Any news article from the middle 90s describing the last of the land yachts inevitably will include a photo of the Chevrolet Caprice, Ford Crown Victoria, and the Buick Roadmaster. The three vehicles were stalwarts of their time, used and loved by owners who had reached the point in life wherein comfort was the primary concern when driving. The Roadmaster shown here on craigslist is a 1994 model that sports the upgraded powerplant known as the mighty LT1. This allowed the monstrous luxu-barge to achieve a 0-60 run of under 8 seconds and burn rubber without so much as breaking a sweat. The Roadmaster could be yours for just $4,900.
The Roadmaster is an iconic name in Buick history, and unlike other monikers that have been un-retired and assigned to vehicles not deserving of the title, the Roadmaster remains (for now) hallowed property. We’ve seen so many wonderful GM products reincarnated as some sort of hypermiling hatchback that it seems there’s no reverence for the models and eras that set the standard in their respective vehicle class. When it comes to rolling living rooms that could gobble up highway miles with ease, I don’t think a name has ever been so fitting for a car as Roadmaster. The car shown here is a 1-owner example that was purchased new in South Carolina and has lived there ever since.
The interior is massive and you can easily fit five other friends that happen to be going to the same concert or bonfire in the desert as you are. The editors of the Car & Driver of old stuck one of their colleagues in the trunk of a Roadmaster and he could almost stretch straight out across the cargo hold – so, maybe there’s room for a seventh passenger after all. The layout of this car was nothing particularly innovative, and despite being positioned as a luxury model, it could feel rental car-grade inside at times. That didn’t stop the one original owner from racking up 114,000 miles, and apparently. the only reason it’s for sale is due to her reduced ability to pilot such a commanding vehicle.
This is why this particular Roadmaster will find a new home before too long: in 1994, the detuned LT1 found its way under the hood of the B-body cars, including the Roadmaster. With 260 horsepower, this car was no longer a couch slouch, capable of ripping burnouts with ease and reaching 60 in about 7.8 seconds. There was a $100 option for a limited slip, which most road test editors recommended ordering. The seller notes the car comes with “…TONS of service records,” and I’m sure the elderly female owner took this big Buick in for everything from fluid changes to wiper blades. What a slick ride for under $5,000! Thanks to Barn Finds reader Tony Primo for the find.
Wow a real beauty, a full week end or so of shampoo’s and detailing brushes should bring it back showroom with ease even the engine bay. Interestingly has the H/D cooling setup with the offset clutch fan. With luck might even have a 3.08 gear set in back. If i remember well with that age a new OptiSpark is mandatory unless already done so while your there complete tune up while the front end of the motor is off and if money is there a.rebuild or at minimum a complete flush of the transmission and each and every liquid. So for an acceptable cash outlay and elbow grease this could be an awesome machine
GM hit a home run with those. People hitting retirement age in the mid 90’s ( like my parents) had recollections of those iconic Buicks of their youth with the Roadmaster name and treated themselves to a luxurious, powerful, roadworthy car at the point of their lives when they could afford it. My parents took many trips with their ’95 to New England with my aunt and uncle. Plenty of room,both for four passengers and their luggage.
I got to drive that car exactly once and was impressed with the oppulence and power it had.
If this car was parked here in my retirement community it would be gone in a day.
My sister owned one of these “RoadMonsters”, great looking car, comfortable, safe, reliable, and the fuel economy wasn’t too bad. Sadly her RoadMonster was rear ended and totaled on the Verrazano Bridge. Fortunately everyone in the car walked away uninjured. The car in the ad looks like a nice one.
A lot of these cars from 1994 -1996 are popping up for sale in the past year.