Freshly Restored: 1955 Pontiac Star Chief Safari

The 1955-57 Chevrolet Nomad is iconic, perhaps for the styling and also because of its low production numbers. But many will forget that Pontiac also offered a “sport wagon” at the same time, using the same body, the Safari. Trimmed like the upper-end Star Chief, the Safari didn’t catch on with buyers, either, and the concept was dropped after 1957. The seller has a newly restored 1955 Safari that also has a few modern touches (like front disc brakes). Located in Langley, British Columbia, this rare find is available here on craigslist for $45,500 (CDN) or $35,000 (USD). Kudos to Tony Primo for this Poncho tip!

Both the Nomad and Safari were based on a 1954 concept car that looked like a 1953 Chevy Corvette. When it went into production, the Sport Wagon had its own body from the cowl back when compared to a “regular” Chevy or Pontiac station wagon. Plus, it carried a higher level of trim like the Bel Air and Star Chief. So, perhaps the pair was too fancy for most buyers of 2-door wagons, and the concept died after just 22,000 Nomads and 9,000 Safaris were sold.

We’re told this ’55 Safari has had a frame-off restoration and that only a few emblems need to be reinstalled. It also comes with fender skirts, which the buyer can put on or leave off (I vote for the latter). Everything you see in the photos appears to be new, rebuilt, or refreshed. That includes the factory 287 cubic inch V8 and automatic transmission. The odometer reads 5,000 miles, so is that since the restoration or just a placeholder?

The seller has $20,800 in receipts, but surely that includes only part of the work that was done. One unfortunate twist for those who prefer originality, the paint colors were changed when the wagon was refinished. So, you have teal and white now instead of bronze and beige. The interior is new, but the upper rear gate needs to be replated. When the mechanicals were gone through, the electrical system was changed as an alternator is present now instead of a generator. Pontiac only produced 3,760 Safaris in 1955 compared to Chevy’s 8,530 Nomads, so they’re harder to find today in any condition.