mobile-menu-icon
GM Authority

Watch Jay Leno Drive A 1965 Pontiac GTO Royal Bobcat: Video

These days, it’s easy to get lost in the constant one-upmanship of modern performance cars, but to be fair, it’s a practice as old as the automobile itself. One of the most celebrated periods of the time-honored four-wheeled back-and-forth was the Muscle Car Golden Age, which kicked off in early ‘60s with the launch of the Pontiac GTO. Now, Jay Leno is climbing behind the wheel of one particularly rare example of this American classic – the 1965 Pontiac GTO Royal Bobcat.

A 1965 Pontiac GTO Royal Bobcat.

Currently owned by Lieutenant Colonel Jordan “Joker” Smith, an active-duty U.S. Air Force officer, this particular GTO is steeped in muscle car history. As the story goes, it was a part of legendary Pontiac marketer Jim Wangers’ personal collection for more than 30 years.

Of course, any example of the 1965 Pontiac GTO Royal Bobcat is noteworthy. Jay kicks off the episode with a deep dive into the origins of the Pontiac GTO, explaining how it all started as an option package in 1964 before giving rise to one of the first true American muscle cars.

By 1965, the GTO had evolved, featuring styling refinements and improved performance. However, for enthusiasts seeking even more power, Royal Pontiac of Michigan offered the Royal Bobcat package, a dealer-installed performance upgrade that transformed the GTO into a street-legal powerhouse.

The Royal Bobcat included things like an open hood scoop and high-performance air filters, tweaked carburetors, a higher compression ratio, performance spark plugs, and stronger valve springs with modified distributors, all to help boost output.

These changes added an estimated 40 to 50 extra horsepower, making the Royal Bobcat GTO one of the fastest street cars of its era. Meanwhile, Jim Wangers played a key role in marketing the GTO, solidifying Pontiac’s dominance in the muscle car wars.

Check out the full feature video, plus a look at how it runs on the street, right here:

Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

Subscribe to GM Authority

For around-the-clock GM news coverage

We'll send you one email per day with the latest GM news. It's totally free.

Comment

  1. That thing needs some rear shocks!

    (Notice the LR wheel hopping in the opening scene…)

    Reply

Leave a comment

Cancel