Earlier this month, I found myself wandering around Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park in Thompson CT while a bunch of crazies were flailing around the road course in $500 crapcans. During the day, I made sure to take a stroll around the parking area and paddock to see if there were any Bangshifty vehicles to drool over, and I came across this slice of pure, 100% American ingenuity: A 1990’s Buick Roadmaster woody wagon “trar” (or “tragon”?) resting on a truck frame and jacked to the moon. I had heard from some friends about the existence of such a vehicle, so I needed to see this lifted road whale for myself. Naturally, once I found it, I had to take a few quick pictures of this lovely vehicle to share with you, our faithful Bangshift readers!
I first spotted this thing cruising the paddock early in the day and immediately did a double take. I saw it out of the corner of my eye, and then rushed to grab my camera. While it’s in the background a bit, you can clearly see that this thing towers over everything. Large and in charge!
A little later, I ventured out to find this beast. And found it I did. All I can say is WOW. Now, I love the early 90’s LT1-powered full size wagons. They are big, powerful, and you can stow things as large as entire sheets of drywall in the cavernous rump of the car. As you can see, this one is a little different than your Aunt Gertrude’s grocery getter. From what I saw, and from what I heard from fellow gearheads at the event, it rests on a Chevy full-size truck or Suburban frame. It has a straight axle up front for extra off-road cred, and your typical Small Block Chevy under the hood. The white wagon wheels have never been more perfect or appropriate on a vehicle.
When I circled around back, I was greeted by quad center exit exhaust tips akin to a late model Corvette. And is that a hitch? Why yes, yes it is! This thing was used as a tow rig for one of the LeMons teams. This was by far the coolest tow rig at the event, and one of the coolest tow rigs I have seen, period.
Unfortunately, that’s all the pictures I was able to snag of this near-mythical beast. During my impromptu photo shoot, a car from the race pulled into the area with some issues, and I needed to get out of the way. I did, however, find a video of the thing idling around a parking lot. Nothing too exciting, but it shows how tall and awesome it is.
It’s also rumored to have a manual transmission, but I didn’t have a ladder to get up there and see for myself. I was unable to locate the owner of this creation at the event, but my buddies over at the Lemons Racer Lounge group on Facebook were able to clue me in with some details (thanks guys!). All I know is that I want it, and I know I’m not alone!
God dammit. My poor Roadmatress.
It just looks so good. I would rather drive that than a suburban.
As the owner of a 1992 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser with a TBI 350 and the Towpack gears (3.23) HD suspension and a Posi rear, it is my unbiased opinion that the 91-96 B-Bodies wagons are awesome. A properly optioned TBI car is pretty surprising too.