1957 Pontiac safari wagon

Larams · Member

1957 Pontiac safari wagon

Larams · Member

Here are some pics of the car.

Howmac · Guru

Nice Find !

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Cool car! And welcome to Canadian Poncho.

As you likely know, the floor pans and chassis are the same as Chevy, so make sure you specify Chevy when you order or you'll get stuff for a US model which won't fit.

Rare car with a 283 automatic too, that's neat. What are your plans for the car? Restore? Hot rod? You may or may not already know but those V8 valve covers on there are a bit rare (I believe the PONTIAC on them is raised?) and hard to find.

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

Welcome aboard. It amazes me what you guys in Saskatchewan find in the weeds!

dcneric · Poncho Master!

Way cool find. Where did you find it?

Welcome from Regina.

Larams · Member

@howmac - thank you

@4speed427 - Thank you for the info. I'd like to see if I can get it started and running as is then, if I can I'll daily it. I used to run another 55 pontiac 4dr sedan with a small block 400 / 700R4 for years.

How can you tell it's a 283? Shows you what I know. I was thinking it was a 265, only because it still has an oil bath air filter setup. I cant say for sure that the air cleaner is original to the car, only that it was on it when I picked it up.

Also when I was trying to get it to turn over once I had freed up the block and valve train, the starter wouldn't engage. So I took it out and that was the first small block starter I have ever taken out where it was bolted to the block from the front with 2 bolts and 1 from the back. The other small block chevs Ive worked on in the past bolted from underneath. This is why I thought maybe that it was an actual Pontiac small block V8.

@CanadianPoncho - thank you! There's cars everywhere, just have to look around and ask permission to go see what's there. And make sure to stop if something catches your eye!!!!

@dcneric - I found it on an old farm that my friend recently moved to. I went out to see him for the first time and there the bumper were protruding out of the grass and trees. I asked him what he was doing with it, told me nothing and I struck a deal. 3 hours later she was home with me. I can't wait to get it running and driveable!

Cheviac · Guru

Interesting, there's an oldsmobile horn ring on the front seat, is there an oldsmobile around too?

Larams · Member

@cheviac - Good eye!!!! There wasn't an oldsmobile anywhere to be seen! I would have tried to get that too!!!!! lol

Larams · Member

Sorry to bombard you with tons of photos, but this engine / transmission identification has me thinking. I headed out to the farm where I have an 1956 Pontiac 4 dr sedan parts car that was upside down on its roof in a pond when I found it on another buddy's farm. I checked the way the starter is mounted to the engine and it's the same as the 1957 safari! I couldn't get under the car as it's sitting on its hubs. I'll head out there again next weekend and jack up the car to get it off the ground.

Here's some pics of the 1956, it also has the scripted pontiac valve covers.

OURWAGON · Guru

HAPPY FOR YOUR FIND. smile smile

A LOT HAPPIER IF IT WAS MINE . biggrin biggrin

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Larams wrote:

@4speed427 - Thank you for the info. I'd like to see if I can get it started and running as is then, if I can I'll daily it. I used to run another 55 pontiac 4dr sedan with a small block 400 / 700R4 for years.

I'm sorry, I was just assuming the 1957 V8 is a 283. I didn't think the 265 went past 1956? I don't know the 57's well enough to say for sure though.

Reading online it looks like it could be either? Is it a 4 barrel or 2 barrel?

-- Edited by 4SPEED427 on Sunday 6th of June 2021 11:32:02 PM

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

The 1957 Pontiac Sales Brochure does not show the 265 engine however I too believe that the both the 265 and 283 were available. 1957 was the first year for the 283 so it is possible there was some overlap use of the 265.

The scripted valve covers usually only appear on field cars like you have as most OG engines have been long pulled and heads changed. The scripted valve covers have offset bolt holes.

.

I also did a thread on engine colour which you might find interesting. CLICK HERE

-- Edited by 73SC on Monday 7th of June 2021 12:56:53 AM

Pontiacanada · A Poncho Legend!

Welcome from Canada's east coast. Good find. With a parts car, looks like you have enough to fix it up.

Larams · Member

Both cars seem to be 2 barrels. The starters on both cars mount the same way, 2 bolts from the front and one from the back. i haven't seen this way of mounting a starter on small block chevs. Usually small block chevs are mounted from underneath with 2 long bolts. Am I wrong in my assumptions?

I sure can't wait to get enough info to get started trying to get it running.

Thank you for any information you guys have been providing, it's much appreciated!

gparis7 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Great finds. Love the 57 Pontiac wagon. Congratulations.

Prefectca · Poncho Master!

Larams wrote:
Both cars seem to be 2 barrels. The starters on both cars mount the same way, 2 bolts from the front and one from the back. i haven't seen this way of mounting a starter on small block chevs. Usually small block chevs are mounted from underneath with 2 long bolts. Am I wrong in my assumptions?
I sure can't wait to get enough info to get started trying to get it running.
Thank you for any information you guys have been providing, it's much appreciated!

All of the Chevrolet starters mounted to the transmission bell housing from 1955 up to 1962 except for the turboglide automatic. the trucks with a manual trans used that style of starter up to 1972. Great find!

Paul

-- Edited by Prefectca on Monday 7th of June 2021 09:28:24 AM

flatop · Addicted!

Neat finds for sure,i have owned numerous 567 chevs and pontiacs since 1971 and that is how the starter mounted in all of them.

beaumontguru · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I love it! welcome here. such a cool car and a factory V8 too. loving the original color combo, hope you stick with those colors, never see it anymore, but so period perfect!

I have that air filter decal reproduced if you ever need one, probably the last part you need at this stage(ha,Ha), but keep at it, that car is worthy of driving again!

Larams · Member

Thank you for all the info guys. Its Much appreciated! Now to find out if those original V8s are 265s or 283s. Thanks again

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

Larams wrote:
Thank you for all the info guys. Its Much appreciated! Now to find out if those original V8s are 265s or 283s. Thanks again

The only question as far as I'm concerned is was the 265 used in 57 Pontiacs, 100% the 283 was offered.

The answer is easy to get through Vintage Vehicle Services, CLICK HERE

Larams · Member

OURWAGON wrote:
HAPPY FOR YOUR FIND.

A LOT HAPPIER IF IT WAS MINE .

You interested Or do you know anyone that may be? Ive been regretting this decision over the past week, Ive decided that since I havent touched the car in the past year and am not currently in a position to put the necessary money into it, that I should pass it along before it goes to waste. Someone should get the opportunity to get it back on the road.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Laurent, if you would like to put a price on the car, I can move this entire thread over to the "For Sale" section. It would save you writing up a new ad and having to attach all the pictures again. Or just give me the price and I can add it to the thread and move it all over to "For Sale".

Larams · Member

If you can do that for me that would be greatly appreciated!!!! I should have posted it there to start! $3000 cnd obo for the wagon green/yellow $1500 cnd obo for the 4 door sedan purple/white Thanks again for your help

MC · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Good luck in finding new caretakers for your cars. They look like good solid starting points, especially the wagon, which has "extra" coolness...