After a wildly successful start in the mid-1960s, the leader of the muscle car movement – the Pontiac GTO – came to the end of the line in 1974. Sales peaked in 1966 (reaching nearly 100,000 units), yet demand was below 5,000 copies in 1973. So, Pontiac gave the car one last shot by switching to the compact Ventura platform in 1974. This is one of those rare one-year-wonders, and it sports a rebuilt engine from the GTO’s prior heyday. Located in a garage in Attleboro, Massachusetts, this running project is available here on craigslist for $9,000.
Given how well the Chevy Nova was selling, it seemed logical for Pontiac to try out the GTO on a smaller body. The Ventura was born in 1971 as a Nova “clone” with a Pontiac front clip. So that’s the route Pontiac went in ’74 using a 350 cubic inch V8 to power a lighter automobile. Sales improved slightly from 5,000 to 7,000 copies, but that wasn’t enough to save the car after 11 years, so the GTO was quietly missing from Pontiac sales literature in 1975.
The seller says he/she has done a lot of work on this GOAT, starting with the engine. In place of the original 350 is a 400 cubic inch GTO V8 from 1969 with just 300 miles on it after a rebuild with upgrades not listed. That suggests its reported 64,000 miles were hard ones for the original engine not to be saved. This is the coupe version rather than the new hatchback offered in ’74.
Besides the engine, other new stuff includes the brakes, gas tank, ignition, exhaust with headers, and new wheels and tires. It’s said to run extremely well, so we’re surprised the seller didn’t drive it outside for better photos. The body, paint, and interior are on the to-do list with some repair having already been done. There is evidence of blue paint in the trunk (perhaps the red car’s original color?). This is a “drive it while you fix It car” and the seller’s asking price is not hard and fast. Thanks for the Poncho tip, Mitchell G.!
Id buy it just for the 69 motor……
Way overpriced with all the work that needs done AND the wrong engine. Would love to find one of these in good condition. As a former Ventura owner, it would be great to have the GTO version. This thing is a mess.
This is the hatchback
Pontiac produced the GTO from 04-06
Hands down a great version, just unappreciated for its styling
Of course, that generation were really modified Holdens.
04-06 GTO’s were really ”modified” Holdens? Using that logic; 64-74 GTO’s were really ”modified” Tempests. So? I will gladly take either one. A GTO is a GTO, whether fast or slow.
After seeing this, it made me wonder. What would’ve happened is Pontiac decided to drop a hot 400 in the ’74s from the factory? It would’ve been mighty quick. Maybe they would’ve sold more. Unfortunately, we’ll never know.
They were constrained by mileage requirements by that point.
Very true. I didn’t think about that.
But you have to admit, Pontiac would’ve really had something there if they dropped a 400 in the ’74 Goats.
I’ve often thought the same thing. Emissions was probably a bigger deal than CAFE in ’74. The idea of emissions certifying another engine for such a low volume model may not have added up. Fuel economy numbers were already appearing in ’74.
CAFE fuel economy standards did not start until 1978. The average 1974 car got 13.6 miles per gallon. The 400 and 455 were offered in several Pontiacs that year, including the Firebird, which was built on the same chassis as the Ventura.
So I don’t think that was the reason. Most likely, cost was the issue. They probably just figured they would keep it simple and make it a trim package for the Ventura for its last year. This was commonly done in this era.
So as to whether it would have sold more, I tend to doubt it. The GTO was not popular by that point. It wasn’t the icon it is today. Its sales had dropped precipitously every year since 1969. Muscle cars were on their way out.
To add to this, GTO sales were actually better in 1974 than in 1972 or 1973 when the big blocks were offered. So it seems like it was the perfect car from the times.
Firebirds of that era didn’t have a chassis per se. They had a bolt on front subframe to a unibody from the firewall back. They shared it with the Camaro and the Nova and all its derivatives (Omega, Ventura, Apollo) which was handy when you wrecked one. As far as this being a GTO, by this time it was nothing more than decals and a shaker hood which is no longer on this one.
The posting has been pulled.
I was working at Pontiac dealer and ordered a ’74 GTO for my wife, hatchback, auto, AC. We both enjoyed driving it, handled much better than I expected. I considered swapping in a good 400 or 455, but sold it back to the dealership for more than I paid, as they had customers wanting them after production stopped. The ’74 engines were 200 HP for the 350 and only 230 and 250 for the 400 and 455, probably why they chose to only use the 350. Oddly, the 4 barrel 350 got better fuel economy the the same engine with a 2 barrel in the Ventura.
After owning and driving a 66, a 69 Judge, and a 72 over the years, this to me is just a remodeled Nova!
Whatever engine you choose, if it’s got a Muncie, trash the Inland shifter. Mine was constantly locking up between the 2-3 or 3-2 shift.
I’ve been a fan of the GTO since it’s inception but the styling of the 74 changed so drastically. The 74 went from a GTO to a 74 Nova. Never understood this. Why?
This car went from a 74 GTO to a 74 Nova and l never understood why.
Someone either liked the price or the owner changed their mind. The listing is gone.
I worked in a Pontiac store in the early ’70s. And changing to the Nova (X chassis) was a huge step up from the 1973 Colonnade chassis. It seemed to work well in the Grand AM configuration. (even with the 455 engine option) But the gear banging GTO crowd tended to twist and bend the chassis on the new “A” body cars. Which must have been really weak for a full frame car to be less rigid than one that used a bolt on sub-frame. (I guess many years of use found all of the deficiencies! ) The Pontiac 350 in the Ventura body was a very nice combination of torque and weight. We had a Ventura “loaner” car in the fleet that accrued 30k miles in a big hurry as many employees used that car for trips. (Myself included) A 455 in that car would be a hoot! and the 400 would not be bad either.
This car is supposed to have the shaker/Trans Am hood! Also, I forgot to include a not about the ’73 body car. We sold one to a customer that only got 1/2 block from the dealership and got rear ended. it was not a hard hit as there was no body damage to be seen. But it was a total loss as the right hand part of the frame had twisted and bent down and was touching the ground in the middle of the car!
This is the engine these should have come with!
Little GT,,Little GT, Little GT, ( record warped and skipping), it’s hard to believe only 10 years had past from the cultural icon to a, well, badge engineered Nova. Actually, it still represented what made the original great, just to a much more subdued content, it was still a cool car. May I remind you of what a 1974 Mustang was? AMC aside, the Volare Road Runner was it’s closest competitor. They say the 1st and last of a car is always collectible. This is a great find. Yeah, we sure turned a corner, but was a heck of a toboggan ride while it lasted.
I will never understand the hate that these cars generated. The Pontiac designers and engineers were given a platform to build upon, and the result was arguably the best ‘74 X body GM offered. Cars evolved, and the GTO wasn’t exempt from that.
But…whoever decides to take on this restoration project, good luck finding replacement interior parts!