Our October feature car is one of those "When did you last see one?" Ponchos. Mike Roth is the lucky owner of this super rare 1958 Pontiac Pathfinder Safari two door wagon. Mike accidentally stumbled onto this Pathfinder thanks to his job as a real estate agent. Other than a good clean up and a bit of interior work, this wagon is pretty much a survivor. Mike tells me he is on the lookout for the Pathfinder script for the passenger side. If you can help him out please PM me. Mike tells us more:
"Being a real estate agent I get to see some neat places and quite often I find interesting items in barns, sheds and garages. This March, I was showing a home in the country on a dead end road, and sitting in the driveway of the house next door was this 58 Pontiac Pathfinder Safari 2 door wagon with a snow bank on the hood.
I walked around it, scratched my head because I had never heard of such a car, went home and googled it, found out there were less than 800 built in Oshawa and that they weren't available in the US of A . Also i couldn't find a real photo of a 58 2 door wagon on the web. Intrigued I went back a couple days later, found the owner and made a deal to buy the car.
The car spend the first 30 yrs of its life in BC, then it came to Ontario (apparently a 69 Mustang fastback got towed home with the wagon!), after that it changed hands a few times but basically sat in storage for many years. It has a 261 in line six with a 3 in the tree and a 1 barrel Rochester carb.
It has about 87000 miles on it. After I bought it it spent about 3 months in the shop getting some much needed attention.
The interior cleaned up well, we put in new carpet, all new brakes, rebuilt carb, new rad, plugs, wires etc., fuel pump, and sending unit.
I put a clear coat over the patina and added chrome bullets to the original hubcaps and a set of bias ply white walls to finish it off.
Having lots of fun taking it to local car shows, it runs great! Thanks.Mike"
Over the last few years 58's have really grown on me. Looking at this one helps explain why.
Love the survivor stories.
Great find.
Enjoy your month at the top of the page.
That is one cool find and I like what you did and didn't do to it.
Don
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
How long ago did you find it Mike? Great wagon! (2nd. one in as many months)
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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.
The entire GM lineup for 58 are such distinctive and ground breaking creations. A friend of mine had the equivalent Chevy 2 door wagon. Much like your Pontiac, it was rare. Of all the offerings for 58 the Pontiacs are my hands down favourite.
What a great find. Congrats on your fun ride and representing at the top of the page.
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72 Nova SS, 66 Beaumont Sport Deluxe, 09 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe
I do love the wagons of last month and this month! I actually was toying with the idea of getting one of these as Perry Projects in Gibbons had a 58 pathfinder 2 door as well.
It was a little rougher but has much potential. However once I counted the cars in my yard I sort of slowly forgot that plan.
good day all, thanks for the kind words about the wagon! nice to know there are lots of other Pontiac fans out there. just an FYI i did find an NOS P on the weekend (thanks to Bill McGregor) but i still need the athfinder part of the script, as they are seperate pieces, any help would be greatly appreciated! mike
Mike, congrats on being the October C.P. feature car, very well deserving on that sweet 58 of yours. I met Mike a few months ago when he bought a couple of 14" rims off me for the 58. I talked Mike into joining C.P. and asking Todd about being a feature car. I am glad it came to be because this super rare, super survivor and super amazing 58 two door wagon is something to remember. Are there any others out there ?. I have never seen any in my many old car travels. Mike, good luck with the 58 and cheers. George
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1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six
1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
Mike we met briefly at the Norwich car show back in July prior to you cleaning the wagon up and spraying it with clear coat. What a difference looks great! Sorry we never had a chance to talk further as when I went over to see you and the wagon you were not there and when I came back a second time you had left. If there is anything I could help you with I have an extensive library of information on these fine vehicles and yes I am known as the 58 guru on this site. Bob Crocker in Tillsonburg.
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1965 Thunderbird Special Landau 10th Anniversary Limited Edition only 4500 built 34,800 miles
Nice wagon Mike, congratulations. The first hearse in our town was owned by the Catholic parish and it was a 58 Pontiac wagon. In the late 60s it sold on bids. The guy that got it let it sit and rot, would not sell it. I'm glad you got your hands on that one before it met the same fate.
