John Pillsbury Snyder, 71, longtime Minneapolis automotive firm owner, died of a heart attack while playing golf Wednesday at Woodhill Country club.

He owned and operated Snyder Garage, Inc., in Minneapolis for 43 years before retiring in 1955. He lived at Ferndale, Minnetonka.

His father was Fred B. Snyder, onetime president of the University of Minnesota board of regents. Isis son, John Jr., is a Pillsbury Co. vice president. His grandfather was a Minnesota governor, John Sargent Pillsbury.

Mr. Snyder and his wife, the former Nelle Stevenson of St. Croix Falls, Wis., survived the Titanic ocean disaster in 1912. Surviving are two sons, John Jr. and Thomas S.; a daughter, Mrs. Rowley Miller, and a sister, Mrs. Crawford Johnson.