400 Powered? 1974 Pontiac GTO Project
I can’t be the only one in the world who thinks the ’74 GTO was a more-than-fair effort considering the atmosphere that fostered it. Yes, it’s a Nova in the most primitive sense, but it was about as quick as a base ’64 GTO and probably handled better. It didn’t look too bad either, with its Firebird-aping grill, tasteful graphics, and slim taillights. Its Pontiac 350 was saddled with a lawn-mower-inspired 7.6:1 compression ratio, but it still reached the 200 net horsepower mark, which was solid for a compact in 1974. The owner of this GTO on Craigslist has taken things a little further with an engine out of a ’69 GTO (a 400, I presume), but the new owner will need to take it the rest of the way. It’s a project-in-progress.
You knew you didn’t need to ask; you already saw the Massachusetts plate on it. There is rust, but perhaps not as much as one would expect from a Northern car. The owner says that the patches are not professional, but they don’t look that bad either. Finishing up those spot welds and doing a little work with the flap disc would have them looking more presentable. There is also a little rust “on floor and fender.”
The interior is incomplete, and no mention is made of the missing passenger seat. The floorpan falls into the “I’ve seen a lot worse” category, so the owner’s claim that you could drive the GTO while working on it is plausible. The shifter looks for all the world like it’s attached to a Muncie or a Saginaw, but the ad says it’s an automatic.
This appears to be where the money has gone: a “very very strong” 1969 GTO engine with 300 miles on it. It has a 10 bolt with 3.42 gears and a limited slip, so it’s bound to be a fun ride, even as it stands. I’m not sure about the peeling engine paint or the alternator’s position on its bracket, but the latter might be solved by a longer belt. It looks like there’s an Edelbrock intake up top with an AVS2 carburetor, which is a nice setup. If it were mine, I’d reinstall the heater, because there’s no reason not to drive your old car until the salt hits (in my opinion).
With Rally IIs, a new set of Coopers, and the most appropriate-for-a-’74-GTO paint color, this might not be a bad project for someone who doesn’t mind fielding some “nice Nova” jokes. It’s priced at $12,000, and we thank Tony Primo for sending it our way.
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Comments
You calls this a GTO? I put this in the same class as all the waning muscle cars, once so proud, reduced to this. Don’t get me wrong, it still embodied what made a muscle car popular, just to a lesser extent. Just like the Road Runner, or the Charger, and lest we forget what Ford offered in 1974 for the Mustang, change was clearly afoot. I happen to like all the Nova types, but to call it a GTO just doesn’t sit right. Also, for a Mass. car, gonna be a bit chilly with that heater delete. While I like it, the appeal for this has got to be less than zero today, or will be soon.
Mid 70s, Such a terrible period for cars in general.
And that terrible period was just beginning. .
The LeMans GTO of 1964 set the standard of what a GTO was, the full-size models’ engines in the smallest/lightest/cheapest mid-size platform. The X-body Ventura GTO would have been a proper “return to its roots” effort if they had offered the 400 and 455 engines. Even deturned as they were in 1974, these engines as offered in other Pontiacs still had the power, and especially the torque, to make the X-body GTO a real muscle car. The Pontiac 350 was a great engine, but it fell short of what it took to meet the established GTO formula. What a missed opportunity. In addition to offering the 400 standard and and the 455 as an option, Pontiac should have gone to the X-body for 1972, two years earlier. With a 455 HO under the hood, it would have been an awesome musclecar.
The ’64 Goat was a Tempest with a big motor (389). The Le Mans didn’t come out until ’65.
LeMans came out as the top trim on the Tempest line in 1961.
The GTO option package was only available on the LeMans for 1964 and 1965, after which it became it’s own model through ’71, after which it once again was an option on the LeMans for ’72 and ’73, and finally an option on the Ventura for ’74.
A friend of mine owned a ’64 LeMans with the 326 V8.
There was also a LeMans offered in 1961 through 1963 with the Slant four. That car could be had with a Buick 215 aluminum V8 in ’61 and 62, or with the 326 V8 in ’63.
The GTO package (Sales Code 382) was a $295.90 option on the 1964 LeMans, available in the Sport (“post”) Coupe, Hardtop Coupe and Convertible body styles.
You were never able to buy a Tempest with a GTO option. You had to start with a Lemans in 64, 65, 72, and 73.
Is the Shaker permanently mounted on the hood now? I guess you can just view this as a Nova that’s getting upgraded.
I like it. I owned a 65 and a 68 GTO, and the fact that this isn’t one of those doesn’t bother me. Think of it as a 74 Nova SS in Pontiac paint. It has needs, but at $12k, I think it’s a fair price. Consider what a 74 Nova SS (admittedly in better condition) would sell for. https://barnfinds.com/350-v8-4-speed-1974-chevrolet-nova-ss/
Just like every small block Chevy engine that’s been swapped is claimed to be a “Corvette engine”, every transplanted Pontiac engine seems to have come from a “GTO”.
I sort of liked the 74 GTO. I’d ordered a Cosworth Vega in 74, but when it’s release was delayed till 75, I went looking for something else. I bought a 74 Trans Am, but I did test drive a 74 GTO. It really wasn’t a bad little car. It drove and handled well, was pretty sharp looking in red and like this car it was pretty useful in the hatchback version. I liked the 74 a lot more than the 73 version of the “Goat”. Apparently the public felt the same as more 74’s were sold then 73’s (though the 73 Grand Am surely hurt the GTO’s sales).
I never understood removing the heater unless you’re building a track only car. The 74 GTO had a Trans Am-esque shaker air cleaner and scoop, that’s missing from this car, but instead it looks like they’ve bolted the shaker to the hood? The photos all have the hood open, I wonder what the installation looks like? Overall I’m not too impressed with what I see here, especially for $12K.
You are right, lots of questionable work, especially for the money. The shaker scoop is one of the selling points for the car, bolting it in place defeats the purpose.
As for the heater, the size of the patch suggests it was AC equipped, I wouldn’t be surprised if the under dash components weren’t gutted too. That’s not going to be an easy fix, you’ll either need to find a similar year Ventura with its AC in tact or get an aftermarket unit. With the market softening and winter fast approaching, now is the time to be selective, patient and persistent.
Steve R
With the simplicity of Pontiac engine block and head codes combined with their location never being machined off like on a Chevy, it only takes a few seconds to determine if it came out of a GTO.
I always liked these better than the 73s, wasn’t a whole lot of offerings for 74 compared to the muscle we were used to. I see this is a hatchback version and I believe you could order one with a trunk or hatch, either way, I know you could with a Nova.
Nova, Omega, Ventura, Apollo..(NOVA) everybody but Cadillac in the GM fold built one. The GTO version of the Ventura was at least an attempt to make a performance car for 1974.
Always felt that this effort by Pontiac was under appreciated. The “Nova” body was marketed under other GM flags. I think that they made a valiant effort using what was available. I’m a Ford guy- at least they didn’t make a Pontiac version of the ‘74 Mustang Mach 1 with a weak Cologne V6. 😖 Embarrassing.
A Ventura with GTO stickers, isn’t that cute.
Or a Nova with Pontiac grille and badging. ;)
This car is a mess… I can only imagine what is under those floor pan “patches” I’m willing to bet the sheet metal was simply welded right over the rusted out metal.
I actually liked the looks of the 74 GTOs with the shaker hoods.
I remember looking at one brand new in the show room that was the same color red with a black vinyl top.
It had a tent like option that attacked to the hatch back to convert it into a camper.
I might have bought it but my cousin decided to sell his 70 SS so I bought that instead.