QOTD: What's Your Favorite American Vehicle From the 1990s?

Just after Christmas, we inquired about your favorite German car of the 1990s. The few of you who had awakened from post-holiday eat and drink signed in to share your top Teutonic choices. I suspect more of you are awake now that it’s springtime, and will be able to answer the same inquiry when it’s American flavored.

What’s your favorite American vehicle of the 1990s?

The decade of aero bodies, aero dashboards and lace alloys was also a great time for horsepower, safety, two-tone paint, and the requisite gold badges. I thought about the choice below for quite some time — as I drove home in my Japanese car, and then added some coolant to my other Japanese car. Anyway, America! My selection has a lot of -arge; large, supercharge, and maybe barge.

It’s the Buick Park Avenue Ultra. The Park Avenue was its own independent model for the 1991 model year, having separated from its former place as a trim level on Buick’s upscale Electra. Sharing the C-body platform with the similarly large Cadillac Deville, all Park Avenues were initially powered by the legendarily reliable Buick 3800 V6 (Series I). In 1992, the Ultra trim level was born. Upping the ante with more sporty exterior details, the Ultra received a different interior, as well. The party piece of the Ultra was the supercharger strapped to the engine.

Power was bumped from the base 170 horses to 205, as GM continued development of the 3800. Power in the Ultra increased to 225 for the ’94 and ’95 model years. In 1996, for the final year of first-gen production, Buick swapped the engine for a Series II version. Horsepower increased in the Ultra again, to 240. Along with the continual power updates throughout its six years on the market, the Park Avenue received side airbags, adjustable effort steering, adjustable suspension, and defeatable traction control.

The Park Avenue Ultra is a worthy recipient of one of the Best Of The 1990s awards when it comes to American cars. What’s your pick?

[Images: Buick]