'76 Pontiac Grand Safari sighting

This car has the manual tailgate with power window that all cars had, that's why it's called "manual tailgate." The power operated tailgate window was standard on all Glide-away cars '71-76 while the power operated lower tailgate was optional.

 

Looks like a '76 to me. My understanding was that the power tailgate was strictly optional for all 1971-76 GM full size wagons - never standard. Here's another 1976 Pontiac with manual gate.

 

Without getting into a conversation about the definition of "manual" (as well as gate vs. window) that I didn't think we needed on this venue (everyone who's got a clamshell has dealt with them I'm sure) I thought the same thing (always optional). Since I'm rarely home (travel for work) I'll dig out the info I was referring to so I can see where I made my mistake. I can't at all imagine that a grand safari like the one pictured above would have a man. gate when my bone stock one had a power gate. That's why I actually looked at the dealer info in the first place. Why would a car with NOTHING added get the optional power gate.

Thanks for the picture above... I can't wait to find my mistake in my research.

 

This is correct. The rear window was always powered as standard equipment, but the tailgate was always manual in standard configuration with a power tailgate optional for all model years ('71-'76) of every clamshell wagon GM offered.

Here's a page out of the '76 Pontiac Wagons brochure. Note the left-most column under "Standard Exterior Features," then "Standard Catalina Safari Features," fourth line. It says "Glide-Away tailgate with power operated window." They don't come right out and say that the tailgate is manual, but they do specifically mention that the window is powered, and I think it's pretty safe to say that if the tailgate was powered, they would say that, too. But "Glide-Away" just indicates that the tailgate disappears and says nothing about whether it's manual or powered.

 

Because that's the way the original purchaser ordered it. This was not at all unusual back in those days when options were pretty much individually selected rather than available only as part of "option groups." People could pick and choose and tailor their car right down to the tiniest detail and order only those options they actually wanted.

My '73 Custom Cruiser that I sold a little over a year ago was this way. I bought it from the family of the original purchaser and so received all the documentation the car had when new, including the original window sticker. The car was very meticulously decked out. It had air-conditioning, power seats, and a power tailgate, but only an AM radio, no power windows, no power door locks, no cruise control, not even a trip odometer. They wanted the power seats because the husband and wife differed greatly in height, so they knew that the seat would always get adjusted. But they saved money by not ordering all of the other power options one might usually associate with an Oldsmobile. Heck, in those days, people could order an Olds 98, the epitome of Oldsmobile high-end class, without air-conditioning, something you would think would be unheard of, even then.

 

Here's a page out of the '76 Chevy wagons brochure which spells out the situation clearly. Note what's written on the left-hand side under "Glide-Away Tailgate." It says "If you order the power tailgate, the whole operation is automatic." Emphasis on the "if."

 

THERE! That's the answer! "Glide away" vs. POWER.
I fully understood everything stated above (definition of manual, ala carte options, etc), but I knew I read something that made me think the power was included...
Now I feel better.

Thanks all.
PS: I remember seeing that chevy add as a kid and getting 'all too excited' seeing the tailgate and seating options. That pic alone was worth the confusion on this thread.

 

My 71 has every single option you could order BUT no power tailgate or 3rd row seating. It even has the locking rear storage compartment, map light, and rear dome light switch