[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

[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

[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

[rad400]

Awesome thread.

[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]

I have to be honest with you guys. You can ask Tenney and Keith how I was very reluctant to get involved. But they asked and I agreed. It has been enjoyable.

I have been trying to get some of the guys who worked at Royal to pipe up. A few are not interested. One or two said they'd look in. I don't know if they actually did. One of them said they gave up trying to sign up for the PY forum. They just couldn't get in.

Now as for DREAM CRUISE. If you really want to participate with your car and get a REAL taste of Woodward. It is not the day of the Cruise. That Saturday you get an early cruise then park your self and watch it go by. Don't forget to bring a camera.

It is the few weeks leading up to the event that is the most fun.

The week leading up to Saturday there are many events every day and night. People actually take the week off from work and line Woodward and go to different party's on Woodward. GM had several events at the Radison Kingsley Inn on Woodward in Bloomfiled Hills.

Jack Doc Watson has a party in Grand Blanc, more to kick off the lesser known event in Flint. "Back to the Bricks". Back to the Bricks is a very large show too. Its jsut over shadowed by the much larger Dream Cruise.

The Royal Pontiac Club is waiting to hear from Fresard Buick GMC about parking there for the 2012 Dream Cruise. They hosted the Royal Pontiac Club and served lunch and gave us approximately a $30.00 goodie bag. These are the people who bought Ace Wilson's in the 70's. The New GM had them move the dealership from 400 North Main in Royal Oak to their current location on Woodward Ave in Ferndale. The move and the loss of Pontiac has hurt them financially. A larger automotive group is buying them out. We need to wait and see if we are parking there. Anyone of you guys would be welcome to join us.

You will meet many of these Royal and PMD guys you've read about. Go to www.royalpontiac.org. on the left side menu click EVENTS. Once in the EVENTS section look for the 2011 Dream Cruise. Many pictures and two video's of a little racing in front of Fresard on Woodward. We had great fun.

[Silver Judge]

Wow, this thread keeps getting better and better

DR. SCHIFFER FOR PRESIDENT

[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 Dr. Eric M. Schiffer

Brian Ballish and his Firebird "SuperBird" in 1969.

Actually, even though this car was originally owned by Tony Knieper, who was leading in the points for his class with a "67 Firebird before his untimely death, and the "Super Bird" where the pre-Black Bird. Same suspension set-up, home made traction bars etc. Brian Ballish et. al. set up the the "SuperBird and the "Black Bird". Not to mention the "Royal Mystery Bird" program that was cancelled.

(Go back to the above post's attachments and read about the set up)

Here is a link to Tony Knieper.
http://www.colesy-juniorstockforum.c....php?f=6&t=188

[Dr. Eric M. Schiffer]

Since several peopel never knew Jim Wangers was involved with Chevrolet. Here is a 1972 article on Jim Wangers' Chevrolet's "Image" car. The Milwaukee Classic.

Jim also stocked and sold 50 Black Vegas. Jim knowing how the COPO system for fleets worked wanted to have a special Vega. In order to get them painted by the factory in black he would have to order 50 of them. He did.

When customers went price shopping a black Vega at other dealerships they couldn't find them. The other dealers would tell customers that there is no such thing as a factory black Vega. That Wangers Chevrolet was repainting the Vega balck at the dealership.

Knowing how to work the system some times hurt them.

[Dr. Eric M. Schiffer]

Originally Posted by Dr. Eric M. Schiffer

Royal Bobcat 's Test of 1968 GTO and Firebird RA I no headers!

I found the article with another red 1968 GTO Bobcat that Motor Trend, by the suggestion of Jim Wangers, had George Barris paint the Bobcat paint scheme on it. The notable diference is the trunk. It was seen in the other article as it was driven away. But here is a closer view.

This car was on the cover of "Car Life" that I posted a page or two earlier before Bobcat paint.

You can see there are at least three red GTO Royal Bobcats. Now picture yourself on Woodward in the early spring time about to face off with a 1968 GTO Royal Bobcat. You beat him, or maybe it was close.

Now it is a few weeks later. Maybe late spring early summer, and you have done some improvements to your car. You know you run stronger. You would never think of checking license plates. But you do remember the Royal license plate frame and Bobcat door emblem. A red GTO Royal Bobcat pull up to light next to on Woodward. You know how close it was last time. This time however the GTO hole shots you and it's tail lights disappear in the distance.

It never occurs to you this was one of the three or four Royal Pontiac 1968 GTO red Bobcats that are constantly having their engines changed with the latest offerings from PMD and Royal Pontiac.

Oh what a fun time it was!

Check the license plates on the cars. There are at least three to four different red GTO's that you can see the plates. Two others are not as clear. Then you have the dark green 1968 GTO too. GM-0275, GM-1496, GA-0448 and the not too clear dealer plates.