Update ????? For Wagon Lovers ????? Ok, have some friends , car club buddies, Looking for a frame for my 67 Squire I just bought. One of them sent me a email today, not to say he found me a frame, but to tell me about a wagon he found. It's a 64 Safari wagon runs and drives, but needs TLC. I looked on here to find a pic and found none. It can be bought for almost nothing, belongs to an older man that no longer drives (under 500.00) what are these worth and are the parts hard to get? Give me some info, please!!
Ok, the only thing is that I am working and will not be in the states until the second weekend in Nov. I will see if Richard will buy it for me and keep it until I get back home. I did google it and found some pics. Kinda looks like a 64 Pontiac Catalina or a 66 GTO in the front. Does anyone know how hard the parts are to come by? Are they as hard to find as the 67 Ford I am working on? When i get home I might pass it on on here if it is in any shape at all. You know buing sight unseen, not sure what you get. Thanks Guys
As a fan of the Pontiac wagons, I think I can answer your question about if parts are hard to find. That answer is... It depends. Now that we have that cleared up, any other questions? Seriously though, it does depend on what 'parts' you are looking for. Pontiac was pretty smart in their design of the drive train in that lots of parts interchange across a number of years, especially starting in '64. And there is a good supply of aftermarket parts for these. Not so much for the sheet metal stuff. The Catalina and Bonneville have a good following, but nothing like the GTO/Tempest line-up. And then when you get to the wagon specific parts, it's even worse. I spent close to three years looking for a rear bumper for my '67 Pontiac wagon. But, by all means, if it's a decent driver I'd say pick it up. If not, I'd be interested.
And one more bit of info...1964 production numbers, just to give you an idea how many wagons there were: Catalina: 33,496 Bonneville: 5,844 Tempest: 17,520 (No Safari in this line till '67)
I did drop Richard a email and told him to get me some more info on this car. I also asked him if he had a chance to stop by again and give her a good look over inside and out, under and on top. I should know more by this weekend. I don't know if it is a Bonneville or Catalina yet and will resurch to find out the difference.
Differences are mostly on the trim levels between the Cat and the Bonnie. Both are still the "B" body or full size wagon as compared to the mid size "A" body of the Tempest. The Catalina had an optional 3rd row of seating (6 or 9 pass versions) but the Bonneville was a 6 passenger only. In '66 the 3rd row of seats became standard on the Bonneville but was still an option on the Catalina. Both would most likely have a 389 V8.
Buy it now Mechanical parts on the '64 Safari are no different than the sedans. Your problem would be the body from behind the rear doors back, bumper, tail lights, trim etc.
Ok, told you I would update as soon as I knew something. Richard went back to look at the wagon for me, sence I am not at the house, and it is a 64 Bonneville Safari with 69,000 mi showing. He did say the car had some rot in the lower rear and never looked at the floor or frame. It is loaded with all power and is all org. Car runs, but tires are to bad to drive it. All of the trim is on the car and the rear window even works. I do think, before I drop any money on this car though I will go look at it for myself when I return home. He told me the car is not advertised for sale in anyway and the man told him it would be there when I had a chance to come look at it. He did say the inside of the car was quite nice with only the drivers seat ripped. I will post more when I get home and take a look for myself.
'64 loaded Bonneville wagon.....that could be an interesting wagon to project on. Lots of part interchange ability with other GM wagons of that period- glass, roof, etc. My second car back in my yoot was a '64 Ventura 2-door HT. Liked the styling of the '64's. Particularly liked the fact that the wagon taillamps were the same as the non-wagon taillamps.
