(R) "Hopefully this site will spark the aftermarket industry
and let them know there are a lot of Ventura owners that are serious about
parts for our cars!"
So writes Chris Hotrum, who owns this scooped '73 Ventura...he continues:
"I've owned her for 18 years. I am currently the 3rd
owner and I've had her documented by PHS. She is an authentic Ventura Custom Sprint
Hatchback. Originally a 'Brewster Green' car, I've repainted her 'Candy
Apple' green. The car didn't have the
Sprint stripes when I bought it and I've been looking for a set ever since.
"A 1968 Firebird 400 HO resides under the '74 GTO hood and
scoop. A Stage 1 cam, Edelbrock dual plane intake, 650 Holley, headers and HEI ignition round out the engine. A 400
Turbo tranny (also from a '68 Bird) and
a B&M Quicksilver shifter helps get the power to the rear wheels which are
14" Rally II's from a '67 Bird. Out back the 10 bolt posi has 3.42 gears (she
had 4.10's but it's mostly highway driven now). 2.5" stainless steel exhaust
with Flowmaster mufflers let unsuspecting Ford drivers know she's no 6 banger! The paint is 15 years old and it still looks awesome. Really enjoy
this site and the nice cars!! Keep up the great work, PONTIACS RULE!!!!!!!!! Chris
(twinsncars@msn.com )"
"I have my car in for a full restoration. Frame out and soda blasted the entire car. Upgrading the interior, but staying original. The motor is being rebuilt, should be producing around 380-400 hp...still staying with the original motor. The color of the car will be the same.
"The guy who is doing the build is very impressed with the car. He could not believe that the car was a Canadian Car. There is no rust anywhere! Thank God for Zeibart and oil spray. This is what saved the car. After they soda blasted, oil would seep out of little pinholes. All the engine components and front fender wells have been blasted and repainted black. They look new once again. All the new body mounts have arrived. The engine has now been rebuilt. The engine will be painted the same color as the car. All new glass will be installed.
"... I can now reproduce the stripe to the '73 Sprint. I have made a deal with a local graphics company who made a copy of my decal. It is printed on the clear like the factory decal. If other '73 owners are interested, I can talk with them about their color choice and price. We have (also) sent a profile of the original seal away to see if they can reproduce it. If we can I will be sure to make others aware."
Note that the cool '74 nose has made its first appearance.
"By the way, these are my trucks"
"It's got an Oldsmobile 350 Rocket in it, I just ordered a new Edelbrock Performer intake and a 670 Holley Street Avenger carb...I just got the car, so I'm not exactly sure what all is in it yet because it's too cold to work on it right now..."
(R) 'A new collage', which elicited this great letter from a site visitor:
"I owned a '73 Ventura from 1977 to
1980. I found 'mine' in your archives under 1973 Ventura, page 1, "a new
collage," bottom right hand, olive green w/ black vinyl top. Mine was
exactly like that. I would love to know where that photo was taken and who
owns it, because I'd probably trade my house for it.
"Sold it in '80 'cause I couldn't afford to put gas in it anymore.
Sold it for $500, because 'nobody wants a V-8 anymore'...Until a while ago,
I was still dreaming of the car, I missed it so much. Two years ago I
got an '04 Mach 1. The car rocks......but I still miss my 1st love.
Great website. Thanks for the memories. Eric"
(R) Left behind in Arizona by evicted tenant. Notice all-original wheel covers!
(R) The end of my car...a truck rounding a corner lost its load. Damage was only cosmetic but it broke my heart, so I sold it.
From
this angle, hood looks a bit crude. Check out those leather
seats! Motor is a Chevy 350.
(R) I'm not too crazy about this paint scheme...or maybe it's the whitewall tires...?
From Pennsylvania. "I wish I was a GTO"