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1 of 1,036: Last Year 1974 Pontiac GTO

The Pontiac GTO would enjoy an 11-year run and was the sales leader in the mid-size muscle car market at times. But things had changed by the early 1970s and the demand for fire-breathing automobiles was off. After a lackluster year in 1973, Pontiac switched gears and based what would be the last year of the GTO on the compact Ventura (a Chevy Nova clone). This nice example was restored 15 years ago and still presents and performs well. Found in Leesburg, Virginia, this last-of-line GTO is available here on eBay where the bidding stands at $9,100.

Based on the Tempest/LeMans, the GTO was born in 1964. It would be an option initially and sales quickly outstripped projections. It was promoted to series status in 1966 and held that honor through 1971. After that, it reverted to an option as sales continued to decline. The peak year was 1968 when Pontiac built more than 87,000 GTOs. In its final year, just over 7,000 GTOs were produced. North of 1,000 of them came as a standard 2-door sedan (not a hatchback) with an automatic transmission. All 1974 GTOs came equipped with a 350 cubic inch V8, though detuned for lower emissions.

We’re told the seller is the second owner of this Pontiac. He/she found it in California, and it resides in Virginia now. Somewhere in between the seller must have lived in Mississippi as the GTO sports license plates from that state. The car was treated to a restoration a decade and a half ago, which included a rebuild of the V8 and automatic shifter. The Ram Air components are no longer in play and can be found in the trunk. The seller says the car has been documented by PHS and runs quite well; it’s been very reliable over the years.

In the seller’s words, this Pontiac is not a trailer queen, but should not disappoint when brought out to show. The wheels have been upgraded from 14 to 15 inches with period-correct rims, but the originals will go with the car, too. This vehicle never had air conditioning, so if that’s important to you, vintage A/C would have to be sourced. The GTO here has more than 118,000 miles, but it sure doesn’t look like it.

Comments

  1. Avatar Vin_in_NJ

    Pontiac really missed the mark when the decided to base the GTO on the Ventura/Nova for 1974. Instead, they should have rebadged the Grand Am as a GTO

    Like 21
    • Avatar B.B.

      The Grand Am was actually designed to be the next GTO. But by 1972, the GTO had a terrible reputation and high insurance rates, so they rebranded it.

      They kept the GTO name alive on the ’73 colonnade LeMans Sport and for ’74 with this hasty afterthought. But after that it was gone.

      Like 12
    • Avatar Randall

      Totally disagree. The 74 wasuch closer to the 64 in size, weight and performance. Love the GA but it is a 4k pig.

      Like 0
  2. Avatar B.B.

    At risk of making anybody mad, this is basically a Ventura with a trim package. You could get this engine in any Ventura that year, and I believe the suspension package as well.

    Like 7
    • Avatar Cadmanls Member

      Absolutely, just stickers and did have the cold air. Could have used the 455 SD as the Firebird got but the factory muscle car was all but dead. Insurance and emissions were closing the door. Demand for the GTO was gone

      Like 7
      • Avatar William Milot

        If they put a SD 455 in that feather of a car it would’ve been STUPID FAST! If Delorean was still in charge of Pontiac in 1974 the “Final GTO” would be at $90K on the auction block right now instead of $9K! That car would’ve had every “Go Fast” part he could find under that hood. In 1970 the Grand Prix 455 SJ was “Super John” in honor of John Delorean, and those Tank MOVED for the size they were.

        Like 1
    • Avatar Richard

      The great thing about using the Ventura was the weight. It was a lighter car.
      I actually liked the cars. The Pontiac 350 was so easy to tune!!!
      Responded very well to auto enthusiast tinkering 😁👍

      Like 20
      • Avatar B.B.

        Agree, the Nova was great for that!

        Like 3
    • Avatar Nick P

      BB, not making anyone mad. The 74 GTO was not basically a Ventura with a trim package. It is exactly a Ventura with a trim package. Just like it was on the Lemans earlier in its life.

      Like 8
      • Avatar Lee

        And the original Ventura was an option on the Catalina body…lots of name swapping on the models bank then depending on what you ordered…same for the Trans Am being an option on a base Firebird.,..

        Like 2
  3. Avatar ACZ

    There have been a few of these popping up lately.

    Like 4
    • Avatar B.B.

      In this market, seller probably gets at least 20 grand for this. I think it’s time to get while the getting’s good.

      Like 4
  4. Avatar PaulG

    For some reason the author neglects (several times now) to mention the Holden variant of the GTO built from 2004-2006, the latter 2 years with the 400 hp LS-2 power plant available with the fantastic tremec 6 speed.
    Having owned an 05 & 06 I can attest to their ability. ‘74 was NOT the last GTO

    Like 18
    • Avatar CJ Colvin

      The 74 GTO was still a true Pontiac but the 04-06 GTOs we’re not true Pontiacs at all, they we’re rebadged Holden Monaros from Australia.

      Like 16
      • Avatar B.B.

        Well, actually, the Ventura is a rebadged Chevy Nova, but it is a U.S. sourced GM product at least.

        Like 5
  5. Avatar Nick P

    Russ,
    The peak year of the GTO was 66, not 68. And then they saw a decline each year dropping to the lowest in 1973. The 74 actually rebounded sales a bit. The majority of 74’s were sedans. The hatchbacks were much rarer. I currently have 3 of them with 4 speeds in decent shape. They actually weren’t bad performers for what they were. Only slightly slower than a 64 model.

    Like 12
  6. Avatar Vid

    I happen to be a Pontiac fan and a Nova fan, so my imagination runs wild when I look at these “Pontiac powered Novas”. I have a fresh 455 that I’m about to drop in my ‘69 LeMans coupe, I sure wouldn’t mind building another potent 455 to go in a ‘74 like this one. If I only had more room.

    Like 8
  7. Avatar C Force

    Back in late 1970,Pontiac engineering did put together a 455HO powered ventura nicknamed by some”one of none” they got it to run low 13s in the quarter.was a 1 of 1 car.who knows what happened to it.Also there is a 1974 SD455 powered ventura,wasn’t factory but one exists

    Like 7
  8. Avatar C Force

    I see the cheap,plastic 80s mustang is still for sale.put a realistic price on it and it might sell one day……

    Like 3
  9. Avatar Johnny

    I always preferred the Ventura over the Nova. I just prefer the actual look of the Ventura over the Nova. I see the writer does not include the Buick Apollo, nor Oldsmobile Omega in the Nova clone statement. All 4 were basically the same car, save front end extensions (grill, and bumpers too), and rear light panels, rally style wheels, and of course the badges.
    I’d love to be the owner of this particular Pontiac, but, not here in Michigan. Its just to nice to be stuck here.

    Like 8
    • Avatar PRA4SNW

      Johnny,

      Nova
      Omega
      Ventura
      Apollo

      Like 4
  10. Avatar bone

    Believe it or not, the rear quarters on the 71 and 72 Venturas are different from the Nova ; the front fenders on the 68 -74 Novas are the same ( except for a smaller marker hold on the early ones) , but they are different on the BOP sisters

    Like 4
  11. Avatar Roxanna Belcher

    The only way I would have bought one of these is if I was desperate then I would pull the gto emblem off out of embarrassment..

    Like 2
  12. Avatar Frozenbird

    Except an Apollo/Omega/Nova never came with a factory shaker or with a true Pontiac 350. I would take one of these cars for sure, they have really good bones for building something nice. Put some go fast parts on the 350, collapse the front/rear bumper shocks to bring them nice and tight to the body. If you get the right car with the gauge package and a 4spd their pretty cool and little to none competition at show and shines. What is there not to like?

    Like 5
  13. Avatar Goz

    Nice car. Not too big, looks good and you can do so many things with a 350. Not a GTO but I’d enjoy it!

    Like 2
  14. Avatar John Kleist

    REALLY!
    SERIOUSLY…
    I want you article reporters at Barn Finds to be more careful about labeling vehicles according to factory body applications! The Pontiac Ventura, Buick Apollo, Oldsmobile Omega (which I own) and..
    The cheap version/disposable Chevrolet Nova were all based on the GM X BODY!
    (really so tired of this blinders-on talk.)

    Like 1
  15. Avatar Dan

    They really looked sharp. But 165 hp? Remember, the 360 Duster had 245 hp in 74. The Duster could still hustle. The GTO, not so much. The Maverick? About 140 hp in the grabber. Slow. One good thing about 74’s , it was the last year before Catalytic Converters and smog pumps etc. You could open the hoods and still not see a hodgepodge of vacuum lines.

    Like 1
    • Avatar ACZ

      Plenty of cars had smog pumps. They started in California in 1966 and nationwide, for specific applications, in 1968.

      Like 1
    • Avatar Joseph Summerville

      I bought a 74 GTO new put a set of ram air 400 heads on it and an aftermarket cam the car beat about any car I raced was very fast and handled great.I beat a 67 GTO 400 with it so all you people that think these cars were no good never had one.

      Like 2
  16. Avatar Jackie Hollingsworth

    It is an insult to call this car a GTO.

    Like 0
  17. Avatar DAN

    YeahA few cars had smog pumps but ALL CARS IN THE US WERE REQUIRED BY LAW TO HAvE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND SMOG PUMpS IN 75! Only a couple Chrysler and AMC cars did not.

    Like 1
    • Avatar ACZ

      So?

      Like 0
  18. Avatar Dan

    Yes, that’s correct but Catalytic converters and Smog pumps were REQUIRED BY LAW beginning in 75. That’s why they had to have unleaded gas in 75. There were just a few cars that didn’t in 75. They were manufactured by Chrysler and AMC. Those companies had to pay some penalties for this.

    Like 3
  19. Avatar John B. Traylor

    A sad end for the GTO

    Like 1
    • Avatar ACZ

      That wasn’t the end.

      Like 0
  20. Avatar Richard

    Living through this era of time in the country with the oil crisis and the seismic change that the auto industry in the US had to make for various reasons was very difficult for all of us. To see what was once a great industry brought to it’s knees was heartbreaking. It was the beginning of a chokehold that gripped our great nation for years. This car is what it is and, in my humble opinion, the owner nor the car deserves the very negative comments. I congratulate both owners of this car for a job well done in keeping and in much original and then restored condition.
    GOD BLESS AMERICA

    Like 5
  21. Avatar Mitch

    I like this if it had a 4spd it would be a whole lot more fun to drive then the auto and ya still get the looks, plus it’s 1000% better then the 2004/2006 GTO’s which were just plain butt ugly what a flop, oh I’m sure they were faster but you couldn’t pick em out of a crowd,

    Like 2
    • Avatar ACZ

      Wrong on all counts. They were a lot faster a they handled better than previous GTOs. Not to mention they looked like the mighty successor that they were. Too bad you never owned one.

      Like 1
      • Avatar CJ Colvin

        You’re modern GTO is nothing but a rebadged Holden Monaro from Australia 🇦🇺 so there for not a real true Pontiac unlike the original GTOs mate.

        Like 1
      • Avatar CJ Colvin

        Also if the Modern GTOs (aka the rebadged Holden Monaro from Australia) we’re so good then how come they didn’t sell very well and how come it didn’t save Pontiac?

        Like 0
      • Avatar ACZ

        There’s nothing wrong with that. Nothing could have saved Pontiac. They suffered from poor leadership and poor marketing.

        Like 0
  22. Avatar Frozenbird

    “they looked like the mighty successor that they were” really? They looked like a plain jane Honda! I’d rather have handling and looks then handling and horsepower. There is a reason that a 140hp Delorean is worth 3-4x’s what a ’04-05 GTO. I’ve owned them both and I would take a Delorean hands down over the most boring wrapper ever to be put on a performance car with a GTO tag put on it. It was a slap in the face for every GTO owner with a pre ’74 car.

    Like 2
    • Avatar ACZ

      B.S. I’ve owned two GTOs both 6.0, 6 speeds. I’d still have one but I like my Z06 better.

      Like 0
  23. Avatar john holmes

    That car is SHELZBOT!!

    Like 1
  24. Avatar 455RAIV

    The 1974 GTO Pontiac 350 was just a touch slower in the 1/4 mile than the 1964 389 – 325 hp GTO > NUNZI – Pontiac Performance Expert Tested both – Bill Rinks Super Stock 74 GTO Pontiac 350 runs 10’s in the 1/4 mile – All in All Still A Great GTO :)

    Like 3

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