I don’t know what it is about a primer gray GM X-body that makes me feel good. Maybe it’s fond memories of my mother’s Oldsmobile Omega, or maybe it’s because they make for very interesting project fodder. Engine choice? Sky is the limit. Transmission choice? Same. Parts availability? Thank you, Camaro and Firebird, plentiful. In fact, the hardest decision you would need to make is which face you want your car wearing: Chevrolet, Buick, Olds, Pontiac or, if you are really warped, Cadillac. Just like the Dodge Dart and the Ford Falcon, the X-body is one of those cheap compact cars that became so much more due to it’s versatility. Plus, they make bitchin’ street machines.
This 1973 Pontiac Ventura looks to have had the wee rung out of it over the last fortyish years, but it’s a desert car. No rust, no worries. Random 350 (you can tell me if I’m looking at Poncho or Chevy) and automatic. Two late-model bucket seats up front, and the fold down rear bench that came with the hatchback models…that’s right, this Ventura is a hatch! With a new windshield and new exhaust, all we’d need is a quick walk-around to make sure nothing would crap out on us. $4,577 is the cost…would you say it’s worth it?
Craigslist Link: 1973 Pontiac Ventura Hatchback
Judging by where the alternator is, Pontiac.
Hatchback? More like a station wagon with no rear windows!
There’s nothing rough about this car in my opinion as the grey primer really suits it and it should be left well alone…
Needs the ’74 GTO hood to complete the package.
Worth the asking price? Yup. Even in Ohio rusty ones that still crawl around under the power they have go for that.
I would:
1 Find some 73-77 A body or 70-81 F body buckets that are usable. Put those in place. Get a RH200R4 built like it was a turbo regal. Get a Pontiac 400 worked over and bored out. (read on the interwebs about 455’s and cooling jackets). I would remove the tint from the windows. Not only would it get you tickets here in ohio, I have had tinted windows, hate them at night.
I would check for filler the best I could. Block sand the thing down. Get the 74 GTO shaker hood. Give the thing a single stage blue twilight blue metallic paint job with flattening agent. Make it look like it was repainted in the 1990’s and let out in the sun since then.
Of course I would have to find a 12 bolt because I would have killed the 10 bolt after 20 launches.
Stage II would be sending a Pontiac 428 block down to my buddy in GA. With the car for a turbo poncho V8 build. That’s after I made sure the car was worthy.
Then the next thing likely would be a NHRA approved cage.