Needing a compact to sell, Pontiac introduced a knock-off of the Chevrolet Nova in 1971 and called it Ventura II (the Ventura had previously been a full-size car). It followed in the Nova’s shadow through 1977, after which it was renamed Phoenix for the car’s last two years. This 1976 edition is a 4-door sedan that presents as a nice survivor, and its claim to fame is that it has appeared as a prop in several movies. Located in Freeport, New York, this Chevy in Pontiac clothing is available here on craigslist for $8,000 OBO. Thanks for the tip, Tony Primo.
Pontiac dropped the “II” designation on the car after a couple of years, so it was simply Ventura from 1973 to 1977. Until 1978, the base engine in the Pontiac was a 250 cubic inch inline-6 sourced from Chevrolet. After that, Buick’s 231 CI V6 became the base engine. The seller’s car has an automatic transmission, which we assume is a TH-350, as the Powerglide had been gone for several years.
Considering the Pontiac spent some time around movie/TV people, you’d think some better photos would be provided (none of the engine and only one of the interior). The entertainment industry credits to its name include The Irishman, The Kitchen, The Hunters, and Joker. I haven’t seen any of them, so I don’t know how significant a role the car played, but we assume it was mostly for period-piece window dressing.
At 92,000 miles, the burgundy paint, tan vinyl roof, and tan interior all seem to be okay. It’s a running car that offers decent passenger space and okay fuel mileage (by today’s standards). This is not a restored show car, but a 50-year-old machine with the kind of wear and tear you would expect for its age. No V8 and it has four doors – will this be a standout at Cars & Coffee?
I went to the movies in a car like this.
I clicked on the craigslist link (twice),& the ad for the
1970 Black Valiant came up.