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Originally Posted by sisco
Ok this is my first Pontiac car but I was looking on the net for some paint ideas for the Ventura and mine is a 73. The 73s I seen on the net looked different. So I checked my vin and it is 2y 27m3w12293. And my title says 73. The front of the car looks like a 74 Ventura... almost. It has no turn signals in the grill area but they are on the bumper in front. I cant find anything so far that looks like it exactly. Was this special order or something?
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1973
common model Venturas (
non-Sprint models) had 4-PIECE SPLIT GRILLES.
1973
Sprint models have a
ONE-YEAR only FIBERGLASS 2-piece grille. "Pontiac" nameplate sets inside the driver's side grille inlet (lower-outboard side).
Some things that made a '73 Sprint a Sprint was the grille, dual outside bullet mirrors, sporty steering wheel, decal package.
(W53 option on the papers).
Contrary to popular fads,
NONE of the 1973 Venturas came stock with hood scoops.
ALL 1974 Ventura models (Sprint/non-Sprint/GTO) came with a
2-piece grille which was METAL and
HAD A MORE PRONOUNCED BEAK than the 1973 Sprint grille. "Pontiac" nameplate sets OUTSIDE & ABOVE the driver's side grille intake.
The GTO version had turn signals in the grille slots. Contrary to popular fads, there were
no GTO letters inside the grille, only a GTO decal above the passenger-side inlet. Contrary to popular fads, the only Pontiac X-body made in 1974 that would have come stock with a hood scoop was the GTO.
Honeycomb-style grilles for '74, while '73's had a checkerboard-style grille.
'73s & '74s also had different style front bumpers & front turn lamp locations.
The Ventura on
The Seven Ups has a
1973 Sprint grille. Beak is less
pronounced.
Notice the beak at:
http://www.pontiacventura.com/ventur...es/SEVEN5e.jpg
Questions:
Is the beak on your car pointy? Is the front clip fiberglass or metal? This would only determine what year the grille is and not necessarily the model version.
The only way you will be able to tell if your car is a '73 Ventura or an authentic '73 Ventura Sprint is to send away to PHS and get the documentation. On there, it will show if it was ordered with the
W53 Sprint option.
And yes, there are pics out there of '73 Venturas w/4-piece split grilles sporting Sprint decals as well as '73 Venturas w/all the Sprint options & no decals (like in the
Seven Ups). Only way to tell what exactly your car was when it left Willow Run (?), is to get the documentation.
A good example of a common-model 1973 Ventura...
http://www.pontiacventura.com/ventur...rigcdom-pf.jpg
A good example of a 1973 Ventura Sprint...
http://www.pontiacventura.com/ventur...intADSHOTm.jpg
A good example of a 1974 Ventura, Sprint, & GTO (
note the different front bumper/turn signal location & the BIG BEAK)....
http://www.pontiacventura.com/ventur.../74vlarry2.jpg
http://www.pontiacventura.com/ventur...eSPRINT-50.jpg
http://www.pontiacventura.com/ventur...s/gtotxi-1.JPG[
