1961 Pontiac Ventura

Description

You can tell at a glance that this 1961 Pontiac Ventura hardtop is a special car. It's a truly spectacular build with paint that's miles deep, a strong-running 389, and all the modern conveniences inside. And the "bubbletop" styling is arguably the best of the early '60s, making this a car that's not only beautiful to look at but also a delight to drive.

Pontiac was delivering some pretty impressive hardware at the beginning of the 1960s, discovering that performance sells but it has to be attractive, too. The Ventura offers clean-cut looks and a beautiful finish that make it stand out without the need for extensive modifications. The bodywork is very nicely done, which is particularly critical with all those lines and angles running through the sheetmetal flanks and even though it's more than 10 years old, the look is brilliant. The paint job must have been outrageously expensive when it was done, and thanks to proper care it still shines like it was finished last week, not last decade. It might be a shade or two darker than the medium red offered by Pontiac that year, but are you really going to complain when it looks this good? It also received restored bumpers, lots of polished stainless trim, and custom Pontiac graphics running down the sides. If you can't get attention in this car, you may as well give up.

A few custom upgrades make an already amazing interior into a place you'll look forward to spending your time. Correct pleated seat covers and matching door panels give it a very factory-looking vibe inside, particularly with burgundy carpets and Pontiac-monogram rubber floor mats. But then you notice things like the wood-rimmed steering wheel on a tilt column and the custom center console that houses a set of auxiliary gauges and the A/C vents. The original gauges are in good condition, with the body-colored lower dash being full of the secondary controls. Of note, this is a factory air conditioned car, although the system is now powered by modern components from Vintage Air, and there's a modern AM/FM/iPod radio under the dash so the factory AM unit could stay in its spot. The seats look virtually unused and extremely clean, while the massive trunk is totally spotless.

Pontiac's powerful 389 cubic inch V8 is a natural choice for a car like this, although there wasn't anything coming out of the factory that ran like this one does. There's an upgraded camshaft inside, a high-rise intake with a Holley 4-barrel carb up top, and a serpentine belt drive system for reliability. Pontiac valve covers, proper turquoise engine enamel, and a few chrome pieces dress things up, and for reliability, the radiator is cooled by a large electric fan. Other upgrades include the dual reservoir master cylinder, an electric fuel pump, and a custom dual exhaust system that sounds great. A built TH400 3-speed automatic transmission features a shift kit and the original rear end doesn't seem to mind the added power. The chassis is quite tidy given that this was not a frame-off restoration and it sits exactly right with those fat 225/55/16 performance radials on polished Torque Thrust wheels.

Documented with PHS paperwork and a reproduction window sticker, this is a gorgeous, fast, and comfortable cruiser that does everything well. Call today!