Soft is the keyword for this beautifully-preserved 1996 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon. The edges are soft with hardly any sharp creases in the design or bodywork. The Light Driftwood Metallic paint is soft, perfect for Livermore, California, where it’s located. The woodgrain is even softly… patinaed. It’s located here on eBay with an asking price of $9,975.
You can see the “soft” patina I was talking about on the left quarter panel woodgrain trim. Livermore, California is just east of Fremont and the Bay Area. It isn’t exactly the desert, but it’s still so much nicer, with much more heat and sun than we get in the Upper Midwest, that it can help to fade paint and other exterior finishes. I wish I hadn’t looked at their climate, now I’m really depressed. 300 days of sunshine compared to 90 to 100?! Yep, I should have moved after high school. A side note: the seller says this car has been repainted at some point, so that shiny paint isn’t original. But, they also say it’s rust-free, so that’s great news.
Buick made the eighth and final generation Roadmaster for model years 1991 through 1996, and the Estate Wagon is the one you want. I think it’s by far better styled than the sedan, but that’s just me. The built-in rear fender skirts are fantastic and really give this car a retro look while still looking somewhat modern today. It’s big, but not Chevy Suburban big. And for less than ten grand, you can’t go wrong here. Hagerty is at $5,900 for a #3 good car and $20,700 for a #2 excellent car. Under $10k seems like a reasonable price for this car to me.
The Light Beige Sierra-Grain Leather seats look good, although they could use a good cleaning. The seller says this was their grandparent’s Roadmaster Estate Wagon, it’s always been in California, and they used it for weekend drives. With 88,388 miles, that’s only 2,950 miles a year, so I believe that story. The back seat looks perfect as expected, and there’s another seating area that folds out in the huge rear cargo area. Or put that seat down and haul your plywood, no need for a pickup when you own a $10,000 Roadmaster Estate Wagon. You’ll be the coolest person at the big box hardware store. I mean, not that you aren’t already…
The clean engine is Chevrolet’s 350-cu.in. fuel-injected OHV V8 with 260 horsepower and 335 lb-ft of torque when new. It’s backed by an electronically-controlled 4L60-E four-speed automatic sending power to the rear wheels, and it’s surprisingly sprightly, with a 0-60 time of just over 8 seconds. You should also be able to squeeze 25 mpg out of this beautiful car, and that’s good for such an outstanding all-around pleasure and work vehicle. You can use it for your contracting business during the week and take scenic drives and camping trips in it on weekends. I’m going to talk myself into buying this car if I don’t stop and if it were local I’d for sure check it out, but then it would be rusty, unlike this car. Are there any fans of these big Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagons out there?
This car is really cool, I want it. I’d pick my kids up at the airport in it when they visit, and have them sit in the back. Maybe even the way-back!
Beautiful car. We had a Vista Cruiser Wagon growing up and this always reminded me of that car. Surprised someone has scooped this up already given the low miles on it. Great find!
One of my favorites, but the price is a bit steep given the condition of the wood grain and interior; the wheels are from an ‘94 or earlier car also.
Or maybe I’m just out of touch with prices on these??
One of the last wagons large enough for little kids to rattle around in the back like a pea in a box car. And it’s even got rear vent windows, but small enough so said kids won’t fall out on the freeway. And a V8. In a what-was-then a modern day Buick! I remember when Buick “retired” their V8s in a 70s TV ad featuring a retirement party, promoting how they were only going to offer V6’s. How things changed since then. The V8 was back (albeit a Chevy). And the worm has turned once more big-time since the 90s, making these cars attractive again.
I guess that we’ll just have to disagree on the styling, Mr. Gilbertson. I’ve never understood why, after they introduced the Roadmaster sedan, Buick didn’t put what I’ve always thought was a far more tasteful “face” on the wagon by utilizing the sedan’s front clip to further differentiate the Estate Wagon from the Caprice — allowing it to look like a Buick instead of a Chevrolet with a waterfall grille. The investment to do so would have been minimal — source new woodgrain decals and surround moldings that fit the new fenders — and the sheet metal involved was already available in the assembly plant and would have been a simple bolt-on substitution.
I always thought the Roadmaster wagons were classy machines and I think the more integrated look of the wagon front end blended much better than the Roadmaster sedan’s. Plus since it was essentially a Caprice wagon they only needed to give it a more Buick-like grille which I think they did very well. An elderly friend of mine has had several of these cars and he loves them, especially the LT-1 powered ones.
I’d like to have this one and if so I’d want to remove those “woodgrain” decals and paint that area with a close, but not too close, contrasting color paint.
Never did like the decals because they are so easy to destroy.
Wouldn’t you really rather have a Buick?
Unlimited possibilities, refresh it back to OEM by giving it a nice coat of paint,needed tune-up get all them seats out and give it a good cleaning and while everything is out replace that carpet.. now you have THE PERFRCY ROAD TRIP VEHICHLE!. Or do all the above skip the tune-up and LS swap it 500-600HP and now you have a sleeper that will take you and your family from point A to B in the blink of an eye while putting a huge smile on everyone’s faces.
I guess there are a lot of “Beige Bettys” still out there.
This one is just NOT that nice. Pass for a better one.
western car w/ LT1 they will get their # it just may take a while. these wagons have a following for sure
I’ve owned two: a 1992 and a 1995. Great cars. Add a set of 1996 Impala SS wheels, perfection!
Yes, I would really rather have a Buick — and the Estate Wagon would be my choice; only, not THIS one. I would look for one 1990 or earlier (before this bulbous ’90s body style), one of the “classic” traditional-looking ones with those cushy velour seats, and woodgrain-delete, please, on those tacky vinyl applique imitation wood panels on the sides which get to look horrible after a few years: painted sides for me! MISS me with anything newer than the classic squared-off styling!
Gotta go with Scotty on the wagon looking better than the ungainly, clumsy looking sedan.
Clean up the interior and maybe redye the seats. Couldn’t see the carpet well enough to also redye or maybe replace.
I’m not sure what to do about the woodgrain, replace it or, as someone said, take it off and paint it. I lean toward replacing it.
Oh, find a Delco radio with CD/ cassette combo.
Yes, please, I have requested to be notified when a new comment appears on this car. Why do I suddenly now have to confirm this, when I never have had to do so before?
I would slap a set of old school E-T mag wheels on it with a set of Cooper Cobra tires. Clean it up ( total detail) preform total maintenance including new serpentine belt with ac service.
The last thing I would worry about is the wood grain stickers, but would R&R at a later date. GREAT CAR FOR THE MONEY! My opinion only!