Hi DATSON 1934 DATSON, Happy to read you appreciate this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
These are the kind of videos I like the most! I enjoy seeing these old classics perform on the road, rather than sitting inside an enclosed auditorium holding a car show. That 1961 Pontiac Venture bubble top looks like it would be a blast to drive! I've always loved the 1961 GM vehicles, especially the Chevys from that year!
5:05 a "survivor car," is almost always way more entertaining to get a look at, than a resto-mod like Leno's channel- or one that has been over-restored to DEATH. what a car
A Bubble-top with a 4-spd & the original wheels, this car is amazing! The interior trim and upholstery looks great as well! What a nice treat from Pontiac. Thanks, Lou!
I had an opportunity to buy a set of those eight lug wheels back in the mid seventies for 100 bucks, but what use would they be but for a year specific Pontiac ?
Lou, you are just like the best morning D.J., you keep bringing us hit after hit. ! I love the early GM year cars, but the Pontiacs had that extra sharp styling that set them at the head of the pack !! Dk.red, 2 drs., 389 tri - power, beautiful two - tone interior, great factory 8 lug wheels & the right amount of pedals - you couldn't ask for anything more. ! Thanks to the owners for being great caretakers of one cool Pontiac !!
Amazing car ... that rear window with those slim columns make visibility great when driving this beauty ... The set up on this one is really unique ... This is why I always favored Olds & Pont ... they Made the real Muscle cars before anyone knew there were Muscles ...... Thanks Lou ... Cant wait to see a 56 Olds 88 with the same set up ..😎
Those early 1960s Pontiacs are something else. They were built to eat up the road in style and comfort. We had a 65 Grand Prix with a 389 all original with the Carter AFB, and it had an oil bath air cleaner. I was surprised to see that this earlier car didn't. Thanks for posting this.
chirp, chirp. a favorite model year for the chief, and oldsmobile. this car is fabulous. thanks for showing it to us. it will look stunning for ever. never goes out of style. big bubbles, no troubles.
An absolute beautiful Pontiac Ventura. Our 1961 Pontiac Tempest 2 door was a similar shade red. The older I get, the more I appreciate Pontiacs stemming from the early 60’s-early 70’s.
The Ventura was a separate model for both 1960 and 1961. It shared the same 119 inch wheelbase as the Catalina and Chevrolet only in 1961. Then in 1962 Pontiac made the Ventura a trim option on the Catalina but not a separate model for the remainder of the 1960s. Basically, the Ventura was a Catalina with extra trim. The 1961 Star Chief and Bonneville shared a longer 123 inch wheelbase but the greenhouse was shared with the shorter Catalina. Thus, there is a noticeable gap between the edge of the rear door and the rear wheel arch on the 4-door. Canadian Pontiacs of all trims during that era always used the shorter 119 inch Chevrolet chassis, with the small Chevrolet Inline Six and smaller V-8s. Also, Canadian Pontiacs did not use WideTrack.
Good morning Lou. You never cease to amaze me. Never knew this one existed. The fact that it has this 389 tri-power 4spd in it, it leads me to believe we're looking at the beginnings of the infamous GTO. Thanks again for another rare find.👍
@@johnnyduplantis thanks,.. & I am a 74 year Car Fanatic, etc… Thinking back, Have a memory of 61 BUBBLE /389 / TRI Powers talk/Envy, etc… Actually my first “ WOWS” were 1962 Pontiac/ 421 ?, drag Pipes/ 4 speeds (** oddly , 4 Soeed autos also??, talk of in some drag ??classes)..etc coming from US30/ Bunker Hill DRAGSTRIPS ( NORHERN Indiana), ;; at our Marathon Garage / WOLF Lake( NOBLE COUNTY), & WARSAW hang outs…..Anyways way back in 1961 ish I started ROAD & Track, MOTOR Trend, esp SCG & HOT Rod Magazines too!
Hi Dale, Happy to receive a "WOW" from you :-) Hope you see many more cars on this RUclips Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Hi, Lou! The Ventura was a series just above the Catalina in 1960 and 1961, then was turned into a trim option for the Catalina in 1962 to make room for the new Grand Prix. That bubbletop coupe really cut a fantastic profile, especially in red with the 8-lugs, and definitely packs a punch with the Tri-Power! Everyone should look and feel this good at 60! Many thanks to you, Roger and Kathy for venturing out with us in this fine Wide-Tracker!
Yeah Brother, Keep 'em comin'! Can't help but love the very early 60's combination of beauty and performance. Loved in the beginning when he 'chirped' the tires rowing through the gears. Could look at these all day long!
I remember my grandpa had a 1960 Catalina....... what a dramatic styling change in 1961 ! It was a great transition into the first part of that 60's decade! And what a gorgeous red this one is. Thanks Lou as always for bringing us yet another classic from that bygone era!😉
Wow, what a car! I remember when I was a toddler, the cars all looked like that. Incredible detail, supreme paint, white wall tires - and that front grille! Punchy engine, too.
Beautiful car! Thanks for sharing, Lou. John DeLorean took over as General Manager of Pontiac in 1960 from Semon "Bunkie" Knudsen. The 1961 was DeLorean's first Pontiac model, designed by Bill Mitchell and Jack Humbert with Bill Porter. DeLorean both designed and patented the Pontiac 8-lug rims featured on this car, in early 1960, and were first offered as an option on 1960 Pontiacs. I had a 1960 Pontiac Bonneville convertible with the original 8-lug rims on it, and it had a complete set of 1960 Bonneville stainless steel wheel covers if you wished to have standard steel wheels with the wheel covers. They were beautiful spun-metal discs. I saw a car very similar to this one at the last GM Motorama in Los Angeles in 1961. Pontiac was proud of the design of this car, which was modified for the 1962 model year into an outstanding design by the same team in 1961.
Thank You Lou! One of My Secret Favorites Pontiac year. Rarely seen the 1961 Full sized Pontiacs. I see the other ‘61 Pontiac in the back ground. That looks even more special. Lucky Man.
My mom used to drive a '61 Star Chief, so this one...at least to a certain extent...brings me back fifty plus years. It had a powerful engine, but my mom was a nervous driver, so we never got to see what it was made of. The tailfins were actually pretty modest. They used to remind me of the ones on the '63-'64 Cadillac and they didn't look bad as the sixties progressed. At any rate, another beauty, Lou.
Simplemente impresionante estaba ese Pontiac Ventura rojo 1961 con techo estilo burbuja! Su interior muy espacioso y elegante en varios tonos de rojo y asientos con líneas blancas le dan ese toque único. Además que estaba muy bonito el lugar y el día para pasear... Parecía como un viaje al pasado! Saludos cordiales!
I did not realize Pontiac also had bubble tops. What a great find and thanks for the education. Beautiful Pontiac and in spectacular condition. Thanks Lou!!
This is just beautiful, I'm a massive fan of 60s full size Pontiac. I built a model of one of these just last year, same colour and interior too!. Thanks Lou
Outstanding! When you look at those wheels you are actually looking at the brake drums. They look cool but they have become impossible to find now and they do wear out after they have been turned a couple of times. The 389 was a great engine except they would wear out the timing gears after about 80,000 miles. Better to replace them BEFORE they break and cause a lot of damage.
Many GM V-8's used plastic timing gears in the early and mid '60's which often failed. However, these engines were 'non interference' which means there was no engine damage when they failed. Replacing the timing chain and gears took only a few hours, unlike a modern GM 3.6L V-6.
@@michaelbenardo5695 well, yes and no. It doesn’t take metal to metal contact to create wear in a brake drum. Most brake shops will turn drums that they suspect are out of round which happens! Even so after 150,000 miles or so chances are even without drum turning they would be over.060 and need to be replaced. When I ran a busy shop in the mid 70’s they were still (barely) available through Pontiac Dealers and they were over 100.00 each at that time.
@@crankychris2 True and other cars used plastic gears too. Few people replaced them as preventative maintenance. I knew a guy who was passing a truck at night on a two lane highway in a Pontiac Catalina when his timing gear let go. Not only did he almost get in a head on collision it did a lot of expensive damage when it failed!
These '61 Ventura bubble-tops were always highly desirable. A very, very well designed car in and out. It's funny, my father worked for Buick at this time and when these new '61 cars were delivered, the salesmen were in shock. They wanted to hide the cars in the backlot! Many were just not used to a finless downsized style. Soon everyone realized that they were actually much more tasteful and clean looking. Beautiful example here.
Dad had a 64 GTO , 389 4 speed, he bought it new in 1965. The dealer had it for a demonstrator, and it had been wrung out good. Still, it was quite reliable, and a lot of fun.
Hi M. Meeker, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Dads car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Hi Lyle, Happy to read this is a favorite car for you :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
What a piece of rolling automotive history...Pontiac called the 389 3 x 2 engine the "Trophy 389" and was the top offering until the 421 was introduced. The bubble tops were a unique design...so sleek and clean. Automotive tech did not improve from this level all the way through early 80s (and perhaps declined?) Another amazing GM vehicle Lou, and would be near the top on my list of classic full size performance cars...right in there with Ford Galaxie big blocks and Chev 409's.
Very cool Lou! Absolutely my kind of ride, I grew up in and with vehicles like that! Love the old Maniacs ( haha, what we called Pontiac)! I believe they had the triple Duece before MOPAR too, no offense to you MOPAR people, I love the old Mopars too, actually I like all the old American built vehicles, I really didn’t have a favorite, I liked them all equally! Anyhow, nice Lou Ol buddy! Keep on keeping on buddy! Oh and I thought the Ventura was considered a mid-sized car too…?
Anyone who likes Pontiacs loves a 61 Ventura Sport Coupe. By 1961 Pontiac was well on its way in building great high performance cars. My favorite feature on the 1960-70 full size Pontiac's was the bright light indicator where the Pontiac Indian chief lit up red when the bright lights were on (seen here right under the 60 on the speedometer). The closest I have come to this body style was my 1961 Oldsmobile Super 88 bubbletop. Pontiac is my favorite make and I have owned 16 over the years. Although the Ventura is a little out of my price range I may still pursue a 1961 Bonneville Sport Coupe in the future. Production of 1961 Pontiac bubbletops were 14,524 Catalina's, 13,297 Ventura's and 16,906 Bonneville's. Thanks to the owner and to Lou for bringing us this great and rare car from Pontiac.
Hi Gavin, Happy to read you appreciate this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Another great video Lou don't see many 61 Pontiacs around my Uncle used to race in the 1960s and 1970s and he said that those Pontiacs with the 389 and 3 deuces were hard to keep up with. He was a Mopar guy.
Lou, I’m so glad I found and subscribed to your channel. I always loved those old ponchos. One thing that jumped out at me was those wing nuts when he pulled the top of the air cleaner off. Those wing nuts tend to loosen, I hope he has them safety wired.. I would hate to see one fall down the carburetor throat and end up in one of the cylinders! I seen it happen to someone’s Harley Davidson already.
I haven't been watching you this long but it always amazes me how these people find you and you find them these wonderful car stories. I may have mentioned this before I sold Pontiacs and 1981 and sold the last Bonneville on this particular car dealerships a lot. I always thought Pontiac was an awesome car company that could have and should have survived. Keep these good stories coming my friend and God bless.
Hi David, There are plenty of fun stories for you to catch up on :-) Happy to read you enjoyed selling Pontiacs, blessings received, and God bless you too, Lou
Sadly if Pontiac actually where making cars these days they would most likely be generic looking cars that are disposable like the rest of what we see today. Those old classic cars where actual works of art of design and material inside and out!
Lou,I live near the metropolitan area outside of New York City and my birthday was yesterday December 1st A great birthday present is you doing a car show in my area. Happy holidays Lou!
Hi Larry, Happy belated birthday! If you know a car show Promoter interested in having me come out, I'd be happy to share what it takes (airfair & hotel & someone to pick me up), Happy Holidays! Lou
What a sporty looking classy machine this '61 Ventura. I like a lot of GM cars through this era but the bubble top Pontiacs I would consider a dream car. And a 4-speed, yeah! Very rare and beautiful. Thank you Lou 👍👍
Absolutely my favorite full-size American car of that era. The '62 was not an improvement. An aquaintance in college in the late '60's had a white '61 Ventura with a medium blue interior. 389 4-barrel 4-speed. Loved that car.
Hi Richard, Happy to read this one is a favorite of yours from this era :-) Glad to read this one brings memories of your acquaintance in college's car, Lou
One of the nicest and most underrated cars of 1961. These babies were ahead of their time and were pretty fast. Optional 8 lug wheels with aluminum brake drums.
Hi Edward, Happy to read you appreciate this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Wow, now that's something ya don't see every day!!!! That is such a unique car!!! It has such cool features, like the little fins and the unique trim, and of course, that bubble top!!! I really like how the front grill leans inward and that split is so Pontiac!!! Beautiful rare cars as seen on My Car Story!!!! Oh, and don't forget the sunscreen when driving this one. Lol.
Pontiac had the best styling in the GM line for that era. I suppose the Ford equiv. for this car would obviously be the '61 T-Bird. You really have to give the edge to the Pontiac... that 396 Tri-Power was IT until the 409 came out. One thing you HAVE to look for on these old Pontiac's are the frame rails and the cassis in general. If you're looking to buy- Bring a screwdriver and start looking for holes in the frame. I saw an old '64 turn into a pile of crumpled dust after an accident a couple years ago. Caveat emptor!
Very good looking Pontiac 1961 Red, 2in White walls, sits just right, these are real American made vehicles. These cars today will never be vintage, Tri power setup in 1961, just a note, they used fuel injection back in the 50’s for those who think fuel injectors are something new there not. Thank Lou for featuring the Pontiac GM Venture 4speed.
I used to own one. Mine was white, rednwhite interior, 389 4sp single 2 barrel. I installed a Hurst 4sp spring power shifter, flat bar.. that worked great. Loved that car.
Hi Edward, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
I had a '61 -a white one with red interior and an automatic. It's is one I wish I had today. even with the crunched passenger door that didn't open. 389/2 bbl, such a rare car , you seldom see one.
Hi Tony, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
That was pretty herky jerky for an intro, lol. Another beautiful and unbeknownst to me car. Thanks Lou. I especially love those rims and the Japanese looking (to me anyway) fender mounted power side mirrors. As stated, "very cool"
Hi Sabba_Dabba, Happy to share an unbeknownst car to you, as it was unbeknownst to me too. That is the fun of finding them to share :-) Glad to read the details you enjoy. You're welcome, Lou
AWESOME COLOR THERE AND THOSE WHEELS LOOK HOT, I THOUGHT THEY ONLY CAME ON THE LATER 2+2 WITH THE 421 BUT OBVIOUSLY NOT STILL HAS THE GENERATOR, WHAT A BEAUTY
389 Tri Power.. the motor that made Pontiac famous!!
Thank you for sharing.
Beautiful. Zar.
A eagggifgm.
pontiac was in the top of their game in the 1960s very cool car 👌
Hi DATSON 1934 DATSON, Happy to read you appreciate this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
@@loucostabile I look for it
Absolutely gorgeous car
High praise :-)
You pull more rabbits out of your hat than Harry Blackstone! What a car! Thanks Lou!
Hi Brian SD, NICE! You're welcome, Lou
Man Lou that's one beautiful 61 Pontiac Ventura brother.
Hi CJ Colvin, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car Brother, Lou
@@loucostabile Thanks Lou😉👍🤠
Lou thats a gem..Thats like a early Pontiac GTO...If I had that car I would drive it all summer............
Hi Yesenia, GTO's Older Brother :-) Lou
I love these old Pontiacs!
Happy to read you "love these old Pontiacs" :-)
Bubble Tops are beautiful !! Another stunning Pontiac Lou !!
Hi Richard, Happy to share this "stunning Pontiac" with you :-) Lou
Nice Pontiac, one of the last years for the wide whitewall tires. Thank you Roger & Kathy & Lou.
Hi Chris, Happy to read you enjoy this "Nice Pontiac" :-) You're welcome, Lou
These are the kind of videos I like the most! I enjoy seeing these old classics perform on the road, rather than sitting inside an enclosed auditorium holding a car show. That 1961 Pontiac Venture bubble top looks like it would be a blast to drive! I've always loved the 1961 GM vehicles, especially the Chevys from that year!
Hi Michael, Happy to share this one with you :-) Glad this one we get a ride too. Lou
61 and 62 are my favorite years for all of Detroit.
Hi Bill, Happy to read this is one of your favorite years :-) Lou
5:05 a "survivor car," is almost always way more entertaining to get a look at, than a resto-mod like Leno's channel- or one that has been over-restored to DEATH. what a car
Hi Scott, Happy to read you enjoy this car :-) Lou
WOW! I especially loved the rolling through the gears at the beginning of the show! That Pontiac has a lot of sass!
Hi JON, I liked rolling through the gears too :-) Lou
A Bubble-top with a 4-spd & the original wheels, this car is amazing! The interior trim and upholstery looks great as well! What a nice treat from Pontiac. Thanks, Lou!
Hi TheGunfighter45acp, Happy to share this "nice treat" with you :-) You're welcome, Lou
I had an opportunity to buy a set of those eight lug wheels back in the mid seventies for 100 bucks, but what use would they be but for a year specific Pontiac ?
Nice. The '61 Pontiacs and Oldsmobiles were very well styled.
Hi Milford, Happy to read you enjoy the styling of this car :-) Lou
It IS sooooo beautiful. One of GM's best ever. Deserves to be on a plinth in a museum. Gosshh!
Thanks, Lou
Hi Steve, High praise :-) You're welcome, Lou
Lou, you are just like the best morning D.J., you keep bringing us hit after hit. ! I love the early GM year cars, but the Pontiacs had that extra sharp styling that set them at the head of the pack !! Dk.red, 2 drs., 389 tri - power, beautiful two - tone interior, great factory 8 lug wheels & the right amount of pedals - you couldn't ask for anything more. ! Thanks to the owners for being great caretakers of one cool Pontiac !!
Hi Kevin, Happy to keep bringing the hits :-) Glad to read the details you enjoy on this car, Lou
lou, these old pontiacs are some of the most awesome, beautiful cars ever built, i wish today's designers would follow suit! thanx!
Hi Mouse, High praise for the design of this car :-) Lou
Amazing car ... that rear window with those slim columns make visibility great when driving this beauty ... The set up on this one is really unique ... This is why I always favored Olds & Pont ... they Made the real Muscle cars before anyone knew there were Muscles ...... Thanks Lou ...
Cant wait to see a 56 Olds 88 with the same set up ..😎
GTO's Older Brother :-) You're welcome tallspaniard1
1961 & 1962. BEST PONTIAC STYLES EVER MADE
MUCH ENJOYED
THX LOU
Hi Andrew, High praise for the styling of this car :-) You're welcome, Lou
A gem,love this era.Bubbletops & a 4 speed.
Hi Richard, Happy to share this "gem" with you :-) Lou
Those early 1960s Pontiacs are something else. They were built to eat up the road in style and comfort.
We had a 65 Grand Prix with a 389 all original with the Carter AFB, and it had an oil bath air cleaner. I was surprised to see that this earlier car didn't. Thanks for posting this.
Hi pkramerable, Happy to share this one with you :-) You're welcome, Lou
A 1961 is not a Pontiac that I remember ever seeing even back in the day. I really like the styling, especially this one.
Hi Dave, Happy to read you appreciate the rarity of this car :-) Glad you enjoy the styling too, Lou
chirp, chirp. a favorite model year for the chief, and oldsmobile. this car is fabulous. thanks for showing it to us. it will look stunning for ever. never goes out of style. big bubbles, no troubles.
Hi Angelo, Happy to read this is a favorite model year for you :-) You're welcome, Lou
An absolute beautiful Pontiac Ventura. Our 1961 Pontiac Tempest 2 door was a similar shade red. The older I get, the more I appreciate Pontiacs stemming from the early 60’s-early 70’s.
Hi Rusty, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) Glad you read you had a 1961 Tempest too, Lou
I'm smiling from ear to ear!
AMAZING.
Thanks Roger and Lou.
Hi C Moore, Happy to read your smiling ear to ear! watching this video :-) Lou
The Ventura was a separate model for both 1960 and 1961. It shared the same 119 inch wheelbase as the Catalina and Chevrolet only in 1961. Then in 1962 Pontiac made the Ventura a trim option on the Catalina but not a separate model for the remainder of the 1960s. Basically, the Ventura was a Catalina with extra trim. The 1961 Star Chief and Bonneville shared a longer 123 inch wheelbase but the greenhouse was shared with the shorter Catalina. Thus, there is a noticeable gap between the edge of the rear door and the rear wheel arch on the 4-door. Canadian Pontiacs of all trims during that era always used the shorter 119 inch Chevrolet chassis, with the small Chevrolet Inline Six and smaller V-8s. Also, Canadian Pontiacs did not use WideTrack.
Didn't know those details - thanks!
Hi SpockvsMcCoy Kirk, Thank you for sharing your knowledge, Lou
A muscle car before muscle cars!!
This Ventura is beautiful!
Those 389's could "throw down" when asked.
GREAT VIDEO LOU.
Hi TCT9MM, GTO's Big Brother :-) Lou
Lou, I don't know how you find such rare classics, but I really enjoy your web site. :You find some serious beauties.
Hi Hairy Larry, I seek, I find, I share with you :-) Glad you're along for the ride, Lou
Good morning Lou. You never cease to amaze me. Never knew this one existed. The fact that it has this 389 tri-power 4spd in it, it leads me to believe we're looking at the beginnings of the infamous GTO. Thanks again for another rare find.👍
Good morning David, I agree, this rare one is an older Brother to the GTO :-) You're welcome, Lou
@@johnnyduplantis thanks,.. & I am a 74 year Car Fanatic, etc… Thinking back, Have a memory of 61 BUBBLE /389 / TRI Powers talk/Envy, etc… Actually my first “ WOWS” were 1962 Pontiac/ 421 ?, drag Pipes/ 4 speeds (** oddly , 4 Soeed autos also??, talk of in some drag ??classes)..etc coming from US30/ Bunker Hill DRAGSTRIPS ( NORHERN Indiana), ;; at our Marathon Garage / WOLF Lake( NOBLE COUNTY), & WARSAW hang outs…..Anyways way back in 1961 ish I started ROAD & Track, MOTOR Trend, esp SCG & HOT Rod Magazines too!
Absolutely Gorgeous Pontiac.
I love those early 60’s GM ‘Bubble Top’ cars 👍
High praise :-)
WOW, that's some car! That's the era when I was starting to get an interest in cars right before I turned 16. Still love them.
Hi Dale, Happy to receive a "WOW" from you :-) Hope you see many more cars on this RUclips Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Hi, Lou! The Ventura was a series just above the Catalina in 1960 and 1961, then was turned into a trim option for the Catalina in 1962 to make room for the new Grand Prix. That bubbletop coupe really cut a fantastic profile, especially in red with the 8-lugs, and definitely packs a punch with the Tri-Power! Everyone should look and feel this good at 60! Many thanks to you, Roger and Kathy for venturing out with us in this fine Wide-Tracker!
Hi iswc27, Happy to read you enjoy the profile of this car. Thank you for sharing knowledge. You're welcome, Lou
Beautiful Poncho!!! Thanks for another great one Lou!!!
Hi Dirk, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) You're welcome, Lou
Lou, did you know that same bubble top will fit perfectly on a 61 Chevy Bel Air, Impala and Biscane?
Hi Hairy Larry, Interesting info, and good to know. Thank you for sharing, Lou
Very cool Pontiac!! 👍😉
Happy to read this one is "Very cool" :-)
Thank you for showing this 61 Ventura. Love 60's full size Pontiacs!
You're welcome Daniel :-)
Yeah Brother, Keep 'em comin'! Can't help but love the very early 60's combination of beauty and performance. Loved in the beginning when he 'chirped' the tires rowing through the gears. Could look at these all day long!
Hi lonnyjaw, Happy to read you enjoy the looks and performance of this car :-) Lou
This is a car I'd drive every day. I wish I had a lot of money. I'd buy this baby and love it till the day I died.
Hi Hairy Larry, Happy to read you enjoy this car :-) Lou
I remember my grandpa had a 1960 Catalina....... what a dramatic styling change in 1961 ! It was a
great transition into the first part of that 60's decade! And what a gorgeous red this one is. Thanks Lou as always for bringing us yet another classic from that bygone era!😉
Hi George S, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Grandpas car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
Love those wide track Pontiacs!!
Nice :-)
Wow, what a car! I remember when I was a toddler, the cars all looked like that. Incredible detail, supreme paint, white wall tires - and that front grille!
Punchy engine, too.
Hi Tommy, Happy to receive a "Wow, what a car!" from you :-) Lou
Beautiful Pontiac Lou. Great job
Thank you Keith :-)
A gorgeous car ❤️ Classic American cars are awesome 👍 🇺🇸 🇬🇧
High praise :-)
Beautiful car! Thanks for sharing, Lou. John DeLorean took over as General Manager of Pontiac in 1960 from Semon "Bunkie" Knudsen. The 1961 was DeLorean's first Pontiac model, designed by Bill Mitchell and Jack Humbert with Bill Porter. DeLorean both designed and patented the Pontiac 8-lug rims featured on this car, in early 1960, and were first offered as an option on 1960 Pontiacs. I had a 1960 Pontiac Bonneville convertible with the original 8-lug rims on it, and it had a complete set of 1960 Bonneville stainless steel wheel covers if you wished to have standard steel wheels with the wheel covers. They were beautiful spun-metal discs.
I saw a car very similar to this one at the last GM Motorama in Los Angeles in 1961. Pontiac was proud of the design of this car, which was modified for the 1962 model year into an outstanding design by the same team in 1961.
Hi Donald, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) Thank you for sharing your knowledge. You're welcome, Lou
Arguably one of the first muscle cars...
I understand why you'd share that comment.
Thank You Lou! One of My Secret Favorites Pontiac year. Rarely seen the 1961 Full sized Pontiacs. I see the other ‘61 Pontiac in the back ground. That looks even more special. Lucky Man.
Hi gene978, Happy to read this is a favorite Pontiac year for you :-) You're welcome, Lou
My mom used to drive a '61 Star Chief, so this one...at least to a certain extent...brings me back fifty plus years. It had a powerful engine, but my mom was a nervous driver, so we never got to see what it was made of.
The tailfins were actually pretty modest. They used to remind me of the ones on the '63-'64 Cadillac and they didn't look bad as the sixties progressed.
At any rate, another beauty, Lou.
Hi hcombs0104, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Moms car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
Simplemente impresionante estaba ese Pontiac Ventura rojo 1961 con techo estilo burbuja! Su interior muy espacioso y elegante en varios tonos de rojo y asientos con líneas blancas le dan ese toque único. Además que estaba muy bonito el lugar y el día para pasear... Parecía como un viaje al pasado! Saludos cordiales!
Hi Jaime, Thank you for viewing and sharing. Lou
Another rolling peace of art.
High praise :-)
I did not realize Pontiac also had bubble tops. What a great find and thanks for the education.
Beautiful Pontiac and in spectacular condition.
Thanks Lou!!
Hi Jeff, I didn't realize Pontiac's had bubble tops too :-) I'm learning all the time. You're welcome, Lou
love it, Lou! Thanks
You're welcome C Howard :-)
Wow, such a nice car!
Sure is brother
Happy to receive a "Wow" from you :-)
This is just beautiful, I'm a massive fan of 60s full size Pontiac.
I built a model of one of these just last year, same colour and interior too!.
Thanks Lou
Hi Gaz the K's Modelworx, Happy to read "This is just beautiful" :-) You're welcome, Lou
Outstanding! When you look at those wheels you are actually looking at the brake drums. They look cool but they have become impossible to find now and they do wear out after they have been turned a couple of times. The 389 was a great engine except they would wear out the timing gears after about 80,000 miles. Better to replace them BEFORE they break and cause a lot of damage.
Hi Craig, High praise :-) Thank you for sharing the details you enjoy, and a tip too, Lou
If you replace the linings before you have metal to metal, you won't need to have them turned.
Many GM V-8's used plastic timing gears in the early and mid '60's which often failed. However, these engines were 'non interference' which means there was no engine damage when they failed. Replacing the timing chain and gears took only a few hours, unlike a modern GM 3.6L V-6.
@@michaelbenardo5695 well, yes and no. It doesn’t take metal to metal contact to create wear in a brake drum. Most brake shops will turn drums that they suspect are out of round which happens! Even so after 150,000 miles or so chances are even without drum turning they would be over.060 and need to be replaced. When I ran a busy shop in the mid 70’s they were still (barely) available through Pontiac Dealers and they were over 100.00 each at that time.
@@crankychris2 True and other cars used plastic gears too. Few people replaced them as preventative maintenance. I knew a guy who was passing a truck at night on a two lane highway in a Pontiac Catalina when his timing gear let go. Not only did he almost get in a head on collision it did a lot of expensive damage when it failed!
A beautiful and unique car. Great video, thanks Lou!
Hi Gary, Happy to read you enjoy the looks & uniqueness of this car :-) Lou
Another AWESOME PONTIAC. LOVE ALL OF THOSE 4-Speeds, Thanks Again Lou.
Hi John, High praise :-) You're welcome, Lou
Sharp and mostly original!!
That's nice when they're like that.
I’m surprised these weren’t a lot more popular back then because this is a beautiful sporty looking car.
Hi Josh, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) Lou
beautiful car, landscapes, good people, what else do you need to please the eye?)
Happy to read you enjoy this car & episode :-)
enormetrabajo MR LOU CHINGON
Thank you MR CHON :-)
These '61 Ventura bubble-tops were always highly desirable. A very, very well designed car in and out. It's funny, my father worked for Buick at this time and when these new '61 cars were delivered, the salesmen were in shock. They wanted to hide the cars in the backlot! Many were just not used to a finless downsized style. Soon everyone realized that they were actually much more tasteful and clean looking. Beautiful example here.
So true Joseph!
Hi Joseph, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) Thank you for sharing your Fathers story too, Lou
Dad had a 64 GTO , 389 4 speed, he bought it new in 1965. The dealer had it for a demonstrator, and it had been wrung out good. Still, it was quite reliable, and a lot of fun.
Hi M. Meeker, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Dads car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Omg 😍 GORGEOUS Ventura! 😏 💪 🏆
High praise :-)
I was in high school when that car was new…it was my favorite…especially with the tri power and 4 speed..
Hi Lyle, Happy to read this is a favorite car for you :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
What a piece of rolling automotive history...Pontiac called the 389 3 x 2 engine the "Trophy 389" and was the top offering until the 421 was introduced. The bubble tops were a unique design...so sleek and clean. Automotive tech did not improve from this level all the way through early 80s (and perhaps declined?) Another amazing GM vehicle Lou, and would be near the top on my list of classic full size performance cars...right in there with Ford Galaxie big blocks and Chev 409's.
Hi GT-37 Guy, Happy to read you appreciate this "piece of rolling automotive history" :-) Thank you for sharing your knowledge, Lou
I had a '61 Ventura 4dr. It was that minty ."Seacrest Green ". Tri-tone green interior. Very smooth engine. Never seen a Ventura 4dr. on RUclips.
Hi Shawn, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
I see, this is the small one LOL. Absolutely beautiful and equipped to the max! Great video, thanks, Lou.
Hi Rich, Happy to read you enjoy this car :-) You're welcome, Lou
Thank you for the Pontiac feature! Love it Lou
Hi PLMCRZY67, Happy to read you "Love it" :-) You're welcome, Lou
Very cool Lou! Absolutely my kind of ride, I grew up in and with vehicles like that! Love the old Maniacs ( haha, what we called Pontiac)! I believe they had the triple Duece before MOPAR too, no offense to you MOPAR people, I love the old Mopars too, actually I like all the old American built vehicles, I really didn’t have a favorite, I liked them all equally! Anyhow, nice Lou Ol buddy! Keep on keeping on buddy! Oh and I thought the Ventura was considered a mid-sized car too…?
Hi Doug, Happy to read this is your kind of ride :-) Glad to read this car brings back good memories. I'll do my best to keep on keeping on, Lou
@@loucostabile - thank you Lou, I preciate you buddy!
Anyone who likes Pontiacs loves a 61 Ventura Sport Coupe. By 1961 Pontiac was well on its way in building great high performance cars. My favorite feature on the 1960-70 full size Pontiac's was the bright light indicator where the Pontiac Indian chief lit up red when the bright lights were on (seen here right under the 60 on the speedometer). The closest I have come to this body style was my 1961 Oldsmobile Super 88 bubbletop. Pontiac is my favorite make and I have owned 16 over the years. Although the Ventura is a little out of my price range I may still pursue a 1961 Bonneville Sport Coupe in the future. Production of 1961 Pontiac bubbletops were 14,524 Catalina's, 13,297 Ventura's and 16,906 Bonneville's. Thanks to the owner and to Lou for bringing us this great and rare car from Pontiac.
Hi Allen, 16 Pontiacs...WOW! Clearly a fan of the Brand. Thank you for viewing and sharing. You're welcome, Lou
A really stylish car well maintained and a credit to the owners.
Hi Gavin, Happy to read you appreciate this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
I absolutely love that body style on both the Pontiac and the Chevy.
Hi Edward, Happy to read you love this body style :-) Lou
Such a cool car!
Happy to read you enjoy this cool car :-)
Another great video Lou don't see many 61 Pontiacs around my Uncle used to race in the 1960s and 1970s and he said that those Pontiacs with the 389 and 3 deuces were hard to keep up with. He was a Mopar guy.
Hi PlymouthDuster225, Thank you for sharing your Uncles story he shared with you :-) Lou
Lou, I’m so glad I found and subscribed to your channel. I always loved those old ponchos. One thing that jumped out at me was those wing nuts when he pulled the top of the air cleaner off. Those wing nuts tend to loosen, I hope he has them safety wired.. I would hate to see one fall down the carburetor throat and end up in one of the cylinders! I seen it happen to someone’s Harley Davidson already.
Hi Michael, Welcome to the Channel. Thanks for the wing nut tip, and we had no issues with this Pontiac. Lou
I haven't been watching you this long but it always amazes me how these people find you and you find them these wonderful car stories. I may have mentioned this before I sold Pontiacs and 1981 and sold the last Bonneville on this particular car dealerships a lot. I always thought Pontiac was an awesome car company that could have and should have survived. Keep these good stories coming my friend and God bless.
Hi David, There are plenty of fun stories for you to catch up on :-) Happy to read you enjoyed selling Pontiacs, blessings received, and God bless you too, Lou
Sadly if Pontiac actually where making cars these days they would most likely be generic looking cars that are disposable like the rest of what we see today. Those old classic cars where actual works of art of design and material inside and out!
Lou,I live near the metropolitan area outside of New York City and my birthday was yesterday December 1st A great birthday present is you doing a car show in my area. Happy holidays Lou!
Hi Larry, Happy belated birthday! If you know a car show Promoter interested in having me come out, I'd be happy to share what it takes (airfair & hotel & someone to pick me up), Happy Holidays! Lou
What a sporty looking classy machine this '61 Ventura. I like a lot of GM cars through this era but the bubble top Pontiacs I would consider a dream car. And a 4-speed, yeah! Very rare and beautiful. Thank you Lou 👍👍
Hi Bruce H. Happy to read enjoy and appreciate the rarity of this car :-) You're welcome, Lou
'61 was a good year for GM - crisp yet elegant styling, and a nimble stance. I'm intrigued by the '61 convertible in the background.
Hi Jay, Happy to read you enjoy the styling of this car. Regarding that 61 Convertible.....stay tuned :-) Lou
My highschool English teacher had one, I was so jealous.
Hi Bob, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your High School English Teachers car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
Great looking car!
Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-)
Absolutely my favorite full-size American car of that era. The '62 was not an improvement. An aquaintance in college in the late '60's had a white '61 Ventura with a medium blue interior. 389 4-barrel 4-speed. Loved that car.
Hi Richard, Happy to read this one is a favorite of yours from this era :-) Glad to read this one brings memories of your acquaintance in college's car, Lou
One of the nicest and most underrated cars of 1961. These babies were ahead of their time and were pretty fast. Optional 8 lug wheels with aluminum brake drums.
Hi Edward, Happy to read you appreciate this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
@@loucostabile Your wish shall be my command.
Wow, now that's something ya don't see every day!!!! That is such a unique car!!! It has such cool features, like the little fins and the unique trim, and of course, that bubble top!!! I really like how the front grill leans inward and that split is so Pontiac!!! Beautiful rare cars as seen on My Car Story!!!! Oh, and don't forget the sunscreen when driving this one. Lol.
Hi Hobiemarty, Happy to receive a "Wow" from you :-) Sun screen is a good idea when driving in this one, Lou
Great old Pontiac, Lou!
Glad you enjoy this one Dan :-)
Digging those gangster whitewalls on those eight lugs. That Bubbletop is done right. And it's fast!
Nice :-)
Great car tri.power and the right amount if pedals and original 8 bolt wheels a great blast from the past
Hi Larry, Happy to share this "great blast from the past" with you :-) Lou
Beautiful wide track Pontiac......Happy
New Year Lou.
Hi Mike, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) Happy New Year! Lou
Pontiac had the best styling in the GM line for that era. I suppose the Ford equiv. for this car would obviously be the '61 T-Bird. You really have to give the edge to the Pontiac... that 396 Tri-Power was IT until the 409 came out.
One thing you HAVE to look for on these old Pontiac's are the frame rails and the cassis in general. If you're looking to buy- Bring a screwdriver and start looking for holes in the frame. I saw an old '64 turn into a pile of crumpled dust after an accident a couple years ago. Caveat emptor!
Hi Swilko Barfington III, Happy to read you enjoy the styling of this car :-) Thanks for sharing a tip too, Lou
Very good looking Pontiac 1961 Red, 2in White walls, sits just right, these are real American made vehicles. These cars today will never be vintage, Tri power setup in 1961, just a note, they used fuel injection back in the 50’s for those who think fuel injectors are something new there not. Thank Lou for featuring the Pontiac GM Venture 4speed.
Hi Copper Aboriginies, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) Thank you for sharing your knowledge. You're welcome, Lou
Great looking, sounding Pontiac! It will get you noticed at cruise-ins!
Hi Michael, Happy to read you enjoy the looks & sounds of this car :-) Lou
I used to own one. Mine was white, rednwhite interior, 389 4sp single 2 barrel. I installed a Hurst 4sp spring power shifter, flat bar.. that worked great. Loved that car.
Hi Edward, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
@@loucostabile Hi Lou, all signed up. I have been a 'rodder' most all my life. Keep up the nice car finds.
Finally!!! Someone that can drive a 4 speed.
:-)
👍I love those bubble tops! Thx Sir Lou
You're welcome Major Payne :-) Lou
I had a '61 -a white one with red interior and an automatic. It's is one I wish I had today. even with the crunched passenger door that didn't open. 389/2 bbl, such a rare car , you seldom see one.
Hi Tony, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
That was pretty herky jerky for an intro, lol. Another beautiful and unbeknownst to me car. Thanks Lou. I especially love those rims and the Japanese looking (to me anyway) fender mounted power side mirrors. As stated, "very cool"
Hi Sabba_Dabba, Happy to share an unbeknownst car to you, as it was unbeknownst to me too. That is the fun of finding them to share :-) Glad to read the details you enjoy. You're welcome, Lou
another amazing beauty!! Thanks Lou
You're welcome Kelly :-)
4,000 LB BEAST..
:-)
AWESOME COLOR THERE AND THOSE WHEELS LOOK HOT, I THOUGHT THEY ONLY CAME ON THE LATER 2+2 WITH THE 421 BUT OBVIOUSLY NOT
STILL HAS THE GENERATOR, WHAT A BEAUTY
Hi Jim, Happy to read the details you enjoy on this car :-) Lou
@@loucostabile Ventura in the early 70's was Pontiacs Nova, i am pretty sure the 307 was the maximum engine then?