[Dr. Eric M. Schiffer]

Here is a test of the 1962 Catalina Royal Bobcat with all of the dressing. Full paint scheme and even the dealer installed Motorola FM receiver. This was Jim Wangers personal Dealer supplied "Demo" car. Jim would also have a "company" car from GM engineering and a "personel" car.

Remember Jim did all of the early magazine road test of Pontac Royal Bobcats before complaints by another PMD dealer. Then for 1964 on ward Jim was not to be featured in the lime light.

Continue next reply

[Dr. Eric M. Schiffer]

1962 Royal Bobcat continued. Here you will see the other offering by Ace Wilson's Royal Pontiac.

The all black 1962 Grand Prix with the a vinyl top was Ace Jr's. It sported a 389 with a Paxton Supercharger. Win Brown worked on this project. They called it the "Win and Andy Show". Standing for Win Brown and Andy Granatelli. Andy now owned some additive , called STP, that he had to take when he bought the Paxton Super Charger co.

The expert on Supercharging was the inventor of the Royal Bobcat pakage Frank Redicker. Frank worked on Aircraft superchargers while in the service. Frank also worked for an Oldsmobile dealership and had a Supercharged F85 that ran pretty strong. Frank was not a salaried employee of Ace Wilson's Royal Pontiac. Frank was part of Royal Racing team's/PMD's after hours engineering staff. (Some day Jim Wangers will explain the entire working that only he can and SHOULD)

As soon as Win had Jr's GP running he and Chuck Broomfield took the car onto Woodward where they ran across Norm Ruby. Everyone new Norm's Ford was fast. Well, They ran and Norm's car was still faster. LOL

[goatman65]

Royal GP treatment,including supercharger for $275.

Geez,what a deal.

[Dr. Eric M. Schiffer]

After leaving the ad agency Jim Wangers was able to get back in the lime light. This actually is a follow up to an artilce that was done in 1968.

Jim has always been about image. Read the last words in the article. Than read the copy Jim wrote for the Rebel Machine built by Hurst. Jim's new employer for a brief time.

All the time still having his Pontiacs and having the Black Bird prepared for some street action.

[Dr. Eric M. Schiffer]

Continued: You must read the Rebel Machine copy all the way through!

[Dr. Eric M. Schiffer]

Originally Posted by Dr. Eric M. Schiffer

Continued: You must read the Rebel Machine copy all the way through!

Jim foresaw the future as small displacement "image" cars. While at Hurst they pitched to Oldsmobile a W31 with bright colors. Olds said they were not interested in Hurst doing a low volume car for them. Then they Olds turned around and built the Ralley 350 in a bright yellow with black and red accents on their own assembly line.

[gto4door]

Dr. Schiffer, This is a really great thread. I've been a little behind with your post, but thought you would enjoy this link with pics of the Towne Pontiac Firebird race cars from Winnepeg, Manitoba and Royal Pontiac's involvement with their 68-1/2 Firebird Ram-Bunctious race car. Can you tells us more about the Royal - Towne Pontiac connection?

http://keystone-bison.autoclubs.ca/JD.html

[Dr. Eric M. Schiffer]

Originally Posted by gto4door

Dr. Schiffer, This is a really great thread. I've been a little behind with your post, but thought you would enjoy this link with pics of the Towne Pontiac Firebird race cars from Winnepeg, Manitoba and Royal Pontiac's involvement with their 68-1/2 Firebird Ram-Bunctious race car. Can you tells us more about the Royal - Towne Pontiac connection?

http://keystone-bison.autoclubs.ca/JD.html

I don't know. But I shot off an email to those who would and as soon as I get a reply I'll let you know.

Interesting how they didn't spell Milt Schornack correctly.

[Keith Seymore]

It's been a year already?!?



Hard to believe.

K

[Dr. Eric M. Schiffer]

Originally Posted by gto4door

Dr. Schiffer, This is a really great thread. I've been a little behind with your post, but thought you would enjoy this link with pics of the Towne Pontiac Firebird race cars from Winnepeg, Manitoba and Royal Pontiac's involvement with their 68-1/2 Firebird Ram-Bunctious race car. Can you tells us more about the Royal - Towne Pontiac connection?

http://keystone-bison.autoclubs.ca/JD.html

Both John Politzer and Brian Ballish do not remember any direct connection with Towne Pontiac.

If something comes to mind from anyone about a connection I'll post it. After all a lot went on back than and it has been over 40 years ago and our memories are fading fast...LOL

There is an old saying about memory: First you loose your short term. Then you loose your long term. Then you start remembering things that never were! LOL

Have a great Thanksgiving.

[gto4door]

Originally Posted by Dr. Eric M. Schiffer

Both John Politzer and Brian Ballish do not remember any direct connection with Towne Pontiac.

If something comes to mind from anyone about a connection I'll post it. After all a lot went on back than and it has been over 40 years ago and our memories are fading fast...LOL

There is an old saying about memory: First you loose your short term. Then you loose your long term. Then you start remembering things that never were! LOL

Have a great Thanksgiving.

Thanks for asking around. I was hoping we could find out more about the Towne Pontiac 68-1/2 Ram-Bunctious Firebird. Maybe the modifications made on that car were a precursor to the Blackbird or vice versa.....who knows? Hopefully someone with info on Towne Pontiac will come forward someday. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

[Dr. Eric M. Schiffer]

Originally Posted by gto4door

Thanks for asking around. I was hoping we could find out more about the Towne Pontiac 68-1/2 Ram-Bunctious Firebird. Maybe the modifications made on that car were a precursor to the Blackbird or vice versa.....who knows? Hopefully someone with info on Towne Pontiac will come forward someday. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

I just got an e-mail from Jim Wangers regarding your question about the Towne Royal conection. Remember the whole theory behind Royal Pontiac was to show case "Streetable" performance. Having a daily driver that you could go racing with on the weekend. Drive to the track and drive home.

Here is Jim's response to me;

Eric,

Sorry for the delay in my response. I do indeed remember this incident. The guys from Towne Pontiac / Cadillac located in Winnipeg Manitoba came to Royal and did spend a great deal of time with Milt Schornak, Dave Warren and even Brian Balish. This was late summer 1967, shortly after the Firebird became available in Canada. They returned to their dealership and built a pretty competitive car. In spite of their aggressive invitation nobody from Royal ever went to Canada.

As they became more experienced, they learned more about Super-Duty and aftermarket equipment, including manual-lash valve train, building a serious non-streetable Racecar, and went far beyond the Royal Bobcat concept. They became just another Dealer who sponsored a competitive Racecar and expected their customers to flock to their shop just to admire THAT car. From mid-'68 we never heard from them again as they felt they had surpassed the Royal Bobcat level.

Hope this helps. Regards to the family.

Jim Wangers

[goatman65]

I see quite a few mis-spellings...like Milts' last name.

[gto4door]

Originally Posted by goatman65

I see quite a few mis-spellings...like Milts' last name.

Your right, whoever wrote up the flyer can't spell. Let see about posting that flyer here so we do not have to click into the link.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by goatman65

I see quite a few mis-spellings...like Milts' last name.

Wouldn't be the first time that's happened....

[ANDYA]

WOW!! I can't believe how this thread has taken off since I started it almost a year ago. Lots of great info about Royal, Woodward Ave and the Blackbird has been brought to light. Thanks Dr. Schiffer for all the posts and the history lesson. Also, thanks to Keith who has played a big part in this thread.

Next year if all goes well I hope to make The Dream Cruise with my 69 Bird. I would love to come and meet all of you, maybe cruise Woodward together. Again, mant thanks.

Andy

[goatman65]

Originally Posted by ANDYA

WOW!! I can't believe how this thread has taken off since I started it almost a year ago. Lots of great info about Royal, Woodward Ave and the Blackbird has been brought to light. Thanks Dr. Schiffer for all the posts and the history lesson. Also, thanks to Keith who has played a big part in this thread.

Next year if all goes well I hope to make The Dream Cruise with my 69 Bird. I would love to come and meet all of you, maybe cruise Woodward together. Again, mant thanks.

Andy

This is the first thing i check everytime i get on the computer.

Im hoping to make the Dream Cruise next year myself in my 65 GTO. Count me in on cruising together.

[Dr. Eric M. Schiffer]

Originally Posted by ANDYA

WOW!! I can't believe how this thread has taken off since I started it almost a year ago. Lots of great info about Royal, Woodward Ave and the Blackbird has been brought to light. Thanks Dr. Schiffer for all the posts and the history lesson. Also, thanks to Keith who has played a big part in this thread.

Next year if all goes well I hope to make The Dream Cruise with my 69 Bird. I would love to come and meet all of you, maybe cruise Woodward together. Again, mant thanks.

Andy

OK Andya it's 2012 and the Dream Cruise is just two weeks away. Will we be seeing you?

Some of the member of the Royal Pontiac Club will be parked in Birmingham on Old Woodward.

Will we see you there?

[ANDYA]

Originally Posted by Dr. Eric M. Schiffer

OK Andya it's 2012 and the Dream Cruise is just two weeks away. Will we be seeing you?

Some of the member of the Royal Pontiac Club will be parked in Birmingham on Old Woodward.

Will we see you there?

Well I'm sad to say that my car is not ready The engine is on the break-in stand right now and I hope to start it up this weekend. Then I would still have to get it into the car, hook up the exhaust and finish the interior. There just won't be enough time. I was really hoping to make the Cruise this year and believe me I'm dissapointed. I guess it will have to be next year.

[rad400]

Awesome thread.