This is a rare wagon. 1957 was the last year for this 2 door Nomad type body. One of Only 1,292 ever Produced, A True #1 Car, With Polished Stainless and Chrome.
In 1957, people on the go with families found that Pontiac's Star Chief Custom Two-Door Safari Wagon offered possibilities, but only about 1,292 Star Chief two-door Safari Wagons ended up being sold by year's end. This car is one of that group, and this is a wonderful example. Under the hood is a powerful Pontiac engine. The exterior has been covered in a wonderful two-tone Red and Ivory paint. With gorgeous stainless and chrome grill and fenders.
Pontiac Star Chief CustomTwo-Door Safari Wagon
Two-tone Red body and Ivory top
powerful 347 V-8 engine
Automatic transmission
Interior: ivory color headliner and re-upholstered red bench seats with red carpet
AM radio
The Chevrolet Nomad and the Pontiac Star Chief Custom Two-Door Safari Wagon were quite possibly the world's first sport wagons. For Pontiac, the Star Chief Custom Two-Door Safari Wagon was a great way to showcase exciting new styling, materials usage and a high level of standard and optional amenities. Despite the effort, Nomad largely outsold Safari, thanks mostly to the Pontiac's higher price. But, in the end, it made the Pontiac a more unique, rarer vehicle, with 1957 marking the rarest of them with just 1,292 built. Presented with a spectacular chrome and brightwork, that appears with exquisite reflection and finish, sustaining the seemingly overall terrific condition. One look at this beauty, and it's easy to see why the Pontiac commanded such a premium over the Chevrolet. The Pontiac was a more ornate, detailed and well-appointed car that was aimed at a more upscale market.
During the early 1950s. General Motors was considering the closure of Pontiac as sales were steadily declining with the division catering to a clientele of elderly motorists who appreciated the conservative, stoic styling and exceptionally robust engineering. But a glut of young people earning exceptional wages was entering the market, and Pontiac needed to attract them. The Safari would be one of the saviors that helped kick off what would become the new Pontiac with a more luxurious and sporting persona, raising eyebrows with fresh styling, materials, amenities and performance. The Safari wagon would entice youthful adventure seekers with two-door sportiness and wagon spaciousness. Priced about 20% higher than the Nomad, the Safari featured a lot for the money, and it likely could be considered the first sport wagon.
To illustrate the change in Pontiac's image, the least powerful engine in 1957 had 100 hp more than that of its most powerful engine just three years earlier.
Perhaps best summarized in the book "Pontiac Since 1945" by Richard L. Busenkell, "Nineteen fifty-seven can be pinpointed as the year in which Pontiac's image truly did change. After two-years of dramatic improvement, the firebreathing '57 models, succeeded in transforming the public's perception of Pontiac. No longer would auto magazine and car buffs overlook Pontiac when discussing Detroit's hottest cars. Never again would anyone be surprised when a Pontiac turned in a sizzling performance. Pontiac was well on its way to becoming something unthinkable a few short years before: the yardstick by which the performance of every other American sedan was
