Rare to find wagons from this era that haven’t had their interiors all beat to hell and back from an endless stream of snot-nosed kids - gorgeous…….!!!!!
@@h8troodoh I was the youngest of 7 snot nosed kids in my parent's 59 Ford country squire and 63 Dodge 330 (never knew what the 330 stood for because it had a 318 in it) . Both were 9 passenger wagons. The 59 was totaled. And the Dodge's transmission failed. So it sat for MANY years because Daddy couldn't bear to part with it. But a tree took care of that. But the engine lived on when it was transplanted into a customer's 65 Dodge in the late 1980's. With 7 kids, I imagine that the about stains ran deep 🤣
@dmandman9 my mom and dad had a 9 passenger 1963 Pontiac Parisienne wagon.. with,Get This, the 230 6 cyl 2 speed power glide combo.. kids on bikes passed Ole Dad on hills...😅🤣😂 .
I had a '68 Ford LTD Country Squire wagon, turquoise with fake woodgrain sides and a 429. What a monster!! I loved that car wish I still had it, makes today's cars look like toys.
My father purchased the 1971 Pontiac Grand Safari station wagon it had a 455 high output engine and a Pioneer 8-track tape player with quadraphonics sound. It was the ultimate vehicle for drive-in movies. I wish I had that car today
Pontiac was king in 1965, with every car they made being a 10/10 in looks, with greatt motors and excellent transmissions. Simple enough to worked on by the owner, but also comfortable, refined enough to be enjoyable on rough roads, and powerful enough to still be driven in modern traffic.
My parents had a 1965 Bonneville Safari wagon when I was in high school. For a wagon it was really a sharp vehicle. It was black with lots of chrome and the interior was the same color as this one, a two tone teal/aqua. It was real walnut wood on the dash, I remember my Mom using Pledge on it, LOL. It had all the toys: PS, PB, A/C, cruise, power windows and power seat. A 421 V8 4 barrel was under the hood. For a large heavy vehicle it was really fast. Lots of great memoires of that super nice ride.🙂
My Dad bought a used 1966 Pontiac Catalina Station Wagon when I was a small boy. I could stand up in the back cargo area and not bump my head on the head liner, that’s how young I was. That Catalina didn’t have the extra seat in the back either. I remember hearing my Dad tell someone that he looked at the same year Chevrolet Impala Station Wagon that was parked next to the Pontiac at the car lot. My Dad pointed one detail between the Pontiac and Chevrolet that had him purchasing the Pontiac and that was the cover plate over the gap between the cargo floor and the tailgate when the tailgate was down. The Pontiac had it, but not the Chevrolet.
As a kid we had a 65 Catalina Safari wagon. I thought it was the most beautiful car ever. It gave me the Pontiac fever for a lifetime. I guess I have owned 20 or more 65/66 full size Pontiac's . I still have my favorite 65 Bonneville Sports Coupe that I've owned since 1983. I will never sell it. The wagon in this video is a bucket list car for me! Thanks for posting !
I had an 69' Oldsmobile, Delta 88 with the 455 "Rocket" with the TH400 transmission. The car was very reliable, comfortable and quiet. I miss the older, simpler cars.
Edit to correct-there were in fact 3 different 455's available for 1969 Olds 88's, not 2 like I had previously claimed. Please forgive my error. Tne was a 310hp 2 bbl carb, and the other was the 365hp, 510 ft/lbs of torque, high output/high compression (10.25:1). Both were called Rocket 455's, but the HO came with a gas cap with a red warning tag the read "premium fuel only". It was the most powerful engine Oldsmobile ever put in a car. They are exceedingly rare these days, and worth a fair amount of money. Either 455 would have been noticeably powerful, but the HO didn't have a lot of trouble twisting the driveshaft, busting U joints, and smoking the tires. I had a 69 98 with the HO 455, and I sure wish I still had it.
@@alanhumphrey4198 That was my dads saying as well. Lol The first time I heard it he said it in reference to a 430 equipped 67 Buick Wildcat. It was the first car I drove, and I did so at 14, with his supervision of course. He'd be arrested for child endangerment these days. Lol
Adam, thanks for taking us back to the station wagon era, a golden age. My parents had a '59 Chevy Parkwood and a '66 Rambler American wagon. After I moved out, I owned a '66 Country Sedan wagon, '68 Falcon wagon, and a '72 Torino wagon among other American cars and trucks. I mourn the end of the big American wagons and this video really hits home and brings back some wonderful memories. When style ruled. Thank you.
My parents had a 59 Paekwood four-door in blue. I would visualize this with dual exhaust, chromed reverse wheels, and bucket seats. It was a powerslide tranny with a 283 2bbl. No tire burner. I washed it every Saturday. Mom traded it in for a 63 Impala SS with a 300hp 327. It was another heartbreaking car when she sold it, and I didn't have the $500.
My parents had a 1966 Pontiac Catalina Safari. A beautiful wagon. And it did scoot with a 389 4 barrel. It was the same color as this example and was AC equipt. There are no plastic panels. Everything was padded.
Hey Adam, this Safari wagon is stunning, especially the interior with the real walnut & the translucent steering wheel!!! Thanks for sharing another exciting video!!! 👍👍🙂
This is without doubt my FAVORITE GM wagon of all time. I'm Ford and Mopar all the way, but this Pontiac looks perfect from every angle, hands down. Beautifully styled and a beautiful color.... I'd be super proud to have this in my garage.
@Right Lane Hog Years ago, there was the American Station Wagon Owner's Club, which may still exist. There were a few of them for sale, etc. and I'm sure if you found one today it probably would be in great shape because the good ones are well preserved.
NOTHING CAN TOUCH THE A BIT LATER BUICK BUICK ESTATE WAGONS. SEATED 10! FULL ALL POWER WINDOWS. SEATS! REAR A.C.! ROOF RAKE! FEET WARMERS! FOLD DOWN BED SEATS. ETC
@@captainamericaamerica8090 Buick never had a ten passenger wagon, Ford and Mercury wagons with the center facing rear seats could seat ten if the four rear passengers were very small children. ONLY Mopar wagons had rear air conditioning. ONLY AMC wagons had fully reclining seats that could be used as a bed. I have no idea what you mean by foot warmers.
@@danielulz1640 You have no idea about a lot. And you're wrong. On what we' have, or sold. Had what we said. These could be ad ONS. AS IN CUSTOM MADE BEFORE DELIVERY. MY GRAMPS CHECKED OFF THE CUSTOM MADE LISTS. AND WITH A BIG DEPOSIT, THEY WERE ADDED ON. YOU PAID IN FULL, OR CREDIT AND YOU WERE OUT THE DOOR. FOOT WARMERS' WERE BIG FUZZY WOOL🐑🐑ROLLERS! HEATED FOR WINTERS. YOU SLID YOUR FEET UNDER THEM.
Truly Adam a very remarkable example of a truly beautiful station wagon of Era when craftsmanship and imagination came together to create something very stylish. Buying American real meant something in those days. Just amazing! I almost forgot about these Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
You’re right. Nothing beats the full size Pontiac dashboards. It brought back memories of my gray ‘68 Catalina 2-door hardtop. It was one of the best riding cars that I ever had. I drove my wife to the hospital in 1972 and brought my new daughter home in it. It had the base regular fuel 389 2 barrel with 260 HP. My mechanic friend recommended that I change the plastic timing gear before the engine detonated. I took his advice and enjoyed that car for many years.
My Aunt and Uncle had a 67 Bonneville Safari 3 seat wagon. They had traded their 64 Buick Sport Wagon on the Bonneville. They always had very well equipped cars and the Bonneville had AC, power windows, and the first factory 8-track player I ever saw. It was dark green with a black vinyl top and interior.
While my Dad had his 4 year old Mercury 9 Passenger Wagon with Rubber Foor Mats, I watched a '60 Pontiac Bonniville Wagon go past our house with the first Wagon I'd ever seen with carpet everywhere!! VERY COOL!!!
What a beauty!! Love station wagons, brings back memories of my families wagons. Each had unique style and space unlike many of today's cookie-cutter SUV's. Thanks for posting for us all to enjoy.
I'd have to say, the Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser was the coolest wagon. Our neighbor had a beautiful, 1966 Bonneville Safari wagon in a beautiful deep blue with black interior and a black vinyl roof...
My first “best friend” from my preschool days - his mom actually - had a gold ‘65 Bonneville Safari. My mom had a ‘66 gold Bonneville Vista Hardtop. I was fascinated by the differences in the front ends. I remember my friend’s mom taking us to see my first play in that station wagon. The play was a fairy tale of some kind, but a half century later, I can’t remember the name. My friend’s dad died of cancer when we were both five or six, and he moved away.
Back in the day, one of my favorites, and iconic wagons was the late 60's / early 70's Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser, that was built to imply traveling the country, like the scenic cruiser pop-up top Greyhound buses or the glass dome train cars. More symbolic than practical for passengers (other than the kids in the back), the mid-size wagon could get a 455 c.i.d. powerhouse that could actually convince dad to get a wagon instead of a sporty 442.
This was the era when Cars actually looked different from each other. Although you could still see the family resemblance, it was far different than simply changing the grille and trim that was done by the time Olds and Pontiac were sunsetted . Today even different manufacturers cars look almost alike.
What a great find! Thanks for reminding me of "the one that got away". I was 10 when dad was ready to trade our '63 Catalina sedan. He had gotten a look at the rather bold front end of the '67 Pontiacs and wasn't a fan. A neighbor who sold Pontiacs for a living had a leftover '66 Catalina Safari, same color as this '65 Bonneville. He brought it home so dad could drive it. Dad was ready to buy, but mom is short and she couldn''t figure out where the back of the car ended, with the tailgate window sill so high. So, no '66 Safari. But... 56 years later... mom is still with us!!!
As a 60's kid my respect for wagon owners went waay up when I started checking out window stickers at new model year time with my dad. A 1968 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser could give that Ninety Eight Luxury Sedan the "second-look" sticker shock glance! Chevrolet and Pontiac had full-sized wagons worth the extra money. At the top of the wagon fleet was Chrysler's Town & Country, but it was a pricey beast with a sticker price that had dad cleaning his glasses. For the Chrysler T&C - "heavy-duty was standard equipment".
The interiors were so rich and so detailed. They got cheap and you can really see the difference between this wagon and on of the 1980's or 1990's. I understand why people appreciate these cars. Thank you Adam.
Wow, what an (now) uncommon model in absolutely stellar original condition, what a treasure for the lucky owner, thank you for sharing it with us all! I highly appreciate many models of '30's - '70's vintage station wagons, and as far as the full-sized models go this example is really a peach, styling-wise! My grandparents had a beautiful '58 Pontiac Bonneville coupe up until I was 14 or 15. I begged then to keep it for ne as I dearly loved and wanted that car for my first car when I got my Driver's license at 16 1/2. It was at their place for a few months that summer, but then one day it was gone! My grandmother told me that Papa called the junkyard one day and scrapped it because it was a little thirsty in gas and he didn't think it would be the best choice for me as a first car because of that. Fifty years later and I am still heartbroken and miss it, I can see it in my mind's eye like it was yesterday. I still have pics of it and them posed with it in my family's photo album. Rare car, I think they only made 2 or 3 thousand Bonneville coupes in '58. She was Robins egg blue with white in the side spears and a silver top with a 3-tone turquoise interior. ❤❤❤ 😢
Oof been looking for this car. We had the exact same one same colors 50 yrs ago. We regularly loaded it up with camping gear in summer and went all over the States. It floats down the road and barely feel bumps or anything even going over train tracks. Ah sweet childhood memories.
We had a 1963 Catalina Safari. I had to ride on a pad across the back by the rear window on vacations. But it had pop out windows on the sides which led to interesting entertainment. The luggage between me and my sisters kept the peace. We tripped to the Carolinas, Florida and to the Four Corners area of the southwest.
Beautiful survivor Adam, so many didn't. Wagons are finally getting respect. I own a 1972 Olds Vista Cruiser, 455, A/C, power seat, nine passenger. The Vista wagon also ranks high on the GM wagon list, IMHO.
Brings back memories! Our friends had one of these as a 9 pax and we kids used to ride in the back with the window open looking at the world going by. Fun times!
John Wayne LOVED Pontiac station wagons. He had them modified with the roof raised about 12 inches so that he could wear a cowboy hat while he was driving, since he was 6'4" tall.
@@stevespatola763 I don't know about the Fords for him. He was a die-hard Pontiac fan apparently. One of his raised roof wagons is in a museum somewhere, that's how I know about it.
Love how you speak...you seem educated (rare these days) ... I love all the cars you speak of and show. I grew up with most of them... as a kid at 8 years old looking out my bedroom window (1977) wishing I had them some day. I've done ok to save some nice ones, however they will outlast me in this life. Keep on doing what you do.. thanks.
Spectacular. Love wagons…the most expensive of the lineup, with the most metal, most glass, most vinyl, most everything. And this one as a 65 Bonnie is the top of the heap
That is a beautiful car and great survivor example and I hope that it will stay that way. God bless you all and thank you for sharing your work and time with us today.
My family owned a 65 Parisienne 4 door sedan when I was born in 66. Beautiful car. Built in Oshawa Ontario. My dad traded it in for a new 1970 Laurentian when I was 4.
Definitely brings back memories of my family's 400 c.i. '67 Pontiac Catalina 9-passenger wagon and the "plastic" timing gear that failed at 65 mph while the 15-year-old me was learning-permitted driving it with the whole family in the car! "Uhhhh... Dad? I think the motor quit." 😳 A back woods Louisiana shop, with a bunch of kid helper mechanics younger than me had us back on the road in just a few hours! I assume it was near a dealer who had those in stock, but since it was a well-known problem, maybe most shops did?
Beautiful machine, my dad had the gran torino wagon 400 cu big block and the speedometer went to 120 mph. Took it to the drive in movies and opened the tail gate downward and laid in the back. Gate also opened like a door. Great times..
Nice old Pontiac wagon Adam. I am not a Pontiac man but this wagon is a great example of a true full size car on steroids. I can not remember the last time I saw one, probably when I was a boy in the 1960's. Great find of another super-rare car. Thanks for the video.
My Dad had one! We spend a lot of time in it traveling around the country! Us kids would fold the back seat down play games and sleep. We had a lot of fun.
Another great video Adam! This was also one of very few wagons that had rear fender skirts, which really emphasized the long, unbroken bodyside lines creating a flowing feel of elegance. (I think other wagons with fender skirts included the Olds Custom Cruiser and Chrysler Town and Country). If I'm not mistaken, the GM wagons from 1969 and 1970 did incorporate a two-way tailgate (you had to lower the window first) on their wagons, and they included an unusual notch on the right side of the rear bumper that provided a step, making it somewhat easier to step in. (In my opinion it was too narrow).
I had a 1969 Executive wagon with 428 and posi rear end. At that time GM was diddling around with variable ratio power steering, it was awesome. Really tight turning circle. Also had the rubber nose. The 2 way tailgate was far superior to the lame clamshell design that came later.
The 1967 Canadian Pontiac Grande Parisienne Safari wagon in white with the Executive Safari woodgrain side trim and the Grand Prix's hidden headlights will always be for me the most stylish station wagon. No doubt due to the fact that one of our neighbours had one of what the 67 Canadian Pontiac Brochure described as being one of the 'hundreds' expected to be produced.
Those mid sixties pontiacs were great styling cars. My dad had a 1967 grand prix for his business car. What a car with the fender skirts and consealed headlights. I believe it had a 400 V8 with dual exhaust. I can remember the rumble it made!! His had the bucket seats with the automatic shifter in the console, such good memories for me.
Wow, I never noticed fender skirts on a wagon!! The skirts add a touch of elegance to those mid-to-late '60s GM cars. Nice coincidence, I've been admiring the '66-'69 Buick Skylarks with and without the skirts, lately.
Love Pontiacs! A stunning wagon and a superb classic car. I have a '67 Firebird 326 convertible have had it in the family since 1972. Great fun car gets hundreds of looks each time I take it out.
I am pretty sure I saw this car cross the auction block at Mecum or Barret-Jackson earlier this year. Absolutely gorgeous! Glad to see it continuing to get the love that it deserves.
I so very much yearn to see beautiful cars like the old 60s Bonneville on the road again. The Pontiacs of this era were so unique and stylish. And ohhhh...that gorgeous chrome! Thanks for the great video!☺
The 1965 Pontiac Tempest wagon had cleaner lines. My parents had one, it was maroon colored with a 326 engine and it actually had a factory rear spoiler!
Looks great. Love 1960’s Pontiacs and your analysis is the best on the internet. But I’d take our 1973 Mercury Colony Park wagon. Medium green with full wood paneling, large seats, 429 engine. The family Escalade of the 1970’s.
My first car was a 65 Pontiac Parisienne Safari 6 passenger. It was 15 years old and quite rusty, being a car assaulted with salt in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It ran like a charm, but if you drove down a gravel road you'd be choked by the dust that infiltrated the rusty body. I always loved the style! Thank you for this video . 🙂 it was this same color.
As a kid, my dad purchased a dark green 68 Pontiac Catalina wagon with a big block 400 engine. It wasn't a military vehicle but that thing was a tank. With the three point Pontiac front end it was also a locomotive. It was almost impossible to dent or rust. It's kryptonite was water contaminated gasoline!
My parents bought a 1965 Star Chief when I was about 4 years old in 1976...I took it out from a shop in storage when I went to work as a teenager and drove it to school and then to the first year of college. This was the early 1990s and people were always amazed at the room and the styling of the interior. Incredibly quiet, but extremely powerful for a full size car!
Absolutely beautiful machine with the kind of serene ride and comfort that you just can't get from an SUV. I do like the clever trick clamshell tailgate in the early 70s GM station wagons but this one is an absolute beauty also.
Hey Adam, thanks for your excellent review of the 65 Pontiac Bonneville Safari wagon. As always your choice of cars to review is spot on. Once again our tastes align relative to favorites from the Golden Age. Ever since first laying eyes on the 65 Pontiacs, it was one of my all time favorites. Evolving from the 64s, which I really liked, the 65s were absolutely gorgeous. As you pointed out, the headlights weren't just vertically stacked. The way the front fenders are carved back a bit to increase the view of those thick chrome bezels really showcase the headlights, it's a fantastic look. It captures the Essence of Pontiac styling. Very strong, and yet very elegant at the same time. Without a doubt the 65s were the best-looking Pontiacs of the 60s, arguably one of the top Pontiacs of all time. Pontiac rear end designs always includes beautifully styled taillights which is another one of Pontiac's styling traites that work really well on that wagon. The interior design is also one of Pontiac's strong points. They always have rich, detailed materials and the dashboards from that era are in a league of their own. The three angeled gauges and those Lucite, color tinted steering wheels are great-looking and fun. Pontiac dashboards were always top notch, and always one of the industry leaders. The 389 engine has always been one of my favorites. Chrysler had the 383s and Ford, the 390s. All had a great sound to them, the 389 being one of the best. Once again another one of GM's engines that had 5 mile long upper radiator hose. That always bothered me, and seeing all those rust colored splash marks under the hood makes me think that long vulnerable looking, upper hose had something to do with those splash marks. But that's just me. The 65 Safari is the best looking GM wagon hands down. Thanks again Adam, your Safari review brought back a lot of great memories.
We had a similar car - 1965 Catalina Safari Strato-Chief. Some of my earliest memories were washing those hub caps and the feel of those pressed patterns.
My dad's 1965 Catalina SW looked like this. Pop said he did a 0 - 60 in 8 seconds (using his watch) and burned rubber at the start. Weird wipers, no air and undersized brakes. Those cars were not too safe but most families had a bunch of kids so if you lost one or two...no big deal. Dad liked that car so much that he bought a 1969 Catalina SW which spent a lot of time in the shop. He was so disappointed with the '69 but it had AC which helped sooth the poor build and slow 400 motor.
My dad had a 1960 Pontiac Station wagon , It had the round tail lights with small fins and it was Copper color....Awesome ! It had the fold down backward facing seat in the very back and that was the favorites with us kids....
It sounds like you mentioned that GM when to the two way tailgate after the clamshell tailgate style. Actually they had it before. My family had a 1970 Chevy Kingswood Estate 9 passenger wagon and it had the two way tailgate. I loved that car, it would cruise all day at 55 towing a trailer. Love all your videos, keep up the great work!!
We had a 66 bonnaville wagon. I remember sitting in the rear facing seat imagining I was a ww2 tailgunner. At the time we had it was during the 70s energy crisis and to fuel it cost an arm and leg. An aftermarket A/C added by the previous owner. This was a great car and back then we didn't realize what we had. The car met its demise when my sister wrapped it around a phone pole during a thunderstorm.
When I was in high school, the fastest car in the lot was this wagon with a 421 and 3 two barrels matched with a 4 speed. Dave, (the owner), said he could burn a quarter of a tank of fuel in the first three gears.
Best vehicle I owned in my lifetime was a ‘62 falcon wagon w/straight six. Bought it in 93 and drove it till 05 well over a 100,000 miles of my use. Great gas mileage: I drove from SLC UT -Telluride CO 7 times. 25.5 mpg was my worst average 27.3 was my best. Dog and I camped in and out of that car at least 50 days a year. Best car , best dog , best time of my life.
Rare to find wagons from this era that haven’t had their interiors all beat to hell and back from an endless stream of snot-nosed kids - gorgeous…….!!!!!
True. But the purpose of these wagons was to haul us around when we were snot nosed kids😂.
@@dmandman9😅😅
@Mitch Not only to haul snot nosed kids, But to haul Boats and trailers and dare I say it .......race cars to the dragstrip!!!!!.
@@h8troodoh I was the youngest of 7 snot nosed kids in my parent's 59 Ford country squire and 63 Dodge 330 (never knew what the 330 stood for because it had a 318 in it) . Both were 9 passenger wagons. The 59 was totaled. And the Dodge's transmission failed. So it sat for MANY years because Daddy couldn't bear to part with it. But a tree took care of that. But the engine lived on when it was transplanted into a customer's 65 Dodge in the late 1980's. With 7 kids, I imagine that the about stains ran deep 🤣
@dmandman9 my mom and dad had a 9 passenger 1963 Pontiac Parisienne wagon.. with,Get This, the 230 6 cyl 2 speed power glide combo.. kids on bikes passed Ole Dad on hills...😅🤣😂
.
To my eye, the full sized '65 Pontiacs are the most beautiful cars Detroit ever produced. Magnificent!
I loved my 65 Grand Prix 389 4-speed…
Wide track Pontiacs..designed by John Z. Delorean...
3.30.23. 1964 Buick Riviera™️…..💁🏻♂️Class never outdated©️
LOL! This will turn out to be still another TOTAL EMBARASSMENT FALURE for the evil Democrats...
Yessir. 😊
I had a '68 Ford LTD Country Squire wagon, turquoise with fake woodgrain sides and a 429. What a monster!! I loved that car wish I still had it, makes today's cars look like toys.
My father purchased the 1971 Pontiac Grand Safari station wagon it had a 455 high output engine and a Pioneer 8-track tape player with quadraphonics sound. It was the ultimate vehicle for drive-in movies. I wish I had that car today
Pontiac was king in 1965, with every car they made being a 10/10 in looks, with greatt motors and excellent transmissions. Simple enough to worked on by the owner, but also comfortable, refined enough to be enjoyable on rough roads, and powerful enough to still be driven in modern traffic.
My parents had a 1965 Bonneville Safari wagon when I was in high school. For a wagon it was really a sharp vehicle. It was black with lots of chrome and the interior was the same color as this one, a two tone teal/aqua. It was real walnut wood on the dash, I remember my Mom using Pledge on it, LOL. It had all the toys: PS, PB, A/C, cruise, power windows and power seat. A 421 V8 4 barrel was under the hood. For a large heavy vehicle it was really fast. Lots of great memoires of that super nice ride.🙂
My Dad bought a used 1966 Pontiac Catalina Station Wagon when I was a small boy. I could stand up in the back cargo area and not bump my head on the head liner, that’s how young I was. That Catalina didn’t have the extra seat in the back either. I remember hearing my Dad tell someone that he looked at the same year Chevrolet Impala Station Wagon that was parked next to the Pontiac at the car lot. My Dad pointed one detail between the Pontiac and Chevrolet that had him purchasing the Pontiac and that was the cover plate over the gap between the cargo floor and the tailgate when the tailgate was down. The Pontiac had it, but not the Chevrolet.
As a kid we had a 65 Catalina Safari wagon. I thought it was the most beautiful car ever. It gave me the Pontiac fever for a lifetime. I guess I have owned 20 or more 65/66 full size Pontiac's . I still have my favorite 65 Bonneville Sports Coupe that I've owned since 1983. I will never sell it. The wagon in this video is a bucket list car for me! Thanks for posting !
I had an 69' Oldsmobile, Delta 88 with the 455 "Rocket" with the TH400 transmission. The car was very reliable, comfortable and quiet. I miss the older, simpler cars.
Like my dad used to say, they would pass everything except a gas station..but who cared with the cheap gas at that time...😅😅
Edit to correct-there were in fact 3 different 455's available for 1969 Olds 88's, not 2 like I had previously claimed. Please forgive my error. Tne was a 310hp 2 bbl carb, and the other was the 365hp, 510 ft/lbs of torque, high output/high compression (10.25:1). Both were called Rocket 455's, but the HO came with a gas cap with a red warning tag the read "premium fuel only". It was the most powerful engine Oldsmobile ever put in a car. They are exceedingly rare these days, and worth a fair amount of money.
Either 455 would have been noticeably powerful, but the HO didn't have a lot of trouble twisting the driveshaft, busting U joints, and smoking the tires.
I had a 69 98 with the HO 455, and I sure wish I still had it.
@@alanhumphrey4198 That was my dads saying as well. Lol The first time I heard it he said it in reference to a 430 equipped 67 Buick Wildcat. It was the first car I drove, and I did so at 14, with his supervision of course. He'd be arrested for child endangerment these days. Lol
Must have been a b*tch to park, being 69 feet long and all . . . Give me the '76 Grand Ville, and an oil well to keep it filled.
Wow, that's my project! She's an 88 custom ordered with the base 455 2bbl. Plenty of torque.
Adam, thanks for taking us back to the station wagon era, a golden age. My parents had a '59 Chevy Parkwood and a '66 Rambler American wagon. After I moved out, I owned a '66 Country Sedan wagon, '68 Falcon wagon, and a '72 Torino wagon among other American cars and trucks. I mourn the end of the big American wagons and this video really hits home and brings back some wonderful memories. When style ruled. Thank you.
My parents had a 59 Paekwood four-door in blue. I would visualize this with dual exhaust, chromed reverse wheels, and bucket seats. It was a powerslide tranny with a 283 2bbl. No tire burner. I washed it every Saturday. Mom traded it in for a 63 Impala SS with a 300hp 327. It was another heartbreaking car when she sold it, and I didn't have the $500.
My parents had a 1966 Pontiac Catalina Safari. A beautiful wagon. And it did scoot with a 389 4 barrel. It was the same color as this example and was AC equipt. There are no plastic panels. Everything was padded.
Hey Adam, this Safari wagon is stunning, especially the interior with the real walnut & the translucent steering wheel!!! Thanks for sharing another exciting video!!! 👍👍🙂
I always loved these ‘65 & ‘66 Pontiac styles, especially the longer Bonneville. Just beautiful! Thanks for the video.
I had a '66 Ventura decades ago.
This is without doubt my FAVORITE GM wagon of all time.
I'm Ford and Mopar all the way, but this Pontiac looks perfect from every angle, hands down. Beautifully styled and a beautiful color....
I'd be super proud to have this in my garage.
Agreed.
Still hope for you,then... 🤣🤣
@Right Lane Hog Years ago, there was the American Station Wagon Owner's Club, which may still exist.
There were a few of them for sale, etc. and I'm sure if you found one today it probably would be in great shape because the good ones are well preserved.
My 02 the Ford Country squire of that era , especially the 65 and 66, were the all time greats.
NOTHING CAN TOUCH THE A BIT LATER BUICK BUICK ESTATE WAGONS. SEATED 10! FULL ALL POWER WINDOWS. SEATS! REAR A.C.! ROOF RAKE! FEET WARMERS! FOLD DOWN BED SEATS. ETC
@@captainamericaamerica8090 Buick never had a ten passenger wagon, Ford and Mercury wagons with the center facing rear seats could seat ten if the four rear passengers were very small children. ONLY Mopar wagons had rear air conditioning. ONLY AMC wagons had fully reclining seats that could be used as a bed. I have no idea what you mean by foot warmers.
@@danielulz1640 You have no idea about a lot. And you're wrong. On what we' have, or sold. Had what we said. These could be ad ONS. AS IN CUSTOM MADE BEFORE DELIVERY. MY GRAMPS CHECKED OFF THE CUSTOM MADE LISTS. AND WITH A BIG DEPOSIT, THEY WERE ADDED ON. YOU PAID IN FULL, OR CREDIT AND YOU WERE OUT THE DOOR. FOOT WARMERS' WERE BIG FUZZY WOOL🐑🐑ROLLERS! HEATED FOR WINTERS. YOU SLID YOUR FEET UNDER THEM.
Truly Adam a very remarkable example of a truly beautiful station wagon of Era when craftsmanship and imagination came together to create something very stylish. Buying American real meant something in those days. Just amazing! I almost forgot about these Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
What a stunning example! One of the best colors for Pontiac & an elegant bodystyle. Thank you, Adam, for another fantastic video.
You’re right. Nothing beats the full size Pontiac dashboards. It brought back memories of my gray ‘68 Catalina 2-door hardtop. It was one of the best riding cars that I ever had. I drove my wife to the hospital in 1972 and brought my new daughter home in it. It had the base regular fuel 389 2 barrel with 260 HP. My mechanic friend recommended that I change the plastic timing gear before the engine detonated. I took his advice and enjoyed that car for many years.
My Aunt and Uncle had a 67 Bonneville Safari 3 seat wagon. They had traded their 64 Buick Sport Wagon on the Bonneville. They always had very well equipped cars and the Bonneville had AC, power windows, and the first factory 8-track player I ever saw. It was dark green with a black vinyl top and interior.
While my Dad had his 4 year old Mercury 9 Passenger Wagon with Rubber Foor Mats, I watched a '60 Pontiac Bonniville Wagon go past our house with the first Wagon I'd ever seen with carpet everywhere!! VERY COOL!!!
What a beauty!! Love station wagons, brings back memories of my families wagons. Each had unique style and space unlike many of today's cookie-cutter SUV's. Thanks for posting for us all to enjoy.
Today's cookie-cutter SUVs ARE station wagons.
@@broeheemed32 No they aren't. They're too damn tall and drive like trucks.
I'd have to say, the Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser was the coolest wagon. Our neighbor had a beautiful, 1966 Bonneville Safari wagon in a beautiful deep blue with black interior and a black vinyl roof...
My first “best friend” from my preschool days - his mom actually - had a gold ‘65 Bonneville Safari. My mom had a ‘66 gold Bonneville Vista Hardtop. I was fascinated by the differences in the front ends. I remember my friend’s mom taking us to see my first play in that station wagon. The play was a fairy tale of some kind, but a half century later, I can’t remember the name. My friend’s dad died of cancer when we were both five or six, and he moved away.
I vote that the Oldsmobile Vista Cruisers are also classic. Also the 66-67 Ford Country Squire
Had a '67 Ford, acres of aqua in and out. 390, auto, gas hog...and used even more oil than gas!
Back in the day, one of my favorites, and iconic wagons was the late 60's / early 70's Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser, that was built to imply traveling the country, like the scenic cruiser pop-up top Greyhound buses or the glass dome train cars. More symbolic than practical for passengers (other than the kids in the back), the mid-size wagon could get a 455 c.i.d. powerhouse that could actually convince dad to get a wagon instead of a sporty 442.
This was the era when Cars actually looked different from each other. Although you could still see the family resemblance, it was far different than simply changing the grille and trim that was done by the time Olds and Pontiac were sunsetted . Today even different manufacturers cars look almost alike.
What a great find! Thanks for reminding me of "the one that got away". I was 10 when dad was ready to trade our '63 Catalina sedan. He had gotten a look at the rather bold front end of the '67 Pontiacs and wasn't a fan. A neighbor who sold Pontiacs for a living had a leftover '66 Catalina Safari, same color as this '65 Bonneville. He brought it home so dad could drive it. Dad was ready to buy, but mom is short and she couldn''t figure out where the back of the car ended, with the tailgate window sill so high. So, no '66 Safari. But... 56 years later... mom is still with us!!!
As a 60's kid my respect for wagon owners went waay up when I started checking out window stickers at new model year time with my dad. A 1968 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser could give that Ninety Eight Luxury Sedan the "second-look" sticker shock glance! Chevrolet and Pontiac had full-sized wagons worth the extra money. At the top of the wagon fleet was Chrysler's Town & Country, but it was a pricey beast with a sticker price that had dad cleaning his glasses. For the Chrysler T&C - "heavy-duty was standard equipment".
The interiors were so rich and so detailed. They got cheap and you can really see the difference between this wagon and on of the 1980's or 1990's. I understand why people appreciate these cars. Thank you Adam.
I had a 72 Olds 98 LS ! Best car I ever owned !
Wow, what an (now) uncommon model in absolutely stellar original condition, what a treasure for the lucky owner, thank you for sharing it with us all!
I highly appreciate many models of '30's - '70's vintage station wagons, and as far as the full-sized models go this example is really a peach, styling-wise!
My grandparents had a beautiful '58 Pontiac Bonneville coupe up until I was 14 or 15. I begged then to keep it for ne as I dearly loved and wanted that car for my first car when I got my Driver's license at 16 1/2. It was at their place for a few months that summer, but then one day it was gone!
My grandmother told me that Papa called the junkyard one day and scrapped it because it was a little thirsty in gas and he didn't think it would be the best choice for me as a first car because of that.
Fifty years later and I am still heartbroken and miss it, I can see it in my mind's eye like it was yesterday.
I still have pics of it and them posed with it in my family's photo album.
Rare car, I think they only made 2 or 3 thousand Bonneville coupes in '58. She was Robins egg blue with white in the side spears and a silver top with a 3-tone turquoise interior. ❤❤❤ 😢
Oof been looking for this car. We had the exact same one same colors 50 yrs ago. We regularly loaded it up with camping gear in summer and went all over the States. It floats down the road and barely feel bumps or anything even going over train tracks. Ah sweet childhood memories.
We had a 1963 Catalina Safari. I had to ride on a pad across the back by the rear window on vacations. But it had pop out windows on the sides which led to interesting entertainment. The luggage between me and my sisters kept the peace. We tripped to the Carolinas, Florida and to the Four Corners area of the southwest.
I miss the Pontiac motor division.
Beautiful survivor Adam, so many didn't. Wagons are finally getting respect. I own a 1972 Olds Vista Cruiser, 455, A/C, power seat, nine passenger. The Vista wagon also ranks high on the GM wagon list, IMHO.
Incredible wagon.
The by vista wagons were a staple at demolition derbys for decades. A real tank.
Beautiful! Thanks for the tour!
Dad loved Pontiac and we owned several wagons starting in 1956.
Brings back memories! Our friends had one of these as a 9 pax and we kids used to ride in the back with the window open looking at the world going by. Fun times!
Pontiac station wagons enjoyed product placement on "My Three Sons" and "Family Affair" which were sitcom staples in the 1960's.
Beautiful! Mid-sixties Pontiac quality (design and build) is rarely praised. Great job, Adam.
John Wayne LOVED Pontiac station wagons. He had them modified with the roof raised about 12 inches so that he could wear a cowboy hat while he was driving, since he was 6'4" tall.
I thought that the Duke like Ford Ranch Wagons, and he had them modified to raise the roof for his tall frame and cowboy hat.
@@stevespatola763 I don't know about the Fords for him. He was a die-hard Pontiac fan apparently. One of his raised roof wagons is in a museum somewhere, that's how I know about it.
I love vintage wagons with fender skirts. They just look grand. GM designed some beautiful examples.
Love how you speak...you seem educated (rare these days) ... I love all the cars you speak of and show. I grew up with most of them... as a kid at 8 years old looking out my bedroom window (1977) wishing I had them some day. I've done ok to save some nice ones, however they will outlast me in this life. Keep on doing what you do.. thanks.
Spectacular. Love wagons…the most expensive of the lineup, with the most metal, most glass, most vinyl, most everything. And this one as a 65 Bonnie is the top of the heap
That is a beautiful car and great survivor example and I hope that it will stay that way. God bless you all and thank you for sharing your work and time with us today.
I was just thinking you should do some episodes on all the station wagons there have been.
What a beautiful dashboard illumination! SAVE THE WAGONS!
My family owned a 65 Parisienne 4 door sedan when I was born in 66. Beautiful car. Built in Oshawa Ontario. My dad traded it in for a new 1970 Laurentian when I was 4.
Definitely brings back memories of my family's 400 c.i. '67 Pontiac Catalina 9-passenger wagon and the "plastic" timing gear that failed at 65 mph while the 15-year-old me was learning-permitted driving it with the whole family in the car!
"Uhhhh... Dad? I think the motor quit." 😳
A back woods Louisiana shop, with a bunch of kid helper mechanics younger than me had us back on the road in just a few hours! I assume it was near a dealer who had those in stock, but since it was a well-known problem, maybe most shops did?
Adam , wagons are top!! Bring more please!
Beautiful machine, my dad had the gran torino wagon 400 cu big block and the speedometer went to 120 mph. Took it to the drive in movies and opened the tail gate downward and laid in the back. Gate also opened like a door. Great times..
Beautiful vehicle! I miss real automobiles.
Nice old Pontiac wagon Adam. I am not a Pontiac man but this wagon is a great example of a true full size car on steroids. I can not remember the last time I saw one, probably when I was a boy in the 1960's. Great find of another super-rare car. Thanks for the video.
Wow. Was not expecting that nice a dashboard! That looks so rich!
My first car was a 1964 LeManns. Pontiac's were always my favorite. Performance and incredible style.
My Dad had one! We spend a lot of time in it traveling around the country! Us kids would fold the back seat down play games and sleep. We had a lot of fun.
Very nice
Very nice car. Incredible condition. They were classic vechiles.
Awesome ride! Mid 60s Pontiacs are beautiful wish I still had my 66 Catalina coupe
We had a 66 Catalina wagon the color was martinique bronze loved that battleship!!!!!
This is what older folks mean when they regard this era as "back when cars were real cars."
We used to back up our wagon in at the Drive Inn and it was like laying in bed watching the movie . Instant memories seeing this car 👍
Another great video Adam! This was also one of very few wagons that had rear fender skirts, which really emphasized the long, unbroken bodyside lines creating a flowing feel of elegance. (I think other wagons with fender skirts included the Olds Custom Cruiser and Chrysler Town and Country). If I'm not mistaken, the GM wagons from 1969 and 1970 did incorporate a two-way tailgate (you had to lower the window first) on their wagons, and they included an unusual notch on the right side of the rear bumper that provided a step, making it somewhat easier to step in. (In my opinion it was too narrow).
I had a 1969 Executive wagon with 428 and posi rear end. At that time GM was diddling around with variable ratio power steering, it was awesome. Really tight turning circle. Also had the rubber nose. The 2 way tailgate was far superior to the lame clamshell design that came later.
The 1967 Canadian Pontiac Grande Parisienne Safari wagon in white with the Executive Safari woodgrain side trim and the Grand Prix's hidden headlights will always be for me the most stylish station wagon. No doubt due to the fact that one of our neighbours had one of what the 67 Canadian Pontiac Brochure described as being one of the 'hundreds' expected to be produced.
That does sound like some beautiful styling 👍
Wow.....I can just picture that, Tom!
I agree with Keith....it's a classic worth buying if you can find it.
Those mid sixties pontiacs were great styling cars. My dad had a 1967 grand prix for his business car. What a car with the fender skirts and consealed headlights. I believe it had a 400 V8 with dual exhaust. I can remember the rumble it made!! His had the bucket seats with the automatic shifter in the console, such good memories for me.
Wow, I never noticed fender skirts on a wagon!! The skirts add a touch of elegance to those mid-to-late '60s GM cars.
Nice coincidence, I've been admiring the '66-'69 Buick Skylarks with and without the skirts, lately.
This is the wagon that I grew up with! Great nostalgic look back.
Always loved these mid 60s Pontiac wagons.... Seldom see them anymore. Thanks for posting !
We had a 66 Catalina wagon in 1969 with the 389.....GREAT VEHICLE!
Love Pontiacs! A stunning wagon and a superb classic car. I have a '67 Firebird 326 convertible have had it in the family since 1972. Great fun car gets hundreds of looks each time I take it out.
I am pretty sure I saw this car cross the auction block at Mecum or Barret-Jackson earlier this year. Absolutely gorgeous! Glad to see it continuing to get the love that it deserves.
I so very much yearn to see beautiful cars like the old 60s Bonneville on the road again. The Pontiacs of this era were so unique and stylish. And ohhhh...that gorgeous chrome! Thanks for the great video!☺
The 1965 Pontiac Tempest wagon had cleaner lines. My parents had one, it was maroon colored with a 326 engine and it actually had a factory rear spoiler!
I loved the Pontiac interiors. Bonneville was top of the line, even the Safari had the upgraded trim package.
Magic tailgate came before the clamshell - Dad got a new Safari every 3 years and the 1970 Executive Safari had it
Lovely estate wagon!
Looks great. Love 1960’s Pontiacs and your analysis is the best on the internet. But I’d take our 1973 Mercury Colony Park wagon. Medium green with full wood paneling, large seats, 429 engine. The family Escalade of the 1970’s.
Correction: "the family Navigator!"
My first car was a 65 Pontiac Parisienne Safari 6 passenger. It was 15 years old and quite rusty, being a car assaulted with salt in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It ran like a charm, but if you drove down a gravel road you'd be choked by the dust that infiltrated the rusty body. I always loved the style! Thank you for this video . 🙂 it was this same color.
I LOVE this front end design!
One of the more deluxe wagons of the day, right up there with the Chrysler Town and Country. Thank you for featuring it, Adam.
Would you do a video on second generation Olds Vista Cruisers ?
My mother's best friend drove a '67 Safari and I was in love.
As a kid, my dad purchased a dark green 68 Pontiac Catalina wagon with a big block 400 engine. It wasn't a military vehicle but that thing was a tank. With the three point Pontiac front end it was also a locomotive. It was almost impossible to dent or rust. It's kryptonite was water contaminated gasoline!
My parents bought a 1965 Star Chief when I was about 4 years old in 1976...I took it out from a shop in storage when I went to work as a teenager and drove it to school and then to the first year of college. This was the early 1990s and people were always amazed at the room and the styling of the interior. Incredibly quiet, but extremely powerful for a full size car!
i like those cute eyelids and that chrome, the front looks classic and stylish.
Absolutely beautiful machine with the kind of serene ride and comfort that you just can't get from an SUV.
I do like the clever trick clamshell tailgate in the early 70s GM station wagons but this one is an absolute beauty also.
Wow, what a beautiful survivor!
My all-time favorite station wagon.
Hey Adam, thanks for your excellent review of the 65 Pontiac Bonneville Safari wagon. As always your choice of cars to review is spot on. Once again our tastes align relative to favorites from the Golden Age. Ever since first laying eyes on the 65 Pontiacs, it was one of my all time favorites. Evolving from the 64s, which I really liked, the 65s were absolutely gorgeous. As you pointed out, the headlights weren't just vertically stacked. The way the front fenders are carved back a bit to increase the view of those thick chrome bezels really showcase the headlights, it's a fantastic look. It captures the Essence of Pontiac styling. Very strong, and yet very elegant at the same time. Without a doubt the 65s were the best-looking Pontiacs of the 60s, arguably one of the top Pontiacs of all time. Pontiac rear end designs always includes beautifully styled taillights which is another one of Pontiac's styling traites that work really well on that wagon. The interior design is also one of Pontiac's strong points. They always have rich, detailed materials and the dashboards from that era are in a league of their own. The three angeled gauges and those Lucite, color tinted steering wheels are great-looking and fun. Pontiac dashboards were always top notch, and always one of the industry leaders. The 389 engine has always been one of my favorites. Chrysler had the 383s and Ford, the 390s. All had a great sound to them, the 389 being one of the best. Once again another one of GM's engines that had 5 mile long upper radiator hose. That always bothered me, and seeing all those rust colored splash marks under the hood makes me think that long vulnerable looking, upper hose had something to do with those splash marks. But that's just me. The 65 Safari is the best looking GM wagon hands down. Thanks again Adam, your Safari review brought back a lot of great memories.
We had a similar car - 1965 Catalina Safari Strato-Chief. Some of my earliest memories were washing those hub caps and the feel of those pressed patterns.
65 is one of my favorite years for most cars. Love wagons, this one is awesome.
My dad's 1965 Catalina SW looked like this. Pop said he did a 0 - 60 in 8 seconds (using his watch) and burned rubber at the start. Weird wipers, no air and undersized brakes. Those cars were not too safe but most families had a bunch of kids so if you lost one or two...no big deal. Dad liked that car so much that he bought a 1969 Catalina SW which spent a lot of time in the shop. He was so disappointed with the '69 but it had AC which helped sooth the poor build and slow 400 motor.
My dad had a 1960 Pontiac Station wagon , It had the round tail lights with small fins and it was Copper color....Awesome ! It had the fold down backward facing seat in the very back and that was the favorites with us kids....
My family had this 65 wagon. It was quite elegantly styled and comfortable.
It sounds like you mentioned that GM when to the two way tailgate after the clamshell tailgate style. Actually they had it before. My family had a 1970 Chevy Kingswood Estate 9 passenger wagon and it had the two way tailgate. I loved that car, it would cruise all day at 55 towing a trailer. Love all your videos, keep up the great work!!
Our 1969 Kingswood did also.
Wow! That dash is amazing
We had a 66 bonnaville wagon. I remember sitting in the rear facing seat imagining I was a ww2 tailgunner. At the time we had it was during the 70s energy crisis and to fuel it cost an arm and leg. An aftermarket A/C added by the previous owner. This was a great car and back then we didn't realize what we had. The car met its demise when my sister wrapped it around a phone pole during a thunderstorm.
I had one back in 1972, it was a dream on the road !
When I was in high school, the fastest car in the lot was this wagon with a 421 and 3 two barrels matched with a 4 speed. Dave, (the owner), said he could burn a quarter of a tank of fuel in the first three gears.
Best vehicle I owned in my lifetime was a ‘62 falcon wagon w/straight six. Bought it in 93 and drove it till 05 well over a 100,000 miles of my use. Great gas mileage: I drove from SLC UT -Telluride CO 7 times. 25.5 mpg was my worst average 27.3 was my best. Dog and I camped in and out of that car at least 50 days a year. Best car , best dog , best time of my life.
Really nice car. I agree with you about the 1965 Pontiacs having the best styling of any year of pontiacs.