Buick Estate

Buick Estate Wagon
Overview
Manufacturer	Buick (General Motors)
Also called	Buick Electra Estate Buick LeSabre Estate
Production	1970–1990
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size car
Body style	4-door station wagon
Layout	FR layout

The Estate Wagon was a line of full-sized station wagons manufactured by Buick, the second-tier division in the General Motors' hierarchy. As the premier division, Cadillac, offered no station wagon,^[1] the Estate Wagon was GM's most expensive and most fully equipped entry in the market.

Early history

Buick used the "Estate" name to denote their station wagons.

The first Buick Estate used a wooden body and was offered on the 1940 Super model, and was shared with the Oldsmobile Series 60. It was available on Buick's B-body Special series in 1941 and 1942, and later on Buick's larger C-body (Roadmaster and Super) in the 1946–53 model years. From 1954 to 1958 it was only offered on the smaller B-body Century and Special, with all steel bodies. Among these were hardtop Estate Wagons called Caballero that were offered only in 1957 and 1958.

From 1959 through 1964 the Estate Wagon was still offered on the "B-body" which had been renamed Invicta and LeSabre. In 1965, the Estate Wagon was replaced by the new, smaller "A-body" Buick Sport Wagon, making the "B body" Chevrolet Impala Estate and the Pontiac Safari the only full-sized GM station wagons until 1970.

1940s

• 

  1941 Buick Special Estate

1950s

• 

  1950 Buick Roadmaster Estate

• 

  1952 Buick Super Estate

• 

  1953 Buick Super Estate, last of the genuine "woodies"

• 

  1955 Buick Special Estate

• 

  1956 Buick Special Estate

• 

  1958 Buick Century Caballero Estate hardtop

1960s

• 

  1964 Buick LeSabre Estate

• 

  1966 Buick Skylark Sport Wagon

• 

  1967 Buick Skylark Sport Wagon Custom

• 

  1969 Buick Skylark Sport Wagon

1970

First generation
Overview
Model years	1970
Assembly	Flint, Michigan, USA
Designer	Bill Mitchell
Body and chassis
Platform	B-body
Related	Buick Wildcat Buick LeSabre Oldsmobile 88 Pontiac Bonneville Pontiac Executive Pontiac Catalina Chevrolet Caprice Chevrolet Impala Chevrolet Bel Air Chevrolet Biscayne
Powertrain
Engine	455 cu in (7.5 L) Buick V8
Transmission	3-speed TH-400, automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	124.0 in (3,150 mm)
Length	220.2 in (5,593 mm)
Curb weight	4,900–5,000 lb (2,200–2,300 kg)

The Buick Estate was introduced in 1970 as a separate series on the B-body like the LeSabre and the Wildcat and consequently shared their 124.0-inch (3,150 mm) wheelbase, basic body and interior. It was re-introduced as the top-level luxury station wagon for GM, and competed against the Mercury Colony Park, and Chrysler Town & Country. The LeSabre Custom's bright rocker, wheelhouse and rear lower fender moldings were used. Woodgrain was an option for the bodysides, incorporating the traditional "Sweepspear" feature. Interiors were all vinyl in a Custom grade. Despite being on the B-body it shared the Electra's Buick 455 V8 and four VentiPorts on the front fenders. This was Buick's first full-sized station wagon since 1964. The following year the Buick Estate would move up to Electra's larger body and more voluminous interior.

1971–1976

Second generation
1971 Buick Estate Wagon
Overview
Model years	1971–1976
Assembly	Flint, Michigan, USA
Designer	Bill Mitchell
Body and chassis
Platform	C-body B-body
Related	Buick Electra Oldsmobile 98 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser Pontiac Grand Safari Pontiac Safari Chevrolet Kingswood Estate Chevrolet Kingswood Chevrolet Townsman
Powertrain
Engine	455 cu in (7.5 L) Buick V8
Transmission	3-speed TH-400, automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	127.0 in (3,226 mm)
Length	1971: 226.8 in (5,761 mm) 1972: 228.3 in (5,799 mm) 1973: 229.5 in (5,829 mm) 1974: 231.1 in (5,870 mm) 1975–76: 231.8 in (5,888 mm)
Width	1971–72: 79.7 in (2,024 mm) 1973: 79.6 in (2,022 mm) 1974–76: 79.9 in (2,029 mm)
Height	1971–1973: 57.3 in (1,455 mm) 1974: 57.9 in (1,471 mm) 1975: 58.4 in (1,483 mm) 1976: 57.8 in (1,468 mm)
Curb weight	5,100–5,400 lb (2,300–2,400 kg)

Although from 1971 to 1976, the Buick Estate shared its 127.0-inch (3,230 mm) C-body wheelbase with the Electra 225, all 1971–76 GM wagons were B-body-based per model numbers.^[2] The 1971–76 GM full-size bodies, at 64.3" front shoulder room and 63.4" rear shoulder room set a record for interior width that would not be matched by any car until the full-size GM rear-wheel drive models of the early to mid 1990s. The Estate also shared the Electra 225's interior and exterior styling from 1971 to 1974 (complete with the prerequisite four VentiPorts). Door trim and seats were not as plush in 1971–74 wagons and no door pull strap was included as it was on the Electra. And although from 1975 to 1976 the number of VentiPorts were reduced by one, and the front fascia was downgraded to a LeSabre's (as was door trim and seats), the Electra 225 style chrome rocker panel moldings and distinctive Electra 225 style rear quarter panels (albeit without fender skirts) remained. The taillights were different from both the LeSabre and the Electra in all of these years. These were the first Buick station wagons to be built on Buick's largest chassis since the Roadmaster Estates of 1947–53.

The Estate Wagons, as with other GM full-sized wagons during these years, used a rear suspension with multi-leaf springs instead of the coil springs used on other full-sized Buicks, and other full-sized GM cars.

The Estate Wagons also featured a new 'clamshell' tailgate design, marketed as the Glide-away Tailgate, where the rear power-operated glass slid up into the roof as the lower tailgate (manually or with power assist), slid into a recess under the cargo floor. Ultimately, the manual lower tailgate was supplanted by the power tailgate. The tailgate system was operated by switches on the instrument panel or a key switch on the rear quarter panel. Like a top-hinged tailgate, the clamshell design allowed a user to stand directly at the open cargo area without impediment, facilitating loading and unloading in tight spaces.

1974 Buick Estate Wagon

In its first year, 24,034 Estate Wagons were sold.^[3]

At 5,182 lb (2,351 kg) shipping weight, or about 5,400 lb (2,400 kg) curb weight, the three-seat 1974 Estate Wagons are easily the heaviest Buicks ever built, even heavier than the Buick Limited limousines of 1936–42. The 1975 and 1976 models were the longest station wagons ever built.^[4]

The Estate used the Buick 455 from 1971 to 1976 throughout. The last year that the Stage One high performance version, with high lift camshaft, enlarged ports, enlarged valves and dual exhaust was available was in 1974.

1977–1990

Third generation
Overview
Model years	1977–1990
Assembly	Arlington, Texas, USA
Body and chassis
Platform	B-body
Related	Buick Electra Buick LeSabre Oldsmobile 88 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser Pontiac Bonneville Pontiac Parisienne Pontiac Catalina Pontiac Safari Chevrolet Caprice
Powertrain
Engine	350 in³ Buick V8 307 in³ Oldsmobile V8 350 in³ LF9 diesel V8
Transmission	4-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	115.9 in (2,944 mm)
Length	220.5 in (5,601 mm)
Width	79.3 in (2,014 mm)
Height	59.3 in (1,506 mm)

In 1977, the Buick Estate was downsized and relaunched on General Motors' B-body. In 1979, an Estate Wagon Limited was offered with many extra cost options included as standard. To further differentiate the Limited model, fenders included four VentiPorts (up from three) and the interior had loose pillow designed seating.

1980s Buick Electra Estate Wagon

In 1980, body changes made the wagon more aerodynamic for better fuel efficiency. Also that year, the Electra Estate Wagon was introduced and replaced the Estate Wagon Limited while the 'base' model was now called the LeSabre Estate Wagon.

Although the Electra and LeSabre coupes and sedans had both switched to new front wheel drive platforms by 1986, the model names also continued to be used on the rear wheel drive wagons through 1989.

In 1990, its final year, the Electra and LeSabre model designations were dropped and the car was once again sold simply as the Estate Wagon. Although the Estate Wagon model was discontinued in 1990, the Estate trim designation continued on the mid-size Century and full-size Roadmaster station wagons through 1996.

1991–1996

1993 Buick Roadmaster Estate

Buick revived the Roadmaster name with the introduction of the Roadmaster Estate in 1991. A "Vista Roof", a fixed sunroof over the second row seats, was standard. Initially the Roadmaster Estate used Chevrolet's 5.0 L small-block V8, but used the larger 5.7 L version from 1992. In 1994 the 5.7 L LT1 engine with dual exhaust became standard, the same as used on the Impala SS and on Chevrolet police cars. A high-performance engine was last offered on a GM station wagon in 1974.

GM discontinued the Roadmaster Estate in 1996, ending production on December 13 of that year.^[5]

Notes

1. The Cadillac station wagon chassis was only manufactured for commercial hearse and ambulance use
2. 1976 Buick sales brochure says wagon models are 4BR35 and 4BR45. One telltale is the lower inside door trim which was hard plastic in 1971–76 B-bodies and padded vinyl in C-bodies. Wheelbase is not a good indicator of body; check rear legroom.
3. Flory, J. "Kelly", Jr. American Cars 1960–1972 (Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Coy, 2004), p. 793.
4. "12. What was the biggest station wagon ever made?". FAQ's. Stationwagon.com. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
5. Ward's Automotive Yearbook 1997. Ward's Communications, Inc. 1997.

Sources

• Flory, J. "Kelly", Jr. American Cars 1960–1972. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Coy, 2004.