motorcycles Can-Am was a division of the Canadian industrial giant Bombardier, which in the early seventies produced everything from snowmobiles to airplanes. At that time the U.S. off-road market was booming and Bombardier believed it could enter the motocross market with its high-tech Rotax engines (Bombardier had bought the Austrian Rotax engine manufacturer in 1970) and its extensive dealer network of snowmobile dealers. So in 1973 Can-Am was founded, which entered the market with a new off-road machine called the MX-1. The following year Can-Am poached Gary Jones, AMA National Motocross Champion in the 250cc class, from Honda. The motocross project 'shot off the charts', with Can-Am Jones winning his fourth AMA Motocross title in 1974, and second and third place going to his teammates Ellis and Trips. (In fact, Dutchman Pierre Karsmakers won the championship, but the AMA instituted crazy new rules that prohibit foreigners from winning the title.)
By 1978, motocross bike production was booming in earnest with Honda releasing its famous CR250R Elsinore and Yamaha making a mono shock absorber suspension. And Can-Am began to slowly 'deflate'. Their engines also remained competitive, which could not be said for the running gear. It is impossible not to remember their infamous 1977 MX-3 'Black Widow' model, which could not help them maintain their reputation, because they were losing the most important thing - customers. In an effort to keep up with the competition, the factory introduced a new MX-4 with a new frame in orange plastic. The engine was still on point with its smooth response and unique intake pivot valve, the prototype of the petal valve. But the undercarriage, gearbox, and brakes were, in the memories of many racers, awful.
The MX-6 and the MX-7 prototype would be the last motocross bikes built directly in Canada. After trying to do something with their unsuccessful designs, in 1983 Bombardier moved their production to England and in 1984, together with partner Armstrong/CCM, launched air-cooled 500cc models and more modern liquid-cooled 125cc models. But the partnership lasted only four years and with no visible results the production had to be closed. And in 1987 Bombardier drew the line at the end of the Can-Am era. Do not forget to use Can-Am VIN decoder in order to avoid potential problems when buying a used car.
VIN Examples
2014 OPEL OMEGA 2.5TD. 130HP.
2014 MERCEDES-BENZ E 220
2014 KIA CEE'D
2014 RENAULT CLIO
2014 FORD S-MAX 2.0
2014 OPEL CORSA 1,2 I
2014 OPEL ASTRA G CC
2014 HYUNDAI GALLOPER INNOVATION
2014 RENAULT CLIO 1.2
2014 OPEL MERIVA
2014 CITROEN XSARA 20HDI90 VTS 3P
2014 OPEL INSIGNIA
2014 OPEL VECTRA
2014 MONTENEGRO SPI-3S/3G
2014 SUZUKI SAMURAI T TERRENO
2014 VOLVO V 12
2014 GURIA 520 C
2014 SEAT IBIZA 1.9
2014 PEUGEOT TREKKER
2014 AUDI 80 1 9 TDI
2014 PEUGEOT 306
2014 RENAULT PREMIUN 410.18T
2014 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 1.9 D 5V
2014 AUDI A3 2.0
2014 DERBI V.START 99
2014 DERBI V BOX
2014 OPEL ASTRA