1957 Pontiac Star Chief Custom Safari Station Wagon With an Older Restoration

This 1957 Pontiac Star Chief Custom Safari Station Wagon is one of only 1,292 two-door sports luxury models produced and is to have a known history dating back to the original owner, who was reportedly a doctor in Colorado. It was always well-maintained by its owners, who adds one of them had the Safari restored in the late Eighties. He also had the original engine rebuilt. The restoration is showing its age on the outside, but the seller notes the wagon is in excellent mechanical condition and that the interior is in exceptionally good shape, with a rare factory padded dashboard. This rare wagon is road-ready. - this Safari's original 347-cu.in. OHV V8 engine, which was rated at 270 horsepower and 359 lb-ft of torque with a four-barrel carburetor, was rebuilt in the Eighties, when the odometer showed approximately 90,500 miles. It was painted the 1958 Pontiac engine color. The car has added a little more than 13,000 miles in the years since and the seller reports the engine starts, idles, and runs well, with an Edelbrock four-barrel in place of the original Rochester carburetor. There's no smoke from the engine, but the seller notes some common oil seepage at the oil pan gasket. The engine is paired with Pontiac's Strato-Flight four-speed automatic transmission, which reportedly shifts well. - the original air cleaner has been replaced with an open-element version and the rear engine mounts were replaced with ones featuring a safety bolt modification that corrects a common issue with the original-styled mounts. The exterior of this Safari was reportedly repainted around 1987 and the work included a color change from Fountaine Blue to blue metallic. The seller had the roof repainted white in 2010. The overall quality of the older respray is said to be good, but the seller notes the finish is showing its age. On the lower driver's door, there are signs of filler and it does not have a perfect finish, he notes. Also, there's slight bubbling in the paint near the antenna base on the passenger's-side fender, along with a blemish around the lower-front window trim. - the tailgate shows typical contact marks on the paint, where it touches the frame. - the liftgate on this example fits very well and doesn't have the typical warping seen in many examples. The body is believed to be rust-free, while the seller notes some body filler is evident in the rockers, when viewing the car from beneath. The windshield and upper liftgate glass were reportedly replaced during the restoration. There is a light reported scratch on one of the side windows and a BB-like blemish on the driver's side curved glass. The seals are said to be in good condition, along with the exterior chrome and trim, although there's some thinning chrome noted on top of the rear bumper. All the exterior lights are reported functional. Non-standard exterior features include a Pontiac Chief pin added next to the Star Chief badges, and the front bumper guards have 1957 Chevy rubber bumpers, which was a popular modification for these cars - Inside, the Safari's interior is said to be in exceptional condition and it features a rare factory padded dashboard. The seats have the correct factory upholstery patterns, although the cloth insert material is not a perfect match. The condition of the seat covers, however, is said to be excellent, with no holes, tears, or cracks. The carpet is said to be good, too, with no excessively worn areas, while the headliner is reported in excellent condition, including the chrome bows. - the door panels are original and remain in very good condition for their age. All the interior lights are reported functional and there are no missing trim pieces. Additionally, all the gauges, the radio, and heater are said to be in working order. In fact, the seller notes the electrical system, which was known to be problematic in 1957 Pontiacs, is said to be in good condition. Recent work was also reportedly completed on the radio, clock, and generator. An era-correct fuse was also installed at the voltage regulator to protect against shorts. - - the chassis, suspension, and brake elements have been maintained to stock specifications, with no known issues or needs. The suspension was serviced less than 1,000 miles ago, and recently inspected. Some bushings are reportedly showing their age, but are said to remain in good condition. The brakes reportedly have a good pedal feel and the seller reports no vibrations at highway speeds, as the car rolls on modern radial tires and the stock steel wheels. The P225/70R14 BFGoodrich Silvertown wide-whitewalltires show 2010 DOT date codes. As for the wheels, they're painted steel with factory wheel covers.- the wheels have been balanced and the covers appear in very good condition.This 1957 Pontiac Star Chief Custom Safari two-door wagon had never deteriorated, as past owners cared for and properly maintained the car, keeping it in original condition. It wears an older restoration that appears to have held up well and the my notes: It needs nothing to drive'it has been maintained as a driving vehicle.