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1975 Pontiac Grand Safari

Wagon
Chassis number: 2P45W5X156068

This 1975 Pontiac Grand Safari Wagon was once owned by Batjac Production, Inc. - John Wayne's Production Company. In 1975 it was customized by Barris Kustom. It was the last daily family driver used by John Wayne and was customized by George Barris at Barris Kustom. Mr. Wayne did not want to take his hat off to get into the car, so George Barris raised the roof. It currently has a dash plaque that verifies this as a Barris Kustom and dated 1975. The front fenders also have the Barris Crests in place.

The car has been given a frame-on restoration. The interior was removed and only the carpet was replaced. Power is from a 455 cubic-inch V8 mated to a Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission. It has power steering and power front disc brakes. Options include air conditioning, power windows and driver's seat, tilt steering wheel, cruise control, AM/FM stereo with tape deck.

One of the rarest options available on Grand Villes and other full-sized Pontiacs during this period was the adjustable brake and accelerator pedals offered from 1974 to 1976.

This is the heaviest car built by Pontiac and it has a Clamshell tailgate. The car was designed by Bill Mitchell.

by Dan Vaughan

The Pontiac Grand Safari was produced from 1971 through 1978 and was the company's top-of-the-line full-size station wagon. Most examples were trimmed with wood-grain paneling on the tailgate and the sides. The grille and the interior trim was sourced from the Bonneville and Grand Ville passenger cars. It had a rear suspension comprised of multi-leaf springs instead of coil springs which were found on other full-sized Pontiac and GM cars. The new 'Clamshell' tailgate was marketed by Pontiac as the Glide-away Tailgate, where the rear power-operated glass slid up into the roof as the tailgate slid into a recess under the cargo floor. This power tailgate system was the first in station wagon history. The power system was operated by switches on the instrument panel or a key switch on the rear quarter panel. With the Clamshell system, it made loading and unloading easier.

The Grand Safari Wagons (1971 through 1976) rested on a 127-inch wheelbase which it shared with the Buick and Oldsmobile C-body cars but were designated as B-bodies. The 1974 through 1976 Grand Safaris had a 231.3-inch length which made them the longest Pontiacs ever built.

Powering the Grand Safaris were V8 engines of either 400 or 455 cubic inches.

In 1977, the Pontiac Grand Safar was downsized, with its wheelbase shrinking to 115.9 inches. With a smaller size and weight, the wagons could run with smaller engines, either a standard 301 or optional 403 V8. A 350 CID V8 became available on 1978 models.

by Dan Vaughan