Upgraded 1972 Pontiac Ventura II

Before 1971, the last time Pontiac fielded a compact car was in 1963. The Tempest was upgraded to mid-size status in 1964, leaving a void in the Pontiac lineup compared to Chevrolet. Since Chevy had so much success with the Nova, Pontiac got their version of it in 1971 and dubbed it the Ventura II. The front clip was different, as were the taillights, so it otherwise looked very much like a Nova at first glance. The seller has owned this nice example for 10 years and has made some custom touches. Located in Brunswick, Ohio, this copper rocket is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $15,900. Thanks for the tip, JDC!

Pontiac had used the Ventura nameplate on a full-size car as recently as 1970, so adding the II to the name was easy. After 1972, the II was dropped, and later in the decade, the compact would be renamed Phoenix. Production numbers for the Ventura were light compared to the Nova: 48,484 units in 1971 vs. 194,878, but enough for Pontiac to appeal to more buyers. In 1971, only Chevy engines were used in the Ventura II; in 1972, a Pontiac 350 cubic inch V8 was added to the mix.

No mention is made if the 350 V8 or the TH-350 automatic transmission in this car is numbers-matching. The bronze paint was redone at some point and is a shade off from the factory color. Rather than applying the rally stripe with vinyl for easy removal, it was painted on when the rest of the car was sprayed. The interior is original and looks good except that the aftermarket front seat cover hides a tear.

In the decade the seller has owned this good-running Pontiac, the following have been done: the car has been lowered two inches, the factory A/C was removed, but the compressor survives, a new carburetor was added, and some hoses and other apparatus were replaced. The front tires are newer, as is the water pump and oil pan. The engine was resealed and repainted nine years ago. The car now has front disc brakes where drums once resided. A car cover and spare parts are included in the sale. If you like this generation of the Chevy Nova, you’re bound to like this Poncho!