While the 1955-57 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad is iconic (and pricey) today, lots of folks have forgotten that Pontiac offered their version of the sport wagon. The Star Chief Safari used the same 2-door body as the Nomad, but with Pontiac sheet metal at both ends. Even fewer people will remember the 1957 Safari Transcontinental, a 4-door Safari that Pontiac hoped would boost sales (it didn’t). The seller has one of the rare wagons from ‘57, and it looks mighty weather-worn. Located in Fort Collins, Colorado, this interesting project is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $9,500 OBO. Our thanks to T.J. for another tip from yesteryear.
If you thought the “Tri-Five” Nomad was a slow seller at 22,000 units overall, Pontiac only mustered 9,000 of the 2-door Safaris based on the glitzier Star Chief model. By 1957, all of Pontiac’s wagons began to carry the Safari badge. To help generate demand, Pontiac began selling a 4-door Star Chief Custom wagon mid-year called the Safari Transcontinental. It came with side trim that was shared with no other product and had a roof luggage rack for cross-country trips. Few buyers noticed the sport wagon Safari or the Transcontinental at respective sales of 1,294 and 1,894 copies in 1957, so they didn’t return in 1958.
The seller mentions two cars in the listing, but all of the discussion and photos are of the Transcontinental. So, there may or may not be a 1957 Pontiac Bonneville sedan as part of the deal. We gather the seller discovered the Safari in a backyard and trailered it home. We also assume the Star Chief 347 cubic inch V8 (270 hp) is original, and the seller says he may have it running soon. We’re told this relic has every possible option, including factory air, which was seldom seen in the 1950s.
It appears this wagon is 99% complete (so what’s missing?), and it sports Cragar simulator spoke wheels. The interior has been redone, but that was many moons ago. There is some rust here and there, such as in the floorboards. We’re told that delivery is possible, but we surmise that it’s local or nearby. Considering how few of these wagons were built and are likely to survive, this could be a worthwhile project, even if it does have too many doors for some tastes.
Looks like a nice project and would definitely be a conversation starter at the local cars & coffee. ( If you can afford the coffee.)
“… Picked it up a few days ago. Engine is free + will have running-driving
-stopping+steering soon!”
Uh… maybe. That will probably take a lot longer than he thinks. I’ll wait.
This model has a current following in the low single digits. A very tough sell at any price in my opinion.
It’s not my gig, but it’s too nice to let it go to the boneyard. Someone needs to give this one a proper resto.
cool ride. lose the ghetto wheels
I don’t care much for the interior appearance but it pretty much looks like the usual naugahyde of the day and the pattern can be duplicated easily it sees. The chrome looks good, Pontiac parts of the era should be available. In short, what is unique to this model is usable or fixable. Not my thing, the GM wagons of this era looked like hearses.
This one is a rarity and looks to be in good shape. Not many cars from this era that have factory A-C. I sure wouldn’t debate its presence.
I always thought the Safari, of this vintage was confined to the 2-door. I’ve seen a few of them but definitely not a 4-door. But a person always learns something new on this page.
The 347 is a good engine. The blocks are hard and hold up well. I actually encountered more of them in GMC trucks than Pontiac cars back in the day. But then, in a farming/ranching region, there were a lot more trucks.
Only thing I didn’t like was the Stromberg carburetor. Not nearly enough meat to properly retain the inlet fitting and a lot of them stripped out, leaking gas, and turning the engine bay into a Roman Candle.
I sure wouldn’t turn down a car like this but I would likely have to change my zip code to one different from the wife’s; she isn’t a fan of station wagons…
Yes, all 57 Pontiac wagons were named Safari, just to confuse things. I had a 57 two door wagon (upscale Nomad) many years ago, and when I sold it, I think the buyer only wanted it for the curved side rear windows. What a waste if he then just junked it out.
It’s the same as the 4 door Chevy wagon with Pontiac nose and tail and interior. It is NOT the same body as the Nomad, just as the regular station wagon body is NOT the same as a Nomad.
Every time a rare oddity like this comes up on BarnFinds I want it. This one looks like a reasonably easy restoration since it’s all there and doesn’t have much rust. The trim all looks like it’s there and still mounted, and the unique parts that would be almost un-obtainable look good. I think I would just do a meticulous clean up job, a little touch-up on the exterior, fix what had to be fixed to make it safe to drive, and drive it and enjoy the comments. Fixing the a/c and finding some appropriate wheels and wheel covers would come next. I think the price is very reasonable for this wagon so I hope someone gets it and gives it the love it deserves.
Uh, Russ? You DO have getting rid of the carpet on the tailgate on your to do list, right?
Kim, my statement “fix what had to be fixed” covered that. Maybe I should have been more specific, LOL.
make a nice Pontchero (truck)