Photo: eBay seller norbr-69
The Catalina Safari debuted in 1959 when Pontiac tried to breathe new life into its station wagon offering. The Safari was a member of the Catalina and the Bonneville lineups, albeit the latter could only be had with two rows of seats.
The Catalina Safari was available with two and three-seat rows.
Further changes followed in 1961 when the 9-passenger option could only be ordered by Catalina Safari buyers.
The model in these photos is a (still) proud survivor of the 1961 model year.
The wagon looks like it's been sitting for some time in the bush, but eBay seller norbr-69 doesn't provide any specifics about what could be a long tenure on the side of the road.
The close-up shots don't tell the full story about the car, exposing some of its flaws but confirming that this Catalina Safari has somehow remained a solid project. The owner explains that the wagon has two rust holes in the floors, so put the car on a lift and closely inspect the undersides if you want the car.
A car spending several years in the bush could suffer from heavy rust problems, as the vegetation around it causes humidity, and we all know that humidity doesn't go well with the metal under our cars. However, the owner says this won't be the case with this Catalina Safari, as the vehicle suffers only from surface rust problems.
The under-the-hood chapter comes with fantastic news. While you wouldn't expect the engine of a car likely abandoned for some time to be in good shape, the mill in this station wagon still runs and drives. The owner says they couldn't take pictures of the engine because the hood locking mechanism is jammed, but the car still runs. It doesn't stop, though, as it no longer has working brakes.
While we don't get any engine specifics, the owner explains in the eBay summary information that the car is fitted with a 389 Tri-Power V8, so here's another bit that you must investigate before committing to a purchase.
This Safari is certainly worth a shot if you're into restoring station wagons, especially considering the working surprise under the hood. However, it won't be an easy project, given how much work it needs.
The owner believes $4,500 is a fair price for their wagon, and they also enabled the Make Offer button, meaning that you can submit your offer if you want the car but have another deal in mind. Meanwhile, this Safari is parked in Silver Creek, Georgia, and while the engine is in working condition, you'll need transportation to take the wagon home.
The car will go offline in three days, with nine people already watching the listing.
Further changes followed in 1961 when the 9-passenger option could only be ordered by Catalina Safari buyers.
The model in these photos is a (still) proud survivor of the 1961 model year.
The wagon looks like it's been sitting for some time in the bush, but eBay seller norbr-69 doesn't provide any specifics about what could be a long tenure on the side of the road.
The close-up shots don't tell the full story about the car, exposing some of its flaws but confirming that this Catalina Safari has somehow remained a solid project. The owner explains that the wagon has two rust holes in the floors, so put the car on a lift and closely inspect the undersides if you want the car.
A car spending several years in the bush could suffer from heavy rust problems, as the vegetation around it causes humidity, and we all know that humidity doesn't go well with the metal under our cars. However, the owner says this won't be the case with this Catalina Safari, as the vehicle suffers only from surface rust problems.
The under-the-hood chapter comes with fantastic news. While you wouldn't expect the engine of a car likely abandoned for some time to be in good shape, the mill in this station wagon still runs and drives. The owner says they couldn't take pictures of the engine because the hood locking mechanism is jammed, but the car still runs. It doesn't stop, though, as it no longer has working brakes.
While we don't get any engine specifics, the owner explains in the eBay summary information that the car is fitted with a 389 Tri-Power V8, so here's another bit that you must investigate before committing to a purchase.
This Safari is certainly worth a shot if you're into restoring station wagons, especially considering the working surprise under the hood. However, it won't be an easy project, given how much work it needs.
The owner believes $4,500 is a fair price for their wagon, and they also enabled the Make Offer button, meaning that you can submit your offer if you want the car but have another deal in mind. Meanwhile, this Safari is parked in Silver Creek, Georgia, and while the engine is in working condition, you'll need transportation to take the wagon home.
The car will go offline in three days, with nine people already watching the listing.
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