In 1955, Chevrolet introduced a new “sport wagon” known as the Bel Air Nomad. Though there was a lot of fanfare at the time, it didn’t equate to big sales numbers and the Nomad went away after 1957. Less often remembered is that Pontiac had their version of the same wagon dubbed the Star Chief Safari (which sold in even fewer numbers than did the Chevy). This 1956 Safari looks to have been sitting outdoors for some time as Mother Nature has had her way with it. A well-equipped project, this Pontiac is in Dunnigan, California, and is available here on craigslist for $5,000. Tip finder Gunter Kramer has been at it again!
Nomads and Safaris were developed from a 1954 Corvette-based concept car. They were built at the same factory in Ohio and shared body parts like doors, a tailgate, and seating. But much of the sheet metal was different as were the drivetrains and interiors. The Safari used a V8 engine exclusively and they grew in displacement from model year to model year until the end of the line came in 1957. Just as the Nomad wore deluxe Bel Air trim, the Safari drew from the snappy Star Chief. Except for a handful of exceptions, all Safaris used an automatic transmission.
For whatever reason, the concept of the Sport Wagon didn’t take off. Ford tried to emulate it in 1956 with their Parklane, but it didn’t sell well either. Between 1955 and 1957, Chevy sold just 22,375 Nomads while Pontiac delivered only 9,094 similar Safaris. Both marques would use the Nomad/Safari names later, but on routine 4-door station wagons that hauled lots of kids to soccer practice (or whatever youngster sport was popular then).
Details about this Safari are few. We don’t know how long it’s been idle and it’s unlikely that it will run without work. We suspect that rust is an issue, and the vehicle is not complete (for example, the taillights, rear bumper, and front grille are missing). But it does have three somewhat rare options: power windows, a power front seat, and a power antenna for the Wunderbar radio. A lot of work is going to be needed here, but how many of the 4,042 copies of the 1956 Safari could be left in any condition? Super nice Nomads can command six figures, so why not Safari?
Cool….looks worth the money….
Probably worth the money but you can bet it’s going to take a lot of money to put it back together again. Sure is a cool car though. Would be really nice to put together if only you had enough money to do it. I doubt you’d ever get your money out of it if you were to try and sell it. I’m guessing it would have to be something you did because you wanted the car. But you definitely be unique. You would not see another one like it I doubt.
Looking closer at the background of the pictures it looks like there are parts cars back there where you can get probably whatever you needed for that car so it may not be as hard to find parts as you would think. Might be something worth looking into.
In January 2022 a nice looking 1956 Star Chief sold on this site for $51k.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1956-pontiac-safari-4/
This car has seen better days. Having learned an expensive lesson about rusty cars it’s not what’s called a survivor. For the money you’re investing to attempt to “restore” it buy yourself a cabin, summer home or lake property.
Funny, a very rusty Charger, no engine, is worth more today than several of these.
Really doesn’t matter the initial purchase, it’s how far you are willing to go.
Rusty or not, you can keep the Charger. I’m allergic to Dodges
Rare, yes but there’s another one in the first photo… in a Pontiac junk yard?
The 2 door Nomad went away after 57 The Nomad name carried on on the 4 door Impala wagon.
I go by this place on I5 pretty often and he has a lot of mostly 50s Pontiacs.
Am I the only one that can see that a 2 door wagon is as useful as the sleeves from your vest. Not a big seller is no surprise to me. I can’t look at a 56 Pontiac without thinking of Lucy, Ricky, Fred and Ethel and their famous trip to California in the “Pontiac”, but only the way Ricky would say it. Growing up in Southern California, I remember seeing a lot of those 56 Pontiacs, but in sedans and hardtops. I can’t remember ever seeing a wagon either 2 or 4 door. However the Nomads were very popular with the surfers, they loved them. I had a friend who’s brother even had a 58 Edsel Villiger he got from their dad. It was yellow and black, with black interior. The lesson learned is station wagons require 4 doors. Speaking of wagons, I know a lot of people, myself included that would love to see traditional American station wagons make a come back. I can’t be the only one that is sick to death of seeing SUVs everywhere I look. Back in the day, no one would have ever thought that they would rule the streets back in the day.