From its final incarnation in 1991 to 1996, the Roadmaster was Buick’s largest automobile in many years. The term “land yacht” would be a good description of these machines which measured more than 18 feet as station wagons. During its last year, the Estate wagon had a hood ornament with the inscription “Collector’s Edition” although there wasn’t likely anything special about it except for it being the end of the line. This one-owner survivor looks to be in great shape other than a pinch of rust in one of the wheel wells. It’s in Boonton, New Jersey, and available from a “motivated seller” here on craigslist for $14,500. Kudos to Rocco B. for this GM find.
Having been a Buick staple from 1936 to 1958 (excluding the WW2 years), the Roadmaster nameplate was absent until 1991. It would then share the same large B-body platform used by some of GM’s other vehicular barges. Both the length and wheelbase were considerably longer than the then-big C-body Park Avenue. And rear-wheel-drive would get one last shot. The Estate wagon was the “Woodie” version of the Roadmaster with imitation wood appliques everywhere you looked.
Later Roadmasters used a modified version of the 5.7-liter LT1 Corvette V8. It was rated at 260 hp, 90 horses greater than the Chevy small block the Roadmasters used earlier. It was paired with an electronically controlled 4L60E automatic transmission. Just shy of 9,000 Roadmaster Estate Wagons were produced in 1996, the vehicle’s swan song. The online listing for this Buick was not posted by the seller, but by a friend of the seller, so don’t expect any direct answers if you email via craigslist. This wagon is said to have 87,000 miles, all of them added by a single owner.
The transport here has three seats to haul the maximum number of kids to soccer practice. But the wagon doesn’t look as though it was used for that purpose as the overall condition inside and out appears to be really good. Other than that one rust spot, the body looks solid and the “wood-ish” siding hasn’t faded much (if any) over its 31 years on Planet Earth. If you like these big-as-life wagons and don’t care that in-town gas mileage is not likely to top 17 mpg, could this transport be in your future?
And this one has the tow package. Sweet ride.
The B-body’s swan song. What a send off. I just love it.
Very nice, but not worth $14,500. He’ll be lucky to get half that. It’s old, and despite the hood ornament, it’s not a collectable.
Sorry, to disagree…..car might not be worth asking price, but these are in fact becoming very collectible.
Been seeing more and more of these lately. Saw one guy who modded one to well over 1,000 hp.
I like it but too much crustiness for the asking price. I can picture my girls in the 3rd row seat
Absolutely love to add it my small collection of these cars – I’ve got 3 of them already.
Actually liked the LT1, had a 94 Z28 and a 96 Caprice Police Package. Only problem was the Optispark distributor directly under the water pump. Good Optisparks are hard to find, needed one about every 75,000 miles.
Once out of thirty attempts, my Roadmaster Estate refuses to start. Twenty nine times out of thirty, it starts immediately. Water pump had leaked onto the distributor in the past. Do you think it’s a bad OptiSpark?
Rusty at the bottom of that quarter panel. Any of these cars approaching the mileage on this has this problem. GM improved the Opti Junk ignition after 94, but it still was garbage. I have NOS one in my stash along with another LT1 problem, the oil cooler line. China repos leak, mine is GM. I would give this guy $7,000 for this wagon. Most have 150,000 miles and up. I live about 90 minutes from the car.
Last year for this model, highly sought-after by some. Rust there is an easy fix, and the rest looks so good it’s hard to believe. Definitely worth the ask. Just needs the right person to see the ad.
there’s 1 near me and they ARE l o n g. Last of cheb waggys I guess (’96). Flex (ford) went to ’19 (if that long box is a wagon). Shame, wagons R the only models I’ve heavily dialyed last 50 yrs (commuters, parts runs). Pick ups serve special duty (off rd or haulin for wrk).
GM went from the highly desirable Nomad wagon to this in just 40 yrs! What a fall from grace.
Not everyone, here, would agree with you. I certainly do not.
I know I am in the minority on this one. Not everyone has the same likes and dislikes.
To AnthonyD —
These Roadmaster wagons were faster than old GTO’s, stopped quickly with front disc brakes, handled beautifully, especially with towing package/self-leveling suspension, cruised silently and economically at highway speeds due to their low rear axle ratios, carried 8 passengers plus cargo, were air conditioned and lasted for hundreds of thousands of miles.
The ‘57 Nomads, conversely, rode on rear semi-elliptical buggy springs, had primitive two speed automatics, were noisy, slow and not particularly durable. In conclusion, there is nothing that the Nomad did that could hold candle to a Roadmaster Estates. They were the best cars that GM ever made.
All true, 50Caddy. I admit to being wrong on this one. But oddly enough, the Nomads are worth SO MUCH more where it really counts…in dollars and cents.