My "new" Roadmaster wagon

"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher) 10/23/2015 at 12:00 • Filed to: Wagons Ho!

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It’s been a week since I promised more details and pictures on my new purchase. It’s a ‘94 Buick Roadmaster “Estate Wagon”, powered by an LT-1 350 V8. It has 156k miles on it, and was owned by a friend of mine for the last 14 years or so. My friend is a retired auto shop teacher, so this thing is mechanically sorted as you can expect for a nearly 22 year old car. He did quite a bit of work to it before he would to sell it to me. It’s a very well optioned car as well. As far as I can tell, the only option it doesn’t have is a CD player. My favorite option that it does have, and I was very happy to discover this, is the towing package. This bad-boy is rated to tow 7000 pounds! My ‘06 Sierra crew cab is only rated to tow 5700 pounds. Of course it also has the sweet sweet rear facing bench seat. All this for only $1700!

Here is my first “mod”. It has a couple of OK cup holders in the center arm rest, but these are far superior.

The ABS hasn’t worked in nobody knows how long.

But now I don’t have to look at that pesky warning light!

It has spent it’s whole life in Illinois and Indiana, so it does have some rust. Most of it is just cosmetic, but there was a hole in the base of the B-pillar. I was going to pass on the car because of that, but my friend called in a favor from a local body shop and got it repaired.

Here is the only nasty part on the exterior.

The only real ... problem ... is the base of the spare tire well.

Here’s my “repair”. I’ll get this repaired for real eventually, but now I don’t have to worry about the spare dropping onto the road in the meantime.

Immediately after buying it, I took it on a 300 mile road trip to a teaching conference. It drove like a dream, and I didn’t have a single problem with it. I’ve been driving it to work every other day. It’s not fast, but it has a lovely low end torque curve, and is plenty quick off the line to put a smile on my face. I’ll do a full review one of these days, but suffice to say while it has its flaws, I LOVE this stupid car!

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > shop-teacher 10/23/2015 at 12:06

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These cars are seriously on my “to buy” list. It has more interior space than my Elantra wagon did (shocking amount of space for such a small car), is more comfortable than any car I’ve owned, is body on frame so tough as nails, and can tow my racecar. Drop a newer engine and manual swap and it should be set as my utility vehicle for decades.

CalzoneGolem > shop-teacher 10/23/2015 at 12:10

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I love these but I’d just want to take of that paneling and paint it a much more sinister color.

jariten1781 > shop-teacher 10/23/2015 at 12:22

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Also fits 4x8 sheets with the hatch closed. Modern trucks and city vans can't do that and it drives me nuts. Why the long wheel base version of the Transit Connect et al weren't designed for that just astounds me.

shop-teacher > CalzoneGolem 10/23/2015 at 12:28

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I’m torn on either doing that ... or leaving it as-is and building it into a sleeper.

shop-teacher > jariten1781 10/23/2015 at 12:30

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As it turns out, that is a bold faced lie told to us through generations of internet. With the hatch closed and the seats down, there’s 87” clear to the back of the front seats.

shop-teacher > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 10/23/2015 at 12:31

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Indeed! As tempting as a manual swap is, this thing is made for an automatic. I’m going to leave it.

Don’t get me wrong, you should buy one of these and manual swap it!

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > shop-teacher 10/23/2015 at 12:32

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I want a manual because longevity. And I hate autos. Mine will end up racking up miles with 2500 lbs of racecar and trailer in tow, and I don’t trust autos with that.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > shop-teacher 10/23/2015 at 12:33

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Only 8 inches off. Pull your seat forward.

jariten1781 > shop-teacher 10/23/2015 at 12:37

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My life is a lie.

Haha, that was in every single review back in the day. Seriously, I think it was a requirement to mention it for the Caprice/Roadmaster/Custom Cruiser.

shop-teacher > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 10/23/2015 at 12:38

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11 inches ... Cut your legs off? :)

shop-teacher > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 10/23/2015 at 12:39

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Whatever works for you! It’ll be awesome!!!

shop-teacher > jariten1781 10/23/2015 at 12:40

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I know!

At least the wheel wells are far enough apart to fit the sheet in. Letting the end sit on the tailgate is no big deal IMO.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > shop-teacher 10/23/2015 at 12:41

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Jeez I’m an idiot. Are 4x8 boards really 4X8 though? For example, 2x4s are really more like 1.5x3.5

shop-teacher > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 10/23/2015 at 12:44

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Yeah, 4’ x 8’ sheets of plywood are actually 48” x 96”

OK, my maths is wrong too, the wagon is 9” too short.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > shop-teacher 10/23/2015 at 12:47

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I’m still curious about the seating position, though. Obviously you might not be able to fit with the seat all the way forward, but it isn’t really a lie if you can fit the 4x8 in there even if you can’t fit in with it.

CalzoneGolem > shop-teacher 10/23/2015 at 12:48

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A nice gunmetal gray and some fresh wood vinyl. Yum!

I’ll just leave this here.

jariten1781 > shop-teacher 10/23/2015 at 12:49

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Load floor to tailgate isn’t flat on the later ones though right? So if your moving drywall you’d have to rig up a structure to prevent it cracking no?

We had a Colony Park back in the 80s-early 90s and I know we transported 4x8 in it all the time...I thought the gate closed, but now I’m questioning my sanity...it wasn’t appreciably longer than the GMs.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > shop-teacher 10/23/2015 at 12:56

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We’ll have to line up that mini-race

shop-teacher > jariten1781 10/23/2015 at 13:01

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No, it’s flat.

shop-teacher > CalzoneGolem 10/23/2015 at 13:01

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Those Buick Ralley wheels look soooooo good!

shop-teacher > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 10/23/2015 at 13:02

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Definitely! :)

shop-teacher > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 10/23/2015 at 13:05

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It’s a lie! Lie lie lie!!!

Punk_Girl_98 > shop-teacher 10/23/2015 at 13:44

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OMG wow! My grandpa also had one of these. So cool congrats!

shop-teacher > Punk_Girl_98 10/23/2015 at 13:45

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Thank you!

JR1 > shop-teacher 10/23/2015 at 14:03

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I am not a fan of wagons but that is a nice ass wagon my friend.

shop-teacher > JR1 10/23/2015 at 14:50

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Why thank you sir!

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > shop-teacher 10/23/2015 at 15:05

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Always thought these were neat.

fryguy > shop-teacher 10/23/2015 at 18:02

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Definition: ENVY - a feeling of covetousness with regard to another’s possession. Does the rear “gate”swing out and fold down?

shop-teacher > fryguy 10/23/2015 at 18:57

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The gate is supposed to do both, but only swing out actually works :)

mazda616 > shop-teacher 10/23/2015 at 20:27

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Dude. This is awesome. I love these things. Always have!

shop-teacher > mazda616 10/23/2015 at 21:26

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Thanks!

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > shop-teacher 10/24/2015 at 16:50

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I approve so hard. Head swap time? Head swap time.

shop-teacher > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 10/24/2015 at 17:03

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We’ll see, it’s tempting. For now I’m just going to drive the shit out of this thing :)

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > shop-teacher 10/24/2015 at 18:00

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Do some exhaust things to it. Your ear holes will thank you.

shop-teacher > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 10/24/2015 at 18:45

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My ear holes do need moar noise!

Dunnik > shop-teacher 11/01/2015 at 10:18

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I do believe its missing its Buick hood ornament?

My very first car was an older, smaller cousin of yours, a 1986 Buick Century Limited Estate Wagon. Was a woody as well, but sadly only had the old 2.8L V6. Interesting that both cars are a decade apart and yet your Roadmaster looks much the same: the switchgear, I know, is from the GM parts bin.

Funny it doesn’t come with cup-holders. At this point one might have thought it was a federal law in the US: all cars must come with them. Its as if you’re driving an 1983 635 CSi instead of an American station wagon.

Looking forward to the full Oppo review! You’ve seen the RCR video, I presume?

shop-teacher > Dunnik 11/01/2015 at 11:21

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It is indeed missing the hood ornament. I need to find one of those. It does actually have cupholders, they fold out from the center arm rest. They’re pretty shallow though, and the rubber holders in them are worn out. The switchgear though is indeed “classic” GM.

A full Oppo review will be coming soon!