Welcome to another installment of the CarDomain Obscure Muscle Car Parking Lot, a regular feature which aims to expand the definition of what a muscle car is, and to discover hidden treasures while doing so. When I started this series of posts, I stated that all of the vehicles featured were not generally thought of as muscle cars, or were rare oddities within the muscle car period. I’ve introduced you to the first turbocharged American car, an English Touring car with the heart of a Chrysler, a couple of German Uber Sedans, even a couple of V-8 equipped Japanese models, among others. I even tried to convince you that turbocharged 4 cylinder models were muscle, and made an argument for front wheel drive vehicles. So, you wouldn’t think I would be showcasing a car with one of the most revered names in the Muscle Car category, but this car is a one year only model, the 11th of the series, and the last American made version. Let’s take a look at the 1974 Pontiac (Ventura) GTO.
Continue reading after the jump!
Pontiac started selling a version of the Chevrolet Nova during the 1971 model year named the Ventura II, and utilized Chevrolet engines for the first year, including the 250 CID Six Cylinder, 307 CID V-8, and the 350 CID V-8. However, Pontiac decided to drop the Chevrolet 350 and install their own 350 CID V-8, to try and align their new compact with the rest of the Pontiac lineup. This became the only V-8 offered on the Ventura for the 73 and 74 model years (having dropped the II designation in 1972). 1973 also saw the introduction of a hatchback coupe (Along with the Chevrolet Nova), giving the vehicle more versatility. All in all, a very nice compact. Yet Chevrolet offered an SS version of the Nova, and the new for 1973 Pontiac GTO was under performing in the market (It shared the new “Collonade” styling of all the GM intermediates that year), so something drastic was called for.
For the 1974 model year, Pontiac introduced the Ventura GTO option package, which sold for $195 over the price of a comparable V-8 equipped Ventura. The base engine (and the only engine) was the Pontiac supplied 350 CID V-8, producing 200 HP, with 295 lb. ft. of touque. The Ventura was updated this year featuring a quasi Firebird styled grill, with driving light styled lamps inserted in the grill, so the “Baby” GTO looked right. Other equipment that came with the GTO package included Radial Tuned Suspension, including front and rear stabilizer bars, Power Steering, “Rally II” wheels, dual exhaust with “splitter” tips, and a rear facing “shaker” air scoop. The GTO option was available on the base Ventura Coupe or Hatchback Coupe, or the Ventura Custom Series Coupe or Hatchback. On the Custom series, carpeting was standard, as was all vinyl upholstery, added bright trim, and other miscellaneous items.
In its May 1974 issue, Cars magazine compared a well-optioned ‘74 GTO complete with four-speed manual transmission and 3.08 gears to a ‘64 GTO with a 389 four-barrel engine, automatic transmission, and 3.55 gears. With Brooklyn legend Nunzi Romano behind the wheel, the ‘74 posted a best quarter-mile pass of 15.72 seconds at 88 mph with the 64 model turning 15.64 at 90 mph. Zero-to-60-mph times were 7.7 for the Ventura GTO and 7.4 seconds for the 64 model. But even though the new model was not as quick, writers raved not only about its performance balance, but also how much ride and handling had improved since its inception.
Some car enthusiasts consider the ‘74 as an anomaly within the GTO family tree. Just 7,058 were built during the ‘74 model year. Total production numbers can be broken down to 687 hatchbacks with manual transmission, 1,036 hatchbacks with automatic transmission, 2,487 coupes with manual transmission, and 2,848 coupes with automatic transmission. But when you consider that only 4,806 “Collonade” GTOs were built during the ‘73 model year, it appears the smaller, X-body GTO may have offered to buyers more practicality than earlier models.
CarDomain Members Rides
There are eight 1974 GTOs represented in the CarDomain community, and they can all be seen here. However, let me show you a couple of my favorites.
Here is Bob’s 1974 GTO from Deerfield Beach, Florida. It is very clean, and original. Check out the Red and White interior, something that could only come from the 70’s. Check it out, and leave Bob a comment.
There you have it, the last US Built Pontiac GTO, built from what essentially is a Chevy Nova. Did you know they ever existed? This one is a great example of that Obscure Muscle Car, and while I think it deserves a place on the Parking Lot, what do you think? I look forward to your discussions.
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