Pontiac surprised itself in 1964 by selling 32,450 GTOs in its first outing (when the expectation was 5,000). Some of the rarest are the Royal Bobcats built by Royal Pontiac, a dealer in Royal Oak, Michigan. It was a performance installation that turned an already fast muscle car into a lightning bolt. This beautiful example is for sale by its original owner and looks letter-perfect, accompanied by a flock of documentation. Located in Orange Park, Florida, this rare muscle car is available here on eBay where the current bid is $49,911. But the reserve is unmet and could be well north of that figure.
We all know how successful the GTO became, selling nearly 100,000 copies in its best year (1966). All the major U.S. automakers quickly followed suit with a mid-size muscle car to compete with the pack’s leader, the GTO. There are no published numbers on how many Royal Bobcats like this one were built in 1964, but the seller says this is the only automatic that has survived (apparently most had a 4-speed manual transmission).
The seller doesn’t tell us if this Pontiac is original or restored, but he/she has owned it for its full 61 years on Planet Earth. Since all GTOs left the assembly line in ’64 with a 389 cubic inch V8, we don’t know if Royal swapped that engine for a 421 or if the original engine was modified. Either way, it comes with a Tri-Power carburetor set-up, so the output must be far north of the 340 horsepower the 389 would have been good for.
This special Pontiac only makes special appearances at car shows and museums. The odometer reads 41,000 miles, so at least for a time, it was driven, not shown. The Grenadier Red paint looks gorgeous as does the black original interior. The car will come with a file folder full of documents including its PHS report. If you want to see more photos or videos of the car, please contact the seller. Perhaps the only thing not perfect is the photos that were used in the listing – no profile shots of the entire vehicle.
Wow.
Younger generations couldn’t possibly understand the hoopla behind this “little modified Pon-Pon”( whatever that was) it generated. Naturally, at 9 years old, it was hard to imagine one, all we had to go on was music and media. Maybe a buddies older brother had one, but not likely.
I looked into Royal Oak GTOs, and in ’64, apparently, John DeLorean had 2 cars built by Royal Oak for Jim Wangers, kind of the unsung hero of the GTO. While DeLorean got all the thunder, it was JIm Wangers that actually promoted the car. I read, Wangers cars were 4 speeds, and a signed steering wheel. Apparently, the 421 was installed by Wangers later. No ’64 GTOs left the factory with a 421. You could buy emblem kits from Royal Oak, and I suspect what happened here. This car, as important and iconic as it is, will be a hot number for years to come. Why? Yep, it’s got an automatic. 171 viewers and up to $55gs, I’d say I’m not too far off.
41k miles and appears to be way over-restored. It is listed as “all original” The underhood finish is too glossy, the hood hinges are painted silver, they were black phosphate finish from the factory. They stick out like a sore thumb. The trunk area is originally body color, not black spatter paint. New gas tank, additional engine turned trim on the heater/defrost panel, In-dash tach with an additional tach on the console, along with a vacuum gauge. Dual master cylinder brakes, appears to be a disc brake style but no mention of disc brakes. Lots of little nitpicks, but nicer than any 64 I ever owned. Still a very nice car for sale by the original owner. Personally I think it would have been better in original unrestored condition. Again, nice car, but not “original”.
don’t see black spatter in trunk
I sure do.
Just wondering, is there official documentation stating what this car is, not just the badges, since a ’64 GTO could be ordered with tri-power. Also, this is a personal preference, but while red is nice, these GTOs look best in white.
The owner states “Have PHS. Binders and file folder fully documented. Have my original title, bill of sale, all receipts, etc.” PHS documents only reflect the vehicle as it left the factory and arrived at the selling dealer. Royal Bobcat modifications would have to be documented with original receipts specific to the car, or owner. This car is listed by the original owner, so receipts should match. I don’t understand why the seller would not post a photo of the Royal Bobcat receipts, which is the main selling point of this car…
If you are selling a car like this you lead with the documentation, that’s what drives the value. The seller seems well informed, he should know there is no better time to show your proof than during the auction.
Like you said, a couple of badges and what looks like a copy of a window sticker doesn’t cut it.
Steve R
19sixty5 don’t see black spatter in trunk
The entire trunk is black spatter on this car. The trunk is body color on the 64. Spatter didn’t appear until 65. The wheel tubs, inside the quarters, trunk floor, trunk lock and latch were all body color. When many of these cars were “restored” people tend to spatter paint them, which appears correct to many, but it isn’t. I also noticed the rear chrome tail panel also appears to be incorrectly painted… the area between the chrome ribs is supposed to be Marimba Red, which is a little darker with a bit of metallic in it and this appears to be body color. I still wonder why a car with 41k miles on it needed to be “restored”, unless the car was beat to death by the original owner which I doubt.
Looks like the eBay ad is gone, I would have liked to have seen it.
Here’s the straight scoop on Royal Pontiac.
BTW, there’s a YouTube video with Jim Wagoners explaining the process
Ace Wilson Royal Pontiac, based in Royal Oak Michigan, carried the performance banner for Pontiac. It all began with Pontiac adman Jim Wangers, proposed the idea of dealer-supported performance programs. Pontiac management would allow only one dealer to be a guinea pig, Royal Pontiac was chosen because of convienence. With factory support, Royal Pontiac sucessfully campaigned a 1959 Catalina in NHRA drag racing and then triumphed on Super Duty Monday, Labor Day in 1960, when Super Duty Pontiacs won three major competition events in three different locations. Sales of performance cars and parts escalated from there and Royal Pontiac created the Royal Racing Team for their fans which quickly grew to 55,000 members in just two years. In 1965, Royal mechanics developed the idea of sealing the Tri-Power’s three air cleaners in a “pan” that that sandwiched a large foam gasket against the underside of an opened-up hood scoop. This package became an over the counter dealer option from Pontiac in 1965 and debuted as Pontiac’s full force Ram Air engine option in February 1966. Along with parts, Royal also offered conversion kits. Early examples included a Paxton-supercharged “Royal Grand Prix” in 1962 (one built) and a hopped-up four cylinder “Tempest Tiger.” Then came the first “Royal Bobcat,” a big Catalina with all of Pontiac’s hotest parts, including a Tri-Power 421, various tuning tricks and tweaks, distinctive paint, and Bobcat identification (made from the “CAT” leters from the Catalina and two “B”s and the “O” from the Bonneville. Royal became the leader in modified Pontiac’s and Wangers continued to turn to Royal for all cars prepped for races or the press (including the infamous GTO vs. GTO Motor Trend car – which, by the way, had a 421). At its peak, Royal was selling over 1,000 Bobcat conversions a year, including GTOs, big 2+2s, Bonnevilles, Grand Prixs, and Firebirds. In 1968, Royal started dropping in 428 engines into GTOs and Firebirds, against GM rules, but similar to the shenanigans performed by Don Yenko and others. But in 1969, Ace Wilson decided he had enough and sold his Royal Racing Team to Leader Automotive, run by John DeLorean’s brother George. In 1974, Wilson sold his dealership to pursue a land development deal and the Royal era came to an end
PaulG its still on ebay
Thanks Bill, was a glitch on my end.
Royal Pontiac selling an average of three Bobcat conversions every single business day during any year is hard to believe.
The eBay ad is a strange one. The seller is “newgenrides”. A recent feedback post from the seller’s wife, Tina, says her husband didn’t survive heart surgery earlier this year. What? Was he the “original owner” writing the ad description text?
I don’t get it.
The video:
https://bangshift.com/general-news/videos/story-of-the-royal-bobcat-package/
I don’t believe you could get tri power with an automatic from the factory on any GTO. Also the two speed powerglides made these cars total dogs from a dead dig. My buddy had one in high school, it would go from 0-95 mph in low gear.
You absolutely could. Check the right box, and $115.78 later would get the 389 3×2 barrel engine option with the automatic or manual transmissions.
421 paired with the two-speed automatic.
Drag strip ready.
Dang.