My late mother-in-law owned a car just like this Mason, Ohio domiciled 1993 Buick Roadmaster. We used to call it the “Road Cochon” (french for pig) and boy it was. These big full-frame B-body cars (Chevrolet Impala SS, Caprice, Cadillac Fleetwood, and Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser), were a last hurrah for full-size GM cars. They continued through 1996 and remained largely unchanged. And then it was over, for good. They’re sturdy, reliable cars but by the mid-nineties, their time was receding away. This example was bought from the original owner, it’s a flip I imagine, and now it’s available, here on Craigslist for $11,900. Tony P. gets a high-five for this tip!
There’s only one exterior picture included in the listing, so if you want to know more, you’ll have to contact the seller. Anyway, available in both sedan and station wagon body styles, the Roadmaster sold pretty well in ’93 with about 38K copies being produced. Our subject car shows 48K miles of use and still presents quite well, though the listing’s images, as previously stated, are limited. The purplish/maroon finish still shows well as does the trim and the alloy wheels. It’s hardly a svelte look, more one that is chunky. I wouldn’t call it a stylish look, it’s more about functionality. And it’s the same inside with its big flat leather seats. One of the things that I recall about the Road Cuchon was the cheapness of the dash materials and interior trim. The instrument panel, in particular, was too pedestrian for a near luxury car. All that aside, the living room of this big sedan is in good condition and appears to need no attention.
Power is provided by a 180 net HP, 5.7 liter (350 CI), Chevrolet small block V8 engine. Starting in ’94, the 260 net HP LT1 version became the standard Roadmaster engine but this car missed that high mark, unfortunately, by a year. The seller suggests, “This 30-year-old classic drives and handles better than a new car“. I would suggest that claim is unlikely. The sole transmission available was GM’s 4L60, four-speed, overdrive automatic.
The Chevrolet 9C1 police package equipped Caprice and the ’94-’96 Impala SS varieties of these body-on-frame cars have a pretty devoted following. A Buick Roadmaster? Probably less, but I’m sure there will be at least some interest in this big ole Buick bomber. Of course, price will matter, at $11,900, it seems a bit high but not outrageous. What do you think, reasonably priced for what it is?
Too bad they didn’t put the front end on these that they used on the wagons. Much better looking imo. And if the roof was rounded down a little bit into the the trunk like the Impala that would take away the boxy, somewhat clumsy look, too.
On the other hand, exterior and the rims look clean and sharp and a leather interior always gets my vote over velour. As far as cheap looking interior materials, they were all that way going forward.
And as Jim says, too bad it doesn’t have the LT-1. I don’t think the price is terrible.
I’ve also always thought that not using the Roadmaster front clip on the wagon was a huge missed opportunity on Buick’s part, Jon. It would have nicely (and inexpensively) differentiated the Buick Estate Wagon from the Chevy and Olds wagons, and made it look like the premium offering that it was intended to be.
To each his own, Phil. Matter of preference, I guess.
I once bought a 93 Roadmaster with Fingerhut covers still on back seat from a private owner. Paid $4,000. Shortly after, while cleaning, the rubber passenger front door sill moved revealing rust though at the base of center post. Sold it (revealing the issue) for $1500. Later my 93 Brougham also developed rust though of rear wheel openings, allowing moisture in trunk and rear seats. Several other issues including peeled bonded leather back of drivers seat. That one was a definite step down from overall quality of my 89 Fleetwood Brougham deElegance. Would strongly advise careful inspection of ANY of these vehicles!
Hi Rick,
Ah, yes, Fingerhut, a Mn. based company. Your post brought back memories of helping my Dad put the pleated, mind you, seat covers & the very important visor covers in his new ’68 Impala with a green brocade cloth interior, back when cloth interiors were actually good to look at rather than the grocery bag look-a-like now. Did it on a cold winter morning at the mine shop in N. Mn. where he worked for 46 years as a diesel mechanic. The last guy who owned that company along with Kodak, did a little time in the cooler for fraud of some sort. Lost his $6m dollar home in an affluent western suburb of Minneapolis. Heard you bought it! LOL!
To your rust issues on your Brougham. We had a ’07 Rendevous where one day I opened the right rear door to notice the weatherstripping hanging down. Further investigation revealed that behind that nice rocker cladding the structure was all gone! So, we were going to trade in the spring of ’16, but a co-worker had an older model that his shop wouldn’t put on a lift. So we sped up our search in Nov. ’15 and bought a ’15 Equinox LTZ w/ the 3.6 V6. And, GM bought us new front fenders for that one under the corrosion warranty! One, two, three, throw up your hands!
Well Jon, I fondly recall the brocade and tufted velour interiors. My 72 Caprice had an ivory brocade interior. Although Scotchgarded, beautiful, but once a friend? Spilled a soft drink! Took a lot to remove. But what a beauty. Previously had 69 Delta Royale with black brocade. Although many prefer leather, I still prefer those OTT luxurious upscale cloth interiors. Today it seems that most are happy with a plain brown wrapper 📦! Seems once again great minds travel the same roads. As for $$$ real estate, I’m waiting for a tax sale for default on a Certain Florida Property! 🏰 😮 It just end up DIRT cheap! 😉 As always LOL.👍
Fingerhut! LMAO! 🤣
Addressing your brocade fabric. You’ll recall I also had a ’72 all black Caprice Coupe with the same brocade interior. I actually thought the knit cloth and vinyl was more classy. My ’71 Caprice I traveled in all over Alaska in ’78 had the beige brocade interior with beige exterior and black vinyl roof. All my travels never had a flat tire.
Bought it, should say rescued it from a kid. It had a dark blue vinyl front seat in that
beige interior along with the required cracked dash! Lol! Got a nice dash and front seat from a yard in Anchorage and put in two pieces of brown carpet roll to replace the garbage carpet.
New valve cover gaskets on the 402-300hp and a steam bath got the motor so I could see it. Cleaned up the water stains on the seat with a mix of 2 Amway -like products. Then it was presentable.
Later on, I was in Anchorage and had it painted cheap but looked ok.
As I post, I’m listening to Casey’s countdown from 2/18/78. Lots of great memories!
You guys are funny.
Love the “time in the cooler” reference. Looking at that Fla property myself.
LOL! But desperate times often need a laugh! 😉. Eddie, guess we’ll have an ORANGE 🍊 Julius 😁 and wait! Feel free to Comb over and DIS CUSS ORANGE a TAN anytime! 🏰 🤣 😂.
“I’m…I’m an excellent driver.”
Hi Jon. As always enjoy exchanging thoughts.👍 Be sure to check my comment on ORANGE 🍊 Julius! 🤣 and related comments. Seems we are a hoot! Owl 🦉 Be Seeing YOU!
I just went face to palm! OMG! Lol!
Well Jon, GREAT MINDS 👍. LOL.💐 🏆 💐. Perhaps we are ROAD Masters 😳! Sorry I just can’t help myself! Have a good friend who claims she wets her pants 👖 🤣. Never one to miss a Marjorie Post 😉
I ran into this article by chance. This is my car.
The wagon with the LT1 was far superior in performance, and still managed high 20s and low 30s on the highway. Mom and dad had that wagon, and man she would go for the behemoth that she was. Price is more than I would pay, but then again most are now days. Thanks for the throwback!
I have a 95 Roadmaster LT1, with 46k , original miles. Bought it brand new in Aug/95.
Vehicle is in showroom condition.
Thinking of selling soon. Think 15k Cdn is a fair price ??
Had one 1995 350LT 1 it was a sleeper had a few high performance parts to it to make it really go was going to put new exhaust with a set of headers on it but sold it to guy made me a offer
This engine set up much more maintenance friendly than the LT1, anyone who has performed tune up on both style will know what I’m talking about.
Nothing unfortunate about that truck engine. Decent hp and torque to push this sled around. Of course everyone wants an LT1. Same as complaining that your donut has a hole in it. If you wouldn’t like driving this car a little more power won’t fix that.
Love that broken-in leather interior but $11900 is too much for a pre-1994, non-LT1 car. $8000 would be the top price; this is just another Malaise Era family car.
FYI: The “Malaise Era” refers to the period from roughly 1974-1982 (the Ford and Carter administrations), so this luxurious, top-of-the-line Buick Roadmaster is 10-20 years too new to qualify as “just another Malaise Era family car.”
15K is not too much for that original owner Roadmaster wagon. Look me up, I am a possible buyer if I can’t find a Lincoln Town Car before you sell. I will get complaints here, but the pre LT1 engine is very durable and while not giving the fuel mileage of the LT1, it is far easier to work on. I put spark plug wires on a 96 Impala SS years ago. Took the better part of an afternoon the way GM designed that stupid OptiJunk ignition After the great and never break HEI from 1975 until ???, GM came out with that terrible system under the water pump. This is a very nice Buick at a price far cheaper than any new Kia POS. And it will glide on down the highway in silence.
you said it, and try to find a decent replacement Optispark
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I’ve decided, a while ago, that I am going to buy a Buick Roadster, any of the years produced. THIS ENGINE is no slouch. I’ve driven a couple of these with the same engine as this model year and without a doubt – it is not a “malaise” carryover. 180hp moves these cars effortlessly in all speed ranges. ANYWAY – the price for this Roadmaster is probably around $7500 – $8500 tops. IF I’m going to spend $11,900.00 (or more), I’ll hold out for the EXACT one all the way around. But this one is nice – $8,000 nice. Good luck to the new owner! Great article.
the LO5 Engine in this Buick is the ‘Police Interceptor’ one that came in the Caprice prior to the LT1, better than the 305, but still way fewer Horses. Had an 89′ and 96′ 9C1, the 89′ didn’t seem that much slower, but it had a 3.42 rear vs 3.08 in the 96′
You bet this is better than new. This is more car than anything that you can buy new today. All that’s available today is a bunch of little junks that all look alike.
My wife’s elderly aunt bought one of these new. I drove it quite a bit because she insisted that we all ride together if we went anywhere. This car was a slow road pig. It literally wallowed in turns. I drove it on HWY 1 down the coast going north from San Francisco and was scared to death. Again, what a road hog and it hated corners. Scary! Additionally, trim pieces liked to fall off. That was weird. She put numerous dings in it and finally got to the point where she couldn’t drive and gave it away. This car was just bloated and cave like. It never really seemed luxurious either. It was just a road hog. Past Buicks were much better.
Perhaps you should consider driving school.
Sorry for repeating, but here in Sun City and Sun West AZ retirement Community old folks are still driving these boats,along with Devilles,Crown Vics and Marquis and many cars from the the 80’s Recently I saw a Volare wagon.
A Volare wagon?!! That really IS a retirement community! 🤣
Some time ago I read a news clip about a retirement community with water 💧 streaming down front brick wall. Local younger residents of the area gave it the nickname of VIAGRA FALLS. 😲 Somehow that’s not quite as funny as it was 20 years ago! But I’m still piloting my 2007 Town Car gingerly and loving every single minute 🙃 😅.
Rick, I left a rather long reply to your brocade interior post.
i recently got the next generation (2005)park avenue for a daily driver. it’s not perfect but not bad. i plan over the ne next few years to keep making improvements and drive.
Too bad GM didn’t make a 2 door for production like the futuristic 1989 Cadillac Solitaire concept.
I think it was in “Demolition Man”.