After 10 years on the market, demand for the Pontiac GTO has been declining in recent outings. It wasn’t just the GTO that was on life support as the whole market segment had been shrinking the past couple of years. So, in 1974 – for one year only – the GTO was based on the compact Ventura (which was a Chevy Nova in disguise). This beauty looks to have been fully restored and sports a 455 cubic inch V8 with Tri-Power, something that never was and not in the ’74 GTO. Located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, this potent Pontiac is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $32,900. Here’s another tip brought to us by “Lothar… of the Hill People” who gets the prize for the craziest Barn Finds handle!
After reaching a peak in 1966 of nearly 97,000 units, the GTO ended the 1973 model year at just under 5,000 copies. So, change was clearly needed. Since Chevy, Chrysler, and others had done well with compact muscle cars with small-block V8s, Pontiac decided to apply the GTO to a 1974 Ventura. Considering the detuning that engines were going through for lower emissions – and rising gas prices thanks to OPEC – Pontiac managed to peddle 7,000 of the smaller GTOs. Since GM’s X-body compacts were getting redesigned in 1975, Pontiac decided not to continue with the GTO.
This ’74 GTO is something of a one-of-a-kind as the seller (or a prior owner) replaced the engine with a 455 V8 with triple two-barrel carburetors, a configuration that Pontiac never offered with this motor. With a 4-speed manual transmission and a 3:42 posi-traction rear end, we don’t know how fast this GTO is capable of going. But surely a lot quicker than it was when it left the factory.
The blue paint looks great and newer, though I always roll my eyes when I see the rear license plate backing painted the same color as the rest of the vehicle. If the interior isn’t original, it was certainly redone nicely. The engine and rear have seen 2,500 miles since being rebuilt, so we’re guessing that’s when the whole car was refreshed. Some of the photos show the car up on a lift without some underpinnings, so that sounds about right. Do these last-gasp GTOs float your boat?
That’s a sweet set up!
Pat, this goat 🐐 must move out 🏁
My Dad had a V8 Ventura and it went pretty good. This one is nicely done and must be a blast to drive. Nice!
A very pretty car with a cool engine/transmission combo. Funny story: Back in 1978 or ’79 a friend asked me to drive him to look at a ’74 GTO for sale a few towns over. This car was in a newspaper classified, so no picture was included. When we got to the dealership the GTO was front and center proudly displayed. He started shouting “Keep driving! It’s just a f#@%ing Nova!”. I was shocked, and a little offended, because we drove there in my ’68 Nova…
CT Dave
Russ FYI the license plate mount isn’t painted body color. The plates are blurred out and a 15 second search revealed that Wisconsin collector plates are blue. You can unroll your eyes lol.
So sad that the previous owner destroyed it by removing the stock engine. These are quite uncommon, even more so in original condition. What is wrong with people? Might be worth the money if original.
There’s no way the car would be worth the money if original and I don’t think it’s worth the money the way it is now but I will say yoinking the low compression 200 horse 350 in favor of the 455 was what this car needed.
That engine with that gear ratio should be quite the ride. I think it is a great car. A true GTO no. A very neat car yes. I would hope the 455 is built a little. The last of the Pontiac 455 were set up for smog control.
Whoever performed the engine swap should have upgraded the transmission at the same time. The Saginaw is GM’s light duty 4spd and was installed in low horsepower applications. For it to survive suggests this car was not driven very hard after the 455 was installed.
Steve R
Nice car! Pontiac’s version of the nova ss
Nice car to boot around town and scare the neighbors. Price is affordable, looks pretty fresh.
Nova, or N.O.V.A. for Nova, Omega, Ventura and Apollo, got to love GM’s ingenuity back then, I for one love this size of car. Not too big, not too small, a car with good bones that you can do so much with, whatever V8 X body you decide to go with.
Too bad it didn’t receive the Endura front bumper like the Chevelle Laguna.
BTW,add an “S” to NOVA and you have the Skylark.
Where does the “P” fit in?
I agree with Steve R. about the Saginaw box, as well as the fact they were a cast iron case. I wonder how ell the 389 tri-power feeds a 455?
Now THIS is what Roy Scheider needed in The Seven Ups.
I think I might disagree a little with a couple of the things said. I think GOOD 74’s are going up in value, partly because there are so few. I feel the car is worth more with the original 350, which was not that big a slouch. We all like the cubes and tri-power but it does not help the value to many of us. I was big into earlier GTO’s when the 74 came out but really liked it as I always liked the Nova SS’s. Governments mandate to the big bumpers really hurt the 73-74 Nova and the 74 GTO. My wife bought new a 73 Ventura Sprint hatchback deluxe that was really nice. I could only order it with 350 – 2 barrel and I could get dual exhaust. I wish I had that car back. It would turn heads again today as you almost never see one.
would you get more interest with a bone stock original 350.should have modified the 350 with a 400 crank and rods to boot. and then looked for a close ratio muncie and 3.90 gears in the rear. this way when you tromped on it the little GTO would have given you a what for…besides 3.42 compared to 3.90 is .48 really that much difference . this is one of the nicer looking gto’s .interior well done get rid of the tri power and get a functioning scoop.and get a 1970 gto console to top it off. the scoop has got to move for the fun to run…this is the type GTO that really gets the looks
Bought one brand new off the dealers show room floor. Midnight metallic blue with white interior. Took it straight to a friend’s house and into his garage. Pulled the engine got rid of the pollution devices and the a/c system. Rebuilt the engine with higher compression pistons isky cam Edelbrock high rise torquer intake 750 Holly double pumper. Some head work. Reinstalled it. Installed a manual shift shift kit in the auto trans. And then the Goat was ready for business on the street if you know what I mean. I loved that car it got a scratch in the driver’s door mirror at the drive in when my girlfriend grabbed my lower appendage caused me to get a little to close to the speaker while parking. Once parked it was on if you know what I mean. Oh the memory’s of days gone by.
That motor can float it valves so yes it floats my carb floats too!