Touted by some automotive magazines of the era as grandma’s Corvette sedan, or similar descriptions, Buick put a Chevy small-block 350 LT1 in both the sedan and wagon versions of the Roadmaster beginning in 1994. It was a stroke of genius: 80 more horsepower, while also having a tiny bump in MPG at the same time. This 1994 Buick Roadmaster can be found posted here on craigslist in Bloomington, Minnesota, and the seller is asking $9,500. Here is the original listing.
An 8-second 0-60 time in a two-ton luxury car isn’t anything to crow about today (crow about, who says that anymore?!), but in 1994, it was quite an achievement. The new-for-’94 drivetrain also bumped the MPG ratings by around 1 MPG, which isn’t much, but when has a vehicle company offered more power and more MPG at the same time? At least in the 1990s, now it’s commonplace, even without a battery pack to turn this Roadmaster into a gas/electric hybrid.
I don’t know if I’ve seen a red Roadmaster before, and the seller says this is Medium Garnet Red. I can’t find that color in any of the brochures or color charts that I found, but I’m guessing there were different names for the same color, as is sometimes the case. Page 43 of this 1994 Buick brochure shows the colors that were available, at least when the brochure was printed. I would have guessed this was Ruby Red. Some nice factory-correct white wall tires would sure dress this car up a bit, but these black wall tires are said to be new.
Buick offered the eighth-generation Roadmaster for the 1991 through 1996 model years, and then they were gone. The back seat looks perfect, as does the huge trunk compartment. We don’t get to see any underside photos, but the seller says there is “no damage/corrosion, stored winters.” They say that there were “very few” previous owners, and they all took exceptional care of this car.
Here’s the big deal. While not big in displacement, for the time, this was the engine you wanted, a Chevrolet 350-cu.in. OHV LT1 V8, which was rated at 260 horsepower and 335 lb-ft of torque. Backed by a Turbo-Hydramatic 4L60-E four-speed automatic sending power to the rear wheels, the seller says everything works down to the cold AC and cruise control. It has a new fuel pump, which is sometimes an issue on these cars, according to forums, so it’s nice to read that it’s been changed. It also has a new battery, new tires, the throttle body and MAS were cleaned, and more. Have any of you owned or driven this era Roadmaster?
Hot rod Buick in red. Love it, what luxury, must be a dream eating up miles in this car. Thanks for the brochure link, always great to see those again SG. Heating and cooling pkg came along with a heavy duty trans. Ltd slip available too. Click those boxes for icing on the cake when ordering a Roadmaster 🏁
I really liked the image on page 17(?) With the burgundy Roadmaster wagon pulling the mahogany boat. I’m guessing its a Chris Craft. They look great together. Its always great when the links are posted for the dealer brochures. Thanks Scotty.
There’s two boats in that picture.
My brother in law had the exact duplicate of this wagon but a 93 with the L05 5.7 with the red.cloth interior. Was a beauty to say the least. It sadly died of underbody corrosion in 06 so it went to that big Buick dealership in the sky.
There was never a Gran Sport Roadmaster from the factory. Never happened. I used to own a lightly modded ’95 Limited, some simple tweaks make these boats fly.
I’ll ride with ya! But may we have some white side wall tires please. Thin preferably. Luxury cars from this era just COMMAND white sidewall tires (IMHO). After all they were the TRUE luxury cars. Beautiful car. Great ride!
You are 100% correct, Dan! I misread the brochure, dang it. Sorry about that.
“Wouldn’t you really rather have a(this)Buick?” This one’s nice and look at those red plush seats! Red leather isn’t too common either. Plus, an LT1 to power this beast. If the owner will talk a little turkey, a buyer could get a sweet car at a sweet price.
We may be showing our age. We gave our youngest daughter (we have 2 “only” kids as they’re 10.5 years apart😳😬) a Buick Cascada Convertivle for her high school graduation in 2017 (as the dealer was a client of my wife’s local magazine). I gave her the jingle of “Wouldn’t you really rather have a Buick” and she just looked at me with 😳. Guess I’m old. The Roadmaster was a GREAT car and that’s coming from a FoMoCo guy! Beautiful car.
I love these Roadmasters. If I didn’t have my ’95 Park Avenue Ultra already, I’d be considering one of these. Stealth Impala SS. I’m normally not a fan of making luxury cars look “mean” via the wheels (usually attempted with dog dish hubcaps) but I’d probably leave the black walls here. Do a few mods and you’d have a pretty mean sounding interesting car.
We don’t often think of any time beyond the 60s as a pinnacle of GM styling but that brochure presents a good argument. We still had cars and colors and performance was returning to the marketplace. No, zero to sixty in 8 seconds isn’t blinding but it’s adequate for more than most drivers. Without all of the stability devices on cars today many wouldn’t get to their destination. As for the Roadmaster, I love this car.
Well, Scotty, you said you’ve never seen a red Roadmaster. This would be my second one I’ve seen locally as there was one for sale at the All-GM show last Sunday at the Mn. State Fairgrounds. $12,000 with 40k for miles. I think it was a ’94. Limited with leather, heated seats, & lumbar. This one had the Royal Seal tires on it with the gold stripe framing the white. Looked almost perfect inside. Nice touch & as you & others have said, this car needs whites. Of course, they could’ve done worse with RWL. Radial T/As! Ufda!
Between the one I personally saw & this one, I’ll deal a little & take the one I saw. I always like your brochure postings & photoshop body customs!
What?! How did I miss that show, Jon? Dang it, and it’s June in MN, the one several-week period when people can take out their nice vintage vehicles. I should know better.
This weekend is the annual Antique Motorcycle Club of America show in the technology building at the State Fair.
https://vikingmc.org/pages/national-meet
Like a dope, I didn’t get ready early enough to have anything in the show this year, but I’ll be there Saturday.
Not interested in motorcycles, but are you showing one this weekend? As far as cars, Belle Plaine every Wednesday, Henderson every Tuesday, Victoria every other Wednesday, Hastings every 3rd Sunday. And of course Back to the 50s around the 21st., & Street Rod Nationals in July.
Btw, information is free! Lol!
Heckel and Jeckel say crow all the time. But, then again, they are crows
needs white walls
Had a Buick Roadmaster1995 dark blue w Grey leather inside ,wire wheels a real boat but beautiful, rear wheel drive but because of weight really plow throw snow- love the car- the only problem was the chrome panel on sides would come off all the time had to be reglued!!! But loved the car!!!
Thanks for the brochure link Scotty, as usual. They are so cool to flip through, although I was disappointed that they only tease the new Riviera at the very end. Those are one of my favorites.
That was a car that almost didn’t happen. The big wagon was going away at that time with 1990 being the last. A few smart people were able to put a business case together to continue the big wagon under an esteemed name and add a sedan to the program. Did well until the Corporation decided to cancel the RWD architecture completely. It fit Ed Mertz’s description of a Buick admirably. “Substantial, distinctive, powerful and mature.”