1958 Pontiac Custom Safari

by Lars I Elofsson (The StarMan)

edited and "webized" by Larry Gorden

October 2007

The 1958 Star Chief Custom Safari station wagon was a follow-on to the 1957 4-door Star Chief Custom Safari (the "Transcontinental").  All 1958 station wagons were called "Safari" but only the Star Chief station wagon was called "Custom Safari".

There were two 1958 Custom Safari models produced as shown in the Pontiac Master Parts Catalog.

Only 2,905 Star Chief Custom Safaris were built for the 1958 model year.  Approximately 50% were model D (Body Style 2793D) and the other 50% were model SD (Body Style 2793SD).

Model D

• Has all the Star Chief trim on the outside, a wide stainless trim around the roof edge (copied on the Chevy Nomad wagon)
• Used Super Chief seats, door panels and armrests.
• Red, blue, green, grey interiors to chose from
• Headliner was same pattern as Super Chief
• Carpet was loop curl in matching colors
• The instrument panel was Star Chief but without the aluminium trim behind it -- no lower narrow trim mouldings and no grab bar vinyl.
• Loading area had cardboard-like/rubber material same as Chieftain with one inch stainless skid strips
• Deluxe steering wheel
• Exterior color schemes same as Super Chief and Chieftain

Model SD

For little over $100 you could upgrade from the model D (deluxe) to a Super Deluxe SD.  The SD shared more high-end components with the Star Chief line.

• The same trim on the outside except they added some 1” stainless mouldings on top of the doors, around the rear windows, top of liftgate, and a small lapp joint moulding between the doors (also copied by the Chevy Nomad)
• Star Chief pattern seats and inner door panels (the rear doors on the Safari is not the same as a 4dr sedan or hardtop rear doors, so the mouldings are a little bit different in length)
• All colors available except Burma and calypso green
• Chromed armrests
• Headliner is star pattern as Star Chief and Bonneville
• Carpet was lurex tread carpet
• Instrument panel had the aluminium inserts with lower trim and grabber trim
• Loading area had matching lurex tread carpet with the wide skid strips and also a narrow stainless moulding around every edge -- over 50 pieces
• Deluxe steering wheel
• Color schemes same as Star Chief and Bonneville

Roof rack was not standard equipment contrary to some reports. The Custom Safari was the second least produced 1958 Pontiac model, second only to the 1958 Golden Jubilee.

1958 Pontiac Custom Safari (Old Cars Weekly)