The 1970s Ventura was Pontiac’s version of the Chevrolet Nova. They needed a compact car to compete, and cloning the Nova was the logical (and easiest) route to go. The front clip and taillights were different, but not much… more»
Ventura
• For Sale • 12 Comments
Former Movie Car: 1976 Pontiac Ventura
Needing a compact to sell, Pontiac introduced a knock-off of the Chevrolet Nova in 1971 and called it Ventura II (the Ventura had previously been a full-size car). It followed in the Nova’s shadow through 1977, after which it… more»
• For Sale • 50 Comments
Crazy Custom: 1960 Pontiac Ventura
It is true that while some classics appearing on Barn Finds raise barely a murmur, others will ignite spirited debate. I expect this 1960 Pontiac Ventura to fall into the second category. It is a crazy custom with so… more»
• For Sale • 20 Comments
455 V8 Transplant: Final Year 1974 Pontiac GTO
The Pontiac GTO had a storied run of 11 years (1964-74). But changes in the market and the demand for muscle cars would shift as the 1970s unfolded. For the first 10 years of its life, the GTO was… more»
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Nova Alternative: 1973 Pontiac Ventura
Among the seventies GM X-Body platform offerings, the Chevrolet Nova generally seems to receive more attention than all the others combined, which is easy to grasp since it remains such a well-known and desirable auto. However, that car’s corporate… more»
• Auctions • 7 Comments
BF Auction: 1960 Pontiac Ventura Vista
Emerging from this garage is a classic with a great story to tell. It is a 1960 Pontiac Ventura Vista that spent three decades in storage. The current owner recently revived this beauty, returning it to a roadworthy state… more»
• For Sale • 26 Comments
Same Owner 40 Years: 1966 Pontiac Ventura
Throughout the 1960s, the Ventura was a trim option on the popular Pontiac Catalina. It was limited to` coupes and convertibles’ to add an extra touch of sportiness. That goal led to the introduction of the Grand Prix in… more»
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GTO Tribute: 1976 Pontiac Ventura 350 V8
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… more»
• For Sale • 19 Comments
One-Owner Survivor: 1970 Pontiac Ventura 400
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… more»
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8-Lug Wheels Included: 1966 Pontiac Catalina 421
The horsepower race was well and truly alive in the 1960s, and every American manufacturer wanted a slice of the pie. Given its recent success with the GTO, it is unsurprising that Pontiac bolted a huge V8 under the… more»
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Original 421: 1966 Pontiac Catalina Ventura
When a classic tips the scales at over 4,000 lbs, it requires something special under the hood to deliver respectable performance. This 1966 Pontiac Catalina Ventura ticks that box, courtesy of its 421ci V8. The car presents superbly, and… more»
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Bubbletop Beauty: 1961 Pontiac Ventura
The Ventura spent its first decade as a trim package for the popular Pontiac Catalina until the moniker was eventually moved to the GM X-Body in 1971, which often gets mistaken as a Chevrolet Nova. The name first appeared… more»
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Garage Kept: 1975 Pontiac Ventura
Cars evolved tremendously from the 1960s into the 1970s, and not always in a good direction. The Pontiac Ventura emerged in 1960, sharing a platform with the Catalina. Its stylish horizontal fins, graceful hard top, and beefy V8 struck… more»
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48 Years Captive: 1964 Pontiac Catalina Ventura
From 1959 to 1981, Catalina was the volume sales leader in the Pontiac portfolio. It may have been Pontiac’s equivalent of the Chevy Impala. And in the 1960s, you could order the Catalina Ventura which brought a custom level… more»
• For Sale • 24 Comments
Final Outing: 1974 Pontiac GTO
With sales of its mid-size muscle car – the GTO – on the skids through 1973, Pontiac shifted the auto’s focus to competing with compacts like the Plymouth Duster 360. It was now an option on the Ventura, which… more»
• For Sale • 21 Comments
One-Year-Only Ventura Package: 1974 Pontiac GTO
The 1974 Pontiac GTO was the last one before the car took a lengthy hiatus, with the name not revived again until it made a brief comeback nearly 30 years later, but the fifth-generation Goat didn’t stick around for… more»
