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If you find a "new" Skiroule RT series from the mid-1970s, admire its adventurous styling. Designed by Tony MacKeen more than 30 years ago, the Skiroule RT series has a freshness that's just now being rivaled by snowmobile stylists.
In 1972, when the first pre-production Skiroule RT series sleds were unveiled to the snowmo-media, there was a deliberate resemblance to the previous year's Skiroule oval-track racing sleds. The top line Skiroule RTX implied race sled performance with its Skiroule green cowling and silver underbelly. The "X" series was to be a limited performance edition with a sparkling 5 horsepower boost from the tamer RT model's 35 horses.
While the RT was expected to capture more buyers, the RTX aimed to excite with its performance, helping draw folks to Coleman-Skiroule dealers.
And, yes, it was that Coleman Co. In 1969 the maker of camping and assorted outdoor gear decided to branch out into snowmobiles from its cooler, gas lantern and sleeping bag business. By 1972 Coleman reported that sled sales accounted for $19.4 million of its nearly $134 million in sales. With 750 dealers and an eagerness to expand its market, Coleman introduced the Skiroule.
Style was obvious. But lifting the hood revealed an engine placement that would make today's designers smile. The Kohler-built twin was set low and forward, just back of an imaginary line between the ski spindles. Beauty, performance and exceptional handling, for the day, were its highlights.
The early RT and RTX featured a Skiroule-designed "Super Slide Bar" rail suspension noted for its use of outboard-mounted, coil spring over tube shocks. The shocks, while fairly common in the motorcycle world, were a departure and upgrade in snowmobiles.
The rear mounting position allowed the shocks to be an integrated part of the suspension as they allowed the slide rail to move up and down over bumps. This system would be seen years later on both Bombardier's Ski-Doo and Moto-Ski MX models. Up front, the RTX used shocks on leaf spring skis. Back then the concept of shocks on the skis was more to keep the skis from flopping wildly and less on actual suspension damping.
As mentioned, the Skiroules used a Kohler-based powertrain. The 436cc fan-cooled motor would deliver 35 hp at 6500 revs. By 1974 the Skiroule Series III Laser 440 kicked out 50 hp at 7500 revs from an updated 437cc Kohler equipped with a single Walbro WD series carburetor.
Ultimately it was the RTX designation that captured consumers' buying interest. By 1974 the RTX was available with engine displacement of 291cc, 338cc and 447cc. The 440 models featured the dual slide rail while a tandem bogie rear suspension was used on less powerful models. This helped keep the base price around $1,100.
The young French-Canadian entrepreneur Rejean Houle, the originator of the Skiroule marque, patterned the sled on the successful and contemporary Ski-Doo Olympiques. When first introduced in Quebec in 1966, the Houle-derived Skiroules looked too much like green Ski-Doos.
Since Bombardier had exclusive rights to Rotax engines, Skiroules like other early brands, featured a variety of power plants. Finally, Coleman zeroed in on Kohler engines and used them almost exclusively. One non-Kohler-powered Skiroule was the RTW, which featured a Sachs Wankel rotary engine. Displacement was claimed at 294cc with 23 hp delivered at 6000 rpm.
Where Houle envisioned a green Ski-Doo, Coleman envisioned a popular leading edge design that would invoke strong customer purchasing for years.
Similar to many conglomerates that bought snowmobile companies in the 1960s, Coleman decided snowmobiling wasn't worth fighting for to stay in business when tough economic times hit in the mid- and late-1970s. While Coleman Skiroule faded as a brand, its contributions in styling and engineering live on.