Had I been alive and old enough to be thinking about buying an automobile in the fifties, I can’t imagine a sport wagon wouldn’t have caught my eye, as they offered the cool-factor of a 2-door body plus ample room for the family and lots of cargo inside.  Although they were slower sellers, some consumers liked the idea, especially over at the Chevrolet dealerships, where the Nomad accounted for a few of the brand’s Tri-Five sales.  Lesser remembered, and rarer, is the Pontiac equivalent, known as the Star Chief Safari, with this 1956 model here on Facebook Marketplace remaining a highly original specimen.  Located in St. Louis, Missouri, the seller is seeking close to $25,000 for this one to relocate from his garage, and our thanks go out to reader Zappenduster for sending in the much-appreciated tip here!

The background information provided is that this Safari has been in dry storage since the early eighties, with the metal being described as basically rust-free.  For a project consideration, this Pontiac ticks several of the right boxes, with its solid nature promising some strong bones throughout to work with.  Another positive is that this wagon is pretty much complete on the outside, right down to the factory steel wheels and hubcaps.  A bit of light corrosion can be spotted around some of the edges and also underneath the driver’s door, but compared to most unrestored Tri-Fives in the marketplace, it’s a lot healthier than many.  Out back, one of the taillight lenses is broken, plus a trailer hitch has been added, but replacing the former and removing the latter shouldn’t take more than a short afternoon.

The completeness theme continues inside, with the seller stating that even the hard-to-find trim parts are still present.  There are a few areas with obvious minor wear and tear, such as the passenger’s door panel, but I’m thinking a thorough cleaning would be the proper starting point here.  Lifting the grime off of all of the surfaces will likely reveal many components remaining in good enough condition for a nice driver, with the owner specifically confirming that the seats aren’t ripped up.  The floorboards appear solid as well, so some cosmetic attention to the interior, along with a fresh carpet, may be all that’s needed to satisfy the majority of drivers.

A storage period exceeding four decades is a long time, so, at a minimum, it would be wise to drain the tank and fuel lines before attempting to start the engine.  If you’re not quite ready to begin a complete restoration, the seller doesn’t think much would be required to get this one running, then just drive it as-is for a while.  The originality is admirable here, and whether it’s a project or just a fun driver you’re after, I’m feeling this 1956 Pontiac Star Chief Safari Wagon seems like a winner.  What are your thoughts here?