Cross Country Cruiser: 1996 Buick Roadmaster Wagon
When the 1996 Buick Roadmaster rolled off the production line, it marked the end of an era. That year saw the end of the line for the Roadmaster and signaled the death of the full-sized estate car in the USA. Barn Finder Pat L spotted this nice looking ’96 Wagon for us, so thank you for that Pat. The owner has been using the vehicle for car-pooling but doesn’t need it anymore, so is offering it for sale for $2,900. If you are interested in the Roadmaster, it is located in the Cincinnati region of Ohio and is listed for sale here on Craigslist.
It really doesn’t seem like 1996 was that long ago, but 23-years have rolled by since this Buick was fresh and shiny. Those years haven’t been unkind to the car, and it does present really well. There are a number of marks and scrapes in the wood-grain, but these should be able to be fixed without any major problems, while the paint itself looks quite good. The owner states that the Buick has covered 79,600 miles, but doesn’t mention any proof of this.
The interior of the Buick is also in good condition. The upholstery on the seats is stretched, but I don’t actually find this to be a bad thing. This should make the seats feel more comfortable and “broken in” rather than hard and unsupportive. There is some wear visible on the wheel rim, but even this isn’t too bad. In the next photo down, you will see that the car is also fitted with a 3rd row of seats, which face backward. The car is fitted with driver and passenger airbags, air conditioning (not working), power seats, power windows, cruise control, and a tilt wheel.
There are no photos of the engine, but the owner does say that it is the original V8. That would be the 350ci engine, producing 260hp. The transmission is a 4-speed automatic, while the Roadmaster should also be fitted with power steering and power brakes. For what is essentially a large family wagon, the Buick is also something of a surprise package. The combination of those horses and an aerodynamically efficient body resulted in the wagon being able to cover the ¼ mile in around 16 seconds and to reach a top speed of 139mph. Those figures are quite impressive in anyone’s language.
I know that this Buick Roadmaster Wagon is not to everyone’s taste, but it is a car that holds a certain amount of historical significance. It is also a car that is comfortable, relatively luxurious, and it is capable of carrying a good load of people, shopping, luggage, or a combination of all of these items. It would also be a comfortable cross-country cruiser if you have an overwhelming desire to release your inner Clark Griswold. So, anyone up for a trip to Walley World?
Auctions Ending Soon
1981 Chevrolet Silverado K20 4X4Bid Now3 days$4,500
1963 Ford Country Squire WagonBid Now3 days$100
1989 Dodge Daytona ShelbyBid Now3 days$100
1991 Dodge Spirit R/TBid Now3 days$100
Comments
This is one of the nicer ones I’ve seen. I was expecting beige leather. The Bordeaux was a nice surprise.
These are getting pretty good money these days, and if it is really 79k miles and there is not a ton of hidden rust that is a great price. The “white woody” is the most common color for these by far, but Baky is right they usually have the tan interior.
Road trip! This thing is a smoking deal! 139 MPH, well, not sure about that. Should be sold by now.
I’d want to daily drive this, but I’d hate to kill it with harsh New England road salt..these really appeal to me. I was learning how to drive when they were new. Buick had the best of the bunch IMO, just like with the Regal/GN
This would make a great daily driver! I
can just hear my back thanking me mile
after luxurious mile. I can also see Mom
accidentally mashing the gas and doing
a smokin’ hot burnout while leaving church after the service lets out! I’ll have
to make sure to tell her just how touchy
that go pedal really is. Would be a good
car to haul her scooter too. So what if
it’s not perfect, but it would be just right
for haulin’ my crowd around in style.
Might even put a toolbox in the back for
old time’s sake. BTW, it was 78° here today Mike, hope you and yours are
staying warm up there in cheeseland.
LOL Ken! Thanks buddy! 0 here tonight. I got Limburger though and Huber Bock. Hey I got the word from my big brother I can come down there. The funeral is over. I will send an email when I know more. Nice to see you posting again, hope all is well with you and your familily, take care, Mike. Oh 78°. Must be nice!
If this were closer…
One heck of a deal!
If this was close to me I’d have it along with my white 94 Roadmaster Limited. They would work great together.
no surprise – already sold
Hagerty has put these wagons on its top 10 list to watch in 2019!! I sure like mine!!
I’ve been wanting a Riviera from about the same time frame, but this would be much more usable, and with the V8, very enjoyable.
The ’96 has the Corvette LT-1 engine and I think I see “collector’s Edition” badge on the hood ornament. 1996 is the final and most desirable year of these, and to find one under 100,000 miles after 23 years is amazing. Way under-priced.
Wonderful cars! The only caveat is where it is. High potential for a lot of rust underneath.
Totally Love Mine
I love my 87 Buick station wagon.It came out of central N.C. so there is no rust. Its better for food shopping with its two way tail gate, better than trying to load everything in to my dodge P.U. truck. Bruce.
I prefer the instrument cluster with full gauge package and the TBI 350 of my 1993 RMW. 377k miles, still strong and rust free.
I’ve owned four different “species” of this body style from a ’92 Olds to two Chevy Caprices and finally a ’95 Buick Estate. That was the best car I ever owned. Ran and drove like a dream, could haul a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood or a huge amount of other ‘stuff’. Would turn around on a typical neighborhood 2 way street and get 22 miles per gallon on the highway. I had my ’95 Caprice up to 108 miles per hour when the governor shut me down, a safety measure put in by GM because of factory tire limits. Great cars with the LT-1 engine.