The lineup of GM estate wagons has been the apple of many enthusiasts’ eyes for years now, especially the B-platform models equipped with the LT1 V8. Prices have been climbing, but not strikingly so. There are some cars that once the gearhead set latched on, there was no looking back. Vehicles like this super clean 1996 Buick Roadmaster certainly have all the right features to be an instantly desirable specimen, the most significant of which is its low mileage of just over 40,000. You really don’t see these with low readings like that because they’re exceptionally good at long-haul cruising and racking up big mileage. The seller is asking for all the money for this one, however, with an asking price of $17,800 and listed here on craigslist in Dedham, Mass.
The asking price is not surprising, as it’s pretty hard to not hear people fawning over these land beasts. It’s like the Mazda Miata in a way, where tons of hangers-on wax poetically about the Miata despite never having driven one, simply repeating what they saw said in a Facebook group or message board. The Roadmaster, Caprice, and Custom Cruiser all get the same treatment, with non-owners filling the internet with praise for the LT1 and the ample space and towing capacity. The truth is, while they are good at what they do, some of the pricing we’re seeing may be a result of sellers seeing plenty of idle chatter about values without doing any research to see if a particular model is actually selling at that level. I will say, the interior of this Roadmaster is quite nice and looks like that of a low-mileage specimen.
The seller claims you won’t find a nicer one, and that may be true (at least until someone rolls out a 20K mile example they’ve been sitting on.) The Roadmaster and others like it were built for ferrying loads of passengers and their stuff, so the interiors sometimes look fairly rough. Not here, as the cabin looks downright clean with the backseat showing next to no signs of use. I’ve seen it happen more than once where the empty nesters buy a big, six or eight-passenger vehicle thinking they’re going to have throngs of grandchildren to drive around, only to realize it was only used once or twice for that purpose and the rest of the time, they’re just driving a school bus around with no passengers.
The cargo bay looks like it was never used, and the seller confirms there’s a third row of seats under there. The Roadmaster would make a great alternative to a CUV for any enthusiasts out there who don’t want to drive the latest penalty box and have kids, but putting one this nice into the perils of daily driving seems cruel. Still, if you got it down to $14K or $13K, you’re in a good place as the price tag should keep you behind the value trajectory slightly while also making you feel better about pressing it into semi-regular duty. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Pat L. for the find.
These are nice cars, decent to drive, plenty of pick-up, great gas mileage for such a boat, but $17,000? It could be a 5 mile example & I don’t think I would want to spend that kind of money (well, maybe a 5 mile car…maybe). Nice car? You bet! Just not worth it to me (a self confessed tight-wad).
I think that this would be just as much fun to take to C&C as our Miata is, just for different reasons.
Maybe I can put the Miata in the back of the Buick and get a twofer…
I have had both the Olds and Buick versions in the 91 model year. Great cars, smooth comfortable ride and 24 mpg. Can’t beat it. But I do think this is a little high priced.
I think that somebody that doesn’t want to drive a gigantic four door pick up truck will pull the trigger on this.
I’ve got a friend who has one of these he’s now 92 years old bought the car new and except for my wife driving him home from a bar one day ( he was snockered) no one has driven it but him don’t know the exact mileage but its very low car doesn’t have a mark on interior or exterior, and no unfortunately it’s not for sale
I have a 92 i call the road-beast. Has never let me down. Would drive it to Alaska and back
Remove the oil cooler, you don’t need it. These are good donor cars for chassis swaps under old trucks, but that’s about it.
I have a 94 and a 96. Both have rusted out frames. Great cars but not worth that kind of money. Love the fact that you can put a stack of 4 by 8 plywood in it and shut the tailgate.
There’s one sitting in front of a granite counters shop in Clarkson Washington, its been sitting there a few years you might be able to get it cheaper
Several years ago a large roofing company here in PA. bought any one they could get their hands on , wrapped the whole car with their logo and put salesmen in them . “We Do Metal Roofs !” . They sent me a post card at my used car dealership looking to buy any I got at fair book value . They were all over MD, NJ , PA and the NYC suburbs . I’m sure they took better than 100 to their graves .
Here’s one in Youngsville, NC for an order of magnitude less money ($1695) but 200K more miles.
https://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/d/youngsville-1995-buick-roadmaster/7395500356.html
Apparently this is almost a cult vehicle. I don’t get it myself.
Because its a wagon and its actually fits 6 or 9 people comfortable with rooms for bags. The vehicle can take a hit unlike most of the plastic crap we drive presently. It has a Corvette engine. The modern day woodie wagon. Then with a few mods, brakes suspension LSA crate engine you have a Sleeper.
To clarify, the LT1 was only ’94-’96 in all models, ’91-’93 came with the 5.7 TBI (throttle body inj.),
The Olds Custom Cruiser was only made in ’91-’92, and was never available with the LT1 (thankfully).
The TBI works as hard, and gets as good mileage as the LT1, but without all the GM-builtin failure items, plus you can buy parts for it that are made in America and work.
Wagons this nice have sold for this kind of money. In 2019 Barrett Jackson sold a Beautiful white 1991 with 27,000 miles for $16,500. And it had the TBI 305 V8, not the TBI 350 found in the 1992 or 1993 or the vaunted LT 1 like this. Before bidding pictures must show what the floors and frame looks like as that’s their downfall. They can look very nice as you walk around them. Get down on the ground and look up for rust. Even on nice looking body’s you might find rust termites holding hands. I was blessed to find a garage kept 1991 with 49,000 miles on it. Like new, floor pans and frames were very nice. I don’t think they ever drove it in salt. I think the engines in the 91 through 93‘s are much easier to service than the LT1. Wonderful wagons.