well there is a difference between SUVs that are only slightly taller than a modern wagon and the weight/ drag difference is pretty much negligible and SUVs/Pickups that are literally as high as a grown man and if they crash into a kid they literally wouldnt even see it because of the high hood.
Beautiful '76 Buicks! My parents had a '74 Estate Wagon with the clamshell tailgate. It had the reverse-facing 3rd row seat, though. My Dad's sister's family had a '76 Estate Wagon, too!
Awesome. Thanks for sharing the memories! However, the 1974 Buick Estate Wagon was only available with a front facing 3rd row seat as it was for all 71-76 General Motors clamshell wagons. GM full size wagons started with the rear facing 3rd row seats in 1977 to 1990. Memories can most definitely become blurred because my mother owned both a 73 Buick Estate Wagon clamshell as well as a 1978 Buick Estate Wagon with a rear facing third row seat. That being said the intermediate size wagons from General Motors from 71 to 76 did have rear facing third row seats. The clamshell wagons from 71 to 76 could only have a front facing third row seat because the clamshell slid under the body of the back of the wagon leaving no foot room for a rear facing third row seat.
Growing up the youngest of 6 kids, my dad would buy a new car every 2 years so he could sell it before it depreciated fully. In 75 he brought home a silver Buick estate wagon with a maroon vinyl interior. I vividly remember that clamshell tailgate & forward-facing rear seat - in part because that’s where I traveled whenever the family went anywhere. I also loved the dashboard because it was reminiscent of the Cadillac at that time. It was a beautiful car and, of course, I was a car fanatic at a very impressionable age! Imagine my confusion when, two years later, he traded it for a bran-new 1977 downsized Buick Estate in powder blue!
My family had that same 1976 Wagon in white, her name was Shamu. Took many trips to FL in her burned my legs many times with the seatbelts cooking in the FL sun. Beautiful wagon would love one myself!!!!
We had a 73 limited park ave blue w/blue pillowrd valour, 455 it was the nicest riding car I'd ever driven, so comfortable, quick considering it weighed a few tons.
Thank you for the kind words. And thanks for watching. The wagon was a all original (paint and all) super rare find for me. The unicorn of my Buick collection if you will.... It took me 2 decades to find one in this condition. I originally wanted a white Estate Wagon that was more highly optioned. However, once I inspected this particular wagon, I knew the likelihood of finding another in its condition was going to be impossible. I had to buy it.
@@stangslayerws6 - 'totally get that about finding examples. But the cream color is better (IMuHO) than pure white. So it's as it goes. You're very fortunate to have it (all of them, for that matter). Weather stripping looks like it's holding up well. That was always a long-term issue for these vehicles. Happy Holidays to you.
Yeah very nice cars station wagons were always special throughout automotive history yes many many GM clamshell wagons were sold from the fall of 70 until their demise in the fall of 76 my Mom was a huge Pontiac fan but my parents could not stand the freaky Clamshell wagons that’s why we were Ford Country Squire / Mercury Colony Park people and as for anything from Chrysler they thought those were Heinously Balbous but 1977 they viewed GM differently as a matter of fact they owned a 1984 Chevy Caprice Wagon
Thanks for sharing the memories. My mother owned a 1973 Buick Estate wagon when we were growing up. She did not view the clamshell as freaky. Us kids thought it was the coolest thing since sliced bread. That car was a huge contributing factor to my passion for these biggest Buicks ever built. She ended up trading the 1973 Buick Estate Wagon for a 1978 Buick Estate Wagon. I will never forget they gave my mother $800 for that 73 on trade. We loved the 78 as well but a clamshell it was not....
that third row honestly looks quite decent for two people. it sits really high i feel like youd have a good amount of legroom in that. and even with it up you have as much room in the trunk as in the biggest wagons of europe!
7:42 Holy Cow I didn't know that big carpeted floor lump was there in the third rows of these wagons. I would certainly not want to be in the back middle!
It looks like the wagon has power windows up front and cranks in back. I never knew that configuration was ever available. Don't recall seeing that before.
Hands down it has to be the optional Buick 350 V8 on my black Limited. Only 2000 of those ever built. A close second would be the Automatic power door locks on the Park Avenue. Power locks were common. Auto power locks I have only ever seen on my particular car although it was a option in both 75 and 76
These are Awesome cars!!! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!! Are these your vehicles Bro???? When my friend and i were learning to drive in high school in late 1977. His family had this same exact 4 door 76 Electra 225.. It was black with a full black vinyl roof and black interior... We both took our test and passed on these cars. Our family had the 76 Pontiac Grand Safari.. fully loaded to the max.. even cornering lamps and interior door courtesy lights, which were options.. Ours was the same color combination and length as your Estate Wagon and it had the cream colored matching Pontiac Rally-II rims. Pontiac named this color Bavarian Cream. I learned to drive and passed my test on ours. It had the 455 and got anyehere between 9 to 15 miles per gallon.... Then I proceeded to drive it to to a local college for 4 years... I sort of inherited it because my family members liked our smaller cars better! Not ME!!!............. I loved it so much that i found a mint clamshell about 12 yesrs ago and own that today, as my Pride and Joy!! It is a 76 Maroon Caprice Estate 9 pass - power t-gate that works like new. Did you know the Caprice Estate was ever so slightly smaller??? Mine has the 400 4bbl but the 454 was available!! Also my Caprice Estate is only 229.5 inches long verses the Grand Safari at 231.8 Please take perfect care of these cars and keep them inside as i do mine!!! Ok?? Enjoy Them Bud!! Thanks Again!!! Kevin
Thank you for sharing the memories my dad also owned a 1976 Pontiac Bonneville in Bavarian cream. Yes these are all my cars I have a total of four 1976 Buicks all are featured in some form or fashion on my channel. My mother also owned a 1973 Buick Estate Wagon that was loaded to the gills. Ultimately these cars remind me of my childhood and my mother. I'm glad you enjoyed watching them and thanks for sharing the memories once again. Cheers!
@@stangslayerws6 Thanks for the awesome Reply!!!!!! Wow. I hope you're living ln bliss with your cars and memories.. And of course, with good health and stamina. I do as well!! I'll subscribe and check out you're channel. Before our Grand Safari... (and I think this prompted us, but my parents were Pontiac people)... our neighbor cam home with a loaded 73 yellow woodie Buick Estate Wagon, Rally Buick Rims and a brown vinyl roof. Them a bit later, our Grand Safari arrived. I was psyched!!! The cars were similar because until 74, the Buick Estste Wagon had rear lights similar to our 76 GSW!!! Broski.... I could definitely hang out with you ALL DAY LONG!!!! Yep!!!! You like a fine Cigar?? I smoke one every day!! God Bless you... AND your fleet!!!! Later MAN!!!!!
Thank you. As far as I know, the chrome trim on the hood was standard on all three trim levels which were: Electra 225; Electra Limited and Electra Limited Park Avenue
Chevy and Pontiac were built on 124" wheelbase. Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser was on same 127" wheelbase as Estate Wagon but Estate wagon was longer overall than the Custom Cruiser.
My cars have never overheated except when I had a fan clutch that went bad. 15 minute fix. As a matter of a fact if you will look at channel you will find a video titled Park Avenue ICY. In that video it was 100 degrees outside with AC running at idle through that entire video with zero over heating issues
Of note: the 455 ci was NOT a standard engine, but instead an option. We had a '75 Estate Wagon and kept it long enough for me to drive in 1985 while I was 16 in high school. At that time it became an extra car but I chose to drive it because as you know in the 1980s everything was slow as hell. In this period, this car was nicknamed the IROC Wagon by my friends since 200 plus HP was very rare then. Of course I turned the 4bbl air cleaner lid upside down to give it that extra boom sound upon hard acceleration.🎉
I hate to disagree with you but not only was the 455 the standard engine in the 71 to 76 Buick Estate Wagon but it was the ONLY available engine offered in the 71 to 76 Buick Estate Wagon. That being said, Buick did indeed offer the Buick 350 as a $159 credit delete option on Electra in 1976. Nonetheless, Estate Wagon and Riviera retained the 455 as the only available engine.
I’m looking for both are they for sale? I was really wanting a 2 dr sedan and a wagon. I’ve got both 75 caprice in a 2 dr. And wagon. I’ve also found a 74 lesabre 4 dr but I’d prefer electras.
