This 1957 Pontiac Safari Wagon Is Your Nomad Alternative

The Chevy Nomad might steal the headlines when it comes to mid-Fifties two-door GM wagons, but Pontiac fans have their own distinctively sporty long-roof model to cheer on. While the bowtie brigade was selling the Nomad, Pontiac offered the Safari, which was built on the same platform as its corporate counterpart.

It doesn’t take much more than a quick glance to see the commonalities between the two cars. A bit longer glance and the Pontiac designs for the body, grille, trim and lighting become a bit more obvious. The Nomad was not produced in particularly large numbers, but the Pontiac version saw even lowers sales. This rare 1957 Pontiac Star Chief Custom Safari station wagon was one of just 1,292 built that year. It’s unknown how many remain, but this one is currently available on Hemmings Auctions, with bids being accepted for only a couple more days.

1957 Pontiac Star Chief Custom Safari two-door station wagon, front quarter

Like the Nomad, plenty of hot rodders got their hands on two-door Safari wagons. Some of them even cannibalized Pontiacs to resurrect the more-popular Nomads. This ’57 Safari has been customized in multiple ways, starting with the replacement of its original 347-cu.in. V8 with a rebuilt 428-cu.in. powerplant out of a 1968 Bonneville. It is mated to a Strat-Flight Hydra-Matic transmission that has also been rebuilt, according to the seller’s notes.

1957 Pontiac Star Chief Custom Safari two-door station wagon interior

The shiny purple metallic paint is a far cry from the original two-tone that featured Charcoal Gray as the primary color with Silver Beige complementing it, according to the firewall body tag. Inside, the original leather interior has been replaced with gray cloth upholstery and carpet that works well with the violet exterior. As an original factory-air car, this Safari was already equipped with vents and controls for A/C. Rather than the original equipment, it now is cooled by an aftermarket air-conditioning system. Other upgrades include front disc brakes to help with stopping the truly unique wagon.

The seller is keen to note that the chrome components have been properly rechromed, including the bars and “PONTIAC” lettering on the tailgate, which are typically pitted on these vehicles. The steering wheel looks to be in great shape, as does the dashboard and instrument panel. The installation of the 428 did require the loss of power steering, but the brakes are power assisted.

1957 Pontiac Star Chief Custom Safari two-door station wagon, rear section showing unique rear glass, side view

Head on over to Hemmings Auctions to take a look at this uncommon 1957 Pontiac Star Chief Custom Safari.