Buick Estate

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Buick Estate
1941 Buick Special Estate Wagon
Manufacturer General Motors
Also called Buick Electra Estate
Buick LeSabre Estate
Production 1940–1990
Successor Buick Roadmaster Estate
Class Full-size station wagon
Electra Estate
1980s Buick Electra Estate
Production 1977–1990
Assembly Arlington, Texas
Body style(s) 4-door station wagon
Layout FR layout
Platform B-body
Engine(s) 350 in³ Buick V8
307 in³ Oldsmobile V8
350 in³ LF9 diesel V8
Transmission(s) 4-speed automatic
Wheelbase 115.9 in (2944 mm)
Length 220.5 in (5601 mm)
Width 79.3 in (2014 mm)
Height 59.3 in (1506 mm)
Related Buick Roadmaster
Buick Electra
Buick LeSabre
Chevrolet Caprice
Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser
Oldsmobile 88
Pontiac Bonneville
Pontiac Parisienne
Pontiac Safari
Pontiac Catalina

Buick used the Estate name on their full-size station wagons.

The first Estate Wagon was first offered on the 1940 Super model. It used a wooden body and was available in Buick's Special series in 1941 and 1942, and on Buick's larger "C" series (Super and Roadmaster) in the 1946-53 model years. Then it was offered the smaller "B" body Special, Century, LeSabre and Invicta with all steel bodies from 1954 to 1964. Among these were hardtop Estate Wagons called Caballero that were offered only in 1957 and 1958.

The model was reintroduced on the "B" body in 1970 and was simply called Estate Wagon.

From 1971 to 1976, the Estate Wagon was built on the "C" body platform and shared the innovative "clam shell" tailgate used on all full size wagons from General Motors. The 1974-1976 models were the largest station wagons ever built. [1]

In 1977, the Estate Wagon was downsized and relaunched on General Motor's "B" platform. 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 venta ports (up from three) and the interior had loose pillow designed seating. In 1980 body changes made the wagon more aerodynamic for better fuel efficiency. Also in 1980, the Electra Estate Wagon was introduced and replaced the Estate Wagon Limited. The 'base' model was called the LeSabre Estate Wagon.

A Buick Electra Estate Wagon was central to story in the 1987 film Adventures in Babysitting.

The last Estates were rear wheel drive B-bodies with a 115.9 in (2944 mm) wheelbase. The Electra Estate model name was used in 1988 and 1989 even though the Electra sedan used the front wheel drive C platform. The final year of Estate production, 1990, just used the Estate model name. The Estate was replaced with the B-body Roadmaster Estate Wagon for 1991. Though it used the "Estate" name, it is more commonly referred to, simply as the "Roadmaster".

The Estate used the Buick 455 from 1970 to 1976, and the Buick 350 from 1977 to 1980. After the Buick V8's discontinuation, the Estate came with either the Olds 307 or Olds 350 diesel.

1953 Buick Super Estate Wagon, last of the genuine "woodies"
1953 Buick Super Estate Wagon, last of the genuine "woodies"
1970 Buick Estate Wagon
1970 Buick Estate Wagon
1974 Buick Estate Wagon
1974 Buick Estate Wagon
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