How cool would it be to have an autographed photo of the one and only Chip Foose posing with your ride?  Ask John Everett, who was in the right place at the right time for these shots...  and that's why this is our "headline" story for this update :-)

"This is the car I bought a few years ago in Illinois (thanks for the lead).   I am still restoring the blue one,  but this car has become my weekend cruizer for now. I drove the car and family 500 miles to Brazelton, GA for the car show at Year One.  The car is stock, original paint, 350 Buick motor with 79k on the odo. I was surprised the car got 21mpg avg roundtrip. I met Chip Foose and snapped a few pics. Later I was able to talk to him for 20 minutes and got some great tips for re-creating some plastic parts on the interior that are drying up and crumbling as well as tucking the bumpers to get rid of the plastic between the body and bumper. johneverett@mac.com "

Klaus writes: "I'm a great fan of your homepage. I will you send some pics from my wife's 're-born' Olds Omega Brougham from 1977. The car is completely finished after a big frame-off resto. Some specs:

330hp GMPP crate engine, TCI TH350 streetfighter
rear 4-link kit with coil overs, Competition Engineering subframe connectors
front Hotchkis lowering springs and Mcgaughys spindles, total 4" lower
Camaro z28 steering gear box, and many other good stuff

"The complete story you will find on my homepage www.chevy-elcamino.com  Greetings from Luxembourg / Europe, Klaus & Christiane ( elcamino@vo.lu )"

"Hello, I was surfing around looking for some Pontiac images and found your website. Well, I also own a Pontiac Ventura (a 76) and I would like to share some pics.
Specs of my Ventura:  Engine 250 cubic inch, 6 inline, 3 speed manual transmission, original paint. Greetings from Chile, Jorge Gallorio ( jgallorio@gmail.com )"

      If you think it's tough to find parts to rebuild your Ventura stateside, try doing it in some far-flung corner of the Pacific Ocean! Enter Berhard "Bernie" Floedl...

"...greetings from Manila, Philippines. After a total restoration time of 5 1/2 months my ride is finally finished, and here are the details:
- Totally disassembled, stripped to metal, and repainted to “Molten Orange Candy” by Hot Hues of DuPont, all new chrome
- Totally disassembled and rebuilt 307 V8, .020 oversize Pistons, mild Edelbrock cam, brand new 4 Barrel Edelbrock 650 CFM Avenger carb
- Brand new custom headers with Glasspack mufflers, brand new Electronic HCI Distributor,  brand new electric wiring
- Overhauled automatic transmission with Quicksilver Shifter, custom stainless bonnet grill, brand new polygraphite suspension
- Brand new KYB gas shocks, front disc brakes, brand new white “Street Rod Old Tyme” Autometer gauges
- All brand new carpets and black interior with orange stitching, all new weather-stripping, centralized air-conditioning
- Blaupunkt Montreal Stereo, Brand new Targa Speakers in back and front door panels, airplane seatbelt buckles from a Cessna Centurion.
All parts were imported from the USA... let me know what you think. Many greetings, Bernie ( phil_consultant@yahoo.com  )"

"...here are some pics, the 74 GTO project car is in as-bought condition. I've wanted a 74 GTO since my 1st car, a Ventura bought in 1987.  The Omega is my 5th Omega, recently bought it on ebay with only 59k miles. It needs body work badly and is my daily driver."

He also included a 74 GSX window sticker from ebay, and you can just barely make out the GSX options, which include such high-performance features as wide body side molding, sport mirrors, specific "ornamentation" (decals)...wow.  How times have changed!

Jason also sent these cool excerpts from two early-70s Hot Rod magazines, which I'd never seen before.  Enjoy!

Glenn Staszak has one sharp goat on his hands...you can see a few mods, including some bracing to hold the shaker scoop in place. "I've had this GTO since 1982. Just the past few years I've been able to put some much needed work into it. But it always started and ran. A rare car indeed , always a head turner. Not too many people knew they made a GTO that year. glak150@sbcglobal.net "

Check out how nicely this '76 Buick has been updated... "more pics of 'Brad's buick'--- new motor is in, some dress up work done, about 350 to 375 hp right now and this winter will be the rear end. Will send more pics when finished! Darryl + Barb" ( darrylis@shaw.ca )

Ventura Concept Car in Work!

"I'm the Web guy for Anthony Pittari.  He's in the middle of building a hot rod out of a 1972 Ventura II.  He's working on a design by Kris Horton and making his own modifications as he goes.  Anthony asked me to get in touch with you because you and your site visitors might be interested in the job he's doing. 

"Anthony's site (which I built) is www.aphotrods.com .  And if you have any questions or want more information or just want to drop me or Anthony a line, just send me e-mail. Thanks. Chris Rywalt (  crywalt@westnet.com ) "  Builder Anthony Pittari: ( onlocationauto@verizon.net )

Isn't it nice to see these cars turning up at the big events?
"Hey Roland, this is Dalton again and I have attached some pics I took from the annual Pontiac Uprising Event at Mid America Dragway in Arkansas City, KS.  It was an awesome event featuring around 200 Pontiacs. I don't know much about the cars.  The Venturas were very fast and competitive, both running 12's and under I believe. The 74 GTO was meticulously restored, numbers matching and looked perfect. I hope you enjoy. Dalton Dalton Mick ( ventura_350p@hotmail.com )

(R) Hood pins and traction bars hint that this Skylark might not be as laid-back as its soothing green paint might imply!  "This is my 1977 Buick Skylark with a 454 big bloc Chevy...very fast!  David Métivier  ( david_dm25@hotmail.com ) "

"Hi...I am making progress with the Omega. It runs perfect, I tuned it up and put on a rebuilt carb, plug wires etc. Then I took it to a friend and installed 2.5 inch exhaust with Flowmaster mufflers and American Torque Thrust wheels with BF Goodrich TA's. That old 260 sounds and runs great. I buffed it out and it really doesn't look like that poor neglected car that was advertised for sale ... Mark"

This whole thing started with my '77 Nova that I bought brand new in '77.  It was a 350-4 speed but it is now a show car that has a 454. I had received a little money when my Dad passed away, so I decided to buy a new hot rod, one that I could cruise around with since the Nova is all painted and detailed underneath and I really don't like to drive it alot. The one thing about this body style cars, they can be picked up rather inexpensive. I ended up getting the three cars for about what I would have spent on one other car...  I am most likely the only one weird enough to have 4 of these. Thanks Roland... Mark Weber ( ratinfested@hughes.net )"

I don't think we've ever seen mention of the tent option offered on any late-model Venturas, but the owner of this vehicle swears it came with the car, which used to belong to his grandmother, the original owner.  And Grandma wouldn't lie to us, would she? Perhaps a Pontiac dealer put together a creative package as a special deal? 

"Here are some pics of a before and after of my 1977 Pontiac Ventura 2dr hatchback. I even have a tent that attaches to the back of it!!!! The only thing it is missing it a good instrument cluster panel. David Coutts ( davidandnolly@shaw.ca )"

"Here are the two photos I have of my '72 Ventura II. These were taken in late autumn of 1976 in Goose Bay, Labrador. I bought my 72 when I was 17 in 1976!  Bought in September (paid 2300.00) and traded it in January on a Nova. A 6 cylinder didn't cut it, when all my friends were packing V8's.

"I remember the Ventura dieseling and not running too well at one point...I brought it to some fellow who had a backyard garage (along the lines of Shadetree Mechanic...he had a Buick Wildcat with a 430 cid in his yard) and he diagnosed things pretty quickly (worn distributor shaft and pitted points). He went to the back of his garage and returned with a distributor and points, put things back together and it ran fine after that.  I suppose the older you get the more important the past becomes. Regards, Jacob ( a1fnmn58@nf.sympatico.ca )"

(R) Paul Headley is the owner of this bone-stock 76 Ventura.  The first time I saw the huge side molding and Pontiac-style arrow at the leading edge, I thought it was someone's idea of customization, but I've seen it on several cars now, so it probably came out of the factory that way.

"...This my 75 Ventura SJ.  It has the Buick 350 with a t/a performance manifold and the typical goodies. Out back is a posi with 341 gears and finally I got my scoops on. Yeah. Love the site...  Patrick Varain ( aleeon@sbcglobal.net )"

Cruisin' in Norway!     <click to enlarge

"We cruised along with me in the lead, just to set the pace I guess, hehe, followed by a ’77 Ford LTD, a ’67 Olds 442, a ‘72 Mercury Cougar and finally a ’69 Pontiac GTO.  I’ve even purchased the Star Spangled Banner which I brought with me just to get the right atmosphere...

"OK, maybe my Ventura wasn’t the most exclusive car at the rally, but what the h**l, I hope these pics show that you don’t have to have no fancy high-price- matching-numbers-collectors-item-car to have fun. On the contrary, to me this hobby is, in addition to driving to the different rallies, about using my car whenever I need some transportation, whether it’s raining or not, and then park it anywhere without facing the risk of getting a nervous breakdown from worrying that some jealous crook might use his switchblade to scrape off the costly paintwork. (Oh yeah, those guys are present, even up here in Norway).  God bless America, you guys rule, and please; Drive safely everyone, the tax-collector needs you!  Best regards, Vigleik Jansen ( jansen@chello.no )"

The Ventura Meets a Relative <click to enlarge

"I just thought I had to share some impressions from another trip we made to a neighbour city, just recently. Outside our motel I spotted this car, an Oldsmobile Omega, which I had to drive up to and park beside just to snap a few pictures and make a comparison. 

"Eventually the owner showed up, a nice lady wearing a cowboy hat and boots, (she was selling that kind of stuff at the rally) and I had to ask her to tell me a little about her car. She said she was really fond of the car, driving it the whole year around and visiting car meetings carrying the C&W gear with her to sell.  I told her I wanted to have a look at the engine compartment.  She told me she had a friend helping her replacing the original 6 cylinder with a 350 Chevy motor...   Best regards Vigleik Jansen, Norway "

First Timer!            <click to enlarge        

"Hey guy (this is the)1/4 mile track Edgewater Raceway here in Cincinnati Ohio. It was Muscle Car Sunday, big car show and swap meet. It was also my son's 14th birthday and my first time down the track. Been there 100s of times, never actually raced. I wanted to show him life's too short not to do the things you love.

"You know what was funny, this car has the original 260 olds v8 in it... 19.25 was my fastest time. I thought "these guys are going to make fun of me but I don't care. I'm here to have fun." But you know what, not one person made fun, they helped me, they encouraged me, it was a blast. I didn't get one negative comment... that only goes to prove car peeps are the best. They saw how much fun it was for me and I think they enjoyed it too. Dennis Doyle ( ddoyle4@fuse.net ) "

I still think Dennis's car would stomp my '77 Project car, assuming I ever got it put back together.  Cool story, Dennis!

"Sending some pics of the 1973 Ventura. Car is mint, thanks to Louie in Toronto for keeping it in good shape. Mike Adair ( pontiacmike04@hotmail.com )"

When this car was submitted to the ad section of the site, it looked pretty clean.  As these hi-res photos show, it is a lot cleaner and straighter than I could imagine!

"I would consider selling at the right price. I have put close to 12K in the motor/trans/rear in the last 2000k miles. Gary Graham ( gary_graham64@yahoo.com ) "

Ventura Video Links!

 If you want to see some cool burnout action, check out some of the videos at : http://media.putfile.com/burnout-other-view
 

Cruise with Bob Yoy in his 74 GTO...the motor sounds great! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuQRJyzgtGw
 

Still on life support...
The former buickapollo.com can still be found at www.buickapollo.net  Thanks to Buick fan Mike Harper for bringing this to our attention!

By the way, thanks to Adrien Tanguay for his Photoshop creation at left  :-)

This car is a HE, not a SHE!
"I just wanted to send some pics of our father and sons project. The three of us rescued him out of a field in Corryton TN. The guy we got him from just had him to rip the solid subframe out of him. Both of my sons heard this and talked him out of it (they are 10 and 13 by the way).

"He is a numbers matching car, but the motor is locked. We really want to drop a 403 in him, like I had in my 79 T A, but we can't find one in good shape...we are putting in a strong 350 Chevy I got for free from a guy that helps out at the shop I work at. I KNOW, everyone is going to ask, WHY A CHEVY, but it's the only mill we have available at the moment. That also gives me the time to find a suitable 403.

"I know he doesn't look like much in these pics, but much work has gone into him since they were taken. He will end up black cherry with a black T A interior, and keep the 14 in Poncho mags. I will send more pictures as he comes along.  Your fellow Pontiac lover Chris Castro ( the79firebirdguy@yahoo.com )
Chris has since reported that the motor is in and the car will soon be awakened from its 7 year-plus rest.  Those are his sons hard at work.

"Some pics of my 74 Ventura Sprint Project, some assembly required. The Sprint stripes will be orange and cream, will send more pics of car when it's completed. Thanks, Dwayne Moody in Bulls Gap, Tennessee ( mustangmoody@hughes.net )

Dwayne also sent an old scrapbook photo of the car in it's original Sprint stripes, which I didn't re-discover until the day I planned to publish the site!  I'll try to add that photo at the same time I fix the error on these photos... as you now know, the car is a '74, not a '73.  Sometimes I get cross-eyed working on all the pics!

"Roland we are up and running, the engine sounds terrific with the little hotter cam and flowmaster mufflers. Hopefully next week the top will be put on, then to the body shop for paint. Well back to work, enjoy the pictures,  Bob ( slicksvillepanels@aol.com )."

Bob was the one who headed an effort to get the '74 bumper rub strips made as a repro item, but the demand was not enough.  We thank him for his initiative anyway!

"Hey, I just found your site and wanted to share a few photo's of my project car (74 GTO restore). I've been at it for about 7 months working on it, mostly weekends. Parts for this old girl have been hard to find in Calera AL but I found out about thepontiacman in Talladega AL and he has been a great help.  She was a rolling chassis when I found her but now she will be a 462ci monster with M21 Muncie 4speed street rocker when complete. From the pics you will see she was in pretty bad shape but it's coming along great. She will be painted back to her Ascot Silver original color and Black bucket seat interior. When I have her back on the road I'll send updated pics. Great site!!! Terry Lamb, Calera, Alabama  ( a95toy@yahoo.com )

"I've been cleaning up the engine compartment and detailing it too. I finally have a decent set of tires on the front, sporting some BFG Contour 205/75/14 on Steel Rims. I'm currently running Chevy Doggy Dish hubcaps, the spare set from my 73 Nova. I've loved these caps all my life and they just look good. I do have some Oldsmobile dogdish style caps, but I'm saving those for when the car is done. There are mint, and I don't want them to get ruined or worse ... disappear. Next on the list, I'm thinking will be interior. I'm wrestling with the idea of going to a black interior. I have an extra set of Green Interior I'm thinking of dyeing/painting black. Due to my custom headliner & decklid, which is a button-tough vinyl ... I don't know how well it will take to a color change and I don't want to ruin it. I'm thinking how can I pull off a 2-tone interior... David Meier  ( dmeier@hydro.mb.ca )

"I send you a few more photos of cars in the shop where my car is fixed. The shop is called Castro Motorworks, owner Eddie Castro.

"...you can see the almost finished paintjob. The only thing missing is the clear coat to make it real shiny, which could not be applied yet, since it has been raining cats and dogs here. You can't really get a clear, realistic idea of the color of the paint on a photo.  I think the real depth will only show once the thick clear coat has been applied. Groovy baby! I must say that I'm very happy with the outcome, since the color ranges from sporty to classy. "What say you???"

"Also, my souped up engine is as good as finished. The only thing missing (at this stage) is the 4 barrel carburetor and the chromed valve covers, together with the bumpers and other stuff. The headers are aluminum.  Greetings, Bernie"

"Found this one on the streets of Paterson NJ. It sat for who knows how long, but man it was a rust bucket. Came with a 350 2bbl & 350 A/T and the stock 2:73 rear.  

"This car was done from the ground up all new or reworked, 20 over bore (keep it simple) 490 cam (Lunati) came with #46 heads and now sports a Edlebrock Performer 500 carb and intake. The trans was rebuilt but with Harden racing parts and a manual valve body.  It's not the fastest car out there, but she lights up the tires real nice and sounds so sweet. I bought an old Nova for parts like the floor pans, 1/4s, fender wells, dash pad, instrument panel, steering wheel tires/rims and miscellaneous spare parts which I have kept or am selling. I started this project in Nov 06 and am almost done with her. Paint, seats, and a vinyl roof and off we go. Olga Schroeder " ( ukigirl9564@verizon.net )

Keep those photos and stories coming!