Launched in 1960, the Ventura was a trim option on the popular Catalina. In 1971, the Ventura nameplate was transferred to Pontiac’s version of the Nova compact. This beautiful 1970 edition is a one-owner car with 68,000 miles and is in search of a new home (perhaps the owner is past his/her prime in driving age). Located in a neat garage in Lawrence Township, New Jersey, this Pontiac can be yours for $15,000 OBO here on Facebook Marketplace. Another great tip sourced by Barn Finder T.J.!
As a fancier Catalina, we understand that the Ventura inspired the Grand Prix personal luxury car in 1962. It was another of Detroit’s automobiles to have its name derived from a community in California, the Catalina having been one of them, and the Chevy Malibu another. Based on the seller’s car’s MSRP, the Ventura option only cost $105 extra, bringing the total cost of this well-equipped vehicle to just over $5,000 ($42,000 today).
This Pontiac came from the factory finished in Granada Gold paint, which appears to be original, and we suspect the matching vinyl top and vinyl interior are of a similar hue. Its owner sprung $52 to upgrade to a 400 cubic inch V8 with a 2-barrel carburetor and $223 more for a Turbo-Hydramatic transmission (TH-400?). We told the car was “recently serviced” (whatever that means) and runs and drives quite well.
Quite a lot of paperwork comes with the automobile (dating back 55 years?), and it appears to have spent much of its time in a nice dry place. Sure, there are a few little chips and dings, but that’s not unexpected of a car built in the 1970s. There were great machines, and I hope this one finds a gentle home in the near future.
💯 Dixon great car. The 400 Pontiac will deliver the torque. The upgraded powertrain were dollars well spent.
One of the least popular Pontiac front end treatments of the era happens to be my favourite,much how i love the 71/72′ Thunderbird front ends.Always marched to the beat of my own drummer and prefer cars that stand out.Would not kick this babe outta bed for eating crackers.
I’m like you ThunderRob, I was very fond of the front end treatment of these. My 4th grade teacher had a brand new 70 Catalina. He still had it when I was high school, and I had the privilege/pleasure of working on it in the school auto shop. I liked his better than this one because his didn’t have the vinyl top, which in my opinion makes it look much cleaner.
The front end reminds me of the cars Dunham Coachworks built.
I realize the Ventura option in 63′ 64′ had the neat gauges in the middle of the dash. My favorite yrs..Not sure if 1970 offered these gauges. Was a floor shift buckets n console available in 70′?
It’s got that caprice rooftop to it. I wonder what Buick olds did that also
Actually the roof is shared with Buick and Olds (B-O-P). Chevrolet had their own unique roof with the concave rear glass. You don’t have to share when one half the production is a single brand.
Actually this roof was also shared by Chevrolet on the Impala Sport Coupe. The roof and rear window are shared but the sail panel on the Chevy is wider than the rest of the bunch. The Caprice and Impala Custom Coupes had the concave rear glass and more upright side windows with an even wider sail panel.
Not the same as the Impala sport coupe but did echo the ’66 to ’68 Caprice. So maybe that’s what Ken was referring to originally.
Yes it is a sweet ride all it needs is a intake manifold with 650 holley ,headers & Cooper cobra white letter tires & the widow maker rides again!
Beautiful car just the way it is. I especially like the front end. I never could figure out the small round grills beside the headlights. Are they functional or only appearance?
Horns
Although not mainstream popular, the distinctive style of the ’70 Pontiac was and is one of my favorites. By then John Z was at Chevrolet but Bunkie carried the torch before jumping over to Ford. The roof is not as handsome as those that would follow but ushered in the more formal trend. Muscle was property of the midsized and pony cars and the public taste was changing quickly. I would love to have this car.
Aunt & uncle next door always had Cadillacs until the family started to grow bigger and they switched to Pontiac station wagons. But after a brief revival with their 1968 Cadillac Sedan de Ville they ordered a new 1970 Pontiac Catalina station wagon. Uncle picked the car up from the dealer but it wasn’t the one they had ordered. After a week, he returned it and ended buying a 1970 Chrysler wagon. I loved that Chrysler. The Pontiac had quite a controversial front end. It’s kinda like an English Bulldog. Ugly as sin but beautiful at the same time. I bet those grill center pieces needed to be replaced often. Only two more years before the huge ram bumpers took over.
My father had a 1970 Pontiac Bonneville, Brome with a 455 and it ran and rode well.
This is a great color in & out. But then, I’m partial to greens & browns in these older cars. They seem to be long gone now along with styling.
Nice motor upgrade & I don’t often see 2-door full-size Pontiacs.
Nice find.
So when did they switch to the “Nova” body style for the Ventura? 1971 or 72?
@Tim Hahn
N Nova = Chevrolet
O Omega = Olds
V Ventura = Pontiac
A Apollo = Buick
Ten minutes under the hood with a couple cleaning rags would help it present so much better… I dunno maybe dust = treasured patina?