Jack Amm was in his late 60s when he bought a low-mileage 1995 Buick Roadmaster Estate station wagon in 1996.
The Roadmaster name had already carved out its own place in automotive history by 1995 and the Estate (station wagon) models were a part of the Roadmaster legend.
Jim Sutherland
Station wagons were also a big part of the car culture during the Baby Boomer era, but they were largely kicked to the curb by the 1990s and replaced by minivans when Junior needed a ride to soccer practice or Juniorette needed a ride to dance classes.
However, Jack was unconcerned with the imminent demise of the station wagon because of the rise of the minivan when he purchased his lightly used Buick long roof in 1996. He was always a station wagon man and bought them for practical reasons.
Jack was an outdoorsman who was an avid fisherman and hunter, so a station wagon suited his needs for carrying gear to pursue these hobbies. His ‘95 Roadmaster wagon was destined to be Jack’s final investment in a new car, so he wanted to buy a product from a quality builder and decided a Buick was the right choice for him.
It was indeed the right choice because Jack held onto his ’95 Buick wagon for the rest of his life and was able to get a solid return on his investment because he owned it for the next 25 years until his death in 2021 at 94.
The car served Jack very well over the years and he racked up over 180,000 miles (over 300,000 kilometers) along the way. The station wagon became a fixture in Jack’s neighborhood, and everybody associated him with his beloved Buick.
One of Jack’s neighbor friends was a car guy who understood his deep connection with the ’95 Buick because of the neighbor’s own attachments to vehicles, including a car that Jack’s friend purchased new in 1981 and still owns to this very day.
The neighbor’s dedication to his own vehicles did not go unnoticed by Jack and he ensured the 1995 Buick Roadmaster Estate went to his neighbor buddy because Jack wanted the wagon to remain in good hands after his passing.
The Buick continues to enjoy pampered treatment with the new owner because he wanted to respect its important role in Jack’s life. The new owner even named the Buick “Jack” in honor of his late friend.
MyStarCollectorCar was able to enjoy many road adventures in Jack this past summer because the new owner wanted the station wagon to get some exercise after its rejuvenation.
We are old enough to think 1995 happened about five minutes ago but it was almost 30 years ago, so a 1995 Buick is comfortably into antique status.
Nevertheless, these cars have plenty of modern features, including a powertrain that features a 5.7 fuel-injected LT-1 V-8 mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission. It’s a lively combination that blends well with the Buick’s exhaust sounds under heavy acceleration because the noise resembles a movie car exhaust sound. In other words, it’s very cool in a fast and furious kind of way.
The ‘95 Buick has a long glass section in the roof that was reminiscent of the famous Olds Vista Cruiser station wagon roof and gives it a sporty style.
We were also able to test out the creature comforts in Jack and they ranged from adjustable power seats to ice-cold air conditioning. For the record, everything works in Jack, including its cruise control and early automotive computer systems.
Perhaps the biggest surprise with Jack is the incredible amount of attention the wagon receives from the public whenever we hit the road, particularly with women. The car is an excellent example of GM’s early to mid-1990s style and represents General Motors’ unique design philosophy from that era in a big way.
Jack the car is a conversation piece that honors its late owner whenever this iconic wagon hits the street. We at MyStarCollectorCar are certain former owner Jack Amm would have wanted it that way.
Jim Sutherland
BY: Jim Sutherland
Jim Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer whose work has been published by many major print and online publications. The list includes Calgary Herald, The Truth About Cars, Red Deer Advocate, RPM Magazine, Edmonton Journal, Montreal Gazette, Windsor Star, Vancouver Province, and Post Media Wheels Section.
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