Minneapolis Street Sighting: Buick Roadmaster

Okay, bored of Buicks the readers probably are, so here's my last one for the time being. I do know that the Roadmaster sedan, and its wagon kin are by no means performance cars, nor were they intended to be such; Whereas the Lincoln Town Car and Mercury Grand Marquis were Ford's luxury rear-wheel-drive sedans of the 1990s, the Cadillac Fleetwood and Buick Roadmaster were GMs. Fitted with the 5.7 LT1 Corvette engine, these big bruisers certainly weren't slouches in day-to-day driving, but that isn't the point. These cars came out in a time when American excess still reigned in the car market.
Seen basking in the winter night, this big Buick is a rather nice example of Buick's most glamorous efforts of the 1990s; it's twin, the Chevrolet Caprice was used by police agencies around the world, and this Roadmaster was the choice for retirees and business types all over the US. Certainly, options like a leather padded roof, a choice of vynil roofs, simulated wire hubcaps (obviously shown here) and an optional gold package only aided its choice to its demographic. Long before the idea of riding big rim, and their popularity with lowriding hooligans, the big Buick defined "classy" for GM's upper-middle-class buyers who couldn't yet step up to a Cadillac Brougham or Fleetwood. Available in a host of elegant colors and interior trim, this car could positive be billed as one of the best kept luxury secrets on the used car market; unlike Cadillacs, the Roadmasters don't quite have the cult following that commands high prices--yet. As more and more of these barges start disappearing, I fear prices will skyrocket, not necessarily out of supply and demand, but more as an effect of various car culture groups snatching up all the clean ones they can find. So, in a way, sort of a supply versus demand type thing, but more in a way that the IROC-Z Camaros and Monte Carlo SS' are subject to; cult cars that have the price driven up as a factor of perceived collectability.
I understand that certain cars will command higher prices for car enthusiasts of all walks of life, but for now, the Roadmaster shouldn't; it is relatively rare, yes, but since most of them were babied since new, finding a pretty clean one shouldn't prove to be difficult-- okay, I lied. I can't find many near me on Autotrader or craigslist,, so maybe the rarity factor could be problem. Still, though, there is no reason that these can't be bought cheaply. For six grand with low miles, you too could have a badass luxury car that shares enough parts with a contemporary Corvette should you want something a little spicier to do a daily commute in. Nothing wrong with smoking a new Mustang GT while lugging four friends to church, right?