High-Performance Auto Dealership Poll

[Martyn L. Schorr]

Guys: This is from my friend, Brian, who runs Bangshift.com, a really neat enthusiast blog. Check it out!

Marty, we're running a poll currently asking people their opinion on what was the greatest high performance automotive dealership of the 1960's. I think the rabid Motion fanatics out there would want their votes to be counted!

http://www.bangshift.com/blog/BangShift-...-the-1960s.html (http://www.bangshift.com/blog/BangShift-Poll-What-was-the-Greatest-High-Performance-Dealership-of-the-1960s.html)

[68vet427]

I voted!
Of course for Baldwin Motion !

[al8apex]

I voted last month when this was 1st posted, it appears that I agreed with this guy:

Jim Wangers
Posts: 18

Royal Pontiac
Reply #18 on : Thu May 12, 2011, 16:14:27
To understand the success of Royal Pontiac you have to appreciate the difference between “Performance” and “Racing”. While Royal fielded competitive Super-Stock Pontiacs, when Pontiac was “in racing”, their greatest success was putting their customers in just the “right” car. During the 1960’s period after Pontiac withdrew from professional competition, Royal proceeded to sell thousands of their “street-capable” Bobcats. These were cars meant to be driven as reliable transportation, while at the same time enjoying that extra bit of performance when needed. These were GTO’s, Trans Ams, Grand Prix’s, even Bonneville’s that were warrantable and not in need of perpetual tuning.

Their highly trained Sales, Service and Parts people were well schooled in showing the customer how to order, service and use just the right parts to keep their car dependable, yet exciting.

If you wanted performance satisfaction in your daily driver, a Royal Bobcat tuned Pontiac was the answer and the enthusiast public, nation-wide knew this. They weren’t always the fastest, but they sure were reliable and they sold thousands of them. I know cuz’ I was there.

[Keith Tedford]

In '68 I had a Ram Air 400 Firebird out of London Motor Products, London, Ontario. Before leaving the dealership the engine was balanced and blueprinted. The Royal Bobcat kit was added along with headers, and traction bars. The car was slightly quicker than a local 427 Chevelle. Not quick by today's standards perhaps but was pretty decent back then. Royal gave these cars the edge without breaking the bank. There were a whole lot of Royal cars out there compared to any of the other big names.

[olredalert]

-----You and I both, Jim.....Bill S

[owners2]

Motion without a doubt, for my opinion!

[Mr. Chevy]

My vote was for Fred Gibb Chevrolet because I am partial to Novas!!

Rich

[bigsixman]

I would have to vote for Grand Spaulding Dodge as the best high performance dealer. They raced, serviced, promoted and created new high performance models that Mopar finally introduced to the public. Baldwin-Motion was a small bolt on speed / service shop that did not sell that many total units. BM did a superb job of promoting their services through successful racing and magazine ads and articles by Marty Schorr, but as a dealership (?) they did not match up with the likes of GS Dodge, Tasca Ford or Royal Pontiac. I am a 45 year Chevy owner so I wish that I could vote for a Chevy dealership, but I feel the facts point to GS Dodge. I feel that Anderson/ Knaufel Pontiac in Akron OH should be added to the list too for the same reasons.