The 1986 model year brought some big changes at Buick, with a downsized Riviera and a new front-wheel-drive LeSabre; therefore, the carryover Estate Wagons must have been a comforting sight for those of a more traditional bent. A few fun facts: Buick canceled the LeSabre Estate Wagon in 1985 (leaving only the Electra for that one model year), but brought it back for 1986. Both models were then offered on this holdover body style until 1990, when they were combined into a LeSabre-grade “Estate Wagon” that was ultimately replaced by the Roadmaster in 1991. That was still a few years into the future in 1986, when the more expensive Electra outsold this LeSabre (10,371 vs. 7,755), but finding either today is an unexpected treat. We have Barn Finds reader Henry Reining to thank for finding this one on craigslist in Virginia.
The General Motors B-Body of the 1980s is still a wildly popular platform, which is why the Estate Wagon (and its GM counterparts) never really went out of style or looked out of place. This dashboard is very familiar to me; my parents bought a brand-new ’83 LeSabre Limited Coupe when I was six, so I spent thousands of miles staring at these plastic wood dashboard inserts. Also, you’ll never convince me that velour isn’t the best upholstery for long-term durability, even if it’s not so fun to vacuum.
My family never owned a station wagon, but it’s hard to miss the appeal. My young (and older) imagination would have loved to find new places to hide things in the various nooks and crannies of a big Buick wagon, even if I shared my dad’s opinion (at the time) that a car with more than two doors was something that your dad drove (which carried a certain irony in my case).
Under the hood of every Estate Wagon, LeSabre or Electra, was Oldsmobile’s 140-horsepower 307. I can’t be unbiased about this engine because my parents’ car was a factory lemon that required, after dozens of trips to the dealer and a few harrowing breakdowns on distant interstates, an engine replacement. Putting that aside, I do remember that slow-and-steady was its motto: I timed zero-to-60 in something like 16 seconds with my dad’s foot flat to the floor on one afternoon outing (although that might be a childhood memory mixed with a road test result somewhere). As an adult, I can set aside personal experience for statistical norms; our 307 was certainly an anomaly, and I can take it for what it is, a workaday V8 with decent fuel mileage. This one’s made it 39 years, so I’m sure it’s OK.
This one has been treated to new valve cover gaskets, and you can see that the brake booster and master cylinder are also new. There’s no word on the condition of the miles of vacuum lines that obscured one’s view of the engine, but you may want to train your ear to listen for the telltale hissing of a leaker.
The selling dealer says that this is a local two-owner wagon that’s been well-maintained over the years; but 39 years is 39 years, and it’s now a working original that shows the scrapes and bruises of time. It will need bumper fillers, but I think the paint is fine as-is. It’s a reasonably cheap ($4,000 asking price) and functional daily driver that stands out and offers some Buick class. What else can you find that will fit a whole family and turn some heads doing it?
This is a great find Aaron. I remember our shop class in the late 80s had a brand new Electra wagon donated because it fell off the car carrier and the front end got bent badly. But it still steered enough to move it. Even in 1987 the miles of hoses and wires was overwhelming compared to our much older cars ( for me a 70 Olds 98) that had hardly anything compared to these. I wound up with an 82 Electra a few years later and know what you mean about that familiar dash. I always liked it. And yep, 307 was about economically moving these things around ( still better than the Buick 4.1V6 though). And I agree, plush velour 100 percent!!! This looks solid, overall and hope it goes to a good home.
Interesting to see the white painted roof. Probably to cover up the exposed black primer.
I had a 307 with a ‘burnt’ valve. The heads were surprisingly on the heavy side, even with all the material removed. I retrospect, an Oldsmobile 350 or 403 should have replaced the 307.
I just want to shampoo those front seats and carpet, then get out the dye.
How hard is it to find the missing bumper gap plastic fillers?
When I finally realized a dealer is selling this car, I understood the too high price. That interior is filthy and needs a good extraction. The tailgate is dented. The 307 is a reliable engine to a point, but well known for developing “egg shaped” cylinder bores and then become an excessive oil burner. Ask me how I know. I’d give him $1,500 and drive it home.
Funny how things change. These things were probably outsold like 30 to 1 against mini vans, yet you never see a single 80’s mini van being sold / collected.
89 caravan 4cyl turbo 5 speed manual = collectible!!!
Priced RIGHT on the money. Only lament is that damned roof rack w/its partnered vinyl top! Oh yeah….a MUST HAVE are the missing bumper fillers!….good luck on replacing THEM!
I had a 85 caprice classic wagon back in 89, same shade of blue, but had the third seat, 305 engine….a one owner, only 80k miles and the engine started knocking 3 months later. Had no money to fix it, so sold it.
Wish I could have afforded to fix it.
I don’t know if that roof is is simply painted white or is a vinyl top, but if it’s vinyl, step one for me is to make the vinyl go away! Far Away! I might look into boring and stroking the stock motor, but if that won’t work, there’s always a crate motor to upgrade the power plant. Before doing anything to the interior, I’d just try shampooing the carpets and seats first, to see what happens. The good news is that this bad boy has a power driver’s seat, with a height adjustment for the “vertically challenged” such as myself. GLWTS!
It’s not uncommon where I live in the Midwest for folks to paint the roofs of their cars white in an effort to retain less heat. It rarely looks good, though, just like on this car. I drove a ’76 LeSabre Estate Wagon with the clamshell tailgate for several years, so this car would be a fun purchase if I was in the market. I always thought the dash was beautiful. I’ve been noticing on a number of recent posts how strangely low some power window buttons are on older cars. I guess I never thought about it before. It seems more common on GM cars.
This car appears to have been stored in a very humid damp area. Look at gear shift lever. I would be very concerned about the rust situation under the car.