[Dick Boneske]

Here are some of the mailings I kept from 1966 & before. With all the interest on Royal Pontiac Racing lately, I thought you may like to see these.

Note that Royal would put the Bobcat kit in your GTO, including blueprinting the cylinder heads for $200. Seems crazy in today's world, but $200 in the 1960's was about half of a person's monthly earnings. Mechanics were earning less than $2.50/hr. with dealers hourly rates at about $20/hr.

How about red plastic fender liners for $27.95 or Doug's 4-tube headers for $130.?

[Dick Boneske]

Here is the sticker you got for joining the Royal Bobcat Racing Team!

And, a few of the trophy stickers I got with my '64 GTO after doing the Bobcat treatment. Ran a best of 13.29@109.75 mph. Not bad for a daily driver in 1965!!

[Bill Hanlon]

Love the "guaranteed INCREASE in quarter mile times" with the air scoop. Why would anyone want that?

[8LUG]

Hey Boneske, Neat stuff. Thanks for sharing

[Andre]

Good stuff!

[tempest1964]

I think it's pretty dang awesome that you still have this stuff after 54 years. And for sharing!
Thanks
Tony

[Tenney]

Too darn cool - thanks for sharing these!! (dig the Grove stuff, too!!)

[Dick Boneske]

Here is my '64 at "The Grove" in '65 when I was running a Carter AFB in Unit Stock class B-4. My daily driver until 1967.

I ran a 4 bbl. sometimes, sometimes Tripower. It ran mid 13's with the AFB. Later, with a '62 Tripower, it ran 13.29 as best ET, later a 109.75 mph for best trap speed.

Car had factory 3.90 gears, HD fan, radiator, metallic brakes, Doug's 3-tube headers, and the Royal Bobcat treatment (distributor advance, polylocks, jetting, thin head gasket, etc.).

The second picture is from 1967, with Firestone 9" slicks, 4.56 gears, and a '67 400 engine with stock Quadrajet. (The original 389 was tired after 59,000 miles) Later added '66 Tripower and gained .3 seconds for a best of 12.70. I also tried a Holley 850, which ran about the same ET's, but drivability was terrible on the street with the Holley.

Those were the days--before car shows--when you could buy a used GTO for peanuts!! No one knew the GTO would become an icon as the Original Muscle Car!!

[tempest1964]

I bet if you get behind your GTO you have now, close your eyes,pop in the clutch, and rev it up it brings back memories just like yesterday!

[Dick Boneske]

Originally Posted by tempest1964

I bet if you get behind your GTO you have now, close your eyes,pop in the clutch, and rev it up it brings back memories just like yesterday!

Every time I get in, turn the key & hear the Pontiac engine, I'm back in the '60's again!! There's nothing like my GTO, driving with the AM radio on, driving with a smile remembering how it used to be!!

[lucky1]

Very cool.

[johns]

Really great stuff! Thanks for sharing!

[MarkS57]

Originally Posted by Dick Boneske

Those were the days--before car shows--when you could buy a used GTO for peanuts!! No one knew the GTO would become an icon as the Original Muscle Car!!

You're not kidding. $700 in '75 for my '68 4 speed. Earlier cars less, almost bought a '65 4 speed ~$400. How does it go- "If I knew then what I know now"

Nice stuff BTW, thanks!

[Keith Seymore]

Dick - do you also have the "Royal Pontiac Story"? These were handed out at the various open house events at the dealership.

K

[Keith Seymore]

Springing off Dick's original post - here is an advertisement from around that same time.

K

[MikeNoun]

Nice display here...

[Jeff Hamlin]

...

[wwbdsb]

I don't believe this letter offering membership in the Royal Racing Team for $3.00 was included in any of the earlier postings.

It states your membership card should be set in with any correspondence or orders.

[avman]

I have seen this thread numerous times. It has a special significance to me for a number of reasons. My dad had a 65 GTO 389 Tripower 4 speed. He bought the "mail order" Royal Bobcat kit, thin head gaskets, jets, polylocks, and a transistorized ignition IIRC. Anyway he bought it through a legendary local New Orleans Speed Shop, "Jake's Speed Shop". He beat another 65 GTO in "stock" class at LaPlace Dragway to win 1st Place in his class, and still has the trophy today. His winning time was a 12.8 w/"cheater slicks". The 65 real GTO my wife and I have started out as a 4bbl 389. From the book "The Royal Bobcat" book w/Milt Schornack, it seems like the top "Bobcat" package for 65 was a 421 Tripower in place of the 389, and we all know about the ringer 421 and Jim Wangers. Anyway our car is a Royal Bobcat Tribute car, and her goal is to best my dad's 12.8, and I'm happy to say Mr. Dick Boneske is helping us towards that goal by modifying the 3 Rochester 2bbl carbs. The car came with an October 65 date code (from what I read) cast into the 421 block, and has hand porting on the 6777 heads. Roller tipped rockers, Ram Air II exhaust manifolds, and a 4 speed. When the open 8.2 rear axle assembly blew the spider gears, that was a perfect opportunity to put in a Quick Performance 9" based rear axle assembly, UMI suspension, and a 3.80 ring and pinion gearset. We are about to add a TKO600 5 speed, and when we had the 421 rebuilt, we added a hydraulic roller cam and lifters, and billet steel timing set. A Pertronix billet aluminum distributor with Ignitor III module and Flamethrower coil light the mix, which is fed into a cylinder that has RaceTech forged aluminum pistons and Eagle H beam rods, slightly dished for a 10.1:1 CR.
I think once I get the carbs back from Dick and tune them to the 421, the 12.8 or better should be achievable.
Thanks for the great post Dick, and thanks for working on our carbs!

[Dick Boneske]

avman, I hope you report back to us once you get a chance to run your car through the 1/4 mile. My '64 ran 12.70's back in the late '70's with a 400, 670 heads, Engle hydraulic FTH cam, Muncie wide ratio, M/T headers, 4.56 gears. I ran some of the first Firestone "wrinkle wall" slicks, 28.5X9" wide.

The picture is from 1965 or 1966, when I the original 389 was still running. Best with that engine with '62 Tripower was 13.29@109.75. Not bad for a daily driver in the '60's!

Mid 12's are doable with your setup. Let us know!!