The Ventura II (later just plain Ventura, then Phoenix) was Pontiac’s answer to the Chevrolet Nova. It was produced from 1971 to 1979 and used the Nova’s X-body and much of its sheet metal. The Sprint was an appearance option that mirrored the Nova SS, even though the GTO was a Ventura only for the 1974 model year. The seller has a sweet 1973 Sprint, which appears to need nothing, and it’s available here on Facebook Marketplace for $32,500. Located in Delaware, Ohio, it’s been on the market for a month (price?).
Between 1964 and 1970, Pontiac did not field a compact car. That’s because the Tempest/LeMans was upgraded to a mid-size package, and no replacement was deemed necessary. But compacts were soon all the rage, and Pontiac took the easy route by cloning a Chevy Nova (as also did Oldsmobile and Buick). Besides a different front clip and taillights, the Ventura also used Pontiac drivetrains, and we assume a 350 cubic inch V8 comes with this car.
Has this Pontiac been restored or is it a super nice original? We don’t know. The seller seems more focused on potential buyers having a cool trade to “catch his eye” and “be real.” In most of the photos, I would have bet the paint color is black, but hints of brown pop up in a couple of pics. The interior is white and black with brown carpeting, at a minimum. The odometer is said to read under 70,000 miles, but the numbers look suspiciously like a placeholder.
Besides a 350 V8, the Sprint has a manual transmission, which we’ll assume is a 4-speed. We’re told everything works as it should and it’s a “super clean” ride, adding up to a great driver. If you’ve been looking for a 1970s Nova SS, perhaps this Poncho will do instead. But we have a feeling the car isn’t moving because of the advertised price. Thanks for the tip, JDC.
Have to agree with the author, seems pricey for a brown car with a sagging headliner. Plastic door panels look good. Looks like a nicely maintained northern car as the plastic interior looks good in the pictures and lack of A/C. Rowing through the gears should bring the smiles per mile!
Cadmanls…Also cracked dash pad that price is way too high. And I seen beautiful looking Nova SS ,but never at this price unless super clean very low mileage and everything is stock original and true survivor. Since this 350 may or may not be a Pontiac sup up not stock i would say $25,000.00. 🇺🇸🐻
One thing is sure, that aint no Pontiac motor in there
The ever ready sbc.
How can you tell it is not a Pontiac I don’t know how to tell
The angle of the drivers side header tube on cylinder #1. A Pontiac exhaust port points down, if it was a Pontiac engine the header tube would not be visible in this picture..
Steve R
That’s the most Chevy small block looking Pontiac 350 i’ve ever seen..from the tiny bit i see..the alternator is on the Chevy side :| This is a 10k car tops..so much wrong..But it looks awesome..from 20 feet..lol
Honest, honey, I’m trying to sell the car. But for some reason I’m not getting any bites. ;-)
Ooh la la! Eye grabbing car! All you gotta do is look at the valve covers. SBC for sure. That said, I gotta agree with the above comments. although you probably get some credit for being not just another Nova, somehow the big bumpers look better with the split grille, etc that says “Pontiac!” Not perfect. and for those $ it should be closer…looker, though with the right drivetrain.
Pontiac alternators are on the left (drivers side)and the A/C would be on the right if it had it. Also Pontiac dipsticks are also on the right in this era, with the exception of the 301.
another 1 way too much money and to have a chevy motor instead of a poncho motor. no way. this is a clean 15k Ventura. good color combo
bought a ’72 lighter bright grn (that typically seen back then, remember it?) 1 from a friend to move N from WVa 1980 that had a lift back.
The 9.5 hr, 600 mi – 1 shot trip, it’s another long story in&of itself…
Every stop lght meant ‘spin tires’ when leaving if not careful. 350 seemed a lill too powerful (or rear gear) for me~
Pontiac dropped the ball here when they failed to follow Chevy’s suit by not making a bigger engine available as a factory option in a smaller vehicle! Pontiac did it in ’64 w/a 389 in their Tempest LeMans & Chevy did it w/the 396 in their Nova’s. In the July ’71 issue of Super Stock & Drag Illustrated they evaluated a Ventura w/a 455 HO under the bonnet but by then it was too late for the buying public.
It might as well be a Nova with a 350 small block engine…
Pretty neat little car, that you hardly see anymore. But it’s not close to being a $30k car. Maybe half that. Maybe…
20k maybe. And that’s a big maybe. Anyone paying a penny more is just a sucker.
As usual, and mentioned a few times here, if it hasn’t sold for a while you can pretty much bet it’s because of the price.
Nice looking car, even with the little chevy. But not 30 k nice. 12k maybe?
Maybe 15 with that 4 spd.