October 7, 2025

The “Chieftain” in Mike Cooper’s Custom ’57 Pontiac Chieftain Safari Makes All the Difference

Identifying Mike Cooper’s ’57 Pontiac as a Chieftain Safari may raise some eyebrows from folks thinking, “Whadaya mean a Safari? I know a 1957 Pontiac Safari, and this ain’t it!”

Mike gets that a lot. Most people know a Safari as an upscale two-door wagon shaped like a Chevrolet Nomad but with Pontiac sheet metal, trim, and running gear. They are right. But in 1957 Pontiac began using the Safari name for all its station wagons. Mike’s example, in the lower Chieftain trim level, came from the factory with the “Safari” script on the rear quarter panels, along with the three familiar Pontiac stars.

During the ’50s, all Pontiac and Chevrolet station wagon bodies were built in the same Ohio plant and shipped to Pontiac and Chevy assembly lines for finishing. Pontiac built 2,934 Chieftain two-door wagons in 1957, compared with 1,292 two-door Star Chief Custom Safaris.

“I’ve always been a Pontiac man,” Mike says, “and this one is unique.” He found it during an online search, located in Washington. After having it shipped to Wisconsin, Mike rebuilt the chassis using a front frame clip from Scott’s Hotrods ’N Customs with a coil-over suspension, rack-and-pinion steering, and Wilwood disc brakes. He also built a new center X-member using 2×6-inch steel tubing from Art Morrison.

More by coincidence than design, the LS1 engine Mike retrieved from a ’99 Camaro has a displacement of 5.7 liters, the same as the car’s original Pontiac V8. He added a COMP camshaft, Billet Specialties accessory drive and valve covers, and Hooker headers, and a custom intake cover. A 4L60E transmission directs power to the 3.23-geared rearend, set on stock leaf springs and fitted with disc brakes.

Adam Gilbertson of A-Bombs Paint and Body joined the project at Cooper’s home shop to handle the body and paint work. Modifications included eliminating the gas filler door, tailgate handle, and door key locks. The PPG Willow Green and Crème White hues are Indian motorcycle colors and maintain the car’s mid-’50s character. American Racing 18-inch wheels and Cooper tires add to the look.

Mike had Paul Lovas at Rivertown Upholstery recover the front and rear seats in two-tone green fabric and leather, while a restored original steering wheel and Classic Instruments update the dash. An interesting touch by Pontiac designers was to place the radio speaker in an enclosure on the transmission hump under the dash. Since this was a radio-delete car, Mike used that for the Vintage Air vents.

“This car was loved and taken care of by its first family in Spokane, Washington, for 58 years,” Mike says. “We have and will continue to take care of it the car we call ‘Ms. Daisy.’”