Market shifts buffeted the Ventura’s niche throughout its existence. Its first incarnation as a premium trim level on the Catalina, a full-sized cruiser, lasted until 1970. By then, smaller imports were swarming our roads, sparking platform downsizing across all manufacturers. Pontiac shifted the Ventura to the compact X-body chassis in 1971 and made it a distinct model. But once again, sales sank as imports – now in luxury guise – absorbed yet more market share. Meanwhile, the division’s GTO suffered a similar fate, driven by weight gains layered onto performance downgrades. So in a last effort to save the model, Pontiac gave buyers a GTO trim package option in 1974. The market rebelled against the perceived downgrade of the formerly revered GTO name, and the option lasted only one year. Here on craigslist is a restored Ventura GTO with an asking price of $19,000, located in Winchester, Virginia. Thanks to Jack M. for the tip – great find!
The Ventura GTO received GM’s L76 350 cu. in. V8 topped with a four-barrel Quadrajet, good for about 200 hp. A functional shaker hood and a dual exhaust emphasized the car’s performance aspirations. This one has an automatic, but at least one manual transmission was available. It looks like it has a new-ish aluminum radiator. Other rebuilt or renewed parts include the brakes and the fuel system. The car also rides on fresh tires. The Ventura GTO couldn’t match its much older sibling from the ’60s in a drag race, but it came close.
GTO trim meant optional power steering, which our subject car has; front discs, Pontiac’s Saf-T-Track limited-slip differential, and special radial tires. These bucket seats were also optional, as was AC. The seller notes that this interior has been restored along with the mechanical bits mentioned above.
The paint is new, but I wish the bumpers had been left chromed. The Rallye wheels are handsome, and most every other detail adds to this car’s presence. Only 7058 Ventura GTOs were made, and far fewer survived. And 1974 was the final year for GTO-anything, as Pontiac began marketing its TransAm in the performance niche. If this example passes an in-person inspection, this little muscle car is probably priced right. Comparable cars haven’t sold recently, but asking prices are hovering around $50k.
I like the way it looks, painted bumpers and all. What a great color for this car! 200 HP may not be much, but there’s plenty of aftermarket grinds that can easily bump that number up and won’t harm originality.
I take that back, this car is not original anyway.
I don’t believe this is a real GTO, I’d need to see some documentation. The small block Chevy kills it for me. That said, pretty car, but it needs 72 bumpers, chrome, of course.
It came from the factory with a Pontiac 350, the ad doesn’t mention that the motor is not original, does something not look right in the picture?
Those are Chevy heads in the picture. Pontiac heads have exhaust ports pointed nearly straight down, so that’s a Chevy small block.
The 7 UPS anybody?
Another great chase scene with Bill Hickman aranging and also being behind the wheel. The way he drove that Grand Ville was unreal. And that poor Ventura Roy Scheider drove, what a beating both those cars took.
Seeing that two ton Pontiac sedan get airborn is a sight to behold,…
Great movie how to make a convertible out of a hard top the hard way Also one of the better car chases and a great cast and a movie that never gets old now i have to watch it again.
That movie saved my life. When I had an unavoidable accident with a semi-trailer. (sideways across the road at night with no lights on the trailer, but bright lights on the tractor angled to blind you coming down the highway) When I realized that I was “going in/under” I played down on the passenger side just before the hit. It wasn’t as violent as the movie. And I hit at an angle as I started to swerve around the back end of the trailer, but there was a tree blocking my path. But after all the noise stopped. All I could think of was Roy Scheider sitting up, white as a ghost and all the glass falling off of him. I started laughing. The truck driver thought I was drunk. The car stopped with my headrest up against the trailer. If I hadn’t seen the movie, I probably wouldn’t have thought to lay down.
A very similar incident to yours just played out here in Mpls.
7 teens in a stolen Hyundai Elantra escaping a robbery & shoot-out scene, ran a red light at high speed & drove under the trailer of a semi crossing the intersection. The truck dragged the car a ways before stopping. 3 are dead & last I saw the other 4 had life threatening injuries.
My sympathy is with the semi driver and the vehicle owner who may have been car jacked (or some other way of theft) because they have to look for another ride. I don’t feel bad for the kids. They’re known to the police already. They were all under 20 with one of the deceased just 15. 2 words gone missing in today’s world: responsible parenting.
I think of Jayne Mansfield and her accident in the 60s is the reason those bars are installed at the back of every semi- trailer.
I’m glad you survived.
Awesome movie with the 2 Pontiacs in the car chase that is all I have to say about that
Nicely done but is the front bumper supposed to have that much clearance on the corners? I know the absorption was like 5 mph but this seems extreme to me. The plates say antique lol; I 🎓 in 1974 so I know the feeling! ✌
Good eye – absolutely not the bumper should be flush I’m thinking it’s a Junk yard Bumper off a different model car & simply bolted on.
That’s the correct front bumper for a 74 Ventura, but it looks like it’s missing the urethane filler panel that goes between the bumper and grill panel. The early 73-75 urethane GM used tended to dry out and become brittle, so much so that I know people who walked into their garage to see the bumpers on their 74 as just a pile of urethane pieces laying on the floor.
Looking at it closer it actually looks like the energy absorbing shocks for the front bumper may have been replaced to move the bumper closer to the body in an effort to take up some of the gap behind the bumper.
The front bumper is not like the ,68to72; front bumpers so there is no absorption on them cars it’s all Chrome
I have been known to drill a small hole in the absorber. (Carfull not to get squirted in the eye. And no way not to make a mess) and then collapse the absorber to the desired length. (Measure before removing bumper. Also remember to have a plan to reattach the bumper as you no longer have the room you had before collapsing the absorbers. ) A neighbor kid was over watching me do this and decided to do his car. But he drilled the holes while the bumper was still attached. He had fluid everywhere! And it got in areas where the car continued to leak fluid for months! He then pushed the. Bumper in against a tree. It kind of looked ok. But when really looking close the center pointed part seemed farther in, in relation to the rest of the bumper.
Pontiac…We build excitement. 🤣🤣🤣 Not in those years but nobody did.
That’s not true. 1973 Pontiac Grand Prix S J with the 455 was a beast.
Respectfully disagree HOTROCKS. 250 hp moving close to 2 tons is hardly a beast. I actually looked at that era of GP’s while stationed at Ft. Hood but did not buy one.
I had a 72 SJ GP, it was a nice car but it was hardly a beast. I will say you could “chirp” the F78x14’s bia ply tires in second by shifting the automatic manually (lol). I inherited it when my mother passed away in 73 and traded it in six months later on a new 74 Trans Am.
Rear gear ratio makes the difference.
It’s a really nice looking car, and I bet will get up and go pretty decently even with ‘only’ 200HP. So it’s not 100% original, for the price I would imagine the buyer would get many fun years out of it. I prefer originality myself but a car can still be a really nice ride even with some some non OEM changes, imo.
$ 6000
Cash
I have never heard of a Ventura GTO. Are you sure this ad isn’t from April 1st?
Regardless, it looks clean, but for the money being asked, I wouldn’t want to buy it. Someone will I suspect.
https://www.hagerty.com/media/car-profiles/forgotten-1974-pontiac-gto-is-worthy/
Excellent write up….not being a fan of these cars, I agree that a few performance bolt ons and a good tune, that engine would be right around 300 hp…..pretty peppy for the ‘74 model year at 3400 lbs…….
https://www.hagerty.com/media/car-profiles/forgotten-1974-pontiac-gto-is-worthy/
TY 4 that North End Mike. Interesting add on to all this narrative.
There was even a Buick Apollo GSX sister car available for 1974.
My first ” real ” car was a 74 Ventura with a gto nose. Was in an accident at some point and front clip was replaced had a Pontiac 350 swapped in a Pontiac 455 smog motor but tons of torque. I loved that car had some great times in it. Growing up in mass rust got it and I missed it since. If I could find a good one ( has to have a bench seat ) I’d be inclined to buy it 10k would be my too dollar. Have to get cragers and side pipes on it asap. Lol I’m sure the memories are way better than the real thing .
Still waiting on a Hatchback to show up…
I live in Texas. . . NO AIR. . . NO BUY!!!
It’s like the Buick sister car, the Apollo.
For 1974 you could order an Apollo GSX..
The price of the GSX option package was only $ 96
1562 Apollo GSX’s were ordered that year.
Wough. There’s that horrible steering wheel (just me) again. The car is okay but would really benefit from a crooked lever coming out of the floor and an extra pedal to operate it.
I posted comment but it never listed.
I have been passively been watching for a Ventura with a Pontiac engine for years. (Yes, I have a, soft spot in my head for these.) And yes, a 455, 428, 421 would replace the 350 and I would probably look for a “GTO HOOD AND SCOOP’ to complete the engine swap. Then all the handling goodies (lower upgraded springs, sway bars and rear disc brakes) would be added/swapped in.
A real 1974 GTO would have come with a Pontiac 350, not the belly-button Chebby motor in this one.
Powered by Chevy….ruined.
Hickman was 1 of the best wheel men in the business. i love all his driving scenes. SBC in this is a real let down as are the painted bumpers. not seeing 20k here. more like 7500.00. guess you have to start someplace.
The ad says Ventura with GTO trim. The seller makes it clear it’s just badged.
19K and not even a spare tire, smh
He probably had the bumpers painted to save money; I recently had two minibike (maxibike actually; Heald Super Bronc) fenders rechromed and the bill was $1,400…
You’ve gotta just hate some folks! I’ve been working on this for 6 years, got probably $40k in it so far with about $10k more to go, and it won’t be as impressive as this GTO. I may have a few more bells and whistles, but what a great looking car this is, and to my eye very under priced.