Though it started off as a trim level on the full-size B-body as the 1960s dawned, the Ventura nameplate broke off into its own “Ventura II” model as an X-Body compact early in the 1970s. Yet despite its potential, the Ventura II is often overshadowed by its near-ubiquitous corporate cousin, the Chevy Nova.
So when we saw one pop up in our Built with Summit submission entries, we had to give it some attention.
Learn more about the X-Body family tree here: In 1973, GM Hid an Easter Egg in the Chevy Nova, Olds Omega, Pontiac Ventura & Buick Apollo Quartet
“A Ventura II was my first car in high school in 1982,” Steve Burchette tells us. “At 16 years old, I built my first 350 motor and swapped it in. I sold the car when I was 19…and shouldn’t have.”
Steve picked up his “new” Ventura II with its original Chevy 307 under the hood and manual drum brakes all around.
But it didn’t stay that way for long.
And it started under the hood where the trusty 307 was ditched in favor of a Chevy 350—which, as Steve describes, isn’t exactly stock either.
“It’s bored 0.40” over, with flat top pistons, roller rockers, Summit Racing valve covers, a Holley Sniper Stealth EFI system, and Holley HyperSpark ignition.”
The engine also wears a Summit Racing alternator along with Summit Racing ceramic long tube headers.
In fact, Steve pulled the entire drivetrain out and replaced the TH350 automatic with a Hurst-shifted Muncie four-speed too—and he didn’t stop there.
“It’s got a Summit Racing header-back exhaust, a Vintage Air A/C system, power front disc brakes, electric fan, and a Summit Racing front brake line lock,” he says.
And if you couldn’t tell already, Steve likes to drag race.
To improve the Ventura II’s on-track performance, Steve added air shocks out back and relocated the battery to the trunk.
It’s wearing the stock Pontiac wheels wrapped in Cooper Cobra G/T Tires.
Oh, and that gorgeous paint? Steve tells us that’s an original shade of Pontiac’s Brasilia Gold and there’s a modern Custom Autosound stereo carefully placed in the dash.
“It has the original interior, and the paint is the original color code, though it was repainted before I bought it,” he explains.
Steve did all the motor work himself, and relied on Summit Racing for much of the parts support he needed to finish the project.
More importantly, he’s not shy about letting the Ventura II loose on the track. And if the pictures he sent us are any indication, it looks perfectly happy on the dragstrip.
But the best part is, despite its stunning condition, Steve reveals that the car has 187K well-loved miles on the odometer—and we expect that score to go up, one quarter-mile at a time.
Thanks Steve for making this one #Built with Summit.
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