If Buick’s mid-sized 1972 Vista Cruiser Sportwagon leaves you wanting more, step up to the top-shelf gargantu-wagon, the Estate. This 1972 Buick Estate Wagon in Mankato, Minnesota comes with more cargo space that a Viking Longboat, plus a roof rack! With a mighty 455 under the hood, this land schooner pulls hills with ease, boats to the lake, and buildings off their foundations. The fully-loaded specimen boasts air conditioning, power locks and windows, and even a vinyl roof! If the thought of piloting such a barge really floats your boat, chart a course to the listing on eBay where a rising tide of bids laps over the five-digit mark at $11,500.
The power bench seat assures a comfortable position until you can stretch your legs at the next gas station. A tilt steering wheel guarantees a clear view of the instrument pod for drivers of all shapes. Cruise control eases the temptation to pass everything on the road. I’ve driven a 455-powered Electra 225 of this vintage with cruise control, including a primitive “Resume” feature that pulled the gas pedal away from your foot and floored it until you returned to the previously set speed, providing plenty of excitement. This handy feature also sends the fuel needle left toward “E” as the speedometer sweeps right toward “120.”
Chevrolet fans may notice a family resemblance. Like the Chevrolet “clamshell,” this enormo-Buick’s Glide-away tailgate vanishes beneath the floor as the glass slides into the roof, a trick sure to wow attractive singles at the ice cream social. Buick Rallye wheels may not have come with this car, but make a sporty, appropriate upgrade.
Despite the “455-4” (455 cid, four-barrel) sticker, the car’s listing incorrectly identifies the big-inch mill as a (Chevrolet) 454. For shame. A beer-cooler-sized overflow reservoir promises extra coolant capacity for summer vacations to Disney or the National Park of your choice. Dual softball-sized horns signal your inability to stop quickly without dropping anchor. Mister “I’m gliding into your path ’cause I’m one bad, slow-striding jaywalker” had better think twice before cutting across this Buick’s bow. Is this wagon big enough for your family vacation?
HA! Swings the fuel meter toward E, that’s gold. I got 11 mpg with my ’71 Electra sedan so I could see that happening. A vinyl roof on a wagon and power windows? I’m in! Nice one, Todd!
At age 16, I took my drivers licence test licence in a brand new Estate wagon similar to this one. Everything went well on the road test, and last step was parallel parking…. I backed right over one of the orange cones… I thought I failed. The examiner said it was OK, and “nobody could park one of these freighters”!
I actually got a “Chauffeurs Licence”, which allowed me to drive any class of car or truck, including a tractor-trailer! Within a few years, the “Chauffeurs Licence” was discontinued, and separate training, qualifications, and testing was required for different classes of commercial vehicles.
Growing up, our family always had a big Buick wagon in the fleet. Dad had a Riviera or Eldorado, and Mom drove the “Dragon Wagon”. After I got my licence, I drove the wagon, and Mom usually had a Camaro. We used the wagon for regular trips to the cottage in the summer, and skiing in the winter.
This was my favourite series of Buick wagon, with the power-operated clamshell rear tailgate and window that opened upwards into the roof.
This was just before SUVs started to become popular, and they were the premium ride for long trips too.
Back then, the speed limit was 70 MPH on multi-lane highways and police did not usually bother with anything under 90 MPH. The 455 had no trouble cruising at 90, fully loaded, with the 8-track blaring. With the sumptuous brocade interior, soft floaty suspension, and vague power steering these cars handled like a hovercraft. By modern standards, the steering and stopping ability would now be considered dangerous at higher speeds. The 455ci ,4-barrel, combined the 3 speed Turbo 400 transmission, usually also meant well less than 10MPG if you had the hammer
down.
I recall most of the Estate wagons having the fake wood paneling on the side and rear, so I wonder if the subject car ever had it. It appears to be a really nice specimen, that is well-optioned, including the “turning lights” on the front fenders. If it were local, I would be tempted to relive my youth.
Woodgrain was optional on these
A buddy and I took our drivers license tests at the same time at age 16 as we were 4 days apart in age. I drove mom’s 72 Grand Prix with a hood the size of a aircraft carrier (I wanted to take pop’s GTO but mom looked at me like I had two heads) and he drove his mom’s brand new, 1500 mile Buick Deuce and a Quarter (225) sedan. Our moms let us take the cars to school afterwards, so we dropped them off at home and headed back to class. My buddy didn’t show up and I figured the turd cut class and was cruising around without me. I found out after school he was on his way to class, lost control and rolled it several times in a median strip on a divided highway by our school. The OSP figured he was doing over a hundred when he lost it. He was banged up a little bit but ok, his moms car was totally destroyed. It was so bad it was a wonder he survived at all, let alone basically unhurt. The OSP trooper asked for his license and he hands it over. According to him the officer said “I see you just got this today son” to which my buddy said, all proud of himself “Yes sir, I sure did” The OSP officer said “Well, you won’t need this for awhile ” and put it in his pocket. I laughed my ass off about that part, it was a classic and I was grateful my buddy was ok. I was also glad that it wasn’t me that totalled mom’s car. He didn’t get his license back til he was eighteen.
A/C belt missing, bad sign.
A rising tide (of bids) lifted this boat lol!
I had a ’72 LeSabre 4 door sedan with a 455.
That thing would get up & go!When you came out
of a corner & punched it,there was no hesitation.It
got about the same mileage as a 350,but would run
forever.
You could almost climb down into the engine –
compartment to work on it.
Todd, respectfully, wouldn’t the Vista Cruiser wagon be from Oldsmobile and Buick’s midsize wagon in ‘72 be the Sportwagon? Just asking…
NHDave – of course! No excuse for that mistake. I corrected it above. Thanks!
Yes. Buick had the #1) Sportwagon ) Estate wagon while Oldsmobile had the #1) Vista Cruiser & #2) Custom Cruiser.
I had a 72. I would get 20 MPG on the highway with the a/c on it dropped to 17. Around town I was lucky if I got 9 MPG. It was a really nice highway cruiser. My friends called it the Queen Mary.
The smoothest riding beasts on the land, punch that gas pedal and watch the needles do battle, Speedo to the right, gas gauge to the left, every option in the world, w a great 8 track tape playing, probably cheaper to fuel a 747 for that NY to Florida trip
I love the station wagon from America
1960
You can do everything with it
The design
Great story
This days the car has no personality anymore
Awesome looking car. Although not my favourite year for the car, my favourite is the 1971 Estate, it’s still a great looking wagon. The only upgrade I’d give it would be to the temperature gauge. Instead of the usual warning lights, I’d upgrade to needle gauges.
But for the lack of power windows I would go buy it! I drove a ‘73 Centurion convertible for most of 20 years and my uncle had the Pontiac Safari version of this beautiful station wagon. They are comfortable, durable and thirsty!
Miles per gallon? How about blocks per gallon?
Looking closer at this vehicle, it’s lack of power windows, doors or factory 8 track, my interest is diminished, at that point he or she could have gotten a Chevy w a454 and some options, that’s an awful lot of windows to crank up, doors to lock, and roads to travel with only AM radio
That’s an astute observation. How could a huge BUICK wagon of this size NOT have power windows?
Quite possibly the original owners might’ve had small children and didn’t them to hurt themselves playing with the power windows. At the time Ford/Mercury were the only ones that had a power window lock out. When I found strange was it was equipped with an AM radio not an AM/FM radio
I would guess the original owner had a large family..probably worked two jobs to support them. Buying a wagon to cart them around in was expensive enough, so one could understand why he would forego the unnecessary options. I’m sure he kids didn’t have a problem rolling up the windows by hand, and AM radio back then carried the most listened to stations anyway.
That is not a 454, it is indeed the Buick 455! My aunt had one with the woodgrain, why she ever let us teenagers take off in that car is beyond me! Wore out a lot of tires!
Definitely a 455, Bill, but I was vague originally, so I have added the word “incorrectly” to be more clear. I have had good times in both 454-powered Chevrolet vehicles and 455 Buicks. Both are great, but this is the correct and perfect engine for this car. I’ve often wondered how a 455 sedan or wagon might compare to a full-sized SUV MPG with the ideal compression ratio, 3.x rear gears, modern carb-style EFI like Holley Sniper, and overdrive. Thanks for requesting the clarification!
I had a slightly fancier 73 Estate Wagon. Mine had power everything, full leather, and the 3rd row seat, so could seat 9. Mine also had the fake woodgrain. I paid $1200 for it when it was about 10 years old. It was in perfect condition, and absolutely beautiful car. I used it to pull a travel trailer from Texas to Toronto, all the way to Nova Scotia, back down through Maine, and back to Texas. I don’t remember how many gallons per mile it got, but it never missed a lick. Truly a pleasure to drive. I drove it for a number of years and sold it for $1600. Wish I had kept it.
I absolutely love the GM wagons of ’71 through ’76 with the power clamshell tailgate. I had a ’73 Caprice Estate in ’75. I don’t understand how they could discontinue that magical tailgate. In the downsized wagons of the 80s it morphed into drop tailgate/swing out door and morphed again to the horrible lift gate, which we still have on today’s SUVs.
I took my driver’s test in the Chevy version of this dreadnaught: a 1971 Kingswood Estate wagon. It was either that battleship or my dad’s 1968 Pontiac Tempest “Custom”–the only option making it earn that moniker being the 350 V8. No power steering, no power brakes–not even a clock in the empty binnacle. So my parents figured it would be easier to do the test in the wagon, rather than the Tempest with no power options. And yes, I parallel-parked successfully and passed!
I drove a blue ’76 Estate Wagon for a few years. Mine came with the rallye wheels, and I added a chrome roof rack later on. It came from a Pontiac in a salvage yard. The only real issue I had with the car was its tendency to overheat on the highway. I loved the tailgate, and don’t understand why that is not still a feature on cars. Such a nice touch.
Imagine the mpg(& “performance”) of a ’75 with VERY HEAVY front & rear 5mph bumpers & very restrictive pellet cat converter. lol
Got gas!?!