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1957 Pontiac Safari Wagon Headed To Glendale Arizona Auction

The Pontiac Safari wagon bowed January 31st, 1955 as a 1955 model. Evolving from the 1954 GM Motorama Nomad show car, the Safari was built on the A-Body platform as a corporate cousin to the Chevy Nomad.

Side view of the 1957 Pontiac Safari wagon heading to auction.

The range-topping Pontiac Safari wagon was part of the Pontiac Star Chief line, complete with a luxurious interior, silver streak Chieftain hood trim, supersonic emblem on the leading edge of the hood, and taillights all its own. As a two-door “sport wagon,” the Safari had longer front doors than the traditional four-door estate, B-pillars with a forward cant, chrome vertical trim on the tailgate, and sliding rear windows. Base price was steep at $2,962.

Standard power for the Pontiac Safari was the 287 cubic-inch Strato Streak V8 with overhead valves fed by a Carter two-barrel carb and producing 180 horsepower. When the optional Carter four-barrel carburetor was specified, the Strato Streak cranked out 200 horsepower. Backing the Strato Streak was a three-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission.

The options list for the Pontiac Safari wagon was loaded with power accessories, thanks largely to the capabilities of the new twelve-volt electrical system. The heater/defroster, radio, headlights, and taillights all had improved performance compared to the previous six-volt system.

For the 1956 model year, the Pontiac Safari received mild styling changes in line with the rest of the Star Chief line. Front and rear bumpers were revised, as was the side trim and fender reflectors. Two-tone paint became standard with roofs painted in accent colors. Engine displacement grew to 316 cubic inches, and power grew to 216 horsepower for the two-barrel carb variants, with four-barrel carb engines producing 227 ponies. A dual four-barrel option yielded an impressing 285 horsepower. A four-speed automatic transmission became the standard issue, but ten Safari units came equipped with manual gearboxes. The Safari had the lowest production of any 1956 Pontiac, with just 4,042 copies leaving the factory.

For the 1957 model year, the Pontiac Safari moniker was applied to all Pontiac wagons, supplanting the 860, 870, Chieftain Safari, and Super Chief Safari wagon nameplates. The two-door sport wagon that had previously been known as the Star Chief Custom stayed in production. Engine displacement grew once again to 347 cubic inches, resulting in a power bump for the four-barrel equipped engine to 270 horsepower, and 290 horsepower for the new three two-barrel setup. 

Our feature 1957 Pontiac Safari wagon has been the subject of a comprehensive restoration with some modifications for better power and comfort. The wagon has been refinished in Seacrest Green and Kenya Ivory over a two-tone green and white interior. Powering the Safari is a GM Performance Products LS3 V8 dressed to resemble the original 347 Strato Streak engine, but producing significantly more horsepower at 495. Backing the LS3 is a 4L70 overdrive automatic transmission. Stopping duties come courtesy of power four-wheel disc brakes that hide behind chrome spoke wheels shod in wide whitewall radial rubber. Inside the Safari, things are kept comfortable courtesy of Vintage Air climate control, heated seats, and power windows. Dakota Digital gauges help the driver keep watch of all the mechanical goings-on.

This mildly custom 1957 Pontiac Safari wagon will cross the Mecum Auctions block at their Glendale, Arizona event March 21st.

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Comments

  1. Great looking wagon this is when cars had style. No cookie cutter car here.

    Reply
  2. Nice car, but another “LS-1 is better than an original Pontiac” swap-out. Count me out on this one

    Reply
  3. Beautiful!

    Reply
  4. We would like to have but this option does not have as a new car at store offered by an official car manufacturer

    Reply
  5. Gotta love those vintage wagons.

    Reply

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