1968 Pontiac Ventura

The Pontiac Ventura was an automobile model that was produced by Pontiac. As was common practice at the time, its name was derived from Ventura, California, joining other similarly derived models such as the fellow Pontiac Catalina, the Chevrolet Malibu, and Mercury Monterey.

This car is a California black plate equipped behemoth from another era. It has a 400 cubic inch V8 mated to a 3-speed auto and features a sickly shade of blue on the out and white on the in — and I love it. Is it a coupe? Or the pillarless hardtop?…No… wagon… nope…just a simple 2-door sedan, but that shouldn’t stop you front driving this old Poncho.

The stacked two-row dash accentuates the width of the car. HVAC control styling echos the radio, with rectangles and similar knobs spaced to ease locating them by feel. Clear acrylic tops the three-spoke steering wheel for a touch of class. Factory air conditioning vents at skirt level promise relief from the Texas heat.

Power brakes and power steering aid the driving chores. The two-barrel 400 cid (6.6L) V8 is probably the base 290 HP version, though Pontiac offered a more frugal 265 HP two-barrel 400 with 8.6:1 compression.

Fixing the hood so it closes will likely be the first item on the new owner’s checklist. Joking aside, though listed as a two-door sedan, the lack of a B pillar or “post” renders this Pontiac a less rare but (for most enthusiasts) more desirable Hardtop Coupe.

The 1968 Pontiac Ventura epitomizes that old school approach to making vehicles – lots of metal, lots of engine, and, well, lots of everything, really.