The Estate was Buick’s top-of-the-line station wagon from 1940 to 1964 and then again from 1970 to 1996. The 1977 to 1990 editions were smaller than before, thanks to downsizing for better fuel economy, but without sacrificing passenger space. In 1985, 13,366 of the wagons were built and consumed, and the seller’s edition is a well-preserved survivor. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, this oversized transport is being sold from an estate (how appropriate) and is available without reserve here on eBay. The current ante is just $2,675.
This wagon was based on the LeSabre and shouldn’t be confused with the even larger Roadmaster. This is a well-equipped transport that managed to not have faux woodgrain paneling applied over the dark blue paint. Now 41 years old, this Buick has only seen 43,000 carefully maintained miles. We’re told it’s rust-free, and the finish is the one applied at the factory. It’s not perfect, but most wagons aren’t held for Concours-quality events. The matching interior is in even better shape and awaits a full complement of passengers.
Under the hood resides a 307 cubic inch V8, which was supplied by GM’s Oldsmobile division (they were sharing engines by the 1980s). It has a 4-barrel carburetor for a little more giddyap and has an automatic transmission. We’re told it’s a “blast” to drive and needs no work. There is no reason to believe this Buick isn’t up to making a cross-country excursion.
The big question may be what you would do with this wagon if you bought it? This Estate was built before SUVs began to litter the landscape in mass numbers. The seller says this is a $10-12,000 wagon per NADA, so how high is the bidding likely to go? With rear-wheel drive, this vehicle is a throwback to another era, not so long ago.
Looks like a nice wagon. Loved the Buick front end treatment…and the rims too. 😎 👍
If the owner thinks a 3,800 lb car with 140 HP is “a blast to drive” he clearly has no reference point. I see these perimeter frame dinosaurs as donor cars to an old classic that needs a chassis upgrade. Nothing more than that.
To each their own I guess.
Yeah, because it’s all about brute horsepower. Not survivor status, relative rarity, or any of those boring old attributes. I won’t even test drive anything without a dyno sheet showing 300+rwhp.
Tell that to the clueless seller who thinks it’s “a blast to drive”. LOL!
Build sheet indicates an aluminum intake (?!). I wonder how many 307s came with those. With the same deck height as the 350 engine, you should be able to swap it onto another small block Olds. Very nice looking example with few power options and no woodgrain to worry about.
My 1985 Electra had an aluminum manifold. Saves weight, but has little performance potential. The wagon now has an LT1.
I had 3 of these, varying years, they did have an aluminum intake and that caused water jacket problems. the dissimilar metal between the head and intake caused corrosion. As soon as I lost heat I knew the intake gasket was leaking!
Thanks for the great writeup (as always), Russ. But the Roadmaster reference threw me a bit. The Roadmaster name did not reappear until 1991, when the full-size wagons switched from this boxy style to the rounded (some might say whale-like) body. This LeSabre was indeed the largest wagon in the Buick lineup, and shared its platform with the upper-level trim Buick Electra Estate Wagon.
The 1977-1990 wagons came in two flavors – Electra and LeSabre. The Electra was the “top of the line”, not the LeSabre, which was the cheaper version.
By about 1988, the wagon was simply called Estate Wagon.
Correct, and it was an Electra.
Estate Wagon was not a trim level. It simply meant that it was a Buick station wagon.
Both the LeSabre and the Electra offered an Estate Wagon until the Electra went to the front wheel drive C-body platform in 1985, and in the case of the LeSabre, it came in both Custom and Limited trim levels, just like the sedan and coupe models. This Estate Wagon is a Custom, not a Limited.
good looking wagon all the way around. lose the 307 decal from the air cleaner. it not a chevy motor. they should do good. i feel it could hit 10k or more.
Somebody has been to Original Parts Group or another purveyor of repopped GM restoration parts and snagged him/her self a 307 Turbo Fire air cleaner decal from the early ’70s.
Rather basic Buick Estate Wagon. I love it just like it is although I’d hesitate to say it is a blast to drive. That 307 Olds will give all its got to keep her at highway speed with the torque converter locking and unlocking the whole time. One of the few times I’ll ask for mods under the hood.
The stock motor is fine for ordinary cruising and the occasional Home Depot haul, but for towing a trailer, a power plant upgrade would be recommended. The electronic feedback carburetors of this era were notorious for poor drivability and parts for them are scarce these days, so an upgrade to throttle-body fuel injection might be in order, but otherwise, just drive it and enjoy it!
P.S. I like the fact that this one is wearing paint on its sides and not the Di-Noc vinyl woodgrain stickers, LOL!
Those optional wheels are rare. Why the Chevy 307 air cleaner label and Atlas red heater hoses? Ugh. Looks like ac compressor was replaced. Beautiful car. Had an 87 Caprice wagon with the Olds 307. Total pile of crap.