I bought my first "Safari" wagon in 2003. It was a 1960 Bonneville Custom Safari, fully loaded, every option except a roof rack. It even had the 425-A Tempest Trophy with Tri-Power (348h.p.),eight lug wheels, and bucket seats. About one year later (2004) I saw this "one owner" (California car) 1960 Catalina Safari on eBay. The only options were tinted glass and power brakes. The listing said the body was excellent and all glass was perfect. I thought if I could get it at a reasonable price it would be a great parts car if I ever needed any sheetmetal or glass for my Bonney. Well, I "sniped" it on eBay and got it for $2,125.00. The seller told me that the car was in "Verona" Virginia.He told me once my check cleared, he would send me the "original" California pink slip. The car had been registered once since new. The car also had the "original" California black plates, still on the car since May of 1960. Abouta week later, I got an envelope from Verona, Virginia, inside was the owners manuel, the battery warranty card, the tire warranty cad, and the original unused coupon book for the first ten free oil changes (Pontiac Give Away for 1960) , but no pink slip. (All the paperwork in the envelope was in pristine mint condition ( I don't even think it was ever stored in the glove box. Not finding the title in the envelope, I called the seller in Virginia to find out why the pink slip wasn't sent as promised. After explaining I got all the paper work, except the title, he stated that he never had anything except the title, but perhaps his wife had found the paperwork in the vehicle. He was at work, but told me he would have his wife call me back soon. Well, she called me back within the hour and stated that she had just mailed out the title today and I should recieve it within two or three days, but she never sent anything else- no owners manual, battery warranty, tire warranty, or coupon book. this was very strange since all the paperwork had the same "VIN" as the vehicle I just bought. After getting back to my office, I fished the envelope out of the dumpster and found all the paperwork had come from another woman in Verona, Virginia. After buying my Bonneville Safari in 2003, I started buying many NOS parts, advertising, manuels, etc. for 1960 Pontiacs. (I was starting to collect 1960's) At the same time I was bidding on the Catalina Safari, I was bidding on the paperwork with a different seller. As it goes, I won both auctions, one for the Safari and one for the paperwork. At this point, I was curious about the situation, so I called the seller who I bought the paperwork from. She stated that her father was an antique dealer and had purchased a lot of furniture the previous month at an estate sale in the town next to Verona. One item he purcsed was a desk, and in the bottom file drawer were files for refrigerator, stove, washer, dryer, and one for Pontiac. After seeing what great condition the owners manuel, tire warranty, battery warranty, and coupon book was in, she thought someone would buy them, so she put them on eBay at the same time the auction was on eBay for the Catalina. Having an interest in all things 1960 Pontiac, I bid on both items not knowing they went together. After some detective work, I discovered thatthe Catalina Safari was "born" in May of 1960, at the Southgate plant in Van Nuys, California ( the same month and plant as my Bonneville Safari). From there it went to a dealer in Burbank, California. It was bougtht by a Burbank family and lived it's whole life in Burbank. In 1998, the owners are elderly and in poor health. They decide to move to the town next to Verona, Virginia to be near a daughter. Shortly after arriving in Virginia, the elderly gentleman passed away. Being in poor health and no longer driving, the wife puts the car in the garage and there it stays until she passes away in 2004. The daughter eventually has an estate sale, where one man buys the Safari and another buys the desk with the paperwork. They both put them on eBay the same week. I bid and won both items(not knowing they go together) . So they are back together as they should be. (WHAT ARE THE ODDS). I had the car shipped to Cambridge, Ma. Once the delivery came The driver said the car had not run in 6 or 7 years, so we pushed it off the trailer and into my shop. I put a battery charger on it over night just out of curiosity. The next morning, I pulled the charger and air cleaner, and gave it a shot of starting fluid, and it started right away. It ran pretty rough for about ten minutes and then calmed right down. the body was pretty darn straight and all the glass wsa excellent. I decided that this safari was too nice to part out, so we spent the next two years restoring her to her former glory. she is beautiful. This past July she took "Silver" in the Concours Points Judged Show at the Pontiac (POCI) Convention in Dayton, Ohio. .
Great story, Eaglechief. I've just got a minor correction for you relating to the factory. GM had two Southern California production plants back then - one in Van Nuys (a part of Los Angeles, in the San Fernando valley), and one in South Gate (a separate city-suburb, south of Los Angeles, on the way to Long Beach). Both plants are now closed. I toured the Van Nuys plant in 1966 - they were making big Chevys in it back then..... Marshall
What's also interesting is that aside from Tesla and a couple of other electric cars, GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota etc. have no assembly in California anymore. NADA! And we only have two remaining airplane plants. Northrup/Grumman in El Segundo still does F-18 but final assembly is in St. Louis and Boeing in Long Beach doing C-17 but that is on it's final breath. California used to be huge in manufacturing.
Neat story Eagle. I really enjoy reading about these types of things, or how someone found their dream car/wagon. And your wagons are beautiful. I'm envious. And to have the paperwork and the car come to you from completely unrelated sellers means it was meant to happen. That car needed to be restored and good for you for taking it on.
The Odds? 1 in 350,000,000 Americans! What a story! Write that up, for the next owner (one of your kids?).
Yeah, that is amazing...like Saf said, it was ment to be......and what Eagle said also we have unwriten you know.........No pics?, I guess it never happened, does'nt exist
Welcome Eaglechief! Truly amazing story! Catalina Kismet! Safari Serendipity! :2_thumbs_up_-_anima David
