Buick dusted off the Roadmaster nameplate after 33 years and applied it to a series of sedans and station wagons produced from 1991 to 1996. It also revived a rear-wheel-drive platform which had been out of favor since the mid-1980s. The wagon was 25% of output or about 50,000 copies over a six-year span. The seller has not one but two of these 1990s land yachts that may be combined to make one driving automobile. Located in Keenesburg, Colorado, they’re available here on craigslist and will only be sold as a pair for $3,000. Kudos to Tony Primo for another interesting tip.
The new Roadmasters rode on a version of GM’s B-body platform that was also used by other divisions. Transport versions were called Estate Wagons, and faux woodgrain side and rear paneling were once again in vogue. Buick moved away from these big cars in 1997 as the demand for full-size SUVs was on the rise, and production capacity could be used to satisfy that demand with other products. The seller’s dynamic duo is from the 1994 and 1996 model years. Both have the Corvette-derived LT1 V8 engine.
1994 Estate Wagon
We’re told this was a daily driver until it blew a head gasket at 250,000 miles. But it will start up and drive. Despite its higher mileage, this wagon is apparently in better cosmetic condition than the ’96 and could benefit from an engine swap. If you want the ’94, you also have to take the ’96. And vice versa.
1996 Estate Wagon
This one is a low-mileage car at “only” 100,000 miles. It also runs and drives, but needs a starter. This was used as a parts car to feed the care and needs of the ’94 edition because it has some undercarriage rust. You might want to pull the drivetrain from this one and drop it into the slightly older wagon.
“Take my migraine(s)…please.”
Yeah, but why.
“Corvette derived LT1”. LOL!
why laugh? It was the same engine as the vette.
Nope. The only thing shared with the Vette is the intake manifold. The Vette has aluminum heads, this one has iron. The Vette has higher compression with different pistons and a bigger cam and different ECM. Last I looked, HP is in the heads and cam. This is just another iron small block GM tried to pass off as “special”.
Does either one have AC?
Had, yes
That sounds like a definite maybe. Also I always thought that the Roadmaster had four portholes and the Special had three. What’s up with that?
Was just an assumption from another spectator.
2 beat up wagon and neither 1 looks better than the other. i guess if you own 1 they are good for parts.
I think you get one chore beater and spare parts.
BOGO!
“Buy my hoopties! With them “Corvette” engines in ’em!” Whupped hard and put away wet.
That first photo looks somewhat menacing.
Parts cars hafta come from somewhere…
My deferred maintenance calculator just threw a ” HTTP 404 (Not Found)” code.
Yep. I see a degenerative mini-series based on that photo alone.
Billy Bob is already taken. Maybe Walton Goggins.