The Ford Del Rio is a full-size , six-passenger station wagon that was produced by Ford in the United States for model years 1957 and 1958. The model was also marketed under the name Del Rio Ranch Wagon .
70-594: The impetus for the creation of the Del Rio was Ford's desire to remain in the two-door sport wagon market started by the Chevrolet Nomad and Pontiac Safari and the decision to discontinue the company's original attempt at a sport wagon, the premium Parklane , which failed to entice buyers during 1956, its only year in production. Four-way power seats were available. While the Nomad was Chevrolet's most expensive model, offering
140-422: A clamshell tailgate, with separate, independently operable window and tailgate components. The rear power-operated glass could deploy from the roof as the tailgate (manually or with power assist), could deploy from a recess under the cargo floor. The power assist tailgate, the first in station wagon history, ultimately supplanted the manually operated tailgate, which required marked effort to lift from storage. Both
210-615: A 2+2 wagon, the 2004 Nomad was far smaller than its 1999 namesake, at only 155.5 inches long. The vehicle derived multiple design themes from the original Corvette Nomad, including its grille, headlight shape (trading screened openings for composite lenses), and forward-sloping B-pillar. Sharing the GM Kappa platform with the Pontiac Solstice , the four-seat Nomad included a sliding load floor and removable roof panel to aid loading of cargo. Pontiac Safari The Pontiac Safari
280-662: A Tempest Safari compact station wagon. Along with their full-size namesakes, smaller Safari wagons (from the mid-1960s onward) adopted external woodgrain trim as a distinguishing feature. For 1971, the Pontiac Grand Safari was introduced, serving as the station wagon of the Pontiac Grand Ville . Slotted above the Catalina-based Safari, the model line was distinguished by its exterior woodgrain trim (a few examples were produced with it deleted). The counterpart of
350-414: A chrome "jet" was added to the rear quarter panels. For 1961, Chevrolet redesigned its full-size B-body range, including its station wagon series. Again based on a 119-inch wheelbase, the Nomad was slightly resized, losing two inches of body width and an inch of height. Far more conservative in appearance than its 1959-1960 predecessor, the redesigned Nomad saw increased cargo space and functionality as
420-527: A higher grade vinyl upholstery. Del Rio buyers also had their choice of either Ford's “Mileage Maker” 144 hp six or its “Thunderbird” 215 hp, 312 cubic inch (5.1 litre) displacement Y-Block V-8. The Del Rio was equipped with 11-inch front drum brakes. Like all other Ford station wagons at that time, the Del Rio used a two-piece tailgate – a feature that dealers emphasized was an advantage over GM's steeply raked rear gate and self-storing window, which were known for water leaks in heavy rains. While
490-540: A limited-slip differential was fitted as standard equipment. Alongside the Land Rover and Jeep CJ, the Chevrolet Nomad was spartan in interior design, sold with only a driver seat and a passenger-side bench seat (allowing for 3-passenger seating) and a folding windshield. While a coolant gauge was supplied alongside the fuel gauge and speedometer, the Nomad was not equipped with parking design (or windshield washing) for
560-476: A premium vehicle with a show car-inspired body style, the Del Rio was strictly based on an existing product, the utilitarian two-door Ranch Wagon, Ford's least expensive station wagon, as part of the Custom 300 series. Beginning with the basic body, buyers of the Del Rio were offered a unique two-tone paint scheme (optional), better quality interior and exterior brightwork (including gold anodized aluminum accents) and
630-527: A redesign, with the Safari again returning as a part of the Catalina and Bonneville series. For the exterior, a vinyl roof was introduced as an option. For 1966, the Safari nameplate was dropped by Pontiac, as its B-body station wagons (Catalina and Bonneville) deleted the secondary series designation. For 1967, the Safari nameplate returned for the newly introduced Pontiac Executive full-size station wagon (replacing
700-557: A rubber floor mat. Equipped similar to the higher-trim Chevrolet Beauville van, the Nomad received plaid upholstery and two-tone exterior paint. The Nomad van was marketed by GMC as the GMC Gaucho; both vehicles were withdrawn as part of the 1982 model update of the Chevrolet Van. From 1976 to 1980, General Motors South Africa used the Chevrolet Nomad nameplate for its own vehicle line. Completely unrelated to any vehicle line from
770-575: A running prototype as GM explored customer demand for minivans. Derived from the front-wheel drive X-body chassis, the Nomad II shared design elements from the Chevrolet Citation. While the vehicle was well-approved by potential customers, GM ultimately decided to shelve further development of the Nomad II. For 1990, the Lumina APV was released as the first front-wheel drive Chevrolet minivan. At
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#1733084575634840-624: A six-cylinder engine. For 1969, Chevrolet split station wagons into a distinct model line, with the Nomad dropping "Chevelle" from its nameplate. The reintroduced Greenbrier replaced the Nomad Custom, slotted below the Concours/Concours Estate series. Through its production, the Chevelle-based Nomad saw few major functional changes. For 1970, the front fascia was redesigned (closer in line with larger Chevrolets). For 1971,
910-565: A standard roof luggage rack. As with all Star Chiefs, the two-door Safari was fitted with a 347 cubic-inch V8, produced with 270 hp (4-bbl) or 290 hp (3x2bbl). For 1957, the Star Chief Custom Safari declined in sales to 1,294 vehicles (1,894 Transcontinentals), again serving as the slowest-selling Pontiac; the model lost out to the Star Chief Bonneville as the most expensive model line. In total, 9,094 examples of
980-574: A station wagon bodystyle for the Pontiac 6000 , replacing the previous Bonneville G station wagon as its mid-size offering. In 6000 LE trim, the model line was offered with optional exterior woodgrain trim. In 1987, the 6000 LE wagon was renamed the 6000 Safari, sharing the optional V6 of the 6000 STE. After 1991, the Pontiac 6000 was replaced by the Grand Prix (introduced as a four-door sedan for 1990), becoming
1050-416: A top speed of 134.8 km/h (84 mph) in a period test. While fitted solely with rear-wheel drive, the Nomad was designed with off-road capability, coinciding with its short 82-inch wheelbase and high (10.4-inch) ground clearance; the body was fitted with a sump guard and a built-in box-section grille guard (the latter to protect the radiator and headlamps). To make up for the lack of four-wheel drive,
1120-483: A two-door station wagon. This article about a classic post-war automobile produced between 1945 and 1975 is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Chevrolet Nomad Chevrolet Nomad is a nameplate used by Chevrolet in North America from the 1950s to the 1970s, applied largely to station wagons . Three different Nomads were produced as a distinct model line, with Chevrolet subsequently using
1190-404: Is a line of station wagons that was produced by Pontiac from 1955 to 1989. Initially introduced as the Pontiac counterpart of the two-door Chevrolet Nomad , the division adopted the nameplate across its full-size wagon range in 1957. Through its production, the Safari was positioned between Chevrolet full-size station wagons and below its Buick and Oldsmobile counterparts. During the mid-1960s,
1260-581: The 1991 Chicago Auto Show , Chevrolet showcased a Nomad concept based on the Chevrolet Suburban . The Chevrolet Nomad reappeared on a concept vehicle for the 1999 Detroit Auto Show . Sharing its F-body chassis with the fourth-generation Chevrolet Camaro , the V8-powered Nomad served as an updated design of the Tri-Five two-door station wagon. To increase its functionality, a second curbside door
1330-637: The "Colonnade" series of GM intermediates, the lowest-trim Chevrolet station wagon was renamed the Chevelle Deluxe. Following its retirement from the Chevelle model line, Chevrolet continued the use of the Nomad name through the late 1970s, denoting variants of other model lines. For 1976, Chevrolet created the Vega Nomad as an option for the Vega Kammback station wagon. Intended as an appearance package,
1400-519: The A-body Safari were sold from 1955 to 1957. For 1958, GM ended production of its two-door sport wagons, as the slow-selling Nomad and Safari had both served as the most expensive cars sold by Chevrolet and Pontiac. While the two-door sport wagons had been retired (as consumer tastes had largely shifted away from two-door wagons), both nameplates saw further use, with both divisions again using them for redesigned station wagons. Following its adoption by
1470-578: The B-body chassis during 1957, Pontiac returned the Safari for 1958, using the nameplate as a secondary series designation. For 1958, Pontiac offered a Safari for the Chieftain and Star Chief ranges. The Transcontinental wagon returned, taking the Star Chief Custom Safari nameplate of the previous two-door wagon (the Bonneville remained a hardtop/convertible). For 1959, Pontiac revised its model range, introducing
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#17330845756341540-483: The Biscayne-trim Brookwood as the lowest-trim Chevrolet wagon. The latter was offered in four-door and two-door bodies (the latter of which formed the basis of the inaugural El Camino ). In a design change, the split tailgate was replaced by a one-piece design with a retractable rear window. Closer in line to Chevrolet sedans, the Nomad adopted forward-curved C-pillars and large horizontal tailfins (replacing
1610-669: The Bonneville Safari for 1979 (effectively returning to the name of its 1970 predecessor). For 1987, the Pontiac Sunbird station wagon was renamed the Sunbird Safari. In contrast to full-size and mid-size Safaris, the Sunbird Safari was not offered with exterior woodgrain trim. Coinciding with the mid-1988 update of the model line, Pontiac dropped the Safari name from the Sunbird station wagon. For 1984, Pontiac introduced
1680-567: The Brookwood (Biscayne) and the Yeoman (Delray). While all four-door Chevrolet wagons shared a common body, the B-body Nomad carried over several styling features from its Tri-Five predecessor, including chrome tailgate trim, multi-tone exterior and interiors, and a forward-sloping C-pillar (in place of the previous B-pillar). The Nomad was offered in a 6-passenger configuration, with the Brookwood as
1750-639: The Buick Estate and the Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser, the first-generation Grand Safari would be the largest vehicle ever sold by Pontiac. For 1977, the Grand Safari was downsized alongside the rest of the B-body model line. As Pontiac discontinued the Grand Ville, the Grand Safari now served as the Bonneville station wagon. In an effort to reduce branding confusion, Pontiac renamed the model line as
1820-544: The Catalina Safari and Bonneville Safari (the Star Chief remained, becoming sedan-only). The Bonneville was offered with two rows of seating; the Catalina was offered with either two or three rows of seats. Following a slight downsizing for 1961, the Safari returned as part of the Catalina and Bonneville series, with the 9-passenger option remaining exclusive to Catalina Safaris. For 1965, full-size Pontiacs underwent
1890-586: The Catalina was discontinued while the Bonneville was downsized a second time (adopting the body of the four-door Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme ). The B-body Bonneville was replaced with the Pontiac Parisienne in the United States (adopting a design closer to the Chevrolet Caprice ). For 1982, the Safari name was largely placed on hiatus across Pontiac, replaced by "Wagon". For 1987, Pontiac retired
1960-628: The Chevrolet Nomad was produced as a two-door "sport wagon". While considered a distinct model line, the Nomad was trimmed in line with the Bel Air sedan, along with its badging. The production Nomad was the Chevrolet counterpart of the Pontiac Safari ; while the two vehicles shared an identical chassis and roofline, the Safari shared its front fascia with the Pontiac Chieftain and interior trim with
2030-514: The Corvette. The use of the A-body also allowed GM to produce the vehicle as a Pontiac. While it is believed that GM ultimately destroyed the concept vehicle (as was common practice of the time), several reproductions of the Nomad concept exist today, mating Corvette front fascias to production Nomad bodies. Sharing its roofline design nearly intact from the 1954 Motorama "dream car", the first version of
2100-459: The Ford sold more Del Rios in 1957 (46,105) than Chevrolet did with its Nomad in its three years of production, Ford terminated the Del Rio program at the end of the 1958 model year after selling only 12,687 of its "sport wagons". Ford didn't entirely abandon the concept of a two-door station wagon, and used a smaller version with the all-new Ford Falcon in 1960, offered in multiple bodystyles, including
2170-408: The Nomad included a two-piece split tailgate and flat-folding rear seat. Sharing the same front fascia update as other 1956 Chevrolets, the exterior of the Nomad adopted the revised side-panel trim of the Bel Air. Again called both a Nomad and a Bel Air Nomad interchangeably, the model line received a standard two-tone exterior and interior. The fully-radiused rear wheel openings were dropped for
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2240-583: The Nomad nameplate. In 1958, Chevrolet created a prototype hardtop version of the 1959 Nomad station wagon (using the doors of the Impala hardtop); the design was not approved for production. Coinciding with the development of the Chevrolet Camaro, several Nomad-badged clay models were produced in 1965, exploring a potential two-door station wagon version. In 1979, the Chevrolet Nomad II was developed as
2310-594: The Nomad was designed with fully radiused rear wheel openings (a design feature of the Corvette). Coinciding with the design of its roofline, the Nomad shared its front doors with the Bel Air hardtop and convertible (using frameless door glass). As with the four-door Beauville station wagon, the Nomad received interior trim similar to the Bel Air sedan; the model line was the only two-door Chevrolet wagon fitted with interior carpeting and cloth seats. Though distinguished by its forward-sloping rear window, tailgate, and B-pillar,
2380-421: The Nomad was now part of the intermediate Chevrolet Chevelle model line, replacing the Chevelle 300 station wagon. In stark contrast to its two previous iterations, the 1968 Nomad served as the lowest-price Chevelle station wagon. Marketed strictly as a 6-passenger vehicle, the Nomad was not offered with a third-row seat, interval windshield wipers, or underfloor storage; it is also the only version sold with
2450-575: The Nomad; all non-Corvette Chevrolets received a larger rear-wheel cutout. For 1956, Ford introduced the Ford Parklane as a direct competitor of the Nomad. While the Parklane would outsell the Nomad by nearly two-to-one for 1956, Ford discontinued the model line after a single model year. The 1957 Nomad adopted the same overall update as other 1957 Chevrolets , including a redesign of the front fascia and dashboard; large tailfins added several inches to
2520-570: The Parisienne sedan from its model range, with the Parisienne Wagon rebranded as the Pontiac Safari, marking the first use of the name since 1981. While used as a stand-alone nameplate for its full-size B-body station wagon, the change marked the introduction of Pontiac Sunbird Safari and Pontiac 6000 Safari wagons. As full-size station wagons were declining in demand relative to minivans in
2590-467: The Pontiac Star Chief (its sedan counterpart). Priced at $ 2571, the Nomad was among the most expensive 1955 Chevrolets (excluding the Corvette); the model line received a 265 cubic-inch V8 as standard equipment. While the Nomad received Bel Air fender badging, to emphasize its roofline, the Nomad only shared the front fender trim and door trim with the Bel Air. In contrast with other Chevrolets,
2660-546: The Safari added simulated woodgrain trim to the exterior, becoming a feature associated with the model line. The name " safari " is derived from the Swahili word safari , which means journey, originally from the Arabic سفر (safar) meaning a journey ; the verb for "to travel" in Swahili is kusafiri . As General Motors expanded into the intermediate, compact, and subcompact segments,
2730-530: The Safari nameplate saw a similar usage as the Estate (Buick, Chevrolet) and Cruiser (Oldsmobile) nameplates, denoting the highest-trim station wagon in each model range. After 1989, Pontiac became the first GM division to discontinue its full-size wagons; along with model overlap between its divisional counterparts, demand for full-size wagons had been overtaken by minivans. For 1990, the Pontiac Trans Sport
2800-453: The Star Chief) and the top level Bonneville Safari, with the term "Safari" used to identify exterior woodgrain trim for the first time; all three wagons were offered with third-row seating. For 1971, Pontiac revised its station wagon branding, making the Safari a stand-alone model series based on the Catalina. The Bonneville station wagon was dropped in favor of the Grand Safari, which itself
2870-479: The United States, the Chevrolet Nomad produced in South Africa was an open-body utility vehicle . Locally considered a bakkie , the model line was offered with rear-wheel drive and powered by a 2.5-liter inline-four, paired with a 4-speed manual transmission. Designed to keep production costs as low as possible, the Nomad was designed with simple construction; its entire body was assembled from flat panels. 82% of
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2940-491: The Vega Nomad received filler panels (to restyle the B-pillars), a vinyl roof, tailgate rub strips, and vinyl Nomad badging. From 1977 to 1981, Chevrolet returned the Nomad name to use for a variant of the full-size Chevrolet Van . Effectively a hybrid of the cargo van and passenger van configurations, the Nomad was a five-passenger vehicle with a single rear row of seats and a cargo area consisting of paneled plywood walls and
3010-529: The design was shifted to the full-size A-body chassis (from the Corvette) to increase its sales potential; to further decrease overall design costs, the Pontiac Safari was created to share the design across two divisions. Sharing its 122-inch wheelbase A-body chassis with the Nomad (derived from the Chevrolet Bel Air), the Safari shared its exterior bodywork with the Pontiac Chieftain . Though using
3080-576: The final Pontiac station wagon. For 1985, the GMC Safari mid-size van was introduced as a divisional counterpart of the Chevrolet Astro . At the time, the Pontiac Safari nameplate had been on hiatus, leading to the concurrent usage of the name by both divisions from 1987 to 1989 (GM would also do so with the Chevrolet Astro and GMC Astro ). The first (and currently, only) minivan sold by GMC,
3150-512: The front fascia of the Corvette to a two-door wagon body, the Nomad shifted away from the utilitarian design of traditional station wagons, introducing a forward-slanting B-pillar and nearly wraparound rear windows. Following a positive response to the Motorama design, GM approved the Nomad for 1955 production. As a prerequisite for approval, the design was to be adapted to the standard A-body Chevrolet chassis, both larger and more widely produced than
3220-481: The late 1980s, the Pontiac Safari faced internal divisional competition by the higher-volume Chevrolet Caprice Estate and the premium-content Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser and Buick (Electra) Estate. While the Safari nameplate had become a part of the Pontiac model range for nearly three decades, in 1985, GMC had introduced the GMC Safari mid-size van. For the first time, GM marketed two distinct vehicles in North America with
3290-407: The length of the vehicle. While two-tone options remained for the interior, exterior two-tone combinations became more subdued, shifting back to a contrasting roofline color. Following continued low sales of the Nomad through the Tri-Five generation, Chevrolet discontinued the distinct model line after the 1957 model year. Pontiac also withdrew the two-door Safari wagon, with the division adopting
3360-428: The length of their wagons by about a foot for model year 1977, when the overriding concern became increased fuel economy. For 1977, Pontiac downsized the Safari alongside the rest of its full-size B-body vehicles. Shedding over 1000 pounds of curb weight (dependent on powertrain), the Safari remained part of the Catalina range. In place of the previous 400 and 455 cubic-inch V8s, 301 and 403 cubic-inch V8s were fitted to
3430-581: The mid-size 6000 Safari (another model range replaced by the Trans Sport). The GMC Safari ended production after 2005; as of current production, this remains the final use of the nameplate by General Motors. Alongside its use by the Pontiac B-body station wagon range (including the Chieftain, Star Chief, Catalina, Executive, Bonneville, and Parisienne), Pontiac expanded the use of the Safari nameplate beyond its full-size model range for 1961 as it introduced
3500-406: The model line; a 350 cubic-inch V8 was also added as an option. For 1979, the Grand Safari was renamed the Bonneville Safari (marking the return of the combined nameplate for the first time since 1965). As with its Grand Safari predecessor, the Bonneville Safari was distinguished by external (simulated) woodgrain trim. Following the 1981 model year, Pontiac revised its full-size model line;
3570-504: The model year. For 1956, the Safari underwent a minor exterior revision. Along with a redesign to the front and rear bumpers, the bodyside trim was restyled. As two-tone paint was standard for the model line, the change now painted the roof in the accent color; the interior also saw revisions to the seats and door panels. The V8 engine was expanded to 317 cubic inches for 1956, with the Safari offering 227 hp in its standard configuration (single 4-bbl carburetor); an optional 216 hp version
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#17330845756343640-618: The name as a trim package . Marketed as a halo model of the Chevrolet station wagon line for the Tri-Five series , the Nomad was repackaged as a station wagon counterpart of the Chevrolet Bel Air and Chevrolet Impala from 1958 to 1961. From 1968 to 1972, the Nomad returned as the base-trim Chevrolet Chevelle station wagon. Making its debut on a 1954 concept car, the nameplate has again seen used by Chevrolet on multiple concept vehicles; none have reached production. The Chevrolet Nomad
3710-453: The nameplate for nearly its entire range of station wagons. As Chevrolet shifted from the A-body to the B-body for 1958, the division made station wagons a separate model range from sedans. While no longer a two-door sport wagon, the Nomad nameplate made its return, again denoting the flagship Chevrolet station wagon series. For the 1958 model year, Chevrolet adopted the Nomad nameplate for all Bel Air-trim station wagons, slotted above
3780-535: The previous 860 and 870 with Chieftain Safari and Super Chief Safari station wagons. The previous Star Chief Custom two-door sport wagon remained in production; during the middle of the 1957 model year, a four-door Star Chief Custom station wagon was introduced, named the Safari Transcontinental. In contrast to the two-door Safari and its four-door counterparts, the Safari Transcontinental was fitted with model-specific side trim (shared with no other Pontiac) and
3850-408: The rear tailgate was replaced by a two-way design, with the front fascia adopting a two-headlight design. The 1972 model year was largely carryover (with the exception of a minor grille revision ), serving as the final production of the Nomad station wagon. For 1973, Chevrolet ended its practice of distinct nameplates for both full-size and intermediate station wagons. Alongside the introduction of
3920-402: The same model nameplate in two different divisions (sometimes in the same dealer network). Pontiac discontinued the Safari station wagon after the 1989, becoming the first GM division to end use of the B-body chassis. For 1990, the division entered the minivan segment for first time, marketing the Pontiac Trans Sport . The Safari nameplate remained in use by Pontiac through 1991, ending with
3990-540: The shorter-wheelbase A-body chassis, Pontiac considered the Safari part of the B-body Pontiac Star Chief series, officially designating it as the Star Chief Custom Safari (Series 27). Introduced on January 31, 1955, the Pontiac Safari served as the flagship Pontiac station wagon; at $ 2,962 ($ 33,690 in 2023 dollars ), it also was the most expensive Pontiac model line before optional equipment
4060-449: The sole 9-passenger Chevrolet station wagon. For 1959, Chevrolet again redesigned its full-size sedans and station wagons, with the Nomad becoming the counterpart of the newly introduced Chevrolet Impala range; Chevrolet introduced two new Bel Air wagons: the 9-passenger Kingswood and the 6-passenger Parkwood . The Yeoman was retired (following the discontinuation of the Delray), leaving
4130-456: The tailgate opening was enlarged. Again serving as the top-trim Chevrolet wagon, the Nomad was offered only with 9-passenger seating (as the Kingswood was discontinued). For 1962, Chevrolet retired the Nomad nameplate, as the model was repackaged as the Impala station wagon. After a 6-year hiatus, Chevrolet revived the Nomad nameplate for the 1968 model year. Again denoting a station wagon,
4200-412: The tailgate), the rear seat windows slid open. In line with the Nomad being derived from the top-trim Bel Air, the interior of the Safari was shared with Star Chief sedans. The Safari was fitted with a 287 cubic-inch V8, producing 180 hp with a 2-barrel carburetor or 200 hp with a 4-barrel carburetor. For 1955, 3,760 examples of the Safari were produced, serving as the lowest-production Pontiac for
4270-455: The vehicle was sourced within South Africa. ). The remaining parts came from Germany ( VDO instruments, BorgWarner transmission), Australia (rear axle from Holden ), and the United States ( Rochester carburetor). The inline-four engine was designed by Chevrolet, shared by the locally produced Chevrolet 2500 and others. Tuned for improved lower-end torque, the engine produced 76 kW (103 PS; 102 hp) at 4000 rpm, allowing for
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#17330845756344340-433: The vertical chrome tailgate strips). As with the Kingswood, an optional rear-facing third-row seat made the Nomad a 9-passenger vehicle. For 1960, an exterior revision introduced more subdued styling. While the roofline was carried over, the front and rear fascias were redesigned, introducing a larger grille (to visually lower the hoodline), more conservative tailfins (updated primarily through trim changes) and taillamps;
4410-445: The window and tailgate portions of the system were operable via switches on the instrument panel or a key switch on the rear quarter panel. The system, heavy and complex, made it easier to load and unload the extremely long wagons in tight spaces — for example, the entire tailgate could open inside a closed garage or with a trailer installed. But the design was not adopted by other manufacturers and would be eliminated when GM reduced
4480-445: The windshield wipers. For extra cost, the Nomad was offered with either a soft top or a fiberglass hardtop for weather protection; a heater was not supplied. For 1976, GMSA assembled approximately 2,400 Nomads; with sales of the model line later falling to 250-300 annually, the model line was discontinued after 1980. In addition to the 1954 Motorama concept vehicle, Chevrolet has produced several prototypes and concept vehicles using
4550-640: Was added using the GM "A" platform. To distinguish the model from the Nomad, the Safari was fitted with a Pontiac Chieftain front fascia and model-specific rear taillamps, styled by Pontiac stylist Paul Gillan (who received a U.S. patent for the front fascia design). In contrast with a standard two-door 860 "Colony" station wagon (also derived from the Chieftain), the Safari was styled with coupe-style front doors, forward-raked B-pillars (with windows wrapping around from pillar to pillar); along with extra chrome trim (fitted to
4620-528: Was added, along with a retractable roof (features later entered into production by Saturn and GMC, respectively). Introduced alongside the Pontiac Aztek concept car, potential production of the Nomad was effectively negated by the discontinuation of the GM F-body. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Motorama concept, a Chevrolet Nomad concept was released for the 2004 Detroit Auto Show . While again
4690-506: Was based on the Grand Ville series. In 1973 the Grand Safari also adopted exterior woodgrain trim. Officially designated as a B-body vehicle, the Safari (and its Buick/Oldsmobile counterparts) shared the 127-inch wheelbase of the C-body "senior" sedan chassis. For 1974, the Safari again became a secondary series designation, becoming part of the Catalina range; the model line adopted the rectangular headlights introduced on full-size Pontiacs for 1975. The 1971-1976 Safari wagons featured
4760-459: Was introduced as the first Pontiac minivan. After 1991, Pontiac ended its use of the Safari nameplate (and production of station wagons) entirely; the GMC Safari continued through the 2005 model year. The first-generation Pontiac Safari was developed as a divisional counterpart of the Chevrolet Nomad . The two-door sport wagon began life as a 1954 Motorama concept car derived from the Chevrolet Corvette . To decrease tooling and production costs,
4830-417: Was introduced in 1954 as part of the General Motors Motorama line of "dream cars" developed by GM head stylist Harley Earl . As a follow-up to the Chevrolet Corvette roadster and Chevrolet (Corvette) Corvair fastback of the year before, the Nomad was a "dream car" alongside the Pontiac Bonneville Special and Oldsmobile F-88 ; the latter two were experimental prototypes built on Corvette chassis. Adopting
4900-436: Was offered (with a 2-bbl carburetor), and 285 hp (with 2x4-bbl carburetors). While 10 vehicles were produced with a manual transmission, a 4-speed automatic transmission was paired with the V8 as standard equipment. For its first full year, the Safari improved sales to 4,042, again serving as the lowest-produced Pontiac. For 1957, Pontiac expanded the usage of the Safari nameplate to all of its station wagons, replacing
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