00-1987-pontiac-safari-wagon-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-m-1-jpg Murilee Martin
03-1987-pontiac-safari-wagon-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-m-1-jpg Murilee Martin
05-1987-pontiac-safari-wagon-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-m-1-jpg Murilee Martin
06-1987-pontiac-safari-wagon-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-m-1-jpg Murilee Martin
08-1987-pontiac-safari-wagon-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-m-1-jpg Murilee Martin
12-1987-pontiac-safari-wagon-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-m-1-jpg Murilee Martin
13-1987-pontiac-safari-wagon-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-m-1-jpg Murilee Martin
14-1987-pontiac-safari-wagon-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-m-1-jpg Murilee Martin
15-1987-pontiac-safari-wagon-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-m-1-jpg Murilee Martin
16-1987-pontiac-safari-wagon-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-m-1-jpg Murilee Martin
17-1987-pontiac-safari-wagon-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-m-1-jpg Murilee Martin
19-1987-pontiac-safari-wagon-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-m-1-jpg Murilee Martin
20-1987-pontiac-safari-wagon-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-m-1-jpg Murilee Martin
21-1987-pontiac-safari-wagon-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-m-1-jpg Murilee Martin
22-1987-pontiac-safari-wagon-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-m-1-jpg Murilee Martin
23-1987-pontiac-safari-wagon-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-m-1-jpg Murilee Martin
24-1987-pontiac-safari-wagon-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-m-1-jpg Murilee Martin
25-1987-pontiac-safari-wagon-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-m-1-jpg Murilee Martin
During the 1960s and 1970s, station wagons based on full-sized Detroit sedans were the default family haulers, and many of those Kingswood Estates and Country Squires and Ambassadors came with unapologetically phony woodgrain-printed exterior paneling and trim. By the late 1980s, however, few were snapping up such wagons, making this ’87 Safari that I spotted in a Denver yard an interesting find.
Power for this wagon came from a 307-cubic-inch Oldsmobile V8 making 140 horsepower. General Motors used this engine in Buicks, Oldsmobiles, Chevrolets, Pontiacs, and Cadillacs, finally discontinuing production for the 1990 model year.
Was the “wood” convincing, even when new? Of course not, but it was a cherished American tradition.
