Those of us who are motoring enthusiasts who lived through the 1970s would probably prefer to forget that era. The reality was that vehicle manufacturers had come under pressure from governments and various lobby groups to produce safer and more environmentally friendly cars. Neither requirement is conducive to the production of high-performance vehicles. Safety features add weight, and in a time before companies had tackled the intricacies of fuel injection and electronic engine management, lower emissions brought horsepower reductions as an unwanted consequence. Against this backdrop, Pontiac unveiled its Fourth Generation GTO in 1974. Based on the Ventura, it stood as the last hurrah for the domestically-built GTO. Its performance was a shadow of what buyers had received a few short years earlier, but the owner of our feature car has tried to address those inherent shortcomings by upgrading the V8 under the hood. Located in Redlands, California, you will find the GTO listed for sale here on Craigslist. You could drive this classic home by handing the seller $13,000. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Pat L. for referring this classic to us.
The owner states that this Sunstorm Yellow GTO has spent its life in Southern California. Therefore, it’s no great surprise to learn that it remains rust-free. Its needs seem primarily cosmetic, with no evidence of significant dents or other panel damage. Having said that, the driver’s side front fender is a different color, suggesting that the owner has replaced it at some point. He is pretty sparing with information and doesn’t provide any on the odd panel. What we can see of the trim and chrome seems promising, with the Rally II wheels and their attached trim rings looking good. There are no apparent issues with the glass, and while the decals look tired, the buyer will replace these as part of the cosmetic refresh.
Considering the circumstances under which it was released, the ’74 GTO wasn’t a bad car. Its 350ci V8 pumped out 200hp, and when coupled with the three-speed Hydra-Matic transmission, it could romp through the ¼ mile in 16.1 seconds. If buyers craved a faster Pontiac, they could opt for a Trans Am or a Grand Am, but they needed to fork out the extra cash for the 455ci V8 in either car if they intended showing the GTO a clean set of heels. Mopar products like the Duster 360 and ‘Cuda 360 could leave the GTO eating their dust, but that may not be the case with our feature car. Its original 350 has made way for a 400ci V8 backed by a Turbo 350 automatic transmission. It would be fair to expect this new motor to bring at least an additional 25hp to the table, although the listing suggests that the actual figure may be higher since he describes it using the word “fast.” If that proves the case, a low 15-second ¼-mile ET could be within this classic’s grasp. The owner has recently replaced the tires, fuel tank, plug wires, rebuilt the carburetor, and performed numerous other maintenance tasks. The GTO runs and drives well, leaving its new owner with the option of enjoying the car immediately and tackling the cosmetic restoration as time and funds allow.
The seller provides this solitary interior shot of the Pontiac, and it doesn’t tell us much. We can see a back seat that looks like it might be in good condition, upholstered surfaces that look okay, but that’s about it. Aftermarket slipcovers conceal the bucket seat upholstery while we can’t see the state of the dash, pad, or carpet. I think I can spy an aftermarket shifter for the Turbo 350, but it is unclear whether there are any further additions.
The 1974 GTO could have marked the end of the line for what many consider the first genuine muscle car. However, the badge received a stay of execution, returning in 2003. Prospective buyers did not receive the Australian-built final generation GTO as warmly as Pontiac had hoped. Some believe that the locally produced 1974 GTO was the last genuine model to wear that badge. While it no longer possessed the fire-breathing performance of its predecessors, the 1974 GTO still stacked up well against the competition in an era when acceleration and high power outputs seemed little but a distant memory. This car may not tick the boxes for everyone, but its relative rarity makes it worthy of preservation.
Looks like the passenger side front fender is an off shade of yellow too, so it needs a paint job, and the bucket seats probably need to be re-covered. The back bumper is hideous, it’s like someone stuck a running board on the back end. It’s no longer a numbers matching car which can be a good thing to some but a bad thing to others. The pictures are terrible as the seller was too lazy to back the car out of the garage just a few feet for better images; the very poor presentation will probably make it more difficult to sell the car, especially at that price. IMO, it’s over-priced. Plus, when you get right down to it, it’s still a Nova.
To me, the back bumper looks like it wants to be a continental kit when it grows up.
I have never been a fan of this body style, or how Pontiac used it, but that’s just me. I guess with the outrageous prices people are getting nowadays across the classic/muscle market, this would be a good starter classic for someone at $13k or a little less. The 400 is a good engine, lots you could do with it.
I always liked these 74 Goats better than the bloated 73’s. But then again I also like sleeper Oldsmobile Omegas and Buick Apollos!
I’ve always kinda liked these, and if you make a few tweaks on a stock 350 of this era you can shave a second off your e.t.
Just over 1700 hatchbacks were built with 1036 with the automatic. There’s been one at a car show with the optional tent that’s certainly different. My brother was shopping for a new car when these came out, it was either this or the Nova SS. He purchased the Nova.
I’d be interested in this if it was the even rarer 4 speed…
Yea better than what happened in 1973
hey at least 73 had a full frame put in serious power through that 74 you are going to twist it into two pieces every Big Block Nova I’ve ever worked onHad there’s nothing worse than a serious structural damage Mustangs were just as bad they can’t take the torque of a big-block without major work
No pics of front end ?
Seen a rare Ventura II the other day. They have a cool front end, and real nice lines
Looks like it could be fun, Never had a problem with this body style and I owned a 65 at one time. With a little work it could be a lot of fun.
In 74 I had a Cosworth Vega on order. When Chevrolet delayed the release of the Cosworth, I went looking for something else. A local dealer had a 74 GTO in red with a black interior and a 4 speed. I took it for a drive, and from what I remember it wasn’t a bad car, with decent handling and acceleration.
After driving the GTO, I noticed a dark blue 400 4 speed 74 Trans Am in back of the dealership. It had just come in and hadn’t been prepped yet, which is why it was in back. They wouldn’t let me drive it till they prepped it. I gave them $50 to hold it, and drove and bought it a day later.
While I rarely disagree with any author, I take offense to the opening sentence, “would like to forget the 70’s”,,just not so. Perhaps where the author comes from, but the 70’s were a great time. Gas was still relatively cheap, we weren’t in some God forsaken conflict in some heck hole overseas, we couldn’t have cared less about insurance, music was at it’s peak, Asians were still known for cheap tools and cameras, and cars like this were $500 bucks. It was the 80’s ( and beyond) that sucked. I will say this, even though this was kind of the “forgotten” GTO, for a changing time, it still provided plenty of fun, and after this, the musclecar, with a few exceptions,, “died with an awful sound”,,,
I have to agree. Though I was quite young and couldn’t drive, I remember the 70s being pretty awesome. People still loved fast cars, even if they weren’t brand new models. The music was the best it ever was. People still loved America. You could get a good job with a high school education and could afford a house and a new car. Yeah, there was inflation and high gas prices, but there was still a lot of good stuff going on. If you ask me, I feel sorry for the younger generation. They don’t know what they missed. I’m glad I grew up before the internet and all of the technology we have now – even if it is useful. Plus what younger people seem to be focused on now is controversial stuff and arguing over what the rules of the society should be rather than enjoying life.
Yes, we loved the fast cars back then … but this “GTO” isn’t such a sacrilege as the “Le Mans” of the late 80s-early90s, which was a rebadged Daewoo Cielo from South Korea … as a car salesman from the 70s I was embarrassed to be seen near one …
Does anyone know why Pontiac moved the GTO from the A platform in 1973 to the X platform in 1974? It never made a lot of sense to me that they did this – only had the GTO on the A platform for the first year of the new body style. Perhaps because the Grand Am was on the A platform, so they didn’t want two sporty cars on that platform? I think the Grand Am came out in 1973 if I remember correctly. Or maybe they were trying to have a car that could compete in the small car category, like with the Duster 360 / Dart Sport 360? Then in 77 they had another sporty car on the A platform – the Can Am. I always thought they should have named that car the GTO instead of Can Am.
I watched the design and performance of all the beautiful, sharp, fast, and affordable cars of the 60s and early 70s turn in to bloated hulking expensive slow excuses of automobiles for the sake of nothing but propping up Wall Street. This GTO has Zero appeal left from what was once a Dream Car to most of us former teenaged dreamers! I’ve seen nicer boat anchors!
OMG A chevrolet Nova! I wonder if pontiac carried over the sideways look from behind also?
Are you aware that the ’67-8 firebird uses approx 80% of the body parts(even the front fenders!!!) & the dash from the camaro?
Like the ’74 gto vs ’74 nova, the only difference is the hood, nose & tail!
& motor & minor interior trim.
I sold my 70 ss chevelles because i was just more at home with the style and possibly the class of the 68 Gto . Then the 77 silver anniversary transam The big silver bird with an 850 cfm carb ( yes in 1977) this poncho again had more class than the z28(1977) camaro. So its no surprise if the 74 gto is nicer than the nova/omega,
433jf, could you elaborate on the 850 CFM Carb in 77? Haven’t heard of this.
GTO, Hatchback, 400, Solid = max $13000
A car that spent it’s life in the warm climate of southern California is sure to be in great condition unless it was living on the ocean front somewhere. Nice to see a car that is all there,not a rusted out skeleton like some of what has been advertised recently
Is it difficult to swap in earlier ventura bumpers on these?
I see some “free horsepower”, taking out all that weight.