1976 Pontiac Grand Safari
The Pontiac Grand Safari was Pontiac’s top-of-the-line full-size station wagon offered from 1971 to 1978. The Grand Safari 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.
Hailing from the positively gargantuan 1976 model year (the 1977 Pontiac Grand Safari was downsized by about a foot compared to preceding models), this impressive slab of four-wheeled Americana measures in with a 127-inch wheelbase and 231-inch overall length.
The power-operated Glide-Away clamshell rear opening features glass that retracts up into the roof, while the lower tailgate slides into a cavity below the cargo floor, either manually or via power assist. A pair of replacement taillights and a replacement rubber gasket for the tailgate will accompany the vehicle.
The interior is trimmed in Buckskin vinyl with matching side trim, and a sheepskin cover for the power front bench seat is included in the sale. Additional optional amenities include cruise control, power locks, a front-facing third-row seat, and three-point front seatbelts. A three-spoke steering wheel fronts a factory Rally gauge cluster.
The 455ci V8 is equipped with a four-barrel carburetor and an optional heavy-duty alternator, and the seller states that the oil was changed in 2018. The engine-pad stamping shows a serial number that matches the vehicle’s chassis number. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a TH400 three-speed automatic transmission.
Michelin whitewall tires in size 235/75 are mounted on 15″ wheels trimmed with Pontiac Motor Division covers.
Big big Detroit iron, possibly at its largest as the gas crisis was on its way out like a jailhouse on wheels, and this size was going to go by the wayside the very next year.
The 1976 Pontiac Grand Safari epitomizes that old school approach to making vehicles – lots of metal, lots of engine, and, well, lots of everything, really.
