Curbside Classic Outtake: Defying Stereotypes (Again)
Enough of VW hippie buses and the counterculture. What we need is an antidote, the polar opposite of the VW bus: genuine Detroit iron, slathered with some less genuine vinyl applique. A Buick Roadmaster wagon, an All-American icon, will do the job nicely. These aren’t exactly common in Eugene, but one of our more prominent citizens drove one of these before he died; in fact this might be his very car. And who might I be referring to?
Ken Kesey. Yup, the last time I saw him and his wife Faye tooling through town, he was driving one exactly like this, although I don’t remember his having lost its front fender wood. How utterly perfect and fitting, for the original Merry Prankster to be driving a big Buick woody.
Let’s not forget the underlying message of the Pranksters: don’t take things so damn seriously, because things are not always what they appear to be. Or my (adopted) version: just because you think it doesn’t make it true. Anyway, maybe Ken just liked the big cushy seats and a nice soft ride. Probably some of both.
More by Paul Niedermeyer
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As the father of a big family, I really wanted to like this car. I tried and tried to justify buying one of them used, since I wasn't even married when they first appeared. I love big wagons. But the problem was the quality. These cars have the nastiest, cheapest looking interior. The gaps within the IP panels and flimsiest door panels just cried out "temporary". Every knob and switch wiggled as though it was a $10 electric fan. The humongous intrument panels filled with blank plastic vinyl lacked any intention beyond covering the glove box. These cars lumbered like a Macy's Thanksgiving float. The front fenders swept over the hood horizon with no indication of where they ended. These cars squeaked, rattled and groaned like a forty year old car. Even with massive station wagon lust, these GM wagons couldn't turn me on like most station wagons do. I wish they did because there is a part of me that really likes daddy cars like that.
These cars seem to have a dedicated following today. Locally, there was a 1991 or 1992 Custom Cruiser for sale at a local used car dealer. It looked nice and clean. It stayed on the lot for about a week and then it was gone, while many of the other cars on the lot have been there for weeks or in some cases, months. There's a small outfit here in the Midwest, can't remember where or what it's called, that specializes in fixing and selling these cars and absolutely nothing else. They buy wrecked ones for parts and do some restoration work, IIRC. I met one of the guys at the Iola (Wisconsin) old car show several years ago and got his business card, which of course I've lost since then. They have a small website, too, but I'll be damned if I can find it. The ironic thing about these cars is that when they came out, everybody hated the styling. Now, 14-20 years later, people love 'em.