Buick 1991 Roadmaster Sedan
The 'Traditional' American full-size car, was for a long time, a body-on-frame (BOF), V8, sedan or wagon. Things changed very slowly, then a couple of Oil Crises and the Japanese invasion looked to change things pretty much forever.
Detroit fought back, and for a time 'won', but it was with the SUV-shaped interpretation of the old formula.
They still served up the old formula, for those whom it still served purpose, namely the Police, taxi, limousine service, and Florida retirees.
The Buick Roadmaster served the later - people for whom their whole life had been defined by the large American car, and were happy to keep it that way.
The car was handsome - merging the aero-look of the 1980s with the full-size proportions of the 1960s. It was fast enough too, eventually receiving a detuned Corvette V8 (though it didn't get it straight away). The car was quiet, comfortable and traditional.
The per-unit profit was not as high as the new SUVs though, so after a relatively short lifespan, its factory was given over to SUV production, and GM built their last traditional BOF car. In so doing, they handed the Police and taxi fleet market over to rival Ford, who continued with the formula through to 2012 with the Crown Victoria, and its Mercury and Lincoln platform sisters.
Buick 1991 Roadmaster Sedan
The 'Traditional' American full-size car, was for a long time, a body-on-frame (BOF), V8, sedan or wagon. Things changed very slowly, then a couple of Oil Crises and the Japanese invasion looked to change things pretty much forever.
Detroit fought back, and for a time 'won', but it was with the SUV-shaped interpretation of the old formula.
They still served up the old formula, for those whom it still served purpose, namely the Police, taxi, limousine service, and Florida retirees.
The Buick Roadmaster served the later - people for whom their whole life had been defined by the large American car, and were happy to keep it that way.
The car was handsome - merging the aero-look of the 1980s with the full-size proportions of the 1960s. It was fast enough too, eventually receiving a detuned Corvette V8 (though it didn't get it straight away). The car was quiet, comfortable and traditional.
The per-unit profit was not as high as the new SUVs though, so after a relatively short lifespan, its factory was given over to SUV production, and GM built their last traditional BOF car. In so doing, they handed the Police and taxi fleet market over to rival Ford, who continued with the formula through to 2012 with the Crown Victoria, and its Mercury and Lincoln platform sisters.