Pontiac Safari's are bringing Nomad Money!!!

Especially 1957's! For many years 55-56-57 Safari wagons were parted out for Nomads, or sold for as little as 1/2 of what their more common Chevy sibling were bringing.
I watch this market obviously cause I have a project one, but just in the last few years I've watched really nice 57 (StarChief 2 Dr.) Safari Wagons bringing $60 - $70K pretty consistently. That was UNTIL I SAW THIS:

RM Auctions February 18 Collector Cars of Fort Lauderdale Sale
LOT: SP88
1957 Pontiac Safari Station Wagon
AUCTION RESULTS: Lot was Sold at a price of $112,750!!!!

http://www.rmauctions.com/CarDetails.cfm?SaleCode=FL08&CarID=r282

Of course this thing was "AACA 1st Prize" perfect with every possible option, but this has GOT to be a record price for a Safari. Nice!!

 

Makes the $23k one I was looking at an absolute bargain!

 

How about 53' Poncho wagons?.......If I could only talk the wife into letting me drag a local one home........(I posted it on the HAMB a while back).......but, she kinda' gives me the look.......I guess that I better get the 40' running, before a new project hits the driveway.

Chris Nelson
Kansas

 

Thank yewe Lord!!!

Now I won't lose my *** on the 2 that I have!!!

 

i kinda like the ponchos better than the nomads.

 

I like the Poncho's better as well... but the ones I watch are the Buick Cabelleros... they're getting tro be big money as well....

 

Great cars way nicer than a nomad they are finally gettin some love. I know from first hand experience. These things were really hard to sell at one time

 

That makes me feel good about the $2,500 I paid for my 55 safari I bought three years ago. Should be on the road this summer.

 

That has got to be silly money but it is a nice one.The guy probably spent that much over-restoring it.I may have to re-think selling my 57.I had someone offer me $10k for it awhile back and I thought the guy was on dope.

 

" it has been honored as an AACA 1st Prize and Grand National Prize winner."

That's the key right there. To restore ANY car to that level you're going to spend $100K, I don't care what it is.

Very nice looking car, add me to the list of those who'd rather have this than the Chevy version.

 

I paid $8500 for my ROACHED 57 a year ago, and I was having serious doubts the whole time... Now I'm rust repair, parts, paint, and chrome into it big time!! I just keep reminding myself how rare these cars are, and that this one was worth saving!!

March 07:

 

that looks like a damn stright car to me

 

sure wish my 55' and 56' pantiac 2dr wagons were safari's. well at least they are 2dr's

 

man, i wish my 55 was a wagon !!!!

 

It looked pretty straight- Thats why I gave that much for it. But every single part and trim item was rusted, broken, bent or peeling. The cosmetics are what break you on these cars!

 

I don't know if right now is a good time to base a cars value off recent sales. I know Cadillac values on '50s Eldos have gone haywire and shot up from 60K to 125K+ over the last 2 years, but I really cant say they will hold it. That said I love these wagons and they are still a bargain. Cross your fingers and hope you have a payday if you ever decide to sell.

Hyfire

 

I worked on a guys 56 Safari one time . It still had a nice original dark turquoise and white interior. I painted his firewall back white and filled in his back fender openings as they were cut out g***er style. Somebody started to make a drag car out of it but didn't get to far. I remember how nice the interior was, I would sit in the back seat of it and eat lunch everyday wishing I had a Nomad or Safari! They are amazing cars. I dont know what took so long for everybody to catch on.

 

yes 57 safaris are 'really' nice. something like only 1100 were made --- 5-6-7 safaris & nomads are all cooool! ------
i like them ALL!
im a 55 nomad fan. i even have one.

had a chance a coiple years ago to buy a 57 safari. driver. nice car a little fade on the paint & i just wasnt thinking!!! i dont even want to talk about it. -- it was CHEAP!!! REALLY CHEAP!!!
ive been kickin my own *** since.

 

By deucecabriolet
i dont know who owns this safari but it loks goooooooooood!

 

I just sent two running Safaris to the crusher. Nobody likes wagons.

 

Where do the 57 4dr safari's rate, money-wise?

My buddy just traded for a SUPER NICE 57 Super Safari 4dr wagon.

It's a beautiful car.

What are the 4drs bringing? Are they more or less rare, as far as number built?

 

If it was a,"Transcontinental"(has the rear lower fender trim similar to the Bonneville)they are as collectible and rare as the Custom Safari wagons.Production figures on the Custom Safari 2 door were 3,760 in 1955;4,042 in 1956,and just 1,292 in 1957.For the Transcontinental just 1,894.

Lou Calisebetta from the Old Stillwater Garage in New Jersey had the Transcontinental that was featured in TRJ awhile back.Lou is a big time Pontiac fan who owns several Safaris as well as the 60 Pontiac custom(can't remember the name)that the A Brothers originally built.

I own a 55 and a 57 and the 57 is definitely the best looking one.I don't want to say what I paid for the 57 ten years ago but I've been offered more money just for the 4.56 posi that is in it.

 

One on ebay right now with a 34K buy it now. Looks like the same color as yours Jive-Bomber. A lot more unique than the nomad.

 

Well, I hope that once they get too high it'll drag 57 Olds wagons with them

 

Maybe where you live! Long roofs are all right. Portable motel.
El BlackCherrioso

 

They did come in handy though I guess. I was able to fill each one up with four '32 3-windows I'd cut up with a torch. I also strapped two belly tanks loaded with vintage flathead and Cadillac speed parts to each of the roofs. Old cars are for ***s.

 

And lace is for girls.

 

there is NO WAY in HELLL you can get '4' 32 3 windows in a safari or nomad. they are not real big inside & that low roof line. it just cant be done! maybe 3 cut into teeny tiny pieces might fit but im juat not buyin that talk of 4.
of course safaris are longer cars & if motorless you have that area also........ weeeellllllllllll maybe in a safari but 4 would never go in a nomad.
save the whales BUT SHOOT the seals!

 

Oh they were cut into really small pieces. People kept bugging me to buy the old things, but I knew they were worth more as s****. I mean, hell, they were 75 years old. They were super straight and not rusty, but damn, 75 years is OLD!

 

Lou Calasibetta's "Surfari". His Alexander Brothers' Pontiac is the "Golden Indian"