1973 Buick Estate Wagon

I'll trade ya straight up for my wagon Randy!!!!!

 

Sorry, Wife says no more cars for now. Otherwise I would keep this one. LOL

 

Fixed the tranny leak today and took it for the first drive. Drives straight as an arrow and the cruise works. I couldn't believe it when the green cruise light came on and off we went. The bad.......bioth exhaust to head manifold gaskets are leaking.

 

Self leveling option.

If you have a chance, let me know who is the manufacturer on the load leveling unit. My 69 Ford wagon leveling system I think was a Dana/Eaton unit. As I recall, it was operated by a pump running on the through vacuum system. Thanks, Phil Lingle

 

This one has an electric motor in the left front fenderwell, vacuum hoses runing to it. It does not have air shocks on it anymore and the system is currently not functional. The leveling valve, pump, lines are all there. I thought about trying to get it working but have no desire to buy new shocks for something I am not going to keep. When I go outside tomorrow I will look at the tag and see who the manufacturer is

 

leveling system

I can only go by memory, but the 69 Ford wagon had rear coil springs with an air bladder within them. The system inflated or deflated depending on the level of the car. I think the rear leveling system had an arm attached and a setpoint fixed for neutral level. I t was pretty hilarious when we would get out of the car. The car would "sing" as air was released from the pump unit, even when the car was off! Not much reference in the Ford literature and I haven't found it on the net yet. Phil

 

Well this is leaf sprung but does have the leveling valve, which I assume aired or deflated the air shocks that were on the car originally.

 

That is a good point!

You know I just remembered that Chevrolet offered them from 1969-1970, but it was gone by 1971. Don't know why they dropped it, perhaps it was so rarely ordered on the Chevy. Then the Cadillacs had them, but like you said, AFAIK, only clamshells that had them were the Buicks, if you are not counting the few custom Cadillac clamshells that were made. lol.

Nice car Swanny! I like it! Does it have the "fingertip" wiper control option on the end of the gear shift? I cant tell from the pics clearly enough to be sure. My '72 Electra ja that option.

 

Nice car Swanny! I like it! Does it have the "fingertip" wiper control option on the end of the gear shift? I cant tell from the pics clearly enough to be sure. My '72 Electra ja that option.

It does not, there are a few options it does not have, but not many. Of curse the big one to me is the third seat. If it had that I would find away to convince the wife we need it.

 

Yeah, that would be my only option I would miss, as I love the 3rd seats in wagons. Still, I think I would give up a 3rd seat just to have a wagon I could drive! Mine has the 3rd seat and all I can do at this point is look at it. LOL.

As far as the sunroof, the 1973 Buick sales brochure does mention sunroof as an option in the 1973 Buicks, but not sure if it was a factory installed option or one they sent off for an ASC conversion like Mike T mentioned.

Still a nice wagon you have, I love it. One I wouldn't mind owning. Maybe if I give up on my '72 Caprice wagon, I will sell and and take this Buick off of your hands. lol.

I loved my '72 Buick Electra.

Oh BTW, here is that wording from the '73 Buick sales brochure. (Middle column, 3rd one down).





Also, yours also appears to have the upgraded interior option, but according to the brochure, I have seen some pics that show an even larger woodgrain panel on the door, but these appear to not have carpeting on the lower door panel and have loop pile carpeting. I did some searching and ran across this '73 Estate Wagon with that larger panel, but not sure if this is considered a higher trim than yours? Does yours have loop carpeting or cut pile carpet? In your pics it looks like you have loop carpeting, but I do notice carpeting on the lower door panels, so I wonder if yours is actually the top interior trim level?

 

It has an option for Custom Trim W/Notch back front seat and added roof insulation and rear panel deadener. It appears to have the high end interior. I just listed it on ebay

 

My OCC has the level control and does that air release deal when the car is it's off and after you get out too.
It sounds like a whoopee cushion.
I used to blame those noises on the dogs, now I blame them on the car.

 

Yeah it appears to have the high end interior since it has the carpeting on the lower door panel.

Yeah, seen it on ebay, hopefully will get a good home. If I don't get mine on the road by the middle of May, that is probably where mine is going - ebay.