This Buick Electra Estate Station Wagon was the Ultimate American Family Truckster - Full Review

[@landyachtfan79]

My 1st grade teacher, Mrs. O'Donnell, had a gray 1983 Buick Electra Estate Wagon that we both dubbed "The Irish Buick", & I will never forget the afternoon she took me out to Salem Willows in Salem, MA in it!!!! One of the most comfortable cars that you will ever have the pleasure of driving or riding in!!!!!

[@erinfreize]

Might be the best surviving American Wagons from the 80's. Really well optioned and cared for, definitely a collectible gem!

[@buckgonsalvez384]

The cool wagon , screw those crossovers we have today !

[@scootergreen3]

Buck Gonsalvez I agree! I hate those ugly SUVS! Love the old cars.

[@buckgonsalvez384]

@@scootergreen3 Thx for your comment , umm these wagons have a soft spot in my heart my parents owned Chevy Caprice's and Pontiac Parisienne wagons over the years when I was a kid .. Be safe during these tough times !

[@scootergreen3]

Buck Gonsalvez, Very Nice, my parents owned a 1970s F-85 Cutless, and a 70s Chevy El camino a 68 Olds Toronado, a 75 Toronado and I had a 74 Monte Carlo. We were GM. Thanks!

[@fordmustang98guy]

I’ve driven a blue 1988 Buick Electra Estate Wagon looks like this one these old wagons drive so nice 👍

[@javahedz]

These great ol buggies ROCK!! These “downsized” B bodies actually drove and handled pretty nicely. You could push them pretty hard and never lose it. The “”85 mph speedo”. My 83 Delta 88 would MAYBE do 85 with a tailwind and the pedal on the floor for long enough to give you leg cramps, but I LOVED it!!

[@anthonybertone2336]

My daily dose of Bill I I couldn’t live without it

[@davidfoley9642]

I totally get it. That's how I am with my coffee. I just wish it could be ice cream.

[@ryansolomon8184]

Most beautiful car ever! Nothing today comes anywhere close to it. I'd buy that car in a heartbeat if I could.

[@TVHouseHistorian]

Who knew 30 years ago that these would be something of a special interest car? Back then, it was just a family saloon you saw driving around the suburban landscape by moms who wouldn't allow their husbands to buy a Chevy Suburban. What a great video, and such a special car. What made this even more interesting was little history lesson you gave us. Your sarcastic humor with the airplane made me shoot my morning coffee all over my computer screen, but I'll forgive you for that this time. At least now when I come back to your channel I can't say I wasn't warned. I tip my hat to you, good sir.

[@weathp]

“If the kids smoke there’s an ash tray” Hilarious!

[@scootergreen3]

Ha ha! I wondered about that too.

[@EMObeamer]

I busted a gut. My dad would lay down in the back with the back door open and his head at the tail gate end and you guessed it, smoke while the kids were at the beach, or camping on playing the park, whatever. Miss ya Dad.

[@hugoforest3946]

Pro tip : watch series at flixzone. Me and my gf have been using it for watching loads of movies during the lockdown.

[@kacealan3619]

@Hugo Forest Yea, have been using flixzone} for months myself :D

[@devinkairo2966]

@Hugo Forest Yup, I've been using flixzone} for months myself =)

[@242HP]

Bill, I think you're wrong about the wagon in National Lampoon's Vacation. I'm nearly positive that was a (heavily modified) 8th generation Ford Country Squire wagon, not a Chevy Caprice wagon. Our family had two of them in the mid 70s: a 1974 and a 1976. I preferred the side-facing rear seats to the rear-facing seat in the GM wagons. One of our wagons even had a magnetic checkers table that fit between the two rear seats.

[@aichaudh]

What shame, missed one of the coolest features of these wagons at @7:27, the tailgate door could swing out OR fold down! With the door closed either the driver would lower the window or you would use the key to lower the window. Then you would reach over and pull/twist the silver handle on the inside middle of door. You can see it at @7:33 and the tailgate would swing DOWN! Made it much easier to load/unload large boxes or furniture!

[@cletisfox772]

Your commentary absolutely kills me

[@galil_6863]

This is one of those cars that we all want to buy even though we have no idea what we'd do with it 😂

[@dwderp]

This wagon has a two way tailgate. Pull the outside handle, and it swings out. Lower the glass and pull the inside handle, and it drops down flat. It's magic. Just like this car. What a gem.

[@pdennis93]

Truckster was based on a 1979 Ford country squire FYI.

[@EMObeamer]

Which is part LTD

[@emily8878]

This car is a flashback to my childhood. Thank you for posting this! The commentary was great!

[@davidfoley9642]

Bill, you're genuine. Yeah, you're a salesman, you're showing a car, but it's more like you're with one of your buddies, not a stranger. Keep it up. Don't lose it. 👍

[@joe6096]

The wagon in National Lampoon is an ‘81 Ford LTD Crown Vic Country Squire, not any GM product. And if you roll down the tailgate window using the key (turn and hold) and release the tailgate from the inside release handle, it does in fact fold down.

[@epicon6]

I live in Finland and this was the only American car we had and i’m so glad we had it!!!

[@jpp9846]

"your Canadians back here are going to be really, really chipper" 😂 I wish I knew what this was all about

[@shizuokaBLUES]

I’m canadian and I didn’t get it either. Still don’t.

[@smithraymond09029]

In several videos he explains how many years ago, when he was a car salesman, Canadians who would have summer homes in Florida, would tend to pile people into the backseat of their cars regardless of what make or model they where driving. Just an odd observation on his part that he references with his "Canadians will be chipper back here" comments.

[@michaelmedart7430]

Thanks for the fantastic ride & review Bill. I always click to watch these vids from you when it's a classic all-American land yacht. You make me laugh so much watching these!

[@janickgoudeau6126]

Pretty sure the rear door has a 2 stage latch so we can swing open or it can fold down

[@pdennis93]

Yes it swings down via the inside door handle if the rear window is down.

[@MaiMyTie]

Yep, it does. My mother had one of these.

[@marypagan3366]

I had one and loved it; door opened two ways. Had ice melt feature on the back window.

[@janickgoudeau6126]

What goes on within the Electra shooting brake, stays with the Buick Electra shooting brake...What a car she is! I dig the fins. I think it's a filmore...

[@EMObeamer]

Odd Bill didn't catch that and notice how he wasn't willing to fold the bottom half of the back seat first to lay the middle seat down and show the actual massive cavity of space that was back there with the seats all the way flat.

[@davidsimon6998]

Ahhhh..the memories. My parents had Ford Country Squires through the 70's and then (Hold onto your hat Bill) not one, but TWO GM diesel's - an Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser and then a Pontiac Bonneville Safari. But the memories it does bring back. The trips to Florida, the way way back and my parents used their station wagons as little delivery vehicles for their business. Wish I had a station wagon if for no other reason to show my kids what traveling around in one of those is really like (no back A.C., no fuel injection, etc.) Great video's and enjoy them!

[@andrewsmactips]

“I’m not gonna say impossible, but I’m going to use the word: Impossible. “ Priceless.

[@toddgiambruno]

Thank you Bill! I'm 50 and grew up with these bodied GMs. Mom had a 1980 Pontiac Bonneville Brougham with 5.7 Diesel, don't laugh!! I sure do miss automobiles with almost infinite trim and color choices and PERSONALITY!! Thank you for your hard work.

[@neurospicywitch80]

Wow, this took me back to my late 80s/early 90s childhood! My grandparents had this EXACT 89 Buick wagon. Same color scheme and tan leather interior, and I remember riding in that rear facing third row seat many times. I think the only little difference I noticed is that my grandpa had the option with the little dash-mounted floating compass. So cool!

[@outthewaydre6450]

Best commentary & best cars on KZbin..... no question 💯 a wonderful history lesson.Thanks

[@Slider68]

You mentioned that some rear doors opened like tailgates. Actually ALL of these wagons had rear door/tailgate combo's, including this one. If you wind the window down and then use the inside handle the rear door will open as a tailgate. If you open the door using the exterior handle it opens as a large door.

[@weegeemike]

I thought most if not all of these 80s GM B body wagons had this combination! I was so confused when he said it only opened as a side-hinged door😂

[@carlos31302]

Great looking vehicle and your commentaries are very good but in all honesty I watch your videos for the hilarious banter. I needed a good chuckle during this Corona Virus lockdown. Thanks!

[@jaysmith6013]

Yep, count me in the list of American families who had a big old station wagon growing up an early 80s kid! Awesome memories of the whole family piling in for a road trip every summer. My dad didn’t have the Buick, we had the caprice wagon, but I’d argue still a similar experience

[@jaysmith6013]

Wow this is just such a clean and well preserved car!

[@aarongranda7825]

Not even close to a 71 estate wagon. That was a true beast.

[@jimellison6157]

I know exactly what he’s talking about. I use to have a 1987 Chevy Caprice 8 passenger wagon. It was a great highway car. It also got good gas mileage on trips. It’s good too see a wagon like this is still around.

[@JeffreyRandell]

Gorgeous!! I Remember riding in the back of one of these when I was a kid!

[@tdiscbetween]

I love GM & Ford wagons from this era

[@jamesfrench7299]

They are so similar!!

[@tyler2610]

Me too, but Buick is the best!

[@anthonym.cardali1875]

@@tyler2610 That's like driving a Cadillac with a wagon back.. Top of the line in 1989

[@mikz86ta1]

We have pictures taken in the 70's of the boat races at Lake Guntersville Ala. People would make a roof top rack to carry their boats on top of these wagons to the races. Crazy strong!

[@marypagan3366]

I owned one in light blue; bought used at 110,000 miles from an Air Force Colonel who kept it pristine. Drove it to nearly 200,000 with no major mechanical problems. 22 mpg on the highway. One day a similar wagon pulled up along side me and asked how # miles? At that point it was about 150,000. They said they had 200,000 and to go for it!

[@JRobert111111]

I just love your commentaries! Sure love these older cars too!

[@ericsanquist]

Like you I can appreciate the wagons. Those wagons where cool 😎 they had features that you can't find in any modern minivans.

[@jbrown7403]

Stumbled across this video and it was a total time warp! Family had the same color when I was a kid and I loved the rear facing seat. 👍

[@blairwilliamson5554]

My parents bought this exact same car to move personal items with them to Arizona when they retired. They'd bought a new condo in Paradise Valley. When they got to their new house the car was too long for their garage so dad parked it in the driveway until the HOA told them that was taboo. They traded it with only 2000 miles on it.

[@humbleevidenceaccepter7712]

My parents had many cars, but only bought one brand new: a '79 Buick Estate Wagon. The first time we went on a family vacation, a suitcase that Dad put in the roof luggage rack flew off. If it weren't for my sister sitting in the rear-facing 3rd seat, we never would have seen it. They put over 100,000 miles on it before passing it down to my sisters and eventually to me. I sold it with 140,000 miles in '96.

[@garbage854]

Very nice, My family had a 1980 Desial l one, and then a 1984 gas one, had gas one till 1991 😀 Great memories .

[@leadcounsel4869]

Thanks for the stroll, as this brings back some memories. My first real car was a Buick LeSabre Estate Wagon (what a name!) of similar vintage and design. So much of mine was the same as this one, same body and frame, similar motor, dash, instruments, steering wheel, etc. In a weird way I do miss it for all of the absurdities and quirks.

[@AlexanderCrump]

Full-size wagon with cornering lamps and fender lamp monitors. Works for me.

[@rickjohansson4257]

Many fond memories of this car. I know I have the right model because I remember being forced to polish the chrome (on the bottom under the doors) every weekend when he washed it. Listening to George Carlin's 7 dirty words on cassette was one.

[@joec1774]

Bill, you are such an incredible story teller. I discovered these vids bc of the g-d pandemic and thank God for them. Really appreciate it.

[@EricWallwin]

In my 20s I worked for Mark Singleton Buick. Atlanta/ Smyrna, Ed Voyles son in law.. this would be in 1986 87... I remember these Woody Wagons .. Buicks model was the best.. Thanks Bill !!

[@duncanelliot2913]

In the UK station wagons were called Shooting Breaks, rather than Sports Breaks in the early 20th Century. 1960s onwards they are called Estates/ Estate Cars. Love this channel. Thank you.

[@richmcintyre1178]

Bill, you forgot the fact that you could lay a 4x8 piece of plywood in the back and still close the door. Friggin amazing. I love these old yachts. Bring on the Country Squire LOL

[@SouthsideKidd550]

@19:20 😂😂Bill, I totally agree with u. Like the turn signal stalk on every car is less than inches away from the hand. Here in Atlanta, they are bad here at not giving a signal.🤦‍♂️

[@diedonner299]

Same thing in south Florida.

[@egold2071]

Ah... watching this in Sept '21 really makes me appreciate the photo inlays Bill does now. A few photos of a Depot Hack, plus a few pics of Tawnee Katane would really move the plot along here. 😋

[@TILTHENEXTTIME]

Great review Bill. We don't have anything like this thing in England...but we do share the lack of turn signal problems!!!

[@davidplante5601]

Can't believe you have rude inconsiderate drivers in the UK thought they weren't special attribute to Eastern United States where everybody is in a rush speeding away only to stop and waste brake pads at the next light an everlasting traffic signal!

[@EdmundKuklinski]

Love this example. The acre of hood and feeling like driving a waterbed is the best feature 🤩

[@KoolBeans426]

Didn't you get the memo Bill?. Turn signals were optional on some models.

[@jrodnj]

These videos get better and better, keep making them!

[@8corymix8]

Beautiful car Bill! Unbelievable. I want to see that tan Buick when it's offered. I'd love to park that in my garage. What a beauty

[@karens8633]

9:22 Oh yes, my family rented a large Station Wagon back in mid 1980s see Washington D.C. and Virginia. It was an adventure alright, My younger brother and I shared the rear facing seat! The seat back would not stay latched! We had to slam it back in place constantly!

[@doug9066]

And the other Buick I had to check out. The Estate Wagons looked great too as the 4 door sedan was. When I was a kid my parents had a 1972 Ford LTD Country Squire wagon & I'd ride in the back as I call them jump seats. I thought was fun.

[@brettb8825]

A real beauty. Also love the Buick chrome road wheels. Boy, that 3rd seat way back area is plush with all the carpet and plastic. When I was a kid we had much older wagons and that area was all painted diamond plate metal with super sharp corners, metal latches that stuck out and about 50 pinch points that could guarantee the loss of a little finger.

[@stefanmayr9379]

Wonderful survivor, reminds me of great times in my youth. My uncle had one of.these Ford LTD's, and it was always impressive to cruise with this ship on small European streets 😀👍LOL. Thanks a lot for showing this typical American Family Wagon 👍👌, a real Icon. Greetings from Austria. Take care. 🇦🇹👍💯

[@mgrella63]

GM made the BEST looking wagons EVER from 1977-90 !!! Absolutely Beautiful! Ive owned a 88 Caprices estate and a 89 Pontiac safari! You could never beat that smooth ride! THe best engine was the 350 4 bbl from 77-79 After that the engines were dogs especially the 307 olds engine . The "Y" in the vin # is the 307 Best to avoid them. Chevy used a 305 which was decent. The car was too heavy for those smaller engines! GM should've offered the 350 through all the years!!

[@uap1234]

In Germany we were so exotic my father buy one of these and drive it in Germany. Sooo cool !!!

[@ryansrides9714]

Great station wagon. I love how you share the history of your vehicles with us. Also like the other Buick I love all that wood trim on the doors!!!😍😍😍

[@billace90]

What a huge car. When you started driving I thought you were in a Bertram 61 footer yacht!

[@briansmith2570]

How cool would it be to market and sell this and the Park Avenue as a pair?

[@SouthsideKidd550]

Now, this is one of the REAL Buicks.

[@anthonym.cardali1875]

In Grosse Point , Michigan in the 80's, that is what you would see parked in the garage. 1 of each. Status Symbols

[@nalamo1000]

Bill is a great showman. i love his videos beautiful vehicle i grew up with these cars

[@psymi-hk1fp]

we had one. light blue, loaded 1986 model. Parents kept it until 2001.

[@mercoid]

I was born in ‘66. In ‘69 dad bought a Mercury Country Squire (?) we sold it in 82. I learned drive in that car. It was huge.

[@patrickallan481]

We had a 77 Estate wagon. The reverse facing third row seat... You had to live it to understand.

[@George0674]

I seem to remember those tailgates swinging open and also folding down due to some hinge and latch wizardry. Did these Buicks not have that?

[@carattop]

Bill, you know your groupies analyze every word of your reviews, right? So, I always thought the Vacation family truckster was based a Ford LTD platform.

[@gary1705]

They finally finished that right turn intersection 👏👏

[@reginaldgarcia6699]

Im a new sub and you have me crackn up with the plane the bird on the line watching you. Im just tearing up in laughter. I enjoy ur videos. Love the cars you show.

[@primeror]

I love station wagons from back in the days. My family had 3 of them growing up only ours was a 10 passenger

[@AlexanderCrump]

Most they could seat was 8 persons. Unless your family is midgets. Or you put Grandma and some of the kids on the roof.

[@8corymix8]

Whew look at the price he put on that beauty! Lol. Love the car. I knew the price would be steep. Bill must be losing at the track. Lol

[@jeffreyrigged]

everything in naples is high dollar

[@jamesfrench7299]

1989!! I was expecting early 80s. I've inspected an early 80s Chevy Caprice wagon (same platform) Canadian assembled, owned by an Englishman here in Sydney converted to RHD!! Solid as a rock.

[@howebrad4601]

You can see by the dual catch posts that are visible when he opens the rear door that it can open either to the side or down as a tailgate

[@michaeltolsdorf865]

The family truxster was based on a Ford LTD station wagon.

[@jamespolcyn8441]

Love this wagon

[@Gallygoy]

Id take that car any day - good old american car!! from the 80-90's ..just my kinda car!

[@Schumanized]

Man, those things are so great👍🏾

[@JohnGruber-di3cw]

The Buick Estate Wagons were always the best Wagons.They were very luxurious & plush with a very comfortable smooth ride.The older Estate Wagons with the 455-4's were the best ones for towing. These SUV's of today can't even compare!!!

[@billroberts4012]

Thank you, Bill for sharing always interesting

[@615AL]

Went all the way to Disney world in 1981 with my Parents and 3 other siblings. I was 10. We always had at least a station wagon. Dad had a beautiful 66 Buick Wagon that had the wrap around glass in the roof. The one we went to Florida was 300 hp Chevrolet 71 I think.

[@johnhiram1207]

Gorgeous car! End of an era.

[@deepcow]

That overhang dragged everywhere.

[@davidjones4920]

the best wagon I ever seen! Loved these back in the day

[@samright4661]

Dude nobody would review a 80s Buick Wagon. Awesome...

[@haroldb2663]

Love this guys commentary and his clean cars

[@MissAmazanda]

My gosh my parents had I don't know how many of these in the 80's - early 90's, my mom still has one of these even now

[@robk9685]

Imagine pulling up your driveway in this with the sticker still on the window when your neighbors had the base Chevy wagon. There'd be some animosity for a few days til they got over it.

[@Mr2pint]

Fascinating to me it looks like a 1970's model

[@emeyer6963]

They came out for the 77' model year.Was considered downsized for the time

[@emeyer6963]

@Donald Trump is a Ghetto trick I happened to be selling Ford's back in 1989 and you are right.Both were wagons but were on different ends of the planet as far as execution.We had the Crown Victoria wagons which were in that same class as a Buick and I don't remember ever having a customer compare one to a Taurus either.Great times.Plenty of choices for everyone.

[@anthonybertone2336]

I sure do love a full-size wagon

[@biodrummindieseler]

Ever notice that the AC is always left on from the previous drive in Bill's reviews?

[@staceyking7911]

I can see this ridin' on air, the AC blowin ice-cold air on the streets of sultry summer, 1980s😊😎 It's screamin' TOTALLY AWESOME 1980S!!

[@raymondhaley2419]

You may be a long winded individual, but you do run across some rather classic vehicles, most definitely I❤ this one, just leave the Henny youngman routine at home,it sucks.

[@michaelking4578]

These were the best gypsy cabs in Queens back in the 90s.

[@TheDrunkardHu]

Can confirm. These are great cars.

[@fastcar7337]

make sure to apply some repair putty on it before you drive it again

[@peternichols9520]

Hey Car Genius...National Lampoon's vacation was a Ford Crown Victoria wagon

[@ROMANEMPIRE69]

I really like those wheels. These particular style hasn’t been reproduced in the after market. These are unique to the larger Buick’s.

[@sherrypatrick2658]

I love the old station wagons. I dislike mini vans. ❤

[@firstnamelastname6171]

I hate crossovers.