Today, people with larger families are forced to buy an SUV if they want a vehicle to serve as daily transport. In days gone by, wagons like this 1994 Buick Roadmaster Estate would have been an obvious choice. However, the demise of the full-sized wagon means that it is left to vehicles like this one to fill the void if an SUV is not their cup of tea. This Estate is a rust-free survivor that is in impressive condition. It comes with a fantastic array of luxury features, meaning that the buyer will be able to transport the whole tribe in complete comfort. It is located in Stanhope, New Jersey, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding on the Roadmaster has reached $9,101, but the reserve is yet to be met.

I will give the owner his due with the Dark Cherry Estate. He purchased the vehicle from Bring A Trailer 2-years-ago and provides a link to that advertisement in his listing. It reveals that he initially paid $9,400 for the Roadmaster. Since then, he has undertaken some work that has lifted its overall level of presentation. This has included some paint correction, along with the replacement of all of the woodgrain finish. The result is a wagon that presents beautifully and is completely rust-free. The seller provides an impressive array of photos of all aspects of the wagon, and there isn’t a spot of rust to be found anywhere. The trim looks to be in impressive condition, while the roof rack is a practical and classy touch. The Estate features a two-way tailgate, and this appears to function correctly. The original alloy wheels are free from damage, and the glass seems to be perfect. The glass panel over the rear seat is a great touch and would help to prevent any claustrophobic feelings that the passengers might have.

For the 1994 model year, the Roadmaster received a modified version of the LT1 V8. This 350ci classic pumped out 260hp, which found its way to the rear wheels via a 4-speed 4L60E automatic transmission. Power steering and power brakes were a standard part of the package. The 350 had some work to do, as it needed to propel a vehicle that tipped the scales at 4,572lbs. This it did in impressive style. This Estate should be capable of storming the ¼ mile in 16.6 seconds before winding out to an incredible 139mph. The current owner is the fourth in the car’s history, and it appears that he has been meticulous with his ownership. The vehicle has been checked from front to back and is said to be in good mechanical health. It has a claimed 68,000 genuine miles showing on its odometer, and it would seem that the owner holds evidence to verify this. Under his ownership, the Roadmaster has accumulated less than 300 miles in the past 2-years. The owner claims that the Buick runs and drives perfectly, which means that it sounds about ready for that next cross-country adventure.

The owner describes the Buick as being nearly perfect, and that seems to be a fair description of the interior. There are some minor stains on the carpet, but I would be inclined to have these cleaned before considering replacement. Even if the stains prove to be stubborn, I believe that the lack of wear on the carpet will make replacement an unnecessary expense. The thigh support on the driver’s seat has been renewed, but the remaining leather upholstery looks soft and supple. There are no issues with the dash, and the headliner was replaced just before the current owner purchased the wagon. About the only other apparent flaw is some wear on the wheel rim. There is added versatility for the buyer, as the Buick features the convenient third-row seating. This transforms the wagon into a genuine seven-seater. If you are going to undertake a cross-country journey, then doing it in safety and the lap of luxury doesn’t sound like a bad idea. That means that we find dual airbags, climate-control air conditioning, power windows, power locks, power front seats, cruise, remote exterior mirrors, and an AM/FM radio and cassette player.

If I rewound the clock to when this 1994 Roadmaster Estate was new, I probably wouldn’t have given the vehicle a second glance. However, I have come to realize that these full-sized wagons offer a great compromise between a family sedan and the SUVs that have replaced them in the market. They offer their owners great versatility but still allow them to travel in comfort and style. This one is an extremely nice example, and the fact that there have been 21 bids submitted up to this point would seem to support this. I have reached that point in life where a full-sized wagon is not a necessity. If it were, then I would find this one to be a tempting proposition. Given its overall condition, I would expect that we are probably getting close to the reserve at this point. There is the potential for it to go higher, and given its condition and equipment levels, I wouldn’t rule it out. However, if you compare the price to that of a relatively new seven-seat SUV, this stacks up quite well. Maybe that’s why the bidding has been so strong.