Classic Metal Works 1974-76 Buick Estate Wagon in N Scale?

[peteski]

Bryan,

I agree about the wheels on the pre-production samples.  If they don't improve them on the production models, they should be rather easy to change out with wheels from Trainworx.   

I agree, but we shouldn't have to do this.  Plus Trainworx wheel sets are not reliably available. Still waiting for them to show up at MBK (I want go get a bunch, and at a discounted price of course).

[sirenwerks]

Carl,


Again, any word on the 19860 pickup and its truck versions in N?

[cfritschle]

The 1974 Buick Estates Wagons are now available at hobby shops/online etailers.  The models capture the look of a full-size American station wagon before Detroit started downsizing their full-sized cars.  The prototype was 231.1 inches long!

[thomasjmdavis]

The 1974 Buick Estates Wagons are now available at hobby shops/online etailers.  The models capture the look of a full-size American station wagon before Detroit started downsizing their full-sized cars.  The prototype was 231.1 inches long!

I recall from my college student days that my theater lighting prof had a late 60s Pontiac (IIRC) wagon that he bought because with the back seat folded down, you could load several 4x8 sheets of plywood, lay them flat and close the tail gate.  Nowadays, you can't do that with many pick ups, much less station wagons.

[NorsemanJack]

I recall from my college student days that my theater lighting prof had a late 60s Pontiac (IIRC) wagon that he bought because with the back seat folded down, you could load several 4x8 sheets of plywood, lay them flat and close the tail gate.  Nowadays, you can't do that with many pick ups, much less station wagons.

My '93 Caprice wagon could fit a 4 x 8 if you put the front seat all the way up and zero reclined.  It was a marketing feature in the sales brochure.  Really nice family vehicle with a V8 engine.  I bought it for kids safety (vs. a mini-van).  I'm sure somebody could figure out how to roll one of those but it would have been really, really hard.

[peteski]

If they look like molasses-covered crude-looking models, I'll pass.  At the prices they charge, CMW needs to start producing better-looking vehicles (like Kato, Tomox, Wiking, etc.)

[nkalanaga]

What surprised the lumberyard loader was putting 8-foot lumber in a Geo Metro hatchback - and closing the hatch.  I had to lay the front seat back, fold the back seat back down, and stick the lumber into the foot space under the dash, but it could haul quite a few 2x4s and 2x6s.

[Chris333]

Haha I had a Geo Metro. 

[DKS]

What surprised the lumberyard loader was putting 8-foot lumber in a Geo Metro hatchback - and closing the hatch.  I had to lay the front seat back, fold the back seat back down, and stick the lumber into the foot space under the dash, but it could haul quite a few 2x4s and 2x6s.

I owned a Suzuki Swift--GM bought them from Suzuki and re-badged them as Geo Metros. The original models had 3-cylinder engines; mine had a surprisingly peppy fuel-injected 4-banger. Actually, not a bad little car. They had enormous leg and head room in front and in back--much more than many larger cars. If I put the driver seat all the way back, I couldn't reach the pedals (and I'm 6 feet). I used to haul around 3 adults with me, and there were never any complaints of being cramped. If only they had rack and pinion steering, the'd have been very enjoyable little cars to drive.

[CBQ Fan]

My '93 Caprice wagon could fit a 4 x 8 if you put the front seat all the way up and zero reclined.  It was a marketing feature in the sales brochure.  Really nice family vehicle with a V8 engine.  I bought it for kids safety (vs. a mini-van).  I'm sure somebody could figure out how to roll one of those but it would have been really, really hard.

You can fit a 4x8 sheet of plywood in my wife’s Honda Odyssey if you fold down the third row and remove the middle row seats. Minivans have a bad rep but they are extremely useful and flexible.

[Steveruger45]

If they look like molasses-covered crude-looking models, I'll pass.  At the prices they charge, CMW needs to start producing better-looking vehicles (like Kato, Tomox, Wiking, etc.)

Hmmm, this conjured up some movie memories.

My cousin Vinny (metallic mint green) and vacation. (Similar looking Station wagon)
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[thomasjmdavis]

I still have my Saturn SL (granted, a lot bigger than a Metro), standard 4-door, not the "wagon" (glorified hatchback) version.  But rear seats fold down level to the trunk floor.  I would have to check on whether the trunk lid is wide enough for a 36" door, but I have loaded 32" doors, do 8' lumber frequently, and can manage a few 10' long boards if there is no front seat passenger.

However, I have found that loading a small car this way is particularly annoying to the guy parked 2 spaces over, who is tying down the automatic tail gate on his 6 figure land barge SUV because he can't carry a similar load without going to the dealer to have mechanics remove his rear seat.

With apologies to all model railroaders who own 6 figure land barge SUVs or pickups with 5'6" beds.

[pmpexpress]

Hmmm, this conjured up some movie memories.

My cousin Vinny (metallic mint green) and vacation. (Similar looking Station wagon)
(Attachment Link) (Attachment Link)

The Griswold "Wagon Queen Family Truckster" automobiles that were used in filming the 1983 road comedy National Lampoon's Vacation were based upon 1979 Ford LTd Country Squire station wagons.

It has been reported that five Trucksters were built for the movie and the whereabouts of the original cars is currently unknown.

Achieving a final bid of $91,000, lot number 375 at Barrett-Jackson's Collector Car Auction in West Palm Beach Florida on April 12, 2019, was a replica Truckster that was based upon a 1981 Ford LTD Country Squire.

[DKS]

It has been reported that five Trucksters were built for the movie and the whereabouts of the original cars is currently unknown.

An original wagon went on the auction block at a 2013 Mecum auction with no bites on its $35,000 price tag. The same wagon was later snatched up from Hemmings for nearly $40,000.

https://www.themanual.com/auto/the-hideous-station-wagon-from-national-lampoons-vacation-could-be-yours-sort-of/

[Mark5]

Achieving a final bid of $91,000, lot number 375 at Barrett-Jackson's Collector Car Auction in West Palm Beach Florida on April 12, 2019, was a replica Truckster that was based upon a 1981 Ford LTD Country Squire.

I think my top bid would be about $200.