I am a late convert to the world of the Station Wagon. I had always believed owners purchased them out of necessity and not by choice. How wrong I was! I received one as a company car, and only then did I appreciate the sheer versatility of these vehicles. They drive and feel essentially like a sedan, but the cavernous cargo areas of Wagons like this 1996 Buick Roadmaster Estate can swallow almost anything thrown at them. This is a genuine survivor that presents beautifully. It is loaded with creature comforts and enough seats to cope with large families. It needs a new home, with the seller listing the Estate here on eBay in Warren, New Jersey. They set their BIN for this classic at $16,900.
The Roadmaster name is inextricably linked with the Buick brand, although the badge disappeared from the market in 1958, only reemerging in 1991. It would prove a short-lived exercise, with the name once again consigned to a dusty cupboard at the end of 1996. Our feature Estate is from the final production year, and the seller emphasizes that it is a “Collector’s Edition” version. However, that doesn’t raise the rarity stakes because every Estate produced that year wore that badge and designation. That doesn’t mean it isn’t rare because only 8,962 examples rolled off the line in 1996. It is a gem that is beautifully preserved, with the photos suggesting it needs very little. The seller states that its original Light Driftwood paint is in as-new condition, and it is hard to argue with that assessment. It holds a beautiful shine, and if there are any imperfections, they are too minor to show in the excellent collection of supplied photos. The woodgrain sections are flawless, which is important because any damage could mean that gaining an acceptable color match during repairs is virtually impossible. The panels are as straight as an arrow, and the underside shots confirm this classic is rust-free. The plastic shows no signs of deterioration, the trim is spotless, and there are no visible glass issues.
The positive vibes continue inside this Buick, with only a few flaws revealing it has seen active surface. The leather on the driver’s seat base is stretched, there is visible wear on the wheel, and the carpet looks marked below the driver’s feet. I’m unsure what could be done about the seat, but I’d consult a leather expert on that and the wheel flaw. The carpet should respond positively to a deep clean, and that seems to be all that is needed. The remaining upholstered surfaces look excellent for a vehicle of this type and age, with the back seat avoiding the marks and damage often inflicted by children (both big and small) or the family dog. I doubt I have ever seen a cleaner rear cargo area in any Station Wagon with twenty-seven years under its belt, and the third-row seating adds versatility that allows this Wagon to seat seven comfortably. Owning a Station Wagon once meant living with limited luxury appointments, but this Roadmaster Estate delivers on comfort features. It comes with a pair of airbags, air conditioning, power windows, power locks, power front seats, power mirrors, cruise control, a tilt wheel, and an AM/FM radio/cassette player.
With a curb weight of 4,563 lbs, the Roadmaster Estate could never be considered a lightweight. Therefore, it required something special under the hood to deliver respectable performance, especially when fully loaded. Buick slotted the 5.7-liter V8 into the engine bay, producing 260hp and 335 ft/lbs of torque. Shifting duties fall to a four-speed automatic transmission, while the original owner’s decision to order the Roadmaster with the towing package means it features a 2.93 Posi rear end. Outright performance statistics are typically considered irrelevant for this vehicle type, but they are worth examining. This Wagon should cover the ¼-mile in 16.6 seconds, and its aerodynamically efficient body allows it to top 139mph. Those numbers are impressive for what some might consider a living room on wheels! The mechanical news with this Buick is positive. The seller recently fitted a new fuel pump and claims the vehicle has a genuine 58,900 miles on the clock. They don’t mention verifying evidence, but they confirm that it runs and drives perfectly and rides the road beautifully.
I’ve always considered it sad that the Station Wagon has gone the way of the dinosaur. These vehicles succumbed to the buying public’s preference for SUVs, and there are no indications that they will make a comeback. That means buyers seeking a Wagon must rely on imports or the classic market as their only sources of potential candidates. This 1996 Buick Roadmaster Estate is one vehicle that fills that void, and recent history suggests it will probably sell pretty quickly. The question is whether you will be the new owner slipping behind the wheel.
It’s not that the public “wanted” SUVs. They were rammed down our throat. I’ve always been a wagon fan. Hopefully this is still available in another week or so when I get back home.
YES!! Collector’s Edition indeed……Road trips in this through the
Great American Outback…New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada,
southern Colorado. Good times.
Man!!! Talk about a beautiful car. A nice set of wheels and a mild tint to the windows and some music tastefully hidden away and this would be perfect
Did you find it again?
This boat can attain 140 MPH? Please. But it wasn’t the SUV that killed off the wagon. It was the evil-ist of all transportation, the mini-van.
Hey hey hey! I liked my minivans! They are much better than an SUV for almost everything you would ever need to do. Too much machoism out there for you old men. Get over it, you are no where near young anymore, driving some 70 grand 4×4 isn’t going to bring back your youth. Aren’t you too old to care what other people think?
Your screen name says it all.
If your wife lets you drive her Kia minivan? Good for you. Me? I drive my 2 door truck, my Mustang’s, or my Springer. I know those vehicle scare the whee out of you youngsters. But you should live a little.
You would wet yourself if you rode in my car, junior.
I believe you are right, Big C. I love these wagons, but now prefer a minivan for all the wagon could do and more in a more practical package. I would never own an SUV.
These along with were limited to 108 (tires), but the 1994-96 Caprice 9C1/Impala SS with Z-rated tires were not limited and could hit an honest 140 mph.
…along with Fleetwoods, civilian Caprices and Roadmaster sedans…
I’ve owned several aged Buicks and they have never failed to disappoint, always run great and the comfort is always there
Well built machines
Never failed to disappoint or never failed to impress you? I love my old Buicks too. Had my 31-year-old LeSabre freak out electrically this weekend. Ran fine, but odd sounding warning chimes, dome lights staying on, no radio or AC controls but the AC was running out the defrost vents. Thinking it would be some unobtainable body control module, it turned out just to be a blown fuse.
I don’t understand the SUV comparison. These SW are unique.
There’s nothing like it.
I like the Buick wagon, but would much prefer a Riviera Supercharged from the same year.
Before you slam mini vans, drive one. They are cheap and hold more than any useless SUV. They are for stupid buyers looking to make sure they appear to have money and keep up with their neighbors. I have a 1997 Plymouth Voyager with 136,000 miles. Paid $1,900 cash nearly 9 years ago with 50,000 actual miles from original owner. Still zero rust and my brother’s vehicle was in the shop. He is a contractor and needed 8 sheets of plywood. He raved how rhe sheets slid in the back like a glove. He loved van so much he wanted to buy it. Not for sale bro. Meanwhile, I am nearing my 70th birthday and fre up in big GM wagons, mostly Pontiacs dad bought. I would almost kill to put this beauty in my garage, but wife says Corvette has to go first. These cars are not hard to find, but in this condition YES. Someone is going to get a beauty.
I’ve had two of these, along with a Roadmaster of the same vintage, granted it was some 20 years ago, but these wagons are great, versatile vehicles. they can carry a lot of people a long way, and you can carry a 4’x8′ sheet of plywood – with the tailgate open…
I have a 93 Roadmaster Wagon and I have a full size twin inflatable mattress that we use for overnights and it fits in with the back seat folded down and the tailgate will close too. Lot’s of space back there. Try to find a full size pickup today that a sheet of plywood will fit in.
this is not a collectible car, not today not ever this is just an every day driver for some one with kids for them to spill their gummy bears and ice cream all over the place and drive it into the ground and $16,500. is a good joke a laugh, anyone who would buy this at that price or anywhere near that has way to much money on their hands, $16,500. for this is almost as funny as some other adds where the seller has a classic car and wants $16,500. for a pile of rust give me a break.
Lighten up, Francis.
you must be the kind of guy who goes to the dealer and buys a newer Corvette, Camaro, or Mustang and drives it to a classic car show thinking he’s got something special!!
Obviously had good care as the black rubber strips on the side moldings are still in place…a near impossibility. I loved my ‘91, but it was underpowered with the 307. Still, it never let me down through 260,000 miles. So much for unreliable.