In 1971, Pontiac moved the name to their new X-bodyNova clone, the Ventura II.
Ventura II production ran from 1971 to 1977. The "II" suffix was dropped after 1972, and the Phoenix name replaced Ventura in 1978. Engine offerings for the abbreviated 1971 model year included a 250 cu in.six cylinder or 307 cu in., only the 307 was available for the Sprint option in '71. For 1972, a Pontiac-built 350 cu in. V8 with two-barrel carburetor was added to the option list and became the base V8 for 1973 and 1974. Transmission offerings consisted of a standard column-shift three-speed manual with options including a four-speed manual, two-speed automatic (with six-cylinder) or three-speed Turbo Hydra-Maticautomatic (with V8s). The 1973 six-cylinder Ventura was the last Pontiac model to offer the two-speed automatic, a badge-engineered Chevrolet Powerglide, which was dropped completely from all GM cars and trucks after this model year in favor of the Turbo Hydra-Matic.
A Ventura Sprint option package was offered on two-door models 1971 to 1975, including three-speed transmission with floor shift and optional 350 cu in. V8equipped four-speed, body color mirrors, custom carpeting, all-vinyl upholstery with either the standard bench or optional Strato bucket seats, Custom Sport steering wheel, blackout-grille trim, special striping, blackout grille, and 14x6" (36 cm diameter, 15 cm wide) wheels.
In mid-1972, Pontiac introduced the limited production Ventura SD for the Southern California market as sort of a sporty-luxury compact to counter imported luxury sedans then taking the U.S. market by storm. The SD option added the high-back Strato bucket seats from the Firebird along with a Custom Sport steering wheel, Rally II wheels, uprated suspension and other items. Some 250 Ventura SD's were built for 1972, all at the GM Nova/Ventura assembly plant in Van Nuys, California plant.
In 1974, the Pontiac GTO name moved to the Ventura from the intermediate LeMans line. The GTO package gave the basic Ventura a 350 cu in. (5.7L)engine with a four-barrel carburetor of about 200 hp (149 kW). The package also came with a functional "shaker" hood scoop, tri-color GTO decals, Rally II wheels, and special grill-mounted driving lights. The GTO package could be ordered on the hatchback Ventura as well as the base and Custom coupes.
1975 Pontiac Ventura
The GTO was dropped in 1975, along with the Pontiac 350. The Ventura could be optioned with the Buick 350 V8 instead.
The Ventura SJ was a new offering for 1975, when the Ventura and other GM compacts were restyled with new rooflines along with improved suspensions shared with the second generation F platform (Camaro/Firebird), plus standard front disc brakes. The Ventura SJ was marketed as an American rendition of a Euro-style luxury sport sedan that Pontiac created with the larger mid-sized Grand Am in 1973, as well as a competitor to the new-for-1975 Ford Granada and Mercury Monarch, both marketed as luxury compacts designed to compete with the more expensive imports such as Audi and Mercedes. As such the Ventura SJ included an upgraded interior with reclining bucket seats in either cloth or vinyl along with a center console, rally instrumentation and other items.
Only minor appearance changes were made to the Ventura for 1976 and 1977 including new grilles and revised taillights. 1976 saw the inclusion of the Oldsmobile 260 cubic inch V8. For 1977, the Chevy 250 six was replaced by Buick's 231 cu in V6 as the base powerplant and the Chevrolet 305 cubic-inch V8 was introduced as an option; the 2.5 liter "Iron Duke" 4-cylinder was also (and unusually) optional along with the 301 cu in V8. One unique feature for 1976 was the availability of a 5-speed manual transmission (Borg Warner T-50) with the 260 cubic inch V8; it was the standard transmission with the Iron Duke. Under 700 units total with this combination were built in 1976.
At the beginning of the 1977 model year, the Ventura SJ was the top-line model but at mid-year was replaced by the Phoenix, which featured a distinctive center grille and rectangular headlights and the most luxurious interior available in a Pontiac X-body car. Otherwise, the Phoenix was basically a plushed up Ventura much like the Chevrolet Concours was related to the more mundane Nova.
For 1978, the Ventura nameplate was retired and all X-body cars were sold under the Phoenix nameplate through that year and into 1979 with a top-line Phoenix SJ designated as the top-line series.
Is it a powerglide tranny? A buddy had a 72 Nova 6 cylinder with an odd 2 speed - There was a label in the dash's shift indicator, and if I remember correctly it was called a "Torque Drive". I got talking to a transmission expert, he said it was basically a manual shift powerglide, which likely cost GM more to produce as the automatic shift stuff would have to be left out during assembly.
They were introduced after the start of the '71 model year. Initially the Acadian came in until sometime after New Year. Then the Acadian was dropped and the new Ventura II was introduced in both Canada & the U.S. The reason for the "II" on the end of the Ventura name was due to their being a Ventura-badged trim option offered on U.S. Catalinas from 1960 through 1970.
Initially only the 250 six & 307 V8 were offered (all Chevy power). For 1972 the 350 Pontiac 2-barrel V8 was added to the option list (the 307 wasn't certified for sale in California for '72). In 1973 the 307 in a Ventura was Canada-only.
Powerglide was the only automatic for the sixes as the Torque Drive was last offered in '71 on Vegas & 6-cylinder Novas (& Acadians)
Pontiac didn't offer 4-barrel carbs with 350s after the 1969 H.O., in 1974 the 4-barrel 350 returned to the option list and was standard on the 1974 Ventura-based GTO. Even Novas didn't offer 4-barrel 350s on non-SS models between 1970-72 (except for the COPO LT-1 Novas in '70).
I had 1971 Ventura Sprint with a 307 and 3-speed on the floor. It was blue with a stripe package. I was very young and never maintained it. Would love to find a duplicate.
I had a two door 72 Ventura with 6 & PG back in 77-78. Loved the car and found that power train very peppy. However the back end was rusted out when I got it and it only got worse in the 18 months I owned it.
Would love to have another one, preferably a Sprint, 6 or V8.
anyone have any info on these cars ? i have an all stock 1971 Pontiac Ventura 2 door 6 cylinder powerglide is there any more out there
This '72 is still for sale in PEI. It was originally for sale in PEI for $3000, then was sold to NS where it came up again for, I think, $6500, went down to $4500, then went back to PEI, where it is now for sale at a 'reduced' price of $4900. It looks like a decent car, so I don't know why nobody seems to want to keep it. I believe it is 6 cyl with powerglide...
1972 PONTIAC VENTURA WILL TRADE FOR VW EXCELLENT CONDITION IN SIDE AND OUT NO RUST REG. AND INSP. ROAD READY NO ISSUES PHONE 902 6299270 no dealers or agents call after 6pm
There are a couple of threads about it on this forum:
Oh, that's too bad. But, whatever, I guess. It's nice to see the original ones still left, but everybody has a right to do what they want with their car, so it's all good.
