1968 Ventura?

[SpartanMSU]

At a car cruise there was a nicely equipped '68 Ventura. It's Verdero Green, 428, side markers, 8 lugs . . . owner says they only made something like 100 Venturas that year and then cancelled it. I just assumed it was a trim option and he was full of it. Anyone know the truth?

Quite honestly, I'm tired of owners of interesting cars who constantly BS me.

[SpartanMSU]

At a car cruise there was a nicely equipped '68 Ventura. It's Verdero Green, 428, side markers, 8 lugs . . . owner says they only made something like 100 Venturas that year and then cancelled it. I just assumed it was a trim option and he was full of it. Anyone know the truth?

Quite honestly, I'm tired of owners of interesting cars who constantly BS me.

[26667]

I know the Ventura was available in 1969, however it wasn't the most popular model. Being a 428, there may have only been a few produced, but not 100 all told.

[1970cat]

69 and 70 it was a trim (mostly interior )package. mot sure about 68 though.

[bonneville Joe]

Ventura was always an option package on a Catalina until they made the Nova based Ventura.

_____________________________
Foolproof and Sucka free since 1979.http://www.gifs.net/animate/flickingdollars.gif

[Stuart]

According to "75 Years of Pontiac-Oakland" by John Gunnell, there were no production number breakout for Venturas in 1968. They were a trim option on the Catalina model line.

[MH 1964]

Does anyone know how many 1968s were made 4-speed, auto, did they all have 428 motor in them THANKS!

[Jeff Walker]

Does anyone know how many 1968s were made 4-speed, auto, did they all have 428 motor in them THANKS!

No they also had the 400's in them too. My dad has one in his salvage yard that has the 400 in it.

[Pontiacdaver]

As far as I know, the Ventura was always a trim option on the Catalina. Unless a different engine was ordered, it came with the standard Catalina engine. I had a 68 Ventura convertible, it was the standard 400 2bbl, single exhaust engine. 'Ventura' lettering replaced the 'Catalina' lettering on the front fenders, and it had the Ventura interior. Mine had buckets and console, but they also came with bench. Mine had fender skirts, but I think that was a separate option.

This is what the PHS for my 68 428 GP shows for the whole fullsize Pontiac line (Bonneville, Catalina, Grand Prix) in1968:

375hp 428 w/AT - 5,639
375hp 428 w/MT - 655
390hp 428HO w/AT - 318
390hp 428HO w/MT - 177
-----
6,789 total
832 were 4spds and I've always heard 306 were Grand Prixes. If that is true, than that would leave 526 for Bonnevilles and Catalinas, so it is rare but there is no way to know how many were equipped with the Ventura trim option.
If it is the one I think it is, it is a beautiful car. I saw it at the POCI Nats in Collinsville, IL a few years ago and there is a pic of it in a Cars of the 60s book I have.

Dave

[CT Goat]

The above figures include BOTH 3- and 4-speeds.

I don't have my books with me at the moment, but I would guess if there's something to the 306 number, it's for the total amount of GPs built with a manual tranny for ALL engines.

[Stuart]

John Gunnell's book "75 Years of Pontiac-Oakland" says there were 306 Grand Prixs with manual transmissions in 1968. That includes three and four speeds.

Here are the manual transmission numbers for the other models in 1968, again these numbers include both three and four speeds:

Catalina/Ventura 2,257
Executive 47
Bonnevilles 208
Catalina wagons 289
Executive wagons 23
Bonneville wagons 9

There wasn't a separate breakout of production numbers for the Ventura, they were lumped together with the Catalina since it was just a trim option that year (the Ventura was a separate model line in 1960 and 1961.)

[MH 1964]

THANKS a friend of my Dad has a 1968 Ventura 4-speed with a 428 that he ordered new and it sure is a neat looking car but can never rember seeing one! Big car, buckets seats and a 4-speed plus a 428 what a way to go!

[bigfish_Oh]

I found this old thread. Dad bought new a 68 ventura 428 4 speed, hood tach, 2.9? posi,pwr bucket, pwr st, pwr brks, pwr ant, fender skirts, am=fm, under hood light, chrome engine pack? I got it in 77 and totaled it outrunning a 67 GTO. I sold the posi r&p 4 years ago and still have walnut shifter knob and a couple 428 emblems..

[mjs5678]

bigfish I have the 3.42 gear out of your car! I'm in Delaware Ohio you are north west of me. I can't wait to get my new engine back into my car! Your rear gear was soda blasted and put together with all new parts. It is wonderfull! and probably helped in the demise of my original engine! My new engine should be close to 500HP! Still want your shifter knob!!Even though I have a T400!!
Thanks Mike.