How many 1957 Pontiac Safari wagons were made?
The combined production of 1957 Pontiac Safari wagons is commonly estimated to be in the low-to-mid 20,000s, with Catalina Safari making up the majority and Star Chief Safari produced in smaller numbers.
Determining the exact tally from 1957 is challenging because GM did not publish a straightforward, publicly accessible breakdown by Safari variant. Historians and enthusiasts rely on factory build sheets, dealer invoices, and archived production logs. Different archives and reference works sometimes yield slightly different totals, so the figure is typically presented as an informed range rather than a single precise number.
Lineup and production context
In 1957, Pontiac’s full-size wagons carried the Safari badge on at least two main variants. The Catalina Safari was the mainstream family wagon, while the Star Chief Safari represented the higher-trim, more upscale offering within the Star Chief line. Collectors and registries note these as the core Safari models for that model year, with other trims not consistently documented as separate Safari configurations.
Here are the broad takeaways commonly cited by collectors and reference works:
- The total production for 1957 Safari wagons is generally placed in the low-to-mid 20,000s, with some sources suggesting the total could be as high as about 30,000 when including all Catalina and Star Chief variants.
- Catalina Safari was the more common variant, forming the larger share of the production.
- Star Chief Safari was produced in smaller numbers, reflecting its status as a higher-end version within the Safari lineup.
In summary, while there isn’t a universally agreed single figure published by Pontiac or GM for 1957 Safari wagons, most credible estimates place the combined total in the low-to-mid 20,000s range, with Catalina Safari comprising the majority and Star Chief Safari accounting for a smaller portion.
What to know when researching the figure
Because archival production records from the era are dispersed and sometimes inconsistently cataloged, researchers should consult multiple sources, including factory build sheets, dealer invoices, and reputable databases maintained by car historians and enthusiast clubs. The Pontiac Historical Society and Hemmings’ antique car archives are commonly referenced resources for these figures.
Summary
For the question of how many 1957 Pontiac Safari wagons were made, the best available guidance places the total in the low-to-mid 20,000s, with Catalina Safari being the most common and Star Chief Safari in smaller supply. Exact counts vary by source due to the way records were kept and later interpreted, so enthusiasts typically rely on a range rather than a single precise number.
