Copper Clamshell: 1972 Pontiac Grand Safari – Sold?

November 8, 2022, Update – We just confirmed the listing for this “Classifind” expired, so with no replacement found, we’re assuming this ride is “Sold?” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

The generally accepted definition of “Street Rod” is any 1948 or earlier vehicle modified for better performance.  Any post-World War II ride modified similarly is a street machine. The seller of this lightly modified, 23K original mile, 1972 Pontiac Grand Safari originally listed in September 2022 on Craigslist in Portland, Oregon, refers to their clamshell long roof as a hot rod when it’s a street machine.  That nuance aside, this low-mileage Pontiac big block-powered station wagon is a rare beast that appears to be a very solid and well-optioned example.  While the car reportedly has only 23K original miles, we stop short of calling it a survivor as the seller indicates the car’s current copper color was a repaint over the factory tan.

General Motors’ full-size “Clam Shell” tailgate wagons built between 1971 and 1976 are very hard to come by, so finding this example in such great shape was a real treat. The lowered suspension and bigger aftermarket wheels look great on this long roof.  The current caretaker of the past eight years reports the stock wheels will also be included as part of the sale.

Once offered for $13,000, Classic.com, the analytics and search engine for the collector car market, confirms the ask is at the lower end of the one-year rolling average of this guide’s summary for Pontiac Grand Safaris produced between 1971 and 1976.  By clicking on the green dots in the graph below, you can navigate to each comparable car sold as a way to help you evaluate the price of the station wagon featured here:

As a second data point, the  Collector Car Market Review Online Tool reveals the seller’s ask falls between this guide’s #3 “Good” estimate of $12,100 and its #2 “Very Good” appraisal of $19,000.

Pontiac’s full-size station wagon offering through most of the 1970s was the Grand Safari.  Grand Safaris used the grille and interior trim of the Bonneville and Grand Ville passenger car series, and most (but not all) examples were trimmed with woodgrain paneling on the sides and tailgate. The first generation Grand Safaris are known as Pontiac’s version of GM’s “Clam Shell” wagon design produced from 1971 through 1976.  The downsized second-generation Grand Safari lasted only two years before Pontiac rebadged the cars as Bonneville Safaris in 1979.

In 1971, Pontiac introduced the Grand Safari as the top-trim Pontiac station wagon, sharing trim with the newly introduced Grand Ville sedan. Slotted above the Bonneville Safari, the Grand Safari was a counterpart to the Buick Estate and the Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser. Though officially designated as B-body cars by GM (in line with the Chevrolet Impala/Caprice station wagons), the Grand Safari and its Buick/Oldsmobile counterparts shared a 127-inch wheelbase with “senior” C-body sedans. In contrast to other B-body sedans, B-body station wagons were fitted with multi-leaf rear springs (instead of coil springs).

The 1971-1976 Grand Safari station wagons are among the largest Pontiac vehicles ever built, with a 127-inch wheelbase and 231.3-inch length. At a curb weight of approximately 5300 pounds, a three-row version is also the heaviest vehicle ever produced by the brand. A 400 cubic-inch V8 was a standard engine, with a 455 cubic-inch V8 offered as an option.

The Grand Safari wagons featured a two-piece ‘Clamshell’ tailgate design, marketed as the Glide-away Tailgate. In an industry first, the rear power-operated glass slid up into the roof as the tailgate (manually or with power assist) slid into a recess under the cargo floor. Switches operated the power system on the instrument panel or a key switch on the rear quarter panel. While heavy and complex, the system was intended to reduce the space needed to load or unload the 19-foot-long wagons in tight spaces.  The clamshell design was not adopted by other automakers, and GM replaced the design with a 3-way tailgate for its 1977 B-body redesign.

The Vintique Motors YouTube Channel features this video showing the Clamshell Tailgate operation on a 1973 Grand Safari they sold in 2021:

In addition to the lowered stance and aftermarket wheels, we love the fact this Grand Safari does not feature the faux wood side paneling that most of these cars came equipped with.  You’ll have to ask the seller whether that was removed when the car received its color change from tan to copper.  We also like how the seller provides detailed pictures honestly showing the defects in the copper repaint.

Here’s the seller’s description:

Show or go: What would you do with this 1972 Pontiac Grand Safari station wagon?  Please comment below and let us know!