Ace Wilson's Royal Pontiac
 

I own a 64 GTO that was purchased new at Royal Pontiac in Royal Oak, MI. The original owner was meticulous and saved much of the original paperwork including the protecto-plate, service records and this attached letter to the original owner from Ace Wilson that I thought the Pontiac community would enjoy.

I believe the original owner relocated to California in 1967 and wrote their salesman at Royal Pontiac with concerns about the oil that the new CA dealer's service department was using. (Some things never change.)

I love the response in the letter that Pete Estes told Ace..."that we knew more about the Pontiac automobile in the quarter mile than his entire staff. In other words, what we don't know about the GTO engines is not worth knowing."

A nice piece of Royal Pontiac history.

It's a little bit sort of funny that he spelled DeLorean's name wrong.
But the message is clear.

Thanks for sharing that.
Your car sounds very interesting.

Definitely feel free to show it off here.
We love GTO's

Thanks for sharing the letter! It kinda confirms in my mind my impression of Ace the 1 and only time I spoke with him, that he was an arrogant SOB. He used a very similar tone speaking to me. granted I was about 16 at the time, but I walked away from the dealership without buying the Firebird I was looking at, and I had drove south about 2 hours to see it, Cash in my Pocket. The Salesman looked a bit disgusted as I grabbed my Jacket and walked out of the showroom.

But I will say I was impressed by service department, and the work going on there. I was looking at a 67 400 Firebird 4-speed. This would have been just after the 1970 models hit the showroom.

People with Royal cars are nuts too, if you have any Royal memorabilia, they keep bugging you till they get it.

Hey now -

;)

K

The car was well purchased when new... factory tri-power, factory four speed, convertible. It still has its original drivetrain, original interior (minus the carpet) and original convertible top. It was restored in back 2007 and has held up well.

Interestingly the car has Badger air cleaners. It's not a Bobcat car but they may have come from Royal as an accessory to give it some bling?

Thanks for sharing, that is very cool.

The recommendation to use non-detergent oil will no additives is very interesting. Who here would be OK with running that in their performance engine today? Not me!

Nope, not a chance. Why would you NOT want a detergent oil?

I’m sayin, I’ve had some Royal stuff. You guys are crazy. Bug the living crap out of me To buy the stuff
Used to talk to the Wangers and the Royal Klan at 15 mile at Dreamcruise.
Stuffy Bunch. lol

Anyone see the Royal, Diorama that was in Dons Poncho Perf??

Here’s the model, one pic shows Milt working on a head or Dist. Pretty cool model.

Flip for ya -

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1743520184

I suggested there needs to be a black '65 milling around there somewhere.

K

I finally got to see a friend of mine that’s a huge Pontiac collection, he had a few of those small dealership signs. Cabinets full of stuff.

Because the detergent will loosen all the deposits setting it loose into your oil, and making your seals start leaking. Most people that have been around antique and vintage cars will tell you the same. Straight 30W non detergent works best.

Yes Sir ….. 30W.

If you still have an Original engine that’s never been rebuilt, as I do, I use what the Owners manual says to use. Valvoline #30.

Fantastic car
Big-time Congrats on your ownership.
Thank you for sharing the info and pics with us.

But if you use detergent oil from the beginning......

Valvoline 30w non-detergent in the Honda 50 in the day.

Brad Penn 10W-30 in the Pontiac these days.

What temp do you drain it though…..

I never stop learning new things! From the pic you described. I did not know 5W-20 was even around in those days. Also, I never actually realized the add mark to the full mark was 2 quarts low. Always assumed it was 1 quart like virtually every automotive engine out there the last 50+ years.

Depends. Are you pressed for time?

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1743731088

The attention to detail is amazing.

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1743775068

Here's the '63 SD wagon in real life:

http://i1016.photobucket.com/albums/...2.jpg~original

K

I tried to get a brick from the building when it was being tore down. Sad when it went.
Keith, the Saturday after Father’s Day is the day, I remember when you pulled in, the sky parted and lit up your car

Classic stuff. HPP article

Smokey Yunick and Fireball Roberts are two early Pontiac legends.

James Q

63 tempest/lemans wagons must have the lowest survival rate of any Pontiac from the 60's.
I can't recall having ever seen one in my area.
Not on the streets or in junkyards.

That looks like two quarts going in - no draining required.

Also looks like Smokey has the torch going, pre-heating the oil so it flows in faster.

K

BeemerGary has a nice '61 wagon.

I don't think it's ever had anything loaded in the back from the looks of it.

K

Can tell he is trying to look non-chalante while heating the can.
And thick gloves to handle those hot rascals into the engine.

That is a very cool/hot picture under closer scrutiny.

3:45 ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=nqIYMBVY6Oc

:cool:

Can you give us the Readers Digest condensed version of how the conversation went?

I hope those aren't the old paper cans!!!!

Ace Wilson's Royal Pontiac
 

Burd,

At the GTOAA convention in Atlanta in 1991( i think )Jim Wangers brought two bricks he said were from the old Royal dealership building to place in the silent auction. He mentions this in his book Glory Days. I was able to acquire one of these bricks and to get him to autograph it for me. It sits in a plastic case in a special spot in my garage/man cave.