Many cars and wagons from the 1970s were considered by the motoring public to be disposable items. They were used for their designed purpose and were properly maintained, but eventually, they found their way to an automotive graveyard when they had outlived their useful purpose. That means that when nice vehicles from this era do appear, they will grab plenty of attention. That is certainly the case with this 1978 Pontiac Cataline Safari Wagon. Its condition might not be perfect, but it is a very long way above average. Barn Finder Ikey H spotted this absolute beauty for us, so thank you so much for that Ikey. It is located in Waldoboro, Maine, and has been listed for sale here on Craigslist. The sale price for the wagon has been set at $9,300.

Once you reach a certain age, it becomes a bit sobering to consider that this Glacier Blue Pontiac is really 42-years-old. Where did the time go? The wagon is certainly better preserved than I am and presents very nicely. The owner says that the paint has a few chips and marks, but there is nothing there that shows in the supplied photos. He provides a couple of low shots looking along the sides of the vehicle, and the panels appear to be very straight. There are no signs of any rust problems around the exterior of the Catalina, and the photos of the underside reveal floors that are very dry and clean. The chrome and trim look extremely good, while the glass appears to be free from obvious flaws. The Safari featured a 2-way tailgate from the 1977 model year onwards, and this made loading heavy items into the rear far easier than with a conventional drop-down tailgate design. It might not be as spectacular and cool as the previous “clamshell” tailgate, but it was significantly cheaper to produce, and far less complicated.

This photo really sums up the condition of the Safari’s interior. Once again, it is extremely well preserved, with no major issues that would need to be addressed. In fact, apart from some slight “dirtying” of the carpet on the driver’s side, there really isn’t a lot to be critical of. Even then, I suspect that a professional car detailer would be able to return the carpet to somewhere close to its original state. All of the upholstered surfaces seem to be free from tears, marks, or seam separations. The headliner is spotlessly clean, while the dash is original, and in wonderful condition. As is the case with these older wagons, the true indication of how careful the owner has been with the vehicle will almost certainly be reflected in the state of the rear cargo area. This is the one area that will be the most susceptible to damage. Items will be slid in and out of the back, and unsecured items will move around during transit. This has the potential to inflict damage upon virtually every surface, but that isn’t the case here. If you scroll through the gallery at the bottom of this article, you will see that the rear of the wagon presents just as nicely as the rest of the interior. As far as luxury appointments are concerned, what you get is a power rear window and a radio, and that’s really about it. However, the general condition of the interior would still make it a pretty pleasant place to spend a few hours as you embark upon a cross-country jaunt.

If there is one aspect of the Catalina that I find disappointing, it is the appearance of the engine bay. It isn’t hideous by any stretch of the imagination, but it just doesn’t seem to be as well preserved as the rest of the vehicle. This is especially true given the fact that the Pontiac has a genuine and documented 28,000 miles on the clock. Still, sometimes the march of time can take more of a toll on appearance than accumulated mileage does, and that could be the case here. The Catalina range was available with a number of engine options, including the 231ci V6. However, ordering the Safari brought with it the 301ci V8 as the standard engine. That’s what we have here, while we also get a 3-speed automatic transmission, along with power steering and power brakes. The V8 engine is no bad thing because, at 4,098lbs, the Safari is more than 500lbs heavier than its sedan sibling, and the V6 would have made it a real slug in a straight line. Even so, the Safari’s journey down the ¼ mile still takes 20.5 seconds. Theoretically, if the V6 was fitted, it would have struggled to break the 23-second mark for the same journey. I suspect that it was that sort of potential performance (or lack thereof) that motivated Pontiac to exclude the V6 engine from the Safari mix. While the appearance of the engine might not be flawless, the mechanical news still remains very good. The owner states that there are no fluid leaks of any description, and there is certainly nothing visible when you take a look around under the wagon. In addition, he does say that it runs and drives just as well as it would have in 1978. I can definitely hear that cross-country trek becoming a real possibility this Summer.

For the person who is searching for a clean and tidy full-size station wagon, this 1978 Catalina Safari is a vehicle that is well worth more than a passing glance. Its condition is very impressive, and before you write this one off, ask yourself how many you have seen in this sort of condition in your recent travels. The asking price is not unprecedented, and its low mileage would certainly help to justify that figure. Do we have any readers who are interested in following-up on this tidy wagon?