My 1972 Buick Estate Wagon...finally took some pics.

what a great thread, I love all the pics, such cool cars

 

But in a way we are high-jacking Wixom61's thread...

 

Only if you use the G-word, he prefers the brownish hues.

Where do you guys find all that info? Great stuff!

 

Kingswood!,

You have outdone yourself! Fantastic photos! Love the one with your grandmother and your dad.

All of the great shots of the different wagon interiors...they look like brochure pics!

Jeffery, your Oldsmobiles are so beautiful! To get up each day on have to decide which fabulous dream car you get to drive...bliss!


It is fun to compare the different GM division products. I think they all did a great job with what had to be a system frought with politics and rigid arbitrary restrictions between each division.

I assert that an example of that is Buick's intro of the Riviera in 1963. This was a new design, turned down by Cadillac and gladly picked up by Buick. It was a smash hit, and Cadillac realized their mistake.

Leather was available that first year, and when it was ordered, you had a luxury car that was in every way on par, luxury-wise and desirability, with anything Cadillac offered. In fact, Cadillac didn't even offer a model that could directly compete with it.

A silver Riviera with silver leather is a magical thing to behold.

Guess what disappeared from the options list for 1964...Leather...and it was removed across the board from every Buick model.
It was still available in Oldsmobile, but Buick had to be cut back a notch.
Leather would not be available in any Buick for a decade. It think that is why Olds comes off as a more luxurious car in many cases. Buick had her wings clipped by a watchful Cadillac, protecting her divisional standing. Strong decisions were made to limit a threat...limiting Buick's luxury elements.

That is my take on it.


Fun thread for sure!

 

Rob, please keep it coming! This is a fun thread...love the discussion and pics. Fun fun fun!

 

Thanks. Glad to post it. Yeah, those of the Chevy wagon are from the factory brochure... did you see that part about the rear defrost?

Yeah, I just realized that car was only 10 years old when that photo was taken.... then you see that rust... goes to show what New York salty roads to to a 70s GM car. That photo was taken in Tennessee and the car was here after that, but by then the damage had been done. By 1987 the car was very rusty. My uncle took the engine out and put in a truck he had and the car was sold to a salvage yard. He also "blew out" the airbags to see how they worked... lol. In 1987, airbags were a rarity, as only Mercedes had them as standard equipment back then.

 

I foresee at least 8 replies about ACRS coming

 

Me too! If it wasnt my bedtime, I would try to think of something. lol.

 

I wanted to thank for you for that link! I requested samples for my 72' Kingswood Estate, 73' Pontiac Grand Ville and a 72' Cadillac and I am very impressed. The materials they have are virtually identical to original! Your right, its not cheap... its like $89 per yard for seat materials.

Like I said, my Caprice wagon has a like new vinyl interior, which is original, but those cloth brocade samples which was optional on my wagon they sent me are so nice! Makes me wish I had a ragged out interior, so I could replace it. lol. I may get carpeting from there though, as mine is getting tired on the driverside where you feet brush by.

That cargo area carpet is identical to original too!

On the Grand Ville, they sent me samples of the loop carpeting, but mine has the optional cut-pile carpeting, but my original carpet is still nice... just wanted to see what they had to offer.

As far as the seat material for that car, they sent me a brocade type material, which I dont think was on Grand Ville in 1973... I think 1972 was the last year of that on the Pontiacs, but it may have carried over on some of the early 70s such as mine is. They also sent the other type, which I have seen in most Grand Villes... its nice too and it matches exactly. My seats were recovered in the 80s with a plain-type material... I would like to change it one of these days and MAY go with that brocade type... I think it would look nice. I will post photos of these samples tomorrow.... (in a new thread! )

Going to catch some zzzzzz's.

 

I always wanted to own the ACRS system in one of my cars. For it is not only a nice piece of GM history (Cadillac and Oldsmobile and Buick) but a piece of car history IMHO. It took other brands 15 years orso before they had something alike available.
The only obvious part was the steering wheel (which is not really a nice one to see):

ACRS steering wheel in a 74 Riviera:

 

I love that Riviera! A beauty. Also, those steering wheels look like the one in my 1991 Lexus LS400!

I almost bought a 74' Electra 225 4dr with the ACRS. I regret not getting it now.

Gotta go to work.

 

Great pic! Cool to see this early airbag set-up. I notice that this doesn't have tilt. This thing probably came at you like a cannon going off!

 

from what I recall, tilt was not available with AIR CUSHION RESTRAINT SYSTEM. My 3 Oldsmobiles have the light on the dash (AIR CUSHION) as the 75 and 76 most likely used the 74 dash, the only year it was an option

 

Congrats on your new wagon. Ebay has been a great resource for finding our wagons. I got mine there last December and drove it home. Maybe you could find your steering colum there to. Happy Cruising

 

Jeff is right... the tilt was not available on the models with the air cushion restraint system. Apparently, back then, they were still not advanced enough to know how to incorporate the tilt with the ACRS system.

I dont think any of the 1974-76 Cadillacs, Buicks and Oldsmobiles that were optioned with it had tilt wheel.

Yes, rsherid has a nice 71' Kingswood Estate.