Between 1955 and 1957, General Motors offered two “sport wagons”. Best remembered is the Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad with the custom body from the cowl back. But Pontiac also offered a similar wagon, the Star Chief Safari. Neither posted big sales numbers, and the concept was gone by 1958. The seller has a sweet ’57 Safari that looks to have been restored, but this is not stated. A single-owner vehicle for more than 30 years, the Pontiac is in Lewiston, Idaho, and is available here on eBay, where the current bid is $30,100, the reserve is unmet, and the Buy It Now price is $47,000.
Both the Safari and Nomad were inspired by a 1953 concept car that was based on the Chevy Corvette. The vehicles had a completely different body from the steering wheel back and a higher level of trim than the Chevy Handyman. Perhaps buyers thought 2-door wagons were mostly utilitarian compared to the fancy nature of the Nomad and Safari. So, after 22,000 Nomads and 9,000 Safaris were produced, the concept was dropped (although both names would be applied to 4-door wagons).
The seller’s ’57 Safari is offered on consignment, so details about its history are sadly few. We’re told the odometer reading is just 17,650 miles, which could speak to a babied and cherished survivor. Or a restoration was done at some point, and that information wasn’t shared with the consignor. The two-tone paint and interior are nearly flawless (one little bump in the tailgate is about it). The 347 cubic inch “Strato-Streak” V8 has the Tri-Power setup, delivering extra horsepower.
This wagon likely has the 4-speed “Strato-Flight” Hydra-Matic transmission, and we assume the car drives as good as it looks. Fewer than 1,300 copies of the Safari were produced in 1957, making it the rarest among both the Safaris and Nomads built. We’re told the buyer will receive a collection of receipts and some memorabilia, whatever that may entail. The seller has a video of the Pontiac, but you’ll have to reach out for a link to it.
The seller says “with only 17,650 miles on the odometer,” which means nothing, really. Unless you can back up a mileage claim on a 69 year old car with documentation of some sort, as far as I am concerned, it’s “actual mileage unknown.”
Agree 100%. I got into a nasty discussion in another group by someone selling a 57 Chevy with what they claimed was 10,000 original miles. I didn’t dispute their claim but simply asked if there was any documentation. After all, it wasn’t chump change that they were asking. They were very upset I would even ask. Guess we are supposed to take their word for it.
They got defensive, for good reason. Chances are the odo was fiddled with as it usually is on most of these “low mileage” cars.
Sm, I wouldn’t EVER take a seller’s word on that issue if I was a buyer! If he/she feels “insulted” that you would even ask, MOVE ALONG……..
There are cars everywhere to buy, and other sellers realistic enough to appreciate your questioning the mileage. In the case of this Safari, uh–that mileage figure is a roll-over if anything. Too many things look too “fresh” like the paint, etc. It’s a safe assumption to me that mileage figure is NOT “original”. Nice car, but one has to be honest here.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a ’57 Safari in person. Only 1330 of them made, is probably why. I’ve seen a ’55 and ’56, both of them looked better than their Nomad sisters IMHO. For ’57 I think the Chevy looks better, not so chunky. This is a nice-appearing example though.
Nice looking ride! Price is up there but I bet someone gets close and takes it home.
Green green, green they say, on the far side of the hill,,,don’t see a lot of green these here days, but at one time, green was a very popular color. From oven mitts to telephones. This color matches my parents bathroom, as a kid, I puked enough in that toilet to know.
This car, in typical Pontiac fashion, is a Chevy, and then some. I always thought the Nomad was kind of plain, but this, well, it was practically an entirely different car. I read, a base ’57 Nomad cost $2857 new. The base Safari was a measly $100 more, $2962. Naturally options pushed these cars close to $4grand, and am surprised so few were sold. It cost almost $700 more than a Bel Air wagon, and that was a lot of money in ’57. While the tri-power looks ominous, and it is, generally, these run on the center carb, for a shred of mileage, if you can keep your foot out of it that is. Beautiful cars. :)
……..Pea soup green ……yuck ! ….🤢🤢🤮🤮
Yeah, not exactly my favorite color scheme.
These were beautiful compared to what followed in 58!
I’m no fan of GM, and I agree that their 1958 models weren’t some of their more attractive offerings. But I will say that the ’58 Pontiac was the best looking of all they had that model year. A ’58 Pontiac looks way better than a ’58 Chevrolet, Olds or a Cadillac, and just about anything looks better than a ’58 Buick. Well, maybe not a Tesla “truck.” ;)
I agree that 58 Pontiac model year was the best, in 1960 I bought a red and white 58 Pontiac convertible for $500, from a Pontiac motor employee, he bought a 1960 Pontiac Catalina. I drove that 58 till 1965 when I bought my first new car, a Chevy Impala SS, 409
Great memories in that 58
Seems like a relatively complete car with the stock interior showing the two-tone matching color with the ‘Star’ embossed in it. And if one remembers, the shows had a female representative with a color matching dress, single strap across one shoulder with a star broach matching the interior. It was quite the sales pitch. These are beautiful cars withe right color, and matching interior, but to quote Casey, “Pea Soup Green” sure as hell isn’t it. (neither was the show car green)
This is a beautiful car and color.
117K most likely
At least!
looks clean if the mileage can be proven great. if not no big deal. I really doubt this came from the factory with a Tri power. personally, i would swap it out for a single 4bbl. really good-looking wagon. the color is an odd choice for a 50s car. if it is as solid as it looks price seems fair. always better if you get it for less.
Really nice car. Love the front with all the huge chrome and the tail end! I think the color suits the car, both outside and inside. Mileage? Who knows. Doubt it’s original. Even with 117,000 miles it’s a nice car, but the price should be under $30k imo.
No 4 speed tranny’s in the 50’s, more likely a 2 speed!
GM did make a 4-speed by hydramatic transmission in 1957.
Strato Flight Hydramatic was a 4 speed and is listed as a option, as well as TriPower.
The Hydra-matics were 4 speed. Pontiac started using them in 1948.
pea green is fine with me
Maybe ’62 wheel covers?
Not only did they make very few of these cars, many of the wagon parts also fit a Chevy Nomad so were often stripped for those parts. Finding such a nice untouched example is rare indeed. :-) Terry J
WRONG! Hydra-Matics were 4-speeds in 1957 and had been since GM started making them.
Even given the less than desirable color, in my opinion this is a seriously cool automobile.
I would not replace the tri-power with a 4 bbl, partly because the three twos are cool, and partly because it runs on the center 2 bbl.90% of the time.
I don’t really have enough knowledge about the value of one of these to judge the price one way or another, but it doesn’t seem unreasonable to me.
Had a Hydramatic behind the 1949 Olds 303 V8 in a Model A coupe circa 1970. They actually came out before WW2 and were used in lots of vehicles including TANKS! They had 4 speeds were because the torque converter hadn’t come out yet and a low 1st gear was needed. But man were they big and heavy. They were tough though if you recall all the drag racers in the 50s & 60s running the famous B&M Hydro Stick. My Model A coupe was much lighter than a 50s Olds and that tranny was shifting all the time. On the street I seldom knew what gear it was actually in. :-) Terry J
I if recall correctly, were they also called ‘Dual Coupling Hydramatic?
If so, I had one in my ’63 Bonneville. It had a hellacious first gear.
My Dad was a Pontiac guy so his two sons became Pontiac guys too. As a kid my brother and I rode in ’55, ’56 and ’57 Pontiacs. In 1957, there were only 1,292 Pontiac Safari’s made. The true two door custom. All three of those years had options for 3 speed and four speed automatics. They jerked your head back like you were in a rocket when they shifted. So much fun. The ’57 had a 347 motor which made us smile a lot when we left stoplights quickly! It’s so true how the Pontiacs were cannibalized for nomad parts. Someone will be getting an awesome classic car.
That is really beautiful. I’d have to crawl all under it and check panels with a magnet but these are rare. I’m wondering what the HP was on the 347 with trips. I’d love that for my 57 GMC…
Too much at 30 big ones, but is a nice looking car. How anyone can lay out that kind of paper on a car net auction is beyond me.
What a risk, if it was 8K, maybe.
And those 2 barrel Rochy’s are not the correct carbs for that year.