1961 Pontiac Ventura Hardtop 16741 Miles Dawnfire Mist Hardtop 389 CID V8, Tri-P

389 Tri-Power, 4-speed, bucket seats, 8-lug wheels. Stunning color combination, recent restoration, AACA Senior Grand National winner 2018. Fully sorted, runs and drives superbly, simply spectacular in every way!
The lights in our studio just don’t do the Dawnfire Mist paint justice, but out in the sunlight it glows like copper and the name becomes a lot easier to understand. It’s absolutely gorgeous. Given the laser-straight bodywork and absence of patches or obvious bodywork, it seems this car lived a good life away from harsh winters that could hurt the metal. The paint is two-stage urethane and the shine is probably a lot deeper than it was in 1961, but you simply can’t argue with the results. Minimalist chrome seems to be a flat-out rejection of the over-styled ‘50s, with a simple split grille, straight two-level bumpers, and not so much as a hood ornament on top (although there are two small fender ornaments up front). Vestigial tail fins wrap neatly into the rear bumper and frame the unique Ventura taillights. Details that make this car a show-winner include T3 headlights up front, correct ‘Ventura’ emblems with painted ivory centers, and all-new correctly coded glass. They were definitely sweating the details on this one.
Just before this car won its Grand National title, that pretty two-tone steering wheel was restored—a $1600 job. Unfortunately, as often happens with restoration work, the new part suddenly made the older stuff look sub-standard. So NOS upholstery materials were sourced and all-new seat covers were created to match the original patterns. Pontiac’s Tri-Tone interiors were some of the most stylish of the period, and as long as they were upgrading the upholstery they sourced a set of factory bucket seat frames (power on the driver’s side), restored them, and installed them in place of the original bench. The power adjustment works correctly and the overall look is as stunning as the exterior. Gauges cover the basics and you know this Ventura is serious about performance because there’s a radio block-off plate in the center of the dash (don’t worry, there’s a Panasonic AM/FM/CD head unit hidden in the dash). New carpets, a bright headliner, and restored door hardware all make this Pontiac look crisp and well-tailored. In the trunk you’ll find a correct mat set, a correct 8-lug spare wheel and tire assembly, and zero signs of trouble hiding underneath.
This Ventura carries a familiar 389 cubic inch V8 with Tri-Power induction on top. Originally equipped with a 4-barrel, a correct Tri-Power setup was sourced and fully rebuilt so the car runs and drives like it should. The heavy-duty air cleaner is correct even though many enthusiasts prefer to show off their Tri-Power with three little air cleaners, and that piece alone is probably worth a few thousand dollars. The engine was rebuilt to stock specs and refinished with Pontiac Turquoise engine enamel, and then all the factory markings were accurately reproduced. Look closely and you’ll find all the right clips, fasteners, decals, and finishes throughout, right down to a new wiring harness and reproduction battery. Power steering and power brakes make the Ventura exceptionally easy to handle and it has shockingly good manners—the idle is smooth, it sits in traffic without complaint, and has no bad habits at all. Believe it or not, that’s pretty rare in a show car like this.
The 389 is backed by a 4-speed manual, and that’s what makes this full-sized Pontiac so joyous to drive. Clutch action is light and aside from a little balkiness in the 3-2 downshift, it’s amazing to drive in traffic. It’s quick, agile, and incredibly user-friendly. The suspension has been rebuilt and carries fresh shocks at both ends and the 8-lug brakes are freshly rebuilt, including the drums, which have been relined and restored. 3.23 gears on a Safe-T-Track limited slip make it a comfortable cruiser and the burly 389 has plenty of grunt to get it off the line. The floors wear a coat of textured undercoating that provides a clean background for the new exhaust system and gas tank and of course all the lines and hoses are new, too. Gorgeous 8-lug wheels are really the only choice on a car like this, and they carry brand new 8.50-14 BFGoodrich Silvertown wide whitewall tires.
This car includes its original owner’s manual.
Look at the quality, the awards, the specifications, and the price. This is one of the most desirable cars of the ‘60s, fully outfitted with all the right performance options. The color combination is absolutely stunning and I drives every bit as great as it looks. When talking about old cars, we rarely get cars that could qualify as “trailer queens” that are also fully sorted like this Ventura. Add in the fact that only 13,297 were built and this is a car that will draw a crowd anywhere it goes. How can you not fall in love? Call today!
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