By Ryan Lowe
The Subaru Outback – at least in the US market – is really in a class of its own. Its wagon body combines car-like driving dynamics with SUV practicality, and it actually touts a modicum of off-road capability as well. There’s just one problem: the Outback isn’t cool. Happily, there’s now a solution, and it’s for sale with no reserve: this 1995 Buick Roadmaster Estate. This example includes the obligatory wood paneling and rear-facing third-row seat. And it’s lifted.
That’s right. This isn’t your ordinary Buick Roadmaster Estate (if a giant three-row RWD American station wagon can be called ordinary). This is an off-road Buick Roadmaster Estate. The wagon was lifted five inches above its factory height and wears 31-inch BF Goodrich all-terrain tires. It’s also fitted with load-leveling shocks and a pre-runner-style front bumper. And the skid plate is a speed limit sign.
Other highlights include a roof basket, off-road lighting, and about 150,000 miles displayed on the odometer. The car is offered for auction on Cars & Bids with no reserve. The bid is at $4,000 as of this writing, but only time will tell where it will end up. Off-road cars have proven quite popular on the platform, so a much higher sale price would not be terribly surprising. The auction is set to end Wednesday, April 28.
Overall, the car isn’t perfect, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s a fun, versatile, unique car that’ll turn heads wherever you go. If you’re looking for a Subaru Outback but you want wood paneling, here’s your car.
Jeff Glucker
Hey! Are they NOT running this Bubble in this year’s Gambler 500?
Talk about second chances! (I’m passing on the second chance to make Bubble jokes; tough room.)
The skid plate is pretty lame, but otherwise I love this.
I call BS on the 5″ lift. Looking at stock Roadmasters, the wheel center is in the same place – just above the rocker trim. Bigger tires? Yes. Suspension lift? No.
Ok, after looking at the auction, I take it back. It’s definitely lifted, the angle of the image here threw me off. But it doesn’t look 5” higher. I assume that is me not understanding what a 5″ lift means in actual change in ride height.
Never believe a male human when they tell you something measures anywhere in the three to nine inch range. It’s always less than you’re led to expect, and the margin of error increases accordingly.
The seller calls it a “spring lift”. He probably means 5″ longer springs, which don’t necessarily translate to 5″ change in height.
The stock tires are about 28″ in diameter, so going to a 3″ taller tire adds an inch and a half of ground clearance. The springs appear to have added maybe another 2″.
The rally wagon!!!!!!