Sometimes you will look at an ad and it will raise more questions than it answers. The ad for this vehicle lists it as a “1971 Pontiac Other”. After a quick check via Hagerty, this appears to be a 1971 Pontiac Bonneville Grand Safari Station Wagon according to the supplied VIN. It is located in Stratton, Colorado. You will find the listing here on eBay where bidding is hovering right around $2k.
In today’s market where the ongoing move is towards smaller and more efficient cars, I find cars like this one to be a refreshing change. Sadly we didn’t see a lot of Pontiac products Down Under, and to me I believe that it was our loss. However if you were to look in a dictionary for the word “presence”, then a photo of this wagon would confirm that a picture is indeed worth a thousand words! The pictures for this listing aren’t the clearest, but they generally convey the impression of a car that looks pretty solid after 47 years. The seller is quite spare with his description but he does claim that the car sports its original paint and is rust-free, although the brown staining around the bottom of the side windows and the fuel filler should be investigated.
Look at that glass-house! I love the way the side windows wrap around at the back. Thankfully these appear to be intact as I suspect that they would be hideously expensive, if you can actually buy them. Maybe I’m in the minority here, but I also quite like those chrome roof-racks. Given the fact that they have limited tie-down points I question their practicality. They do look good to me though. Although this shot is quite grainy, it appears that there is little or no rust in the tailgate, but once again we note the brown staining below the side window.
So what’s under the hood? If it’s original it should be the 455ci V8. If so, we can’t be sure whether this is the 2bbl or the 4bbl. If you bank on it being the former then you had access to 280 raging horsepower under your right foot. The latter gave you 325hp. Mind you, with vehicle weight north of 4800lbs, power would become your best friend. The engine bay looks fairly clean, and it’s a bonus to see an air con compressor present and all hooked up. There’s no word on whether that works, but one can always live in hope. It also appears to have been optioned with power steering, which I suspect was probably a fairly wise move. The seller also states that the car “runs and drives perfect”.
I look at the interior and it’s bigger than my house. Seriously though, the interior looks quite good. The only thing that raises any concern is the base of the driver’s seat. I can’t quite work out whether there is something on the seat, or if the material has stretched, or whether there is some seam separation there. Once again those grainy photos are working against the seller, not for them. Having said that, the dash appears to be in good order with no cracks, and the rest of the interior looks to be in good order. Unfortunately there is no indication whether this is a 2-seat model or a 3-seat. It’s also hard to tell from the photos, but I do believe that this one is fitted with optional power windows.
So, an ad that raises more questions than it answers. Questions like: Is it a 2bbl or a 4bbl? Is it a 2-seat or a 3-seat? Is that rust around the bottom of the side windows? Does the air con work? Having never had the opportunity to experience one of these though, my big questions are for you. Have you ever owned or driven one? If so, did you enjoy it? Would you be prepared to take on a car like this? I have to admit that I would be tempted if it wasn’t bigger than my house.
I wonder what the reserve is set at? From what I can see I think the looks of this car could really come around without a whole lot of effort or money. If the reserve is low enough it could be a lot of car for the money even with some of the unknowns.
This is a two seat wagon. Three seat wagons have a split second row seat to allow access to the forward facing third row.
Reasonably clean wagon surprised since it has power windows that it has the non woodgrain sides .I always felt the GM “clamshell” wagons looked better than comparable mopar wagons but couldn’t touch ford/Mercury wagons in the looks department .This wagon does have the year only rear air vents on the back of the tailgate if that sways a buyer
All of these wagons are 3 seat. The rear seat faces forward. My sister and I spent many a mile in the 3rd row seat as kids in my parents 1973 Belair wagon. Rear window rolls up into the headliner and the tailgate drops on the floor. If I remember correctly with the back end opened up?, the was room to slide about 43 sheets of 3/4″ 4X8ft plywood in the back and drive home. Excellent car and wish that I had it back. The roof rack was just the right size for my sister and I at about 10 and 12 years of age to recline comfortably in the roof rack at the drive in movies. Great memories
No, the rear seat was an option as was power tailgate which this one does appear to have. looks like a little bit of elbow grease would clean this one right up. But if the mileage is really 125k the first thing I would do is confirm the timing gears and chain have been replaced or else do so.. I like the front end on these big Pontiac wagons and sporting some Pontiac rallies would dress this right up and you would have a practical and fun cruiser,. wonder were the reserve is set?
Awesome car! I haven’t owned the station wagon version, but I did own a Pontiac Grandville convertible of the same year, with the same engine. What a torque monster! Really like the front end looks, and like 68custom said, Pontiac Rally wheels would look fantastic. If it’s rust free as the seller claims, it’d be a fun classic to pick up!
Had one almost identical, even the color. Why aren’t there many around? Well in my case I slowly came to a stop at the T. The streets were covered with ice. I was watching a big Suburban coming from the the left and thought he was going way too fast for the conditions. Then he hit his blinker to turn onto my street. Ohhh noooo! He tried to turn, then he tried to stop which he finally did, embedded into the side of that big wagon. Classic T bone all in slow motion. I really liked that car. His Insurance Co. didn’t pay me squat for it. :-( Terry J
College roommate had a 1972 Grand Safari we called”The Dragon Wagon”, it was great to haul kegs of beer in. Great road trip car but it was a thirsty beast. Good times.
That seems like a good price for a clean old Pontiac station wagon. Add some Pontiac Ralley wheels and it would make a nice ride!!
I had one of these as my first car and absolutely loved it, much to the befuddlement of my friends. Mine was in Classic Copper with the ‘wood’ trim and Sierra interior with the 455 four barrel and most of the options. The writer is correct that rust around the window channels and fuel filler can be a problem. If it’s caught early it’s not bad but once holes open up water runs down the insides of the poorly protected quarter panels and renders them swiss cheese fairly quickly. One thing I see on this one is that the center panel between the grills is damaged. That is actually a heavy gauge ‘v-beam’ extension of the bumper with a plastic cover and is attached to the fiberglass header panel at the top with a bolt and the bumper reinforcement at the bottom with a rubber bushing with a big arrowhead emblem to cover the seam at the header. The grill is surrounded with chrome cast metal moldings. Beautiful but relatively fragile design.
I think these wagons would be set off by Pontiac silver honeycomb wheels
Dad had a ’73 Grand Safari wagon white with the faux wood side panels and a red interior. My Dad had to borrow my Impala once and I had to drive his land yacht. When the for barrel opened, it howled and I kept the Nova’s and Chevelle’s away. Not that it was as fast, but it sounded bad enough to scare them away. Had the four barrel, had three rows, had the clam shell, the roof rack and the sweet, sweet wild side panels.
AC, power windows, looks like tilt steering and cruise control, nicely optioned wagon. 350 or 455 it’s a nice car.
Always wondered what the vents in the tailgate were for. Anyone?
Nice old ride!! Vents in the back helped to remove the hot “green house ” air from the rear seat area , also moisture/condensation in winter. I’d do some wheels, put in an OD trans with EFI & free flow exhaust, & maybe a thumper cam. DEFINITELY heavier springs & shocks, all these GM wagons road like an old easy chair. Gold tint the rear glass to reduce the solar heat. Great find!!
Removed the roof rack from an identical car to put on my ’76 Buick Estate Wagon. The tailgates were not optional as all full-size GM wagons had them. Mine never failed to work. Wish I still had one of these babies.