STATION WAGONS

The September 2006 issue of Hemming's Classic Car Magazine features station wagons, and I am a big SW fan. I have owned 84 motor vehicles since I was 14 years old and 31 of them were station wagons or built to carry at least 7 persons. My second car was a 1922 Model T Ford "woodie" that started life as a taxi but was later converted into a delivery wagon. While living in Austria, I owned 9 Volkswagon busses, 7 German Ford wagons and 4 other station wagons.

Station wagons appeared nearly as early as passenger cars. In England, they were called "estate cars" and were status symbols of the wealthy, but in America, these vehicles were almost entirely used for commercial purposes or they were purchased for their utilitarian value. Because many served as taxis, bringing railroad passengers to or from the station, the term "station wagon" became the generic name for these vehicles.

THE BUICKS

Buick soon became renowned for its robust station wagons, which offered both roomy interiors and a comfortable ride. For decades, the top of the Buick line was normally the Roadmaster although the Buick Super actually surpassed the Roadmaster for a few years. For no explicable reason, General Motors eliminated the Roadmaster name from its palette in 1960 -- and along with it, those famous trademark portholes.

During the eighties, the mini-van became the vehicle of choice for many American families who needed extra cargo space or desired to transport more than 5 or 6 passengers. With front-wheel-drive, smaller motors and transmissions, these vans were cheaper to build and more fuel-efficient than most large station wagons. Recognizing this trend, American car manufacturers gradually ceased producing station wagons. Customers who were not especially infatuated with the minivans were offered gas-guzzling SUVs, which were fast becoming the new status symbol of affluent America. This trend shows that gas consumption was not really a major factor in the demise of the station wagon.

REBIRTH OF THE ROADMASTER

In 1991, Buick re-introduced the Roadmaster after a 30-year pause and its completely new station wagon was bigger and more powerful than ever. There were Chevrolet and Oldsmobile versions, but the Roadmaster Estate Wagon soon became recognized as the ultimate wagon of choice. The Oldsmobile was called "Custom Cruiser" and only built from 1991 and 1992. The popularity of GM wagons built between 1991 and 1996 shows that the big station wagon still had a strong following, but in 1996, General Motors ceased producing the station wagons a second time.

Mini-vans became plagued with technical problems and rust, but the Estate Wagons proved to be practical, durable and reliable. Although these vehicles were typical American body-on-frame, front-engine, rear drive design and the largest and most powerful station wagons ever produced worldwide, one aspect surprised even the most optimistic station wagon fans. Unlike earlier gas guzzling wagons, the Estate Wagons were found to be quite economical. Unless you insist on feeling all the power of that Corvette engine under the hood, an Estate Wagon can get 20 mpg in town and 25 mpg on trips!

With the rear seats folded down, you can transport a full 4x8 ft. sheet of plywood with the hatch closed. Try that with your van or SUV! If the grandchildren or cousins come to visit, your Estate Wagon can be transformed into a nine-passenger vehicle by opening a third bench seat tucked away in the cargo area. The rear door swings to the side and also flips down for easy access. Add to this a smoother and quieter ride than any van; highest comfort and every conceivable luxury, and you will begin to understand why these vehicles are still in great demand. A low-mileage Estate Wagon in good condition will bring $6,000 to $12,000 -- and the last ones were built more than a decade ago.

The Roadmaster wagon theme is emphasized by the vinyl wood trim on the sides and rear door. Stainless trim is highlighted by a black rub strip. A built-in, adjustable roof rack and cast alloy wheels are standard on all Estate Wagons. A loaded wagon includes the special climate control with outdoor temperature monitor, an AM/FM/CD radio, outside mirrors which can be de-iced and adjusted remotely by the driver, a compass in the rear view mirror, multiple power adjustments for the seats, shades for the moon roof and a baggage area cover. The standard wagon has a full complement of analog gauges, power windows and door locks, adjustable steering wheel and anti-lock brakes. When the turning signal is activated, at night, headlights shine around corners. You can order an optional towing package, which includes additional cooling and an automatic load leveling system. It is possible to safely tow up to 5000 pounds plus a full load in the wagon.

The 1991-1996 Roadmasters are powered by reliable fuel-injected GM V-8s. The 5.0 liter (305 cubic inch) was the only engine for ’91, but ’92-‘96 models were powered by the 5.7 liter (350 cubic inch) engine that was also installed in the Corvette. 1994 brought a new engine design with fuel injectors for each cylinder. The performance is better than that of the throttle body V8s of earlier models, but there have been a few problems with the electronics. The four-speed Hydramatic transmission shifts smoothly and is right for this vehicle. A Roadmaster will provide excellent transportation even after 300,000 miles of normal usage.

At 4540 pounds and 18 feet in length, the Estate Wagon is a behemoth of the road -- a true "Roadmaster."

The base price in 1993 was $ 23,850 and fully equipped, $ 28,347. Considering what you got for your money, this was a bargain. Many automobile enthusiasts believe that the '91-'96 Roadmaster Estate Wagons were the greatest cars ever produced by Buick.

Unfortunately, you can’t buy a new one today. The last big station wagons rolled off the assembly lines at General Motors in 1996 and the Roadmaster name was retired along with them.  If you want more than a 5-passenger car today, you must choose between a lightweight mini-van or gas-guzzling SUV.

If you are lucky, however, you can buy a low-mileage used Roadmaster for a fraction of what you would pay for a mini-van or SUV. And you will be much happier with it!

OUR "ROADIE WOODIES"

In October of 2002, we returned from Austria, where we had lived for over 38 years. In Austria, gas normally costs up to four times what we pay at American pumps, so we bought cars that were easy on fuel. We usually owned European or Japanese station wagons and VW vans. 

For our retirement years, we wanted a large station wagon and a small rancher. It took us three months to find the right house, but on our second day in America, we found a 1992 Roadmaster Estate Wagon. It had every conceivable extra and only 61,000 miles on the tachometer. Being a Florida car, it had no rust whatsoever and seemed the right choice for us. 

Midnight Blue '92

Crystal Blue '93

In June, 2005, Ralph saw a 1993 Roadmaster on e-Bay that no one was bidding on. Because it was located only a few miles from our home, he went to look at it. It was a very nice car, so he decided to bid $1500, not expecting to get it -- but he did! We parked it in the garage in event our other wagon died or was in an accident (pity the other car!). For more than a year we had both Roadmasters in the garage. One was in storage while the other piled up mile after mile without a complaint.

Burgundy '92

A year passed by and our first Roadmaster was still purring like a kitten. A minor oil drip developed and I had to keep newspaper under the transmission to catch the oil, but other than that, we had no complaints. When my wife backed into a telephone pole and dented the left rear quarter panel, I decided that the time was right to swap cars. It turned out differently than planned, however.

I saw a burgundy red 1992 Buick wagon on eBay with only 49,000 miles on it. We decided to sell the other two Roadmasters and buy this one. For one week, we had three Roadmasters in our driveway, but the blue ones were soon sold on eBay.

Roadmaster Estate Wagon #3

(Click on images to enlarge and press Return button after viewing the photo)

For 16 months we enjoyed our burgundy red Roadmaster with every intention of driving it until death do us part. During that period we never saw another car that we liked better.  But the car had no cruise control and my wife missed this feature. Why General Motors made such a luxurious car without cruise is difficult to understand!

In late October, I was searching eBay-Motors for small sailboats located within a close proximity of our home. You may think it strange that I should look under "eBay-Motors" for something that has no motor, but that is where eBay insists on placing them. I have complained to eBay about this, but my protests fall on deaf ears. It seems to be the aim of eBay to confuse customers and frustrate sellers.

I have my eBay portal set to sort items according to the time remaining on auctions. My search showed a Roadmaster Estate Wagon near the top of the list, and out of curiosity, I clicked on it. The car was very similar to ours and although the starting bid was low, no one was bidding on it.  I checked the details. The burgundy color was darker and the interior was beige - not as attractive as the car we were driving. It also had 20,000 more miles on it, but everything else looked good.

My wife entered the room and I showed her the car. She asked, "Does it have cruise?"

It did.

She said, "Bid on it!"

I did.

A few minutes later we were the proud owners of two burgundy Roadmaster wagons!

Roadmaster #4

(Click on images to enlarge and press Return button after viewing the photo)

Roadmaster #3 is Sold!

We sold our nice 1992 burgundy-red station wagon to a man who already had three Roadmaster wagons!