By the 1980s, the big Pontiac wagons weren’t such big sellers, but that didn’t stop a few loyal Pontiac buyers from purchasing the brand’s final B-bodies, which by this point were limited to the Parisienne Safari wagon. The di-noc may not be original, but it looks like a quality restoration, and more importantly, it’s a sign that this rare bird is being well-cared for these days.
Just about all signs show that this example is indeed a Pontiac, and even the VIN verifies this. However, I noticed something a bit peculiar going on around back. In the place of Pontiac’s ribbed taillight clusters are…
The taillights from an Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser! Something tells me that this was clearly not an error, as the Oldsmobile insignias have been removed and replaced with what look like surf boards. Either Pontiac taillights could not be found, or the owner just really likes the Oldsmobile ones better. Guess it gives new meaning to the phrase “Custom Cruiser”.
Nice Safari! The interior reminds me of my Mom’s ’86 Parisienne, though it had the Brougham-level cushier seats.
Was this beast for sale?
That’s a beautiful wagon. Although I do prefer the original ribbed tailights as well as the roof rack. When I had b body wagons…I always used the roof rack.
Lovely looking Estate and yea, those are atypical taillights. I sometimes flirted with buying a Pontiac Safari, but they are hard to find in the Pacific Northwest and with my limited budget I would have to sell it if money got tight. Course I would be worried about accidentally selling it to a Demolition Derby team. In the end I purchased a car I could learn stick shift on.
GAWD that thing is gorgeous. Of all the B-body wagons I ever drove, the Parisienne was my favorite by a wide margin.
I had the wood trim completely redone on the driver’s side of my Cruiser last year after it peeled off in a car wash the second day I owned it (probably the most traumatizing car wash I’ll ever experience)
I was shocked at how easily available and cheap it is – GM actually still produces di-noc, believe it or not, and there are numerous third party companies that will sell you any shade of automotive fake wood to match any car. It blends seamlessly with the trim on the tailgate and I’m considering getting the passengers side done next summer when I have some extra cash. The independent body shop I found did the whole job for under $500 with parts and labor (trim itself was about $100). It’s amazing how brand new “wood” really enhances the look of these old wagons.
the original trim is slightly darker if you look up close, but I’m impressed with how close it matches for how little I paid
Looks nice. Did you go with 3M Di-Noc, or another brand?
Don’t think it was the 3M brand name stuff, the body shop found the supplier and ordered it themselves so I’m not sure which brand it was actually.
That’s gen-u-ine di-noc wood, from very rare di-noc trees, now on the protected species list.
3M’s Di-Noc is a film made from organic compounds, I think, so it’s All Natural.☺
It’s warranted for 4 yrs outdoors, which might’ve been useful for potential wagon buyers to know.
Brendan, don’t you realize what you have found? I think those taillights prove this to be . . . the original Surfin’ Safari!
+1 lets go surfin now everybody’s learning how come on won’t you safari with me
I really miss woody wagons!
Love this car, only changes I would make are Rally Style wheels and a roof rack.
Pontiac wagon tails had ribbing, like the sides of Grand Ams. But I do like the Olds wagon’s better too. Look like from Delta 88’s of the past.
And the dashboard/instrument cluster was the same one used in the 1977-84 Chevrolet Caprice Classic.
So all it needs now is some Buick part somewhere to be complete.
Hi,
I would like to restore my 1985 Parisienne Safari Wagon.
Which body shop did the wood grain restoration? Thanks, Gary
I’ve always had a soft spot for these GM wagons. Fond memories going on fishing trips to Southern Missouri in my Grandpa’s 1979 Olds Custom Cruiser wagon. No wood grain though.
What engine is in these? Olds 307?
For the most part. Not sure if the Chevy 305 was available as an option for Pontiac wagons this late in the game (1988)
I had an 88 Caprice Wagon (with di noc) and it had the olds 307.
Ran great, but man was it underpowered.
Hi,
My understanding of the engine options in the Buick Electra, Chevy Caprice, Olds and Pontiac Safari wagons is:
-Buick Electra- Olds Y Series 307:1984-1990.
-Chevy Caprice-Chevy 305:1984-1986, Olds Y 305: 1987-1990.
-Olds-Olds Y Series 307: 1984-1990.
-Pontiac Parisienne Safari-Chevy 305: 1984-1986, Pontiac Safari-Olds Y Series 307: 1987-1989.
GM buyers were angry that GM switched out division specific engines in 1984 for underpowered 305 and 307 engines which were hopelessly underpowered due to vacuum controls and emissions constraints.
GM offered a diesel option 350 in the 1984–1986 model years which was a disaster.
Please comment if my comments are not accurate.
Gary
Yes but that only covers 1984 forward. From 1977 to 1980 the engine options were quite a bit more diverse with the ability to get gas 350 V8s in most of these and even an Oldsmobile 403 V8 in some.
I’d love me a 1978 or 79 Custom Cruiser with 403 V8.
Pontiac only used the “Parisienne” name through the 1986 model year. After 1986, the Parisienne sedan was replaced by the new front-wheel drive Bonneville, while the station wagon continued under the name “Safari,” no longer “Parisienne Safari” through the short 1990 model year. The Parisienne Safari station wagons and plain Safaris all had the Chevrolet 305 cubic inch V-8 with a 4-barrel carburetor as standard equipment by then.
I liked how the original simulated wood paneling on these cars was translucent and let some of the color of the car’s paint show through, giving the paneling a bit of tint that made it match car’s paint.
Genuine Pontiac ‘box wagon’ tail lights ARE hard to find. I’ve seen Safaris with Buick and Chevy lights as well. Perhaps I should watch mine closely……
There were two different inner housings for the tail lights. The Chevy & Buick ones had the backup lights in the middle, while the Pontiac and Olds had the backup lights at the bottom. The outer lenses differed for each.
The last few years of the Chevy wagons of this generation used Buick outer lenses, probably the Chevy mold wore out at the factory and since the production of the Buicks was less, there was life in the mold to use the Buick lenses till the end of production (instead of making new molds).
The subject car probably had a broken lens and salvage Olds lenses where what the owner could find.
Hi,
The Buick and Chevy wagons were made on the same assembly line and hence the possible interchange of tail light lenses.
Gary
These were not that uncommon on the road when I was a kid, but like many cars of the ’80s, they just one day seemed to disappear. They must be pretty thin on the ground now.
At this time GM had two different vehicles both with the same name in two different divisions in the same showroom
This car, the Pontiac Safari (the Parisienne name came off the car when the Sedan was discontinued)
The GMC Safari, the GMC version of the Chevrolet Astro.
Noticed that this Pontiac has the Chevy dashboard (as opposed to the 1977-80 one unique to the Pontiac B-body).
On the sedan side, the Pontiac B-body got the Chevy interior when it reappeared for ’83 as the Parisienne. (For that matter the ’83-’84 Parisienne was 95% Caprice, with only a different front clip and different taillight lenses. The ’85-’86 went back to the 1981 body, but kept the Chevy dash.) I’d assume the wagon did the same thing, moving to the Chevy dash for ’83.
Which brings up an interesting question–was there a full-size Safari for ’82? I’d assume no, since there wasn’t a full-size sedan that year. But I’m not completely sure.
The 1983 to 1984 Parisienne front clip is identical to the same year Caprice. The only difference is the grill, which it totally interchangeable.
No full-size Safari in ’82 except in Canada which is also when it lost the unique Pontiac front end (with parking lights between the headlights) and dashboard.
Also, the name changed twice. It was originally Grand Safari, then Bonneville Safari (starting in ’79 IIRC), then just Safari from ’87 onward.
I prefer a nice clam shell Estate Wagon. The parents owned one.
There were, despite memories of ubiquity, not that many of these cars made, and even fewer survive today, due to taxi service and demo derbies. At one point, they all vanished, and I’ll bet it was due to the awful combination of the 307 and electronic carburetors. I’ll also bet that when a roster is generated of collectible cars of the 80’s this will be in the top ten, just because:
Unlike a Corvette, there’s nothing like this made today. A woody station wagon makes a statement.
They were good, not great, reference 307 and electronic carburetors at the beginning, cars to start with. Unlike some rare cars from the 80’s these were pleasant to drive.
They generally haven’t descended to the new immigrant status of Camcords from the 80’s as in, someone from East Botswanistan has heard a Toyota/Honda is what to buy so they buy it lessening collector value.
The LeBaron convertibles are now rare, make a statement, and possibly will rise in value, but they were awful to actually drive.
They offer a completely different driving experience than anything in the last 20 years. Isolation, comfort, space, yet some connection to the road and a whole of a piece feeling rather than the loose collection of plastic parts which hate each other that some cars provide.
There really is nothing like these cars, and, well, I did, bet money, they’ll rise in price.
Hi,
If I recall, the Cash For Clunkers program in 2008-2009 was another reason for their disappearance.
I agree that these B-Body sedans and wagons offer a different driving experience not available in today’s cars with the exception of the Mercedes full size 6000 series and the 91-96 Roadmaster Limited Estate Wagons. The 85-86 Parisienne Brougham and Safari Wagon are also good looking cars.
Gary