Pontiac needed a smaller car to sell going into the 1970s. So, their solution was to go with a badge-engineered version of the tried-and-true Chevrolet Nova in 1971. The front clip was different, as were the taillights, and the Ventura moniker was moved over from full-size territory to represent the new offering. The seller has a beautiful 1976 Ventura that wears GTO decals and an upgrade in power, but Pontiac did not sell a GTO after 1974. Located in East Liverpool, Ohio, this tribute is available here on craigslist for $30,000 (specific trades considered). An attaboy goes to Rocco B for another fine tip!
Like the Nova, the Ventura got a redesign in 1975 and stuck around until the rear-wheel-drive platform was retired in 1979 (the car was rebranded as the Phoenix in 1978). These later X-bodies weren’t muscle cars, and 350 cubic inch V8s were the top power choice (and not in every model year). The last GTO was built in ’74, having been transferred to the compact Ventura as a one-year-wonder. The seller’s tribute has some of the ’74s cues, such as a hood-mounted tachometer.
We’re told this Poncho has just 33,000 miles, so you would assume the 350 V8 and 4-speed tranny would be from the factory. But the seller says nothing about numbers-matching. There is a lot of attractive bling under the hood, yet we don’t know if a deep dive has been done on the motor to improve performance. The “GTO” has a Flowmaster exhaust system and new tires.
The body and red paint look great, and we wonder if the latter is original (the photos show a few chips here and there). The interior appears to be equally nice, so this Pontiac should be turn-key if you assume a ’76 Ventura is worth 30 large. The seller wants to get a car with an automatic transmission and has indicated that a Tri-Five Chevy or an early ‘70s Chevelle would be acceptable considerations.
Good eye Rocco. Looks like a fun and surely swift driver, 350, 4sp and some lower gears out back w positrac 👍
Thanks Dixon 🏁
My Dad had a hatchback with the 350 in it. Wanted it because he could haul his boat equipment and the 350 so he could haul ass. Road tested it myself and it did both very well.
It’s a great representation of what the GTO might have looked like if Pontiac had built one in ’76, and I like just about everything going on here. Not sure about the $30k price tag, but who knows, somebody may pay that if they can see far beyond it being a customized 1976 Ventura. Thanks, Russ!
I’m with all the above here. Its really cool to see what a ’76 GTO could have possibly been. A healthy 350 in a car this size and a 4 speed will most certainly move it down the road with some gusto. And like Stan said, some steeper gears and you’ve got yourself a great 1/4 mile burner. I don’t know about the price either Mike. But hey, all it takes is the right “One” with the cash in their hands and its sold.
I apologize I meant to add, the body and paint work on this looks absolutely stunning to me!!! If it looks as good in person as it does in the photos, all I can say is WOW!!!
Lower not steeper gears….
I’m not dropping $30K on a “Could’ve been” There are “real” restorable GTO’s out there in pretty drivable shape for less. Also, less the monster bumpers!
I’m not dropping $30K on a “Could’ve been” There are “real” restorable GTO’s out there in pretty drivable shape for less. Also, less the monster bumpers!
Not exactly the same, but kind of like a Vega-GT tribute car made from a standard Vega.
Amen to that. I was thinking the same thing. I guess great minds think alike. 🤣
I think I had just read that part of the reason there was no 75 GTO is GM was doing away with the Pontiac 350 and it meant a 75 GTO would have gotten the Buick 350 and some at Pontiac thankfully said no way is a Pontiac GTO going to be powered by a Buick motorplant.
This is kind of a neat, head turning car. Not sure on the price though? Maybe a little steep?
I was disappointed to see a Chevy engine instead of a Poncho engine. (Not that there isn’t anything wrong with the Chevy.) When working at a Pontiac store in the early ”70s. We had a,green Ventura with the white rally/sprint stripe in loaner service. It had the 350 Poncho engine and was well optioned with the rally wheels and bucket seats . It was a favorite of the employees and went on many “vacations”. (,including one of mine) After about 9 .months it had accumulated over 30,000 miles and had to be cycled out. If circumstances were right I would buy one. (And who knows, the 350 might get swapped out for a 455!
too much money for nova dressed as a Pontiac. at least have a Pontiac motor in it
I’m sure this car is fun to drive but ’76 Ventura’s were not very good looking. Or GTOs. So, what do you get for 30 big ones?
All in all, pretty well done. A Pontiac engine would have made a huge difference!
Does the hood close?
I had a 4dr 1976 Pontiac Ventura. The Ventura SJ was a 4dr with automatic in the floor. The available engines were the Chevy 250 ci inline 6., The Oldsmobile 260 ci V8 , and the Buick 350 V8 . Mine came with the 350. The gearing was for the Chevy 6 engine. Could I have ordered the car it would have had the 250 Chevy or the Oldsmobile 260. The thermostat in the Buick engine was 220 degrees. I had to replace the head gaskets twice before I realized the problem. A 180 degree thermostat worked perfectly. The cylinder heads had to be shaved and a 3 angle grind was done on the valves and valve seats. That work woke the Buick engine up. That and replacing the 2 bbl intake with a 4 bbl intake and carb. The car is would fly.
A rather unusual and high priced creation, but whoever becomes the next owner will have the only one at Cars & Coffee, or just about anywhere they travel.
Sweet little ride. No way near 30 grand worth of sweet little ride but still sweet. That price is an indication someone doesn’t really want to sell. Maybe appeasing the spouse! 🤣😂😅
This caught my eye immediately. Nicely done pseudo-GTO.
Like others have said, 30 large is a big ask though.
Where’s the shaker hood scoop that the real 74 Ventura based GTO had? The 74 had a 350 Chevy in it and my brother bought one new for his first wife LOL. If you are building a tribute, do it right!