1973 Pontiac Catalina Safari

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-ow...original-/231331542376?_trksid=p2054897.l4275

 

Great looking wagon!

 

It is a good-looking wagon, and maybe it's just my imagination, but that front bumper looks like it's sticking out too far.

 

Actually, that's 'factory'. '73 was an 'in between' year for bumpers. Feds were increasing impact standards from '0' to 5 mph, but for '73 it was only 2.5mph. So a lot of vehicles had 'one-year only' bumpers.

I'm not getting a good feeling about this one. right quarter especially looks troublesome. I would definitely NOT buy this one without a thorough inspection and test drive.

 

Perhaps so, but this photo in particular made me think "shelf".




I've got a '73 clamshell myself, and here's a photo of it from the same angle. Presumably it's meeting the same standard the Pontiac was designed to meet, but the bumper, at least to me, does not give the impression of sticking out anywhere near as far.

 

The Olds bumpers were designed a bit differently. The grills are hinged at the top so the bumper could deflect rearwards further.

 

I do see what you are saying about the front bumper, from the pic's it makes it look like it is sitting about 1" to far forward. It makes me think someone might have replaced the front bumper shock absorbers with some home made brackets. I used to see that done in the late 70's to try and save some weight, but mostly to mover the bumper closer to the body to improve the looks of the car.
If that is what was done on this car they sure messed it up. It would be interesting to see some pic's of the front bumper supports.

Other than the front bumper spacing I really like the car.

 

The bumper is out there, but I think it's correct. I couldn't find a pic of another with the same angle as the first pic but they all have that "shelf" look for 73.

 

Here's a couple of pages out of the '73 Pontiac brochure. The front bumper on both the wagon and Grand Ville do look a bit "shelfy," especially the Grand Ville convertible at the bottom right. It looks like you could set a table for six on that expanse of bumper-top. In fact, it looks "shelfier" than the bumper on the Safari.

 

Very interesting optioned car. 3rd seat, rear defog, A/C and rally gauge package.

Yeah, those bumpers are correct. I have a '73 Grand Ville (below) and that is how my bumpers are. For '74 they got even larger for the 5mph standard.

My car in 2006... wish it was still this good looking...



Other '73 Grand Ville's -








1973 Grand Safari

 

Didn't mean to "clam" everyone up. LOL.

 

Bidding just ended at $5900 -reserve not met.

 

Back again.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1973-Pontia...-Numbers-/231470682138?_trksid=p2054897.l4275

Link corrected now.

 

That link leads to a "this listing has been removed" page.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1973-Pontiac...p2054897.l4275

Link corrected now.