The Estate nameplate was introduced by Buick all the way back in 1940, as a designation for the brand’s flagship full-size station wagon. Buick produced its Estate from the 1940 year model up until 1963 when the wagon took a break until it was re-introduced in 1970. It finally ran out of steam in 1996 and proudly stood as the last full-size traditional American station wagon in the industry. These things were everywhere in their heyday, and while many station wagons served their family travel duties and were put out to pasture, there are still a few nice examples around that seem more than capable of soldiering on. A case in point is this 1970 Buick Estate, which can be seen here on Craigslist with an asking price of $14,000. It’s located in Van Nuys, California, and was spotted by Barn Finds reader Pat L., who we would like to thank for the tip!
The seller doesn’t give us much specific information about the exact history of this station wagon, but he does say it’s family-owned and claims that it has only traveled 99,000 miles during its lifetime. While we don’t know for sure whether or not the Estate has spent its entire life there, it’s said to be an original California blue plate car, and with the claim that it’s totally rust-free, it very well may have lived in the Golden State since the beginning. There’s no word on if that’s the original Cornet Gold paint, but it presents well and the car is said to have always been kept in a garage.
This Buick features the rear-facing third-row seat, making it easy for the back passengers to wave at every car that goes by to pass the time on long vacations. The seats also fold down flat from the front bench seat back, so if you’re not hauling people there’s a massive amount of room for cargo. But if you do have a full load of passengers, there’s a handy roof rack to handle baggage placement, so space issues should be at a minimum either way.
Things inside are looking nicely preserved for their age, and the station wagon is well equipped with comforts such as factory air conditioning, a tilt steering column, an AM/FM radio, power windows, and even a power rear window. The car also has power steering and power brakes. I’d probably want to remove the flamed floormats and the prince-of-darkness from the headlight switch, but that’ll have to be up to the next owner to decide.
Powering the wagon is a 455 cubic inch V8 paired with a Turbo-Hydramatic 400 transmission, and there’s also a positraction rear-end, so this cruiser should have plenty of get up and go. No word if the drivetrain has ever had a rebuild, but the seller does say that the vehicle has been meticulously maintained and that it runs and drives great. What are your thoughts on this 1970 Buick Estate station wagon?
Love the design and the color WOW, but if this was truly “meticulously maintained” then why does the 455 look like it’s been stored in a dust bowl? Just a little bit of time would make this car look as good as it would make me feel…
I agree. Not the mechanic’s job to detail the motor, but most with pride in their work couldn’t leave it like this.
I don’t find the dusty engine that unusual. I know a lot of people that drive beautiful late model cars that are always spotless inside and out. Ask them what the engine is in it or to pop open the hood and they are clueless. If a gear head owned this car and the engine was fully detailed, the asking price would be double.
this websight is call ‘Barn Finds’
That color is amazing. Such a warmth to it. Nice find
Yet another great one! Ya’ll have bad so many more to show recently.
great looking wagon but I never understand why someone would not at least make an effort to clean up engine bay!
BARN FINDs !!
buy it and get a hose or just shut up
Surely you jest! You don’t think that any of these keyboard warriors would actually buy any of these cars, do you?
I think it’s remarkable that Buick introduced a station wagon in the final year of this generation of B-body. Those dealers must have really been screaming for a true, full-sized wagon. This one is unusual in that it’s well-equipped on the inside (gotta love that power lock switch slapped right on top of the embossed pattern in the door panel), but plain on the outside. I’m used to seeing these with woodgrain, a vinyl roof, and styled wheels. This one is different, and in a great color!
It says it got BUICK ROAD WHEELS
Both Olds and Buick skipped their fullsize wagon offerings after the ’64 model year – they were never big sellers and it was probably assumed by GM brass that the new extended wheel base Vista Cruiser/ Sportwagon would fit this target group’s needs.
While these two were popular indeed the closest thing to an upper segment fullsize wagon GM had to offer in the ’65-’69 timeframe was now the Pontiac Safari; just a medium segment wagon. This void must have become apparent by 1970 as the reintroduced fullsize Estate sold in 28.306 examples. The ’70 Estate was a well-appointed wagon – while the simulated wood was an optional item the 455 was base engine and the four Venti-Ports puts it in Electra territory though it’s still a B-body
The 1970 455 produced an underrated 350 horsepower (likely closer to 375+) and a whopping 510 lb/ft of torque. This was the pinnacle year for the 455. This is, likely, the quickest standard production station wagon produced until, perhaps, the LT1 Caprice Wagon in 1994. With some modifications and upgrades to Stage 1 or 2 specs and a lower gear, this would likely be a 14-14.5 second performer.
Yeah Michael, why drive a car that gets 7 MPG when you can pump up the engine to knock a few tenths off an already slow ET at the expense of dropping the fuel usage down to 4 MPG? This is a cruiser. If your looking for a street racer, this would be a poor choice.
What’s your point? Do you think anyone buys, owns, or builds these cars for fuel economy? LOL! While I am not one of them, there are a few go-fast guys that would really dig having a sub-11 second wagon that would pull the wheels off of the ground.
I’m confused. Why is there wood grain on only one side?
My bad. That is the reflection of the floor pavers, not wood grain. (I gotta get better glasses.)
This would be great for one of the Brady kids.
Nice to see it still has its hubcaps (or wheel covers) ; so many old cars today have the factory mags on them , when 99% probably were never equipped that way
So true, but the Buick mag wheels with red lines are bad a$$. I would add front bucket seats with a floor shifter console.
I want to buy it just so I can slide across that vinyl back seat on a tight turn.
That is sweet. The dusty engine is kind of normal. If that bother’s you, then waaa.
I like it. 40 years ago I would have done the Joan Rivers “agh agh” gagging but these long roofs are becoming exceedingly rare and this one’s in nice shape, dusty engine aside
What on ear6would possess someone to put that god awful air freshener in their car?