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Old 03-30-2025, 09:37 PM
Tucker in KFalls Tucker in KFalls is offline
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Default 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.
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Old 03-30-2025, 11:56 PM
Baron Von Zeppelin Baron Von Zeppelin is offline
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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

  #3  
Old 03-31-2025, 08:33 AM
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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.

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Old 03-31-2025, 09:43 AM
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People with Royal cars are nuts too, if you have any Royal memorabilia, they keep bugging you till they get it.

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Old 03-31-2025, 04:08 PM
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Keith Seymore Keith Seymore is offline
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Originally Posted by burd View Post
People with Royal cars are nuts too, if you have any Royal memorabilia, they keep bugging you till they get it.
Hey now -



K

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Old 04-01-2025, 01:29 AM
Tucker in KFalls Tucker in KFalls is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Baron Von Zeppelin View Post
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


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?
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Old 04-01-2025, 07:11 AM
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mrennie mrennie is offline
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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!

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Old 04-01-2025, 09:34 AM
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Rich-Tripower Rich-Tripower is offline
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Originally Posted by mrennie View Post
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?

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Old 04-01-2025, 10:52 AM
burd burd is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith Seymore View Post
Hey now -



K

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??

  #10  
Old 04-01-2025, 10:56 AM
burd burd is offline
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Here’s the model, one pic shows Milt working on a head or Dist. Pretty cool model.
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  #11  
Old 04-01-2025, 11:09 AM
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Keith Seymore Keith Seymore is offline
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Flip for ya -



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

K
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'63 LeMans Convertible
'63 Grand Prix
'65 GTO - original, unrestored, Dad was original owner, 5000 original mile Royal Pontiac factory racer
'74 Chevelle - original owner, 9.56 @ 139 mph besthttp://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/
My Pontiac Story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524
"Intro from an old Assembly Plant Guy":http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926

Last edited by Keith Seymore; 04-01-2025 at 11:16 AM.
  #12  
Old 04-01-2025, 05:15 PM
burd burd is offline
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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.

  #13  
Old 04-01-2025, 08:56 PM
SR-71 SR-71 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich-Tripower View Post
Nope, not a chance. Why would you NOT want a detergent oil?
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.

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Old 04-01-2025, 10:26 PM
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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.
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  #15  
Old 04-01-2025, 11:51 PM
Baron Von Zeppelin Baron Von Zeppelin is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tucker in KFalls View Post
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.
Fantastic car
Big-time Congrats on your ownership.
Thank you for sharing the info and pics with us.

  #16  
Old 04-02-2025, 02:47 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SR-71 View Post
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.
But if you use detergent oil from the beginning......

  #17  
Old 04-03-2025, 01:00 PM
Tenney Tenney is offline
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Valvoline 30w non-detergent in the Honda 50 in the day.

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

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Old 04-03-2025, 03:40 PM
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What temp do you drain it though…..

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Old 04-03-2025, 08:30 PM
mgarblik mgarblik is offline
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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.
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.

  #20  
Old 04-03-2025, 10:05 PM
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242177P 242177P is offline
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What temp do you drain it though…..
Depends. Are you pressed for time?

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