One last CatVert moment!

Cougar Community Classic Cougar Community Discussion
1

In 2011, at the Cougar Nationals East in New Jersey, I had the opportunity to meet John Aiken. John was the lead designer for the 1967-1968 Cougar. He’s a very friendly and engaging guy and it was a real pleasure to hear what he had to say about how the Cougar developed. At the time, I mentioned the convertible conversion I’d done and John expressed disappointment that it wasn’t at the show for him to see.

Well, today, he responded to an e-mail I sent him over the weekend with pictures of CatVert:

Hi Bill

Yes I do remember talking to you at the Cougar Nationals . Congratulations on the beautiful conversion and restoration. The car and your color choices are perfect…, looks like it came right off the line in Dearborn ! We have relocated to the Eastern Shore of Maryland so maybe we will get to see the car at one of the future Cougar events . The photos look great!

All the best
John P. Aiken

How cool is it to have the person who designed the Cougar approve of how you’ve customized his design?! Now I just need to get Dick Bott (CatVert’s current owner) to bring it out to Carlisle and see if we can get John there to look it over in person.

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Very cool and congrats, fellow cougaraholic.

You know, you could just show him the new one once you’re done with it :poke: :beerchug:

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Did he ever mention whether a convertible design was kicked around during the design phase?

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He told us that there was discussion of it but the projected sales volume didn’t support the required investment.

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It’s always great to hear cool stories like this. :thumbup:

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That may yet happen, but I need to do B3Cat first. I don’t think anyone would approve of using an XR-7 GT for a convertible conversion project! :naughty:

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FWIW Bill, John really did envision himself driving a 'vert Cat (or Catvert!). He studied Isabel and Charles Poponoe’s '70 'vert long and hard before ultimately deciding the Aiken award would go to Isabel. I watched him walk back and forth between the two 'vert’s at least 4 times while deep in thought/consideration! The last time I made sure to introduce myself and tell him a bit about Isabel. It was quite a thrill along with winning the modified class. The whole 2011 Nationals show was a thrill actually. John is a very nice guy.

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I would. Especially if it could be done to the same level of quality as Catvert.

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This was my first thought as well Jody!

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Heck Don is doing a GT-E, and you’ve proven you have the talent for high quality so why not a B3Cat-Vert Bill? :poke: it sure is fun when it’s not you money or car! :smiley:

On the main topic… That sure is a cool story to have the designer of the Cougar approve of your custom work. Keeping faithful to the original design with your own view is just awesome.
Steven