2004 Pontiac GTO - SLP's Tuner Pontiac GTO

Starting Life as SLP’s Bobcat Pilot Car, This 2004 GTO Prowls the Next Decade in Obscure Rarity

In the 1960s, there existed a very special Pontiac dealership in Royal Oak, Michigan. Owned by Ace Wilson Jr., Royal Pontiac offered some of the fastest, best-performing, and most-sought-after Pontiac GTOs of the era. Even before the appearance of the GTO option on the 1964 LeMans, Royal Pontiac offered special tuning packages to improve upon the already impressive performance of Pontiac's 389- and 421ci engines. Customers could either purchase the go-fast goodies for DIY installs or have the dealership do the wrenching.

The name given to the modified cars was "Bobcat," born from combining letters from Pontiac's fullsize Bonneville and the Catalina. Using tried-and-true hot-rodding techniques, the Royal Bobcat cars were massaged to make more horsepower. The Bobcat package included a lower-restriction air cleaner, open hood scoops (as applicable), a Ram Air pan, richer carburetor jets, a 0.027-inch copper head gasket (held over from Pontiac's Super Duty era) for more compression, and weaker springs in the distributor (36 degrees all in by 2,400 rpm) equating to an additional 30 to 50 hp.

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Forty years after the first GTOs made their mark on the streets and in muscle-car folklore, Pontiac was ready to bring the Goat back to its former glory. Although Royal Pontiac was a thing of the past, many tuning companies thrived in the new age of computer controls and electronic fuel injection. Best known for its Firehawk packages adorning the fourth-gen Firebird Formula and Trans Am, SLP (Street Legal Performance) of Toms River, New Jersey, saw the opportunity in supplying its proven performance parts and hot rod know-how to the new Goat. In honor and recognition of the prowess of the Royal Pontiac–modified vehicles, SLP chose to introduce its own Bobcat performance package for the new 2004 Pontiac GTO.

Early in 2005, Robert Hamblen of Wayne, New Jersey, was in the market for a used 2004 GTO. A longtime Goat aficionado and member of the Garden State GTO club, Robert wanted the new model for more regular use in place of his 1970 GTO. Being a GTOAA club member, Robert built a friendly relationship with Jim Salerno, who is a GTO guy and was the owner of Jim Salerno Pontiac in Randolph, New Jersey.

Robert mentioned to Jim that he was looking for a pre-owned, yellow 2004 Goat and to keep him in mind. Robert had little confidence that such a rare car would be available used after only a year's production, but his shallow pockets ruled out the purchase of a new one.

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As fate would have it, Jim Salerno contacted Robert by the fall of 2005 with some interesting news. A very special, yellow 2004 GTO was available from SLP for sale through Salerno Pontiac. Intrigued, Robert was told of the brief, yet important, history of this particular Goat. From 2004 to 2005, SLP used the GTO as a test bed for its 421 Bobcat package and a host of performance parts. With the 421 denoting crank-rated horsepower (not cubic inches, like in the old days), pilot car No. 1 (experimental car X03) was fitted with various engine, exhaust, and cam combinations, including SLP's short-block ZL-402 topped with LS6 heads, a Fast intake, six-piston Wilwood brakes, various suspension pieces, and custom tunes. The car was thoroughly flogged on tracks from Michigan to Englishtown during the R&D stage of its life, but was now ready to be released from service and sold for $10,000 less than the price of a brand-new Goat—and the 421 Bobcat goodies were free. Robert signed on the bottom line and took possession of his super-rare, new-age Bobcat GTO.

Robert quickly fell in love with it. Even in standard guise, the muscle coupe proved a match for even the priciest competition from Europe and Japan. The 421 Bobcat bolt-ons only added to the impressive traits of the new GTO. Robert says he "loves to turn the key and feel the car shake to life." He also likes the much-maligned sleeper styling of the 2004 GTOs, saying, "They are not over the top."

Over the past decade, Rob has reveled in his Goat's grand touring prowess, taking the yellow GT car on many long road trips. Whether cruising to upstate New York with his lovely wife, Victoria, rolling into Oktoberfest at Hunter Mountain, stalking the local cruise night, making a ground-shaking appearance at the steakhouse, or attending regional GTO shows, the driving excitement has been immeasurable. "This thing really shines on the winding roads. There's nothing like rowing through the six-speed and listening to the rumble of the exhaust," Rob says.

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Becoming a dad and running his successful A/C company definitely cuts into the time he'd like to be putting the GTO through its paces, so Rob cherishes every chance to get his Goat out of the garage and on the highway to really stretch its legs: "Putting the hammer down really makes you feel like the king of the road," he says—and isn't that the whole point? Rob has shared his passion with his dad, now 82, driving up to Vermont for visits to a local cruise-in. He has introduced his four-year-old son, Alexander, to the loud, yellow machine, indoctrinating the next generation of GTO fan. As caretaker of this one-of-a-kind muscle car, Robert has done a great job keeping the 19,000-mile Goat in near-mint condition. Rob has no plans to change or add anything to his modern factory hot rod, a testament to its rarity and SLP's expert touch.

There can be little doubt that, like the Royal Bobcat cars from Pontiac's heyday, Rob's SLP Bobcat GTO is destined to become a timeless American muscle classic. In the meantime, Rob plans to enjoy his rare and powerful beast to the fullest.

 

Tech Notes:

  What: 2004 Pontiac GTO
Owner: Robert Hamblen
Where: Wayne, NJ
Engine: Robert's GTO came equipped with its original 5.7L LS1 still factory fresh with only 50 non-test miles. The 421 Bobcat engine options include a deeper-breathing SLP Blackwing air filter, 85mm mass air sensor, and a 160-degree thermostat. Providing increased valve opening are 1:85:1 ratio rocker arms with 1.25-inch springs and titanium retainers. Freeing up extra horses while limiting parasitic loss is an SFI 25 percent underdrive crankshaft pulley. Exhaust duties are handled by stainless steel 13⁄4-inch primary long-tube headers with 3-inch collectors and an X-pipe, Loudmouth II modular catback, and twin slash-cut stainless tips. Engine management is dialed in by a custom SLP tune and all six gears are engaged through a B&M shifter.
Body: Nicely integrated and fully functional intake slits on the SLP hood give a hint to the hidden power of this Goat. That and the Bobcat 421 badges are the only giveaways.
Suspension: Benefiting from this car's unique beginnings, Rob's Goat acquired some very choice suspension upgrades present but not directly part of the Bobcat Package, including a stronger strut tower brace, progressive rate lowering springs with rear camber kit, and heavy-duty rear sway bar with higher durometer bushings. Also present, a lightweight aluminum skidplate and line-lock kit hinting to the hardcore setups from the car's test-and-tune days.
Interior: Still appearing and smelling new, the cockpit remains stock, featuring color-coordinated gauges, beautiful GTO embroidered seats, and ample Blaupunkt sound.