Found this surfing, anyone know anything about this? Must not have worked out but looks kind of cool.
Well, it does look interesting. I have seen that picture, as well as a host of other prototype experimental models that never made it out of the Cat proving grounds. Others include a half track 988, a D-9G converted to hi track, and others I can't recall.
ya i was a pic of a 966 or 988 at the cat factory last month with the ACMOC was running tracks like a quad track but it was from the 60-70's it look neat but slow.
Cat prototype from 1966. According to Caterpillar Chronicles ISBN 0-7603-0667-2 it is the Light Weight Scraper or LWS. 1673 engine and 28,000 lbs. 10 yard struck/ 13 heaped. They had designs for a larger twin engine model 32 yards struck but it never made it off the paper. The one pictured is the only one built.
"Sure you've got something different... but can you sell it?" :beatsme
Pretty much. All sorts of odd scraper designs back then. I would have really liked to have seen the 659 belt loader prototype opposite this thing in the book above. Think 657 with a belt loader out the side. Load the bowl till a dumper comes alongside and empty bowl into dumper. Keep loading till another dumper shows up. Neat.
It looks like a lot of $ in tires there.....