it was getting dark, but this sinister Chevy wagon caught my eye. And it’s for sale. What’s an old bubble wagon without a rear side window worth anyway?
Hmm. Not a lot to go on, but it “runs great”.
Maybe this was one of the rare factory sedan delivery versions made that year. What’s it worth to you?
Those things always looked to me like hearses, and with the blanked window, it REALLY does.
That generation of Caprice stands out in my automotive experience as being the only car I ever turned down at a rental counter, for being too ugly.
This car was from the same company that, I’m told, sneered at the original Taurus as too radical, a “jelly bean.” If only GM had played it safe here as Ford did with their technically inferior Panther.
How was the Panther “technically inferior”?
The consensus I got from reviewers back in ’79, & from more recent CC posts on these blogs, is that the Panther’s performance never measured up to its B-body competitors; they always had inferior handling, power, & efficiency. At times the CV did have good Consumer Reports reliability marks.
I don’t know about efficiency, I regularly get 26-27 highway mpg out of my ’96 Crown Vic. I doubt any B body was capable of that. Not even the grossly underpowered ’77 Bonneville I had could do that, and it was good for 24 mpg. The Bonnie was a pretty damn good handler tho, with that “Radial Tuned Suspension”.
LOL! I’m not the only one who thought of this! It really does. Just slap on a landau bar from Pep Boys and you can moonlight as a one way corpse chauffeur 😛
This car would be quite the conversation piece.
Its unfortunate its looks the way it does as these wagons are worth holding onto. Replacing the missing glass would be a challenge although once in a while I hear from people who somehow come across NOS glass for an older vehicle in the most obscure place.
There is an older couple not far from where I live that have a similar era SS sedan. Its in great shape and one day I’ll hopefully meet up with them at the grocery store and learn more about their car.
Funny how a single experience can color your impression of the whole lot. When these were new in the early 90s, I knew a guy who had a new one. Thing knocked like crazy every time he stepped on the gas.
Perhaps one of the most hideous designs ever from the General. The proportions are weird, nothing about it is remotely attractive. Right up there with the Pontiac Aztek. My wife always thought they looked like a beached whale.
Think of it as a fixer-upper.
Holy blind spots, Batman! Otherwise, I really like it.
FUGLY but cheap ~ it might make a good work truck .
-Nate
Could be a good bar car,drive it to a war zone hit some bars,taxi home pick it up next day safe in the knowledge that it won’t be stolen or vandalised.
On the other hand it could be an $800 PITA
Speaking of war zones, you could El Camino-ize it, mount a machine gun on the back, and use it to out-run and out-maneuver Toyota Hi-Luxes in war zones, at least on paved roads.
Very Mad Max
Does the CC Effect apply if you were just looking at a bubble wagon for sale, and then your next website visit had this at the top of the page?
Lord Vader, your hearse is ready.
I seem to recall he was cremated.
I was referencing an ad for this car’s sedan sibling.
Didn’t that tag line also get used for the Grand National/GNX?
I’m surprised at all the hate for these. If my curbside sitings are reflective, the wagons stand to be the best chance of being collected. I see quite a few of them around vs their sedan counterparts They apparently have a ‘cool factor” for the young. I drove to work behind a Caprice woody of this generation last week. It really struck me how the incredibly wide the car was.
I think the existence of the Roadmaster wagon ruined it for these.
+1. They are a bit bloaty, but I like the look of them
Count me as a fan though I ignored them when new the only GM cars that interested me then were the Camaro and Firebird
Same, never really noticed them when new, but as time passes I like them more and more – even the sedans. As with the downsized 77s, I think the best looking are the least embellished, i.e. Chevrolets.
…wide and very practical!!!
Another black 1993 Caprice. I also see them in dark grey. Both as hearses only.
(Photo: Vocking Auto)
Same car, rear.
From time to time I’m also observing these on the marktplaats and related sites… Most of them collected very low mileage and are in near to perfect condition… Are the original rear seats still hiding underneath the coffin ramp???
Certainly not. That’s what it does for a living, being a hearse.
In New Zealand the bulk of the Road Master/Caprice bubble wagons are hearses, and the back seats are usually removed. But, many funeral directors keep the seats in storage, as having them available when the time comes to sell means the wagon appeals to a wider range of purchasers.
GM Styling just did not get it right with these cars. It is hard to know what they were thinking, unless it was one last try at designing a large American car. The large palette was wasted – it should have been used more effectively.
These cars sort of had the side window look of a AMC Pacer, with the tall severely curved side glass – and the general body look of the Fuselage Chryslers of almost a quarter of a century before, but not as effective – and some odd styling touches such as the rear wheel well openings that reminded me of the 1961 Plymouths – and the arched top of the side glass area, that reminds me of the 1952 Kasiers. The arch of the side windows at the top made the lower edge appear to also be arched down at the ends, especially at the back – just not attractive. The fact that the green house was brought out to the side of the car on this large of a car only emphasized the ungainly look of the body. The interiors were plain, too large, too rounded, and did not have enough visual interest.
Later full wheel openings and the kick-back of the “C” pillar improved the looks a little. There are many cars that seem to look better with age, however this one seems to look worse with age.
Just an opinion. Some others thinks this body was great…
These types of cars always “run great”. How many spray cans of flat black paint do you think this guy used?
Here in the “official old-folks state” you find a lot of Roadmaster wagons, nearly as many former police Caprice sedans, a smattering of Caprice wagons, and an occasional Roadmaster sedan. Didn’t the wagons have a bigger/more powerful engine? Unfortunately, ALL these cars are advertised as having extremely high mileage on my local Craigslist…can’t say about anywhere else.
I’ll bet this one has been broken into/stolen at least once, so I’m not sure I’d call it a great “bar car”.
Had an elderly aunt and uncle that owned a Roadmaster wagon until the engine failed on a trip between Florida and upstate N.Y. They replaced it with a turbo Le Baron wagon.
The newer (Australian-sourced) Caprice makes these look bloated. Too bad there is no equivalent OZ-sourced wagon….sold here.
I own this ’94 model. These were the last of the GM full sized cars with a full frame and rear wheel drive by ’96. This one’s a LT1 Full package ride.
Bloaty & boaty yes, but Handles great and is like driving a LazyBoy.
I think one day they will hit well on the collector market as the ’59 & ’60 Chevy’s did.
Everyone hated them a few years after their existence. Just a gamble. Time will tell.
There ya go Dale. No more greenies cursing you and now a perfect size for city parking.
Now that’s cute. And still have room for my lunch box.
Now for the highway version.
Those barges always looked like they were at least 40psi overinflated. Ick. Gimme a Box B body wagon or a Panther wagon any day over one of those bloated pigs.
Bloated pig is right! Blechhhh!
Just down the street from me is a really ugly one of these. Buick Roadmaster with woodgrain, and those huge wheels with rubber band tires. I have always been a fan of woodgrain wagons, but this one is just plain ugly. After only a couple of years GM redesigned the rear fenders, which helped a lot, but the Crown Vic was just a much better looking car.
Oh look a Cash for Clunkers survivor. I rather have a 94-96 Caprice 1A2 or a Caprice Estate in original condition (at least more original) than this one. Not terribly keen on fake wood paneling like what my 87 Caprice had or its gutless motor either.
The Regal and S-Series Estate also are eye catching to me.
Man I get the hate for the sedans but come on the wagon? I think these were the only variations of the bathtub B bodies that looked good, the front end styling was the strong point of this bodystyle, while the blobby rounded butt made the sedans look like beached whales, but the wagon body looked cool to me, pretty much in the same way the first and second gen Taurus/Sable wagons did but with a RWD V8! This one is sporting an Impala grille to boot so I really don’t see the problem with it, these wagons look really cool hot rodded.
Indeed, a pristine, low-mileage Roadmaster wagon at a good price would be alright. Someone can correct me but I think that in the final year (1996), they all got the LT1 engine. Gas mileage wouldn’t be so great but it’d be a decent mover.
LT1 from 1994 through 1996. There was the awkward “OBD1.5” setup with an OBDII connector underdash but with an OBDI ECM in 1995.
“Good” is highly subjective. Heck, some people think Azteks look good…
Sure but we’re talking about a wagon, “good” looking is pretty hard to achieve in that segment, and frankly, yes the Aztec’s segment since I really don’t think most modern CUVs look any better than it. I’m not saying it’s some unfairly criticized gem from the 90s, I just think it’s one of those rare wagons that were better executed than the sedan counterparts
I mean really, were the boxy 77–90 wagons so much better looking than these?
I notice that the Olds Custom Cruiser is seldom mentioned when these whales come up. Probably because they sold about 7 of them.
The Custom Cruiser would seem to be the rarest of the triplets. The rarest of the earlier boxy B wagons must be the Pontiac Safaris.
I saw one in the wild a few months ago. I did a tripple take as I just thought it had to be a Caprice, or a Roadmaster, and then finally it sunk in.
The Custom Cruiser was only sold for 2 years, ’91 and ’92, so yes–it was the rarest of the three. Not available with the wood paneling, unlike the Roadmaster (where I think it was standard) or the Caprice. I think they were all two-tone, white with gray rockers/bumpers seeming to be the most common.
Buddy of mine had a ’92 Custom Cruiser with the 350 when we were in high school. Man, that was a big car, but comfortable and actually had some power. And personally I’ve always liked the styling on the wagons–not sure why there’s so much hate! Give me a loaded Roadmaster Estate with the LT1, or a slightly ratty Caprice and I’ll make a phantom “SS wagon” out of it.
Wonder if what is behind this Brute belongs to the same person. A 91 or so Riv. and the Saturn SW1. If so the person must be into GM and some of my favorites from the early 90’s. A used dealer here in town has had a decent looking stripper blue/green 94 wagon with crank windows on his lot for about the last 3 years. Don’t know the price but I guess he thinks the LT1 makes it like gold.
I think I want an 89-91 Riviera… In fact I think I like the 89 Best for the earlier Instrument panel.
I’m surprised there’s not much love for the whale wagons today. There have been a couple others posted in the past that garnered more positive opinions. Probably because this example is so desperate looking. Like we say for most of the jalopies that show up on the site, if it has managed to survive so long and still be used, it’s earned the right to look as ugly as it wants!
Personally, I love ’em. I admit they aren’t as attractive as the boxy wagons, but their best virtues are functional. I’ve owned both types. My dream is to someday have a boxy and put the LT1 drive train from a 94-96 in it.
Makes me weep to see one that cheap. You’ll be shocked to know if that bubble was in New Zealand in that condition, there’d be another ‘0’ on the end of the price, and the first number would likely be higher. They’re niche market but highly sought-after here.
Non-complied (ie not yet certified or allowed on road) bubble wagons are between NZ$8-14K (US$6,400-11K).
Complied (ie fully road legal) bubble wagons start around $NZ15K (US$12K), with the example below on Trade Me today being almost $US16K! Go on, tell me you don’t see an export opportunity for the car you photographed Paul!
C.C. Effect ! .
As I was driving last night a Buick Road Master in white with DiNoc pulled up along side me ~ an elederly gentleman driving , the rear seats folded flat and full of ladders & painting equipments .
The car was very clean and tidy , full wheel covers etc.
Wagons are nice , I’ve had a few , here in La La Land there’s always some kid lowering one , some look nice , others not so much .
-Nate
Looks like our place…
Our 94 Fleetwood LT1 is being parted out, but the driveway has an ’88 Reatta, an ’01 Blazer, a ’94 Z28 stick, and a ’95 Olds Ninety Eight.
I enjoyed my ’91 Caprice wagon and even considered restoring it – for about a minute. Then I considered my budget and the other projects I had at the time.
Sold two years ago for $1200. Since I bought it for $1000 four years earlier and drove it about 50K in that time with few repairs, it’s definitely on my “best cars” list.
And I always liked the styling, sedan or wagon.
I do wonder if a Caddy Brougham nose would fit on a wagon… hmmm…
The Brougham nose does indeed fit, although I think it looks a little stubby compared with the flowing rear end. Pic below from Matthew Taylor’s flickr:
That is to cool. But not that colour.
The Roadmaster sedan front clip also fits, with similarly stubby-looking results:
WTF why didn’t Buick just use that clip in the first place for the actual Roadmaster wagon? Stubby or not it’s still more convincing than the real life blatant badge job
That. Is. So. Cool.
I don’t think it’s really that stubby…but it looks like a BUICK and not a Chevy with a nicer grille. Plus–the rally wheels? And the subtle ventiports in the trim?
I want one.
More photos of it here Chris M. – http://buickforums.com/forums/threads/18502-Do-Roadmaster-Wagon-Front-Clips-Interchange-with-the-Sedan-Front-Clips
Here’s another Chevrillac Roadwood in a better colour:
I like these wagons a bit, but I’ve never heard them called bubbles before. When the sedan body style came out, my mom called them whale turds, and I’ve never been able to get it out of my head. I also never understood the styling, and still don’t, but when someone here (maybe paul) referenced their design as a hudson hornet, it made a touch more sense what they were going for. That said, I thought the 1992 Ford Crown Victoria was quite handsome and these were just terrible in just about every way.
I have a 92 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser from Florida with only 46k. Unfortunately it was buried under 6 feet of snow in Western New York before I could put it away for the winter. A rare car and a great summer driver. I cant believe no comments regarding the Rivera directly behind the Caprice.
I don’t get all the hate the sedans get, I think they looked great, especially with the rear wheel skirts. And the RMW does indeed have a good chance of becoming a future classic, it can’t really get more american than a 18 foot corvette powered woody wagon. I’d rock one, and I’m 25.