The seller states that this 1969 Pontiac Safari Station Wagon is a rare, one year only build for the LeMans. My research indicates that that LeMans station wagon was built from 1968-1981. However, I am no expert and its rarity may have to do with the Safari package. This 1969 Pontiac Safari Station Wagon is listed here on Craigslist for $18,000. It is located in Marion, North Carolina. The ad was created about 10 days ago.
Under the hood is a dirty Pontiac 350 cubic inch V8 engine. You can usually tell a Pontiac engine from a Chevrolet engine because the air conditioning compressor is mounted on the passenger side and the alternator is mounted on the driver side of a Pontiac. The Pontiac 350 cubic inch V8 engine came in two versions. The 2 barrel fed engine was rated at 265 horsepower and the 4 barrel fed engine was rated at 330 horsepower. The engine is backed by a GM Turbo Hydramatic 350 automatic transmission. The air conditioning on this car is said to blow cold.
Growing up during the station wagon era, I remember sitting in the rear facing seats of my parents 1969 Ford station wagon. The tail gate on this Pontiac folds down and swings open for more versatility. The seller believes that this is an original 47,000 mile station wagon but I am sure more than one picnic has been served off its tailgate! The tan interior matches well with the black exterior and wood paneled sides. The dash is not cracked which is common for Pontiacs after exposure to the sun and the headliner is still in place.
The undercarriage is dirty and greasy but appears solid. There is not rust or rot evident on the suspension or the floorboards. Dual exhaust take the engine fumes all the way to the rear of this beast. The seller believes that he is the second owner of this this vehicle. The car is riding on Pontiac Rally II wheels and black wall tires. While the price may seem a little high, this example is in great condition and not much is needed to enjoy it.
Looks like a very solid car, underside is all there and should be a easy car to upgrade or make repairs. Nothing worse than fighting rust. Don’t remember seeing the A body with the almost wood trim on a Pontiac. Works with the black paint. All the money but where are you going to find another?
love this car….
I owned a 1978 Pontiac Grand Safari station wagon , wood panel and yellow paint.. bought it from the original owner..
with a 455 cubic inch, the car was loaded with every option you could possibly think of, it had cigarette lighters in the back of the front seat and asteroids built into the back of the front seat.. the car was a monster… Wish I still had it today..
Cargo Coils to eliminate the ineffective coil
spacers, run new exhaust and detail under
hood… then, have fun at the show. Just not
a price I’d pay. Yeah, I’m a cheapskate!
Cargo Coils? coil spacers?! CUT the coils and drop it, level the front, put in adjustable-from-the cab air control all around and hit the AUTOBAHN, baby
Too cool.
(In Joan Crawford’s voice)-
“NO MORE SURFBOARDS!”
I could never understand the appeal of station wagons, they were always the brunt of a joke when reminiscing my childhood days bouncing around in the back of one while rolling down the highway. All that said this is by far the most appealing and sweetest looking wagon I’ve seen to date.
Ever drivin a 1974 Dodge Monaco wagon with a 440 and towing package?
posi rear and dual exhaust, factory? it may change your mind about wagons.
easly peg the 120 mph speedo!!
Sincerepolack,
You’ve got that right! I had a 1962 Chrysler New Yorker 4-door hardtop wagon with a special factory drive train. The original owner wanted to tow his fairly heavy boat, so he ordered the most powerful wagon he could find. Of course it had the 413, but this car had the 300G engine with the dual 4 barrel carbs. He also ordered it with the French Pont-a-Mousson 4-speed trans and blue leather bucket seats. The car was loaded with almost all options, including dual A/C.
One of my neighbors had a late 1960s 396 Chevelle, and he kept egging me on about how his Chevelle would best my wagon with no problem. After we did our late-nite run, he never mentioned the Chrysler again, because he never could catch up with my “sleeper” wagon.
Many Chevrolet’s have the AC compressor on the right and the alternator on the left. You can tell a Chevy 350 from a Pontiac one, because they’re completely different engines.
I’m not sure what makes this a one year only model. The woodgrain LeMans Safari was offered from 68 to at least 72. The wagon names did change around a little over the years (base wagon was a Tempest in 68, and became a LeMans S in 69), but I’m pretty sure the top intermediate wagon remained the LeMans Safari.
I’m sure that the seller is putting on the blarney to justify his asking price.
At least no period incorrect fuzzy dice! Fastest way to devalue any fine vehicle!
And the compressor was commonly placed on either side! Owned many GM units! Dependant on axial or radial compressor, that’s all.
Not necessarily… for instance, 1964-67 Chevelles have the A6 compressors on the passenger side, but 68 through at least 75 models mount on the left. The R4 model compressor came out around 76 or 77, and it was mounted on the left side also. Most of the other GM A body cars mounted the compressor on the right side.
To all you wrench-spinners – what if it doesn’t HAVE an a/c compressor – what then, HUH? HUH? HUH?
Never sold in Canada in 1968!
We got Beaumonts instead.
Yes they were sold in Canada – just imported as all Pontiac Flagship cars like GTO – Firebird and Grand Prix were – sold in Canada at the time which were Pontiac powered too – then were built at the Oshawa Plant in Ontario 1970 :)
As an old Canadian who’s parents owned a 69′ Mercury Marauder AND a 69 Meteor Rideau 500 at the same time.Every U.S. version was also sold in Canada but at a hefty premium.My dad’s Marauder was a mighty 2000 bucks more expensive up here and the Canuck buck wasnt tanked then.
TR – Very odd that you mention the Merc Marauder when it is being featured currently on BF…I also submitted a tip to BF on a Merc Park Lane Fastback that I find profile-worthy, here
https://affordableclassicsandrv.com/
No response yet from BF, but you might enjoy taking a look – and no, I have no affiliation with the dealer.
Beaumonts – Yes! “Ward, don’t you think you were a little hard on the Beaver last night?”
Ed Sel
Very cool Park Lane! Big, huge actually, but very cool. Fast back 428! Would be killer with a 4spd.
My aunt had a 68 like this with wood grain, I remember my uncle and dad piling 7 of us kids along with all our fishing gear headed out to a lake on Saturdays fun times, I always liked that car but like most cars in the north east it rotted away. I would love to buy this one if I had the $$$.
$18,000? That’s actually a good price. Even the underside body panels are still the original body color!
What are the chances of finding a rust-free 1969 wagon that has had only 2 owners, under 50k miles, probably garaged most of it’s life, is very well optioned including cold A/C, and the VERY rare Safari wood trim? And find it for a cheaper price?
Let’s say you found a typical ’69 Lemans wagon, that means it’s likely got twice the mileage, the A/C doesn’t work, the interior is well worn, it’s gonna have some rust and need new paint, and a new set of DiNoc vinyl wood appliques. Plus lots of minor work associated with a higher mileage car.
All that’s gonna cost $20k to bring it up to the condition of this car, if you do most of the work yourself.
While the Safari wood trim level was available on the midsize Pontiacs for more than 1 year, they are still very hard to find in any condition. In over 50 years of working on and playing with 1960s Pontiacs, I have actually never seen a ’69 Lemans Safari, except for the white one shown in the sales brochure.
Looking through the googles..one finds..the Safari wagon and Grand Safari upgrade were both available on both Lemans and Fullsize Pontiacs for multiple years.It’s a stunner of a car but it’s rarity is now based on “try and find another one” I’d love to own it myself.
Someone told me you can tell the difference between a Buick and Oldsmobile motor because there different, who would have thought that ?
>>>The seller believes that he is the second owner of this this vehicle. <<<
Maybe he's right right – but what if he's the third third third?
For $18k you need to hit the engine bay and underside with the pressure washer and take your garbage off the roof and back.
Then it may fetch $15k.
First of all, the surfboard(s) on top are for the “surfin’ safari” effect from the Beach Boys hit of the same name, secondly, if you pressure wash the underside you may see much more clearly exactly where all that oil is coming from and why…and the seller already took his insurance out by having a shill say “it’s better to see oil than rust.” Maybe true if you’re the seller.
If that is factory dual exhaust, this may have the 350 HO with a four BBL carb. I worry about the blanket over the front seat bottom and hop it is just to protect the upholstery and not hide damage. This appears a sweet wagon. PHS and detail it to the max. I am surprised how good the woodgrain looks. Lo my ’95 Roadmaster Limited’s wood grain should be so nice. And apparently a Southern car away from the extreme humidity of the coast? Sigh…
Im pretty sure that wood grain has been replaced, I remember my aunts 68 safari had a darker wood grain. Besides this looks to new to be original that stuff faded bubbled peaked in no time on all makes unless you kept it garaged and didn’t drive it.