Here is an interesting find, a 1974 Pontiac GTO in the San Francisco Bay area. You can see more pictures of the car here on Craigslist. The 1974 Pontiac GTO was based on the X body Ventura and was a one year only body style. All 1974 GTO’s were built with Pontiac 350 cubic inch V8s. This one sends power to the driveshaft via an M38 three-speed automatic transmission. Thanks to Roger for bringing this car to our attention.
The interior indicates that this car is a project all though the sheet metal looks pretty good. The car has been off the road since the 1990s and the seller states that he bought the car from the original owner. One of the unique things about the 1974 GTO is that the engine was topped with a functional Trans Am shaker scoop. The scoop used a solenoid-operated air valve to allow the intake of cold air when accelerating. Only the 1970-1972 Trans Am had functional shaker scoops prior to this.
The Pontiac L76 350 cubic inch four-barrel engine produced 200 horsepower at 4,400 rpm and 295 lb-ft of torque at 2,800 rpm. As can be seen, this car had air conditioning, power steering, and power brakes but the motor is nonoperational. Approximately 7,000 GTOs produced in 1974.
Most 1974 GTOs came with an 8.5-inch GM 10-bolt rear end is fitted with 3.08 gears. The G80 limited-slip differential was an extra-cost option. While needing restoration, this car painted in buccaneer red is attractive and might make a great driver or warrant a full restoration due to its low production numbers.
The Mustang II of the GTO world
Best-handling GTO. It was good for 1974, considering what Pontiac (and everybody else) had to work with. Had they been allowed to proceed with the SD455 in the ‘73, it woulda been a different story.
I would think the unique ’73 gto handles better because that was new architecture for ’73.
This gto is basically a 1968 nova underneath – the only time i could remember a car NAME taking big steps backward in design! lol – tho i like the functional shaker & lighter weight. I remember also reading it was faster than a ’74 nova SS, oddly.
The ’74 GTO came with std 4 wheel drum brakes!!
But the BIG ’73 GTO came with std front disc brakes.
Yowsir.
When I was 15 in 1991 my dad and I did work on this old mans cars ( hundreds and hundreds of cars) he offered my dad one just like this same color and interior minus hood scoop for payment on some work, he took it for a test drive brought it back and said no. He asked why not dad said because my boy would kill himself in that. A few months later a friend bout it we went for a cruz and someone with a 69 restored camero wanted to race,I found out why my dad said no that thing was the ultimate sleeper,it was hott as hell and walked off from that camaro.Miss the old days.
Do more with less. After all, they did move 7000 of these pretenders.
No price provided…must be free.
Thought they were a cool last effort…so…like.
I like these much more now than I did when they came out.
I had a Pontiac Ventura with the hatch back!! Had a 350 with the automatic!! Black interior and Maroon paint!! Loved that car and the only difference is the GTO had the scoop on the hood!!
me too Tim, in green. Not sure the yr now its 40 yrs on. Looked like this one tho. Probably a 3 speed auto (my 1st chebby after a 108 WB ’69 van, lotta ‘slanty’ wagons inbetween). The 350 wuz way over powered for me.
Hmmm…that console gauge cluster setup looks a bit familiar, kind of like a ’69 Z28. Perhaps GM had a few left over to use just for fun. Worth a ton today!
That’s the gauge console from the 1968 -74 Nova and 1968-69 Camaro. I know it was offered on these. It may have been offered on the regular Ventura too. Not particularly rare.
I can admit you’re likely right about rarity, but if I could adapt that console setup into another Chevrolet etc. it would look a whole lot better than those darn aftermarket under dash pods we all see too often.
Is it coming from or to the junkyard?
Nova clone parts car GTO
He wants offers
Make him one
This car deserves tucked in or earlier slender bumpers(possibly body color) & some sort of rear spoiler, & maybe lower fender air extractors. & of course a 400 or 455.