Summer Cruiser: 1988 Buick Electra Estate Wagon – Sold?

While the GM estate wagon collection may be one of the most recognizable segments of American automobiles, it doesn’t stop a good one from being instantly intriguing when it shows up for sale. That’s especially true if it’s not just another Caprice, as the sibling wagons from across the GM family tend to show up less frequently. Take, for example, this lovely 1988 Buick Electra Estate Wagon originally listed in May 2022 on Craigslist in Sarasota, Florida in seemingly excellent condition with well under 100,000 miles and an asking price of $9,500. Comparing that price against recent sales of similar vehicles on Classic.com shows us that the seller is skewing towards the high end of the market with two sales noted at $4,400 and $10,010, respectively.

If you can get past the unneeded bathroom humor and Baby Boomer bashing, the Regular Car Reviews YouTube Channel provides this look back review of a similar 1990 Buick Electra Estate Wagon:

With summertime around the corner, most car enthusiasts have their minds on a drop-top model for drinking in the warm weather rays. Or perhaps a Jeep or Suzuki Samurai seems like the logical choice for removing the top and hitting the trail when the beach is too crowded. A station wagon seems like the antithesis of a good time at the beach, but in fact models like this Electra make total sense as either a limo-in-disguise for grabbing a boat-load of friends or as a completely practical surf wagon with room for boards and all your gear. The Electra may seem like a strange choice for a summer cruiser to some people, but to them, I say this: go for a long-distance ride in one of GM’s classic wood-paneled wonders and see how comfortable you are when you emerge. Models like this Electra are from a bygone era when GM was king of road trip machines that could swallow all of your gear and passengers, and if you make use of the roof rack on top, your paddleboards and Yeti cooler can be stowed up there for more comfort in the cabin.

The seller claims his Electra is “ready to go anywhere,” which really is the appeal of a vehicle like this. Plus, no matter where you go, there will be a parts store or a salvage yard nearby with any replacement part you can possibly need. The most appealing detail is the interior: despite the obviously fake wood trim not posing any threat to the quality standards offered by the likes of a Bentley, it still looks quite handsome and gives the Buick a very upscale feeling inside. The door panels continue this theme with surprisingly generous amounts of the made-to-look-real trim, and if nothing else, it’s clear that this Electra is in a decently high state of preservation. The seller claims everything works and the pictures show the must-have third-row seat is present, but there are no details offered on specific maintenance improvements or whether systems like the air conditioning still work. But with low miles and seemingly excellent cosmetics, one would hope the drivetrain at least performs as well as the car looks.

Here’s the seller’s description:

“1988 Buick Electra Estate Wagon, 5.0 L Engine, all Original. Very nice Interior with third-row bench.
everything works, drives, shifts, steers, and brake like it should, new Tires, Service just done……ready to go everywhere..”

Estate wagon siblings: which one from the GM model family is your favorite?