1996 Buick Roadmaster

Estate Wagon with Limited package Wagon

5.7L 350Cu. In. V8 GAS OHV Naturally Aspirated

Automatic

1g4br82p2tr414058

Clear

Gasoline

1996 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon with 39K original miles- This is the Collector’s Edition which is the final and best year of the Roadmaster. Unfortunately, it was also the end of Buick’s superior vehicles and the venerable rear wheel drive. This Buick bought new by the President of a local aircraft manufacturer for his wife who was in her 60s. About 10 years later, her husband bought her a Lexus, that she did not want, but she would not let him sell her wagon. A few years passed and she was using the Lexus and the Buick regularly had a dead battery from lack of use and I was able to buy it. I have owned if for 7 years and put just over 2,000 miles on her in that time. As long as I have owned this Buick, it has never spent the night outside. All Roadmasters in 1996 were factory built with the legendary LT1, 350 engine producing 260 fuel injected horsepower. This was GM's top of the line engine for 1996 and a similar LT1 was also in the 1996 Corvette with 300 horsepower. Built with body on frame and rear wheel drive, Buick stopped building cars like this and was bankrupt a dozen years later- coincidence? I think not. This car was never a children hauler. The original owner's children were grown by the time this car was purchased for her. I have no way to confirm but I am not sure anyone ever rode in the back seat until I owned it. I personally removed the factory plastic over the 3rd row seat so my confidence is high that this seat was never used before my ownership. This was our "Sunday Car" during the heat of July and August when a convertible is unbearably hot and a comfortable, air conditioned cruiser is in order. As my wagon is the “Limited” (top of the line), it had automatic factory options such as electric seats, armrest with cup holder, leather wrapped steering wheel, remote keyless entry, power driver and passenger seats, twilight sentinel for automatic headlights and cornering lamps. This Buick has the "Vista" style sunroof (fixed sunroof over the second-row seats) with both sun shades present and working properly and third-row seat (tail gunner). Dual air bags, factory dual stainless steel exhaust are also present. The car has been a lifelong Kansas car so no rust. I have the original window sticker and this was a fully loaded Buick for its day. Additional cost options include the Limited Package, beige leather seating, trailer towing package (which included heavy duty cooling system including oil and transmission coolers), limited slip differential and more. I believe everything works properly. The A/C is ice-cold (I have had it serviced with a new compressor), automatic climate control works perfectly, radio and power antenna work, all interior/exterior lights illuminate, the third row opens/folds like new and the dual functioning tailgate (it will fold down like a tailgate or out like a door) operates as factory intended. When you look at these cars for sale, you rarely see the factory floor-mats in the photos. Why? The front seat floor-mats have factory installed snaps that attach to the factory carpet. After years of use, the factory floor-mats wear out and no one I can find is making exact reproductions. This wagon has a set of floor mats in good shape and will come with a partial extra used set I have been able to collect. Additionally, the rubber strips in the chrome along the belt line were factory installed with double sided tape. After years, the double sided tape fails and pieces of the rubber strip are missing on many of these vehicles. Mine are all present which is imperative as factory replacements are not available. The paint is called “Dark Jadestone Metallic” and is in remarkable original condition for its age. (Mostly due to careful ownership and spending fundamentally all its life in a building rather than the sun.) However, the paint is 20 years old and is not perfect. The vinyl woodgrain has a few places where after almost 20 years, the vinyl has failed. (See attached photos) These largest is about the size of a quarter. You have to look for these spots and almost no one would notice these if they were not detailing or judging this vehicle. I have provided a photo of what I think is the worst of the wood grain spots. I am a persnickety person when it comes to things such as this but it really does not bother me as the car is so wonderful and irreplaceable. The interior is in very good shape. The carpet had some coffee stains in the front seat from the original owner and I have had those professionally cleaned. The carpet looks good but it is 20 years old so it is not perfect. Shoes etc. have been on it and the car is used so it is not showroom new. However, it is darn nice and meets my standards. The driver's seat shows some wear but I don't think the rest do. This is a remarkable car that I love but must reduce the quantity of vehicles I own. Frankly, this is one of my favorite cars and one of my adult children’s least favorite and thus why it must be sold. (I can’t help that this younger generation does not have taste in great cars.) The vehicle is not brand new and if you have any questions, it is available for an inspection prior to bid closing. Sold as is and where is.