Pontiac’s “original” muscle car, the GTO, had an up and down decade beginning in 1964. It started life as a mid-size option on the Tempest/LeMans and sold like hotcakes through the rest of the 1960s. But rising insurance costs and changing lifestyles had sales down to a trickle by 1972 compared to before. The 1974 GTO would be a one-year wonder based on the compact Ventura platform. This edition is a project that the seller says largely needs to be put back together, but there’s more to it than that. From Avon, Massachusetts, this Pontiac is available here on craigslist for $6,000. Thanks to Pat L. for finding this tip for us!
The decision to reinvent the GTO as a compact was based on numbers. The car closed out the 1960s with 72,287 units sold in 1969, then dropped to 40,149 in 1970, 10,532 in 1971, and 5,807 in 1972. The GTO was all-new in 1973 along with all of GM’s intermediates using the new Colonnade styling, but that didn’t help and only 4,806 were built, rock bottom for the car.
So, Pontiac gave the GTO one more try in 1974 by switching to the Ventura layout. The Ventura was not much more than a rebadged compact Chevy Nova which had always sold well. With a 350 V8 under the hood, the new “little” GTO was no slouch in the performance department, aided by its lower weight, and sales recovered slightly to 7,058 copies. But that didn’t excite the bean counters, and everyone was worried about the future impact on muscle cars brought on by the OPEC oil embargo, so the GTO went away after that.
Apparently, the seller has owned this project car twice. He/she had it, then sold it and the new owner died unexpectedly while putting the pieces together, so the seller bought it back. But it’s not in the cards for him/her to finish the project, so someone else now gets the chance. A non-correct rebuilt 400 cubic inch V8 occupies the engine compartment along with a 4-speed manual transmission.
This GTO may have been red in color originally, but primer grey is mostly there now, but we’re told there is no rust. The interior is said to be new, but the photos provided don’t help show us. If you like puzzles, putting all the pieces in the correct places may be right up your alley with this Pontiac.
This certainly is well worth the asking price if it’s indeed rust free and it looks to be an original 4 speed car. The 400 is a nice addition and it appears that someone planned on an Orbit Orange respray; there were alot of’70 GTO’s painted that color. It’s my favorite GTO color…The trifecta would be if it was a hatchback model.
What the heck happened to that dash? Is that mold? Or is it growing hair?
In 1974, Ford purists were outraged by the smaller Mustang II and Pontiac fans were angered by offering the GTO on the smaller Nova/Ventura body. So the car never got love when new or used. The idea was sound offering the 350 in a smaller lighter package but GTO fans felt their muscle car was tarnished. Add in the horrible appearance of the car for sale and we have a parts car for a Nova rebuild.
I worked at a Pontiac store in 1974 and actually liked the “new” GTO. I never had the chance to drive a 4 speed addition, but one of our “loaner cars” was a 350/350 equipped Ventura. It was a favorite of the dealership employees for the comfort and performance. The dealership not only used it for customers while their cars were being repaired. But also the loaner fleet was available to employees if they needed wheels for a particular reason. That car went on vacations and many of “weekender” excursions. In less than 12 months it accumulated over 30,000 miles. I know that they are not popular or particularly valuable but the addition of the 400 engine is not a bad thing. (I would have picked a 455) and you can get anything you want for a Nova, including all kinds of suspension goodies. And the nose and hood are to me an improvement to a standard run of the mill Nova in my humble opinion. If circumstances were different I would be a player for this car.
I had a 74 GTO back in 74 when I was 17. It was silver with red interior and was a hatchback. Had the functioning reverse hood scoop that was cool. It was the 350/350 and did a decent quarter mile.
I actually put a full size mattress in the back once to pick up my girlfriend. She was not impressed. Neither was her Dad. That date did not end well. I had traded in my 73 Datsun 240z for the GTO. What an idiot. No wonder I drive a minivan now.