Enthusiasts seeking muscle or pony cars face abundant choices in the current classic market. However, those seeking comfort, practicality, and affordability face greater challenges. That is where this 1996 Buick Roadmaster Collector’s Edition Sedan rides to the rescue. From its low odometer reading to its spacious interior and low price, it seems to tick all the boxes. It appears the only thing it needs is a new home, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Tony P for spotting the Buick listed here on Craigslist in East Northport, New York. I said that it was affordable, and the price of $7,300 makes it ideal for anyone considering a first classic purchase.
There was plenty of enthusiasm when Buick revived the Roadmaster badge in 1991 following an absence of over three decades. Initially available only as a Station Wagon, the Sedan hit showroom floors in 1992. Its styling, penned by Wayne Cady, was very much of its time, featuring soft and flowing surfaces, and few hard edges. This proved an enormous hit with buyers, with the Sedan outselling the Wagon by a ratio of almost 6:1 in the first year. The gap would slowly shrink as the years passed, standing at 1.5:1 in 1996. This final-year example presents impressively in dazzling Bright White. It carries the hallmarks of a car that has been treated respectfully. The paint is free from significant flaws, the panels are as straight as an arrow, and there is no evidence or mention of rust. The plastic shows no evidence of deterioration, while the glass and wheels are spotless.
Buick ensured that the 1996 Roadmaster Sedan offered performance to match its sleek looks, slotting the LT1 version of the 5.7-liter fuel-injected V8 under the hood. The car might have weighed 4,245 lbs, but with 260hp and 330 ft/lbs of torque fed to the road via a four-speed 4L60-E automatic transmission, it could get up and boogie when poked with a sharp stick. More impressively, judicious use of the right foot could return fuel consumption figures of almost 20mpg on the open road. Therefore, the Roadmaster was an effective weapon for cross-country adventures. This Buick has been part of the same family since Day One. It has been appropriately maintained, with Service Records that should verify the odometer reading of 61,300 miles. It rides smoothly and appears to be a turnkey proposition with no mechanical needs.
The best way to assess the life a classic might have lived is to examine its interior. While it is easy to apply paint touch-ups to lift the exterior, few sellers will go to the trouble and expense of replacing substandard interior trim. Therefore, worn upholstery and broken plastic will often ring alarm bells. There are no such issues with this Roadmaster. The Blue cloth is excellent, the vinyl is equally impressive, and the dash and pad are free from UV deterioration. The carpet under the driver’s feet and the wheel show wear, but the problem isn’t severe. If considered purely as a survivor-grade classic with nearly three decades of active service under its belt, it is easily acceptable. The interior features are period-correct, including airbags, air conditioning, power windows, power locks, cruise control, a range of courtesy lights, a tilt wheel, and an AM/FM radio/cassette player.
Some classics bow out in a blaze of glory, while others disappear with a whimper they barely deserve. Sadly, the 1996 Buick Roadmaster Collector’s Edition Sedan falls into the second category. After strong initial results in 1992, sales had plummeted to around 20% of that year’s peak in 1996. The writing was on the wall, with Buick discontinuing the entire Roadmaster range at the end of that year. There is no evidence that it will stage a revival, making it more important that survivors like this are preserved and enjoyed. Such activities often cost a significant sum, but not in this case. Are those thoughts enough to tempt you to pursue this Roadmaster further?
I once bought a 93 Roadmaster from a private seller. It still had Fingerhut covers on rear seats. I believe it was 97? Thought I had a bargain at $3,000. Shortly after, while cleaning it, the rubber threshold cover shifted revealing rust though at the base of the center post. Reluctantly sold (revealing the damage) for $1,300. On a subsequent 93 Cadillac Brougham, rust though of rear wheel openings allowed moisture in trunk and rear seats. Buyers Beware!
Hi Rick,
Thought you’d be chiming in.
Fast work this morning to move 3″ of snow with my Toro 8 hp.
I wish they’d put the same front end on these as the wagons. Little bit sleeker imo.
And prefer leather but velour is good too.
Sharp car and by all appearances, well cared for.
Hey Jon, I just shoveled about 2 inches from my drive. I had spread salt on it last night. 4 inches previously. Again salt helped. I can’t find a reliable snow removal service. So, I’m still shoveling snow and lots of other 💩. But that seems to be the norm these days 🤔. Keep 0n shoveling! But B careful.
Sounds more like a product of where you live.
Yup, probably should’ve added the word “snowblower” onto my posting.
Gotta have ’em around here especially with a 3-stall garage driveway + the other 2 driveways & the mailboxes and fire hydrant I do.
Did these Buick boats offer a factory 🏭 tow pkg ? Those options are always money well spent. I remember the pic in Car and Driver of one of these doing a smokeshow burnout 🔥 🏁
The easy way to identify a factory tow package on a Roady with an LT1 is it will have an engine driven cooling fan.
This Buick is an example of what America did best in the automobile world..build V8 rear-drive cars. The drive train should present few if any problems, and the interiors tend to hold up well, but the bodies of most GMs of this period tend to corrode. On this example, it is an east coast car so go over it closely, and notice the poor fit of the passenger door.
This generation of General Motors large cars were terrible. You talk about bloat, that’s what they did going down the highway. This Buick Roadmaster, and the Cadillac Fleetwood, I know from experience, we’re absolutely blind towards the back of the vehicle. I drove a new Buick Roadmaster down Highway 1in California and it scared me to death. This car cannot handle. It truly is a barge and not in a good sense.
Well, in my opinion, everything you have just written is wrong. It is a large car but handled quite well. I’ve had three new ones from back then and was very pleased with them. This is not a Ferrari. Don’t try to make it one.
Hmmm….let’s see. This Buick or the ’47 Packard also listed. I’ll take both. Wonder if I can get a package deal. Both beautiful cars…..
Funny how the Roadmaster, the Deville and the full size Chevrolet were all built on the same assembly line in the same plant with the same drivetrain but the Impala SS version was truly a great car. It had 4 wheel disc brakes, great suspension, limited slip rear axle, leather seats, big trunk, full frame so you could bolt on a Class III hitch and tow a boat or a travel trailer. Still got 20 MPG+ on the highway. I really enjoyed my 95 SS. Never had an Optispark issue although that is a common problem and it is under the water pump. I did own the 95 Roadmaster which I paid $100 for and it had beautiful leather seats. It floated down the road and seemed totally disconnected from any road inputs. It felt like sitting on a comfy leather couch with a steering wheel on the wall. Still, the LT1 V8 with reverse flow cooling and 10.5:1 CR moved both cars down the road quite capably. The end of an Era for GM ie the last of the front engine V8 Rear wheel drive full frame cars.
My ’92 base Roadmaster Sedan is perhaps the best buy of all the autos I’ve owned, & they number over 40 in my 78 years. I bought it off Craigslist & it has served me flawlessly for the past 11 years. The drivetrain is the Chevy L05 throttle-body 350 w/the 700R4 O/D transmission. I’ve gotten 24mpg w/the 2.56 rear axle. The seats are, by far, the best in any car I’ve driven. I added a rear sway bar & now it handles quite the same as my ’95 Caprice 9C1.