Body: Rough and needs a complete restoration, all Safari specific trim seems to be there. I have not had it on a hoist but from I can see the frame looks good. The tail gate opens and closes, there is rust in the floor although the spare tire well didn't seem that bad. All glass is there but the passenger front door glass needs replacing (flat glass easy to cut). 1/4s and rockers have rust, rust in the floor.
Interior: Front bench seat is missing but is the same as any 2 door 56 Pontiac. The rear seat is in place and complete and the chrome head liner bows are there. All interior parts need to be restored. This is a power window car with headlight auto dimmer switch.
Mechanical: There is no engine or transmission, the car rolls and steers.
History: This car comes from Salt Spring Island British Columbia and is a Barn Find. It comes with a clear British Columbia title.
Over All: I thought about converting it to a Nomad, but the Safari is so much rarer it seems like it would be the wrong thing to do. These cars bring a fortune as hot rods or restored. If your looking for a winter project that will be well worth the time and money you invest then this may be the right choice for you.
Reason for Selling:I have a sizable collection of cars and projects and have reached the age that I have decided to downsize.
Location: The car is located in Salmon Arm British Columbia a few hours from the Washington border. I can help find a shipper and help with the paperwork if the car is being shipped to the US as I am familiar with the process, but I will only do this for the winning bidder as it takes a lot of calls and emails to get the best price. I can also arrange for overseas shipment. If the winning bidder is from the US I can have to car shipped to Seattle Washington (at the buyers cost) if that is a more convenient pickup location. There is no duty fees on this car if it is shipped to the US.
Other: This car is sold on an clear British Columbia Title title.
-- Edited by Pontiacanada on Sunday 25th of October 2015 04:45:36 PM
__________________
Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
Is that an underseat heater? They were a rare factory option on Canadian cars as RPO C47. I wonder what the story is regarding its presence on that 56 Safari? That car is quite loaded BTW, or at least it was.
__________________
67 Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe, Oshawa-built 250 PG never disturbed.
In garage, 296 cid inline six & TH350...
Cam, Toronto.
I don't judge a man by how far he's fallen, but by how far back he bounces - Patton
Were these even available in Canada in 1956? I doubt it somehow. Nonetheless it is one of those really rare and highly styled cars that certainly deserves a restoration.
I'm not sure if they could be special ordered and brought to Canada by a dealer, but I do remember hearing of one (a '57, I think) that was in Halifax. I don't remember the story completely, but it might have been brought up here and left by an American with a summer place in NS. I'll ask my buddy about it next time I see him.
That seat heater is interesting. The '71 Chrysler New Yorker I had was brought out east from Saskatchewan, and had a factory installed rear seat heater, complete with coolant lines running under the floor and heater core in the rear. I've never seen one on a fifties GM product, though.
Really like the lines of those '55-'57 Safaris, though. Like Nomads but nicer. The Pontiac was actually a better fit for that roof, in my opinion.
Were these even available in Canada in 1956? I doubt it somehow. Nonetheless it is one of those really rare and highly styled cars that certainly deserves a restoration.
These were U.S. available vehicles only. Made the same years as the Nomad 55-57 but much rarer.
a little more than 9,000 were made compared to the Nomad where 20,000 were made.
Yes the heater was under the seat. Back in the early 70's I owned two 1955's....paid $50. for one and $35 for another that didn't have a motor.
The motor was a 287 cu.in. V8.
I bought the running one in Massey Ontario it came from Wisconsin, and the other in Windsor,Ontario,and it came from Kentucky.
I still have the interior chrome roof bars from both and the hood ornament from one. Definitely a step up from the Nomads.
-- Edited by Greaser on Thursday 29th of October 2015 12:47:39 PM
A very worthy candidate of a complete ORIGINAL restoration. This sweet vintage iron is too rare and special to violate with mods. I can only say an "old car prayer" that this 56 does not in end up in a house of horrors .
__________________
1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six
1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
I wonder....did Nomads roll on a Chevy frame ? If so it must have been a chore to put these Safari bodys on an American Pontiac frame. Or are Safari bodys Unique from Nomads? Hmmmmm. Or Are NOmads sitting on an American frame?
I wonder....did Nomads roll on a Chevy frame ? If so it must have been a chore to put these Safari bodys on an American Pontiac frame. Or are Safari bodys Unique from Nomads? Hmmmmm. Or Are NOmads sitting on an American frame?
Chevrolet's had there own platform and Pontiac's had there own platform. It was just the styling that was shared. Chevrolet's and Pontiac's were two very different animals then for the most part but they did share the odd bit here and there. Everything changed later but back in the 1950's, Chev and Pontiac were two very different animals in many many ways. Keep in mind that i am talking about the standard issue U.S.A. offerings and not the Canadian based offerings. After all Chevrolet Nomads and Pontiac versions were very much U.S.A. animals and had nothing to do with any Canadian connection. Cheers. George
-- Edited by long stroke on Saturday 31st of October 2015 01:42:06 PM
__________________
1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six
1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
Although both the Nomads and Safaris were built in the US they were both available for sale in Canada. A few Nomads were sold in Canada and a Nomad was sold at Timmins Garage in 1956.
Although both the Nomads and Safaris were built in the US they were both available for sale in Canada. A few Nomads were sold in Canada and a Nomad was sold at Timmins Garage in 1956.
Al
I'll have to disagree with you on this Al...the 2 door Safari 1955-57 version of the Nomad was never available in Canada.
Canadian wagons available in those years were called Pathfinders and built on a Chevy chasis,.....and yes Chevrolet Nomads in 1955-1957 were available in Canada.
Although both the Nomads and Safaris were built in the US they were both available for sale in Canada. A few Nomads were sold in Canada and a Nomad was sold at Timmins Garage in 1956.
Al
I'll have to disagree with you on this Al...the 2 door Safari 1955-57 version of the Nomad was never available in Canada.
Canadian wagons available in those years were called Pathfinders and built on a Chevy chasis,.....and yes Chevrolet Nomads in 1955-1957 were available in Canada.
Not even as a special order?
I say that as I know for sure of one 1969 Lemans, a model only available in the US, being special ordered by a customer at a local dealer. The car was sold and driven here its entire life. I am sure of this because that is the story that the original owner gave me (back in the 1980s) and I have no reason to doubt her.
I guess the question would be whether that was possible in the 1950s...
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
