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In 1969 the Rocky Mountain Life Insurance of Alberta special ordered cars for their top salesmen. In all 98 cars were ordered with special WT9083 (purple) paint. White vinyl roof, power steering tilt and tilt away wheel, 351 cuin 4 barrel carb and other special options. In 1970 when the company was dissolved, these purple and white 1969 Cougar XR7’s were shipped from Universal in Calgary for dealers to sell. This car was purchased in Kamloops by Katherine Switzer in 1970, and sold to Harold Wagner in 2001. Late in 2002 is when I first heard of the car through the Yahoo Classic Cougar group, and went to look at it for my own interest. I already have a Frost Lime green and black 1970 Cougar XR7 that runs, but needs my attention.
In March of 2003 I got a call from Harold asking if I wanted to buy his Cougar, in no time this deal was done. This car had some long term electrical problems, many have been traced and repaired as well as making tilt away operational again. Otherwise this car although white was a very good example of an un-restored 69 Cougar. The number of these Rocky Mountain Life cars know to exist has grown with recent finds. I have had contact with all of these people with cars on this site. I have cleaned up my car and returned it to the factory special order purple.
In August 2004 I drove to Vancouver for the annual Ford Nutz club show, the paint was only a week old. In September I drove to the Mustang International show in Calgary (one of nine Cougars), to meet Jan and Marvin both owners of Rocky Mountain Life Cars. After the show I did an Alberta tour searching out other Rocky Mountain Life cars. The tour took me from Calgary through Edmonton to Cold Lake to see Rons RML parts car. The next day back to Stettler to see Tom's white RML car, from Stettler through Calgary to visit George Revitt the president of Universal Sales and Service. The smile that came on his face as I drove in the lot told me he remembered these cars from 1969 as Used car Manager, unfortunatly George passed away with in a month of my visit. From Calgary I headed for Medicine Hat to See Marvin and his RML car before returning though Calgary to Kamloops then to Field of dreams in Kelowna the following day. This week on the road I covered over 2500 miles in my Cougar and it ran flawlessly.
I changed my job this year and have driven it every day since February and will continue until November, I have also made the 10 hour trip to Edmonton from Kamloops, where I was able to meet with Gary and his RML car. Gary was very pleased to see my car and you could see the memories roll back at the sight and sound of my purple Cougar.
2007 is expected to be a busy year of travel, there is the West Cougar Nationals in Denver Colorado in July and my Cougar and I will be making the drive to the show.
Some of these cars will take on a different look than purple, and that is the choice of the individual owners and I would still like to make contact with them.
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