I best remember the 350-2V (Pontiac) Ventura in the '71-'74 period.
Many Canadians referred to them as Pontiac “big-blocks’’ in order to differentiate the Pontiac engine from that of Chevrolet. Others often termed the Pontiac engine an ‘American straight-90’ or American ‘blue-block.’ Some Canadians even believed that the small block Olds was in fact, a ‘big-block,’ and no amount of education would convince them otherwise.
Admittedly, I had never heard of a 307 (Chevy) Ventura in those years, until much, much later. I knew that all pre-‘72 Canadian made Pontiacs actually used the Chevrolet chassis, engines and transmissions, with the American built Pontiac bodies, and different names like Laurentian and Parisienne, instead of Catalina and Bonneville. In Canada, the Pontiac Acadian was the cloned Chevy II / Nova.
I drove a '74 GTO (350-4V) around '77 and it was a blast. In Canada at least, there was a ’75-’76 Ventura SJ with the Pontiac 350-4V, very similar in concept to the ‘74 GTO. I almost bought one back in 1982. Fun cars! Now if only they could have come with the 455.!
Terry
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You know that you have it made, when you want for nothing, ask for everything, and receive exactly what you "deserve".