Buick Enclave Looks Awesome Dressed Up As A Woody Wagon
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What do you do if you have a passion for the wood-adorned station wagons and vans of the past, but want the comfort, safety, and convenience of a modern-day vehicle? It’s a tricky dilemma, but Dennis House, a news anchor for Channel 3 in Hartford, Connecticut, managed to work out a solution with his local Cadillac-Buick-GMC dealership.
As House told me in a brief phone interview, he always had a passion for wagons and has fond memories of the so-called “woody” option that many automakers used to offer, having grown up riding around in a Ford Country Squire. When he went to buy his 2019 Buick Enclave, he asked his dealer, Scranton Motors, if it would be possible to apply vinyl graphics to the car to make it look like it had wood body panels. The dealer said they could probably pull it off, and the rest is history.
Before the vinyls were applied, a renderer hired by Scranton Motors hopped on the computer to try and mock-up the wood graphics and decide the best way to place them. House initially considered applying the fake wood paneling to a first-generation Buick Enclave, but the more angular styling of the vehicle didn’t look right with wood panels laid overtop. He also did a woody mock-up of his wife’s Buick Regal TourX for fun, which looks great if you ask us.
For added effect, House also hopped on eBay and picked up some throwback badging for the vehicle – creating the world’s first Buick Enclave Estate Wagon – however unofficial it may be. He’s only owned the vehicle since April, but says it has already received a ton of attention from people out on the road and at the gas station.
“Two twenty-somethings even posed in front of it at the grocery store,” he added.
House believes there’s a small contingent of 30- and 40-somethings, along with some millennials, who have fond memories of woody wagons and vans and would tick the box for such an option if it were offered today. He says he may even be able to convince GM of the business case for such a product if he were to ever find his way into a product-planning meeting.
“I think with the woodies being featured in (modern-day TV shows like) Young Sheldon, Riverdale, Stranger Things, and the Goldbergs, what are (the automakers) waiting for?” he said.
Feel free to let us know what you think of this fun throwback creation in the comments below.
Photos and renderings courtesy of Dennis House/Scranton Motors
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No.
No No NO NO NO NO NO NO.
Its NOT the 1950s-1990s anymore. Vehicles have too much design/body lines for crap like this, as evident by the top of the vinyl and how it does NOT flow AT ALL with the body lines right in the panels.
Wood trim goes on straight, slab sided wagons like Roadmasters, Caprice, Ford LTD, etc.
Right, because there were no body lines in cars of the 50’s, 60’s and early 70’s – Oh wait
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiCxInc0rLiAhXlLX0KHQCOB1AQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F173951604335515408%2F&psig=AOvVaw1EOJGUNzPvjFvVopTbcE0d&ust=1558735028575667
There is an answer to a question no one asked.
You mean kind of like the overly huge rims, rubber bands for tires, mat finish paint/vinyl applications, or the many other things manufacturers do?
I think it’s about individuality myself. People want something that will set them apart because we now live in a world of bland cars that all look nearly alike.
For Some folks the only taste they have is in their mouths.
You can stand out in a crowd by painting your butt orange and your head line green but that still does not make it a good idea.
Covering a car in fake wood contact shelf paper is not really an improvement anyone asked for.
Pretty sure this exact article detailed how Dennis House specifically asked for exactly this…
Yep. Just checked and that’s what it says. He asked for this. I guarantee there are at least a dozen others around the country who would buy not just the wood trim, but a current Buick with wood stickers. Note that it doesn’t say that the manufacturer decided this is something the masses are pining for.
Yes, of course, Scotty. I suppose the new vinyl “wrap” with designs or colors applied to a (new) car (read; eccentric colors or “matte”) are based on a revolutionary new concept that’s just…just so super cool. Live and let live, man.
I really like the concept and plan buying a new 2020 Enclave – I purchase a new Enclave every Five years. Just hope Buick offers this WOODY feature – would buy one in an heart beat!!!….
Thank you! If you are interested contact Matt Scranton at Scranton Motors in Norwich, Connecticut.
From a reality standpoint, imagine having to create the woody pieces with real wood — a true test of a carpenter’s skills and probably well-nigh impossible. While it’s not necessary for this to be an option, it looks like it could be a lot of fun for certain cars (like that Regal wagon).
The ROADMASTER LIVES!!!!!!!!!
I kind of like it. but I really like that pic of the Regal wagon better! From what I can see in that little pic, it looks better than the Enclave.
But am I the only one that noticed something really big missing in the main pic? Where’s the wood grain on the Roadmaster Wagon??? Is it just me not seeing it or doesn’t it have it? Considering the topic of this all, I’d really think his old RM wagon would be one with the wood grain on the side.
Yes! I thought the same thing. I actually have a mint 95 Roadmaster Limited Estate wagon. The retro wood panelling is one of my favorite features of that car. I mean its also curiously practical, capable and versatile vehicle. But i do find i worry about the wood siding getting damaged or leaving the car in the sun too much as i have the car in Hawaii and want it to last. After reading this article, it made me wonder if these after market places could replicate the wood on existing woody wagons to match “factory” on adjacent panels. But if i were that guy, i would have asked the place who did the Enclave to do the same to the Roadmaster in the background. I also agree with one of the other posts where the man thought the wood panelling photo of the Tour X looked even better. To me the wood panelling really only looks right on a station wagon. Not a minivan or a crossover. However, i recall Jeep pulled it off quite successfully on the Grand Wagoneer, back in the day. So who knows, maybe takes a little more getting used to to see it on a crossover body style.
I think there was an option to get the Roadmaster without the wood siding. Have seen a few over the years.
@Bill:
Yes, that is correct. I was selling them and the standard Roadmaster wagon came with it, but you could “option” it without the wood look if you wanted. But that did have to be special ordered.
My though was really how this article is all about the wood look and yet his RM wagon doesn’t have it! How funny.
This Roadmaster was ordered specifically without the wood. Here’s the history: https://dennishouse.tv/2014/10/09/the-houses-have-a-hearse/
I always liked mom and dad’s country squire with the rear facing 3rd seat. Staying out of arms length while messing with your siblings was always a plus. Jeep Wagoneer’s are the best with the woody look. Hoping the new Wagoneer has the woody option.
I think a ‘woody’ option would likely be a winner if only to set the model apart from the plethora of look-alike SUV’s.
You could call it nouveau chic as it borrows from yesteryear with something obviously modern and it takes you a moment to decide whether you like it or not; I just don’t think it would work with the Encore.
I would much rather have the Roadmaster than the Enclave. The wood just doesn’t work on this new stuff
Hey, it’s a custom job that the customer asked for. Just find a graphics company or sign shop that sells vehicle wraps and have one made. After you get tired of it just pull the wrap off. I would love to see and Silverado wrap on a F-150
Could be worse.. can you imagine the 2020 Buick Enclave with a landau vinyl roof.
LOVE IT!!! It reminds me of my 1993 Dark Cherry *or whatever they called it) Roadmaster wagon with the huge dark red lounge chair seats. Oh, man, do I miss that car sometimes. When they stopped making those, we switched to Suburbans which are okay, but haven’t nearly the pep or the gas mileage.
Unfortunately (and realistically), GMs after profits. Yes, they can make a modern Roadmaster and Estate that even the way I want below posted but do GM want to sell a $40-$50k big sedan/wagon?, $60k Enclave or $70k Suburban?. Yep thought so..?.
Looking good, now dreaming of an Omega based Roadmaster Estate with ttv6-LT1 v8 and awd..
I kind of like it!
I thinks it’s a great idea. I would buy it.
Love it, as a past owner of a ’87 Plymouth Grand Voyager, and ’88 Chrysler Town & Country wagon (not the van) both were woodys there is a market for this. Saw a Chevy HHR done up, it too looked great. The PT Cruiser too looked great. The craziness over SUVs is fading. If anyone looked at some of the European car websites an saw the Hyundai Sonata in it’s I-40 dress they’d want one. If Buick were really smart … the new 2020 Buick Encore would be offered up with a woody package.
I agree with Bernie You can’t tell one car from another when you look at them you have to look for the name tag to know what they are. I would love to have that woody.
I am in the midst of creating a woodgrain graphic for my “hideous” 2008 Ford Taurus X Wagon. And it’s gonna be awesomely hideously awful and great all at the same time. Might as well. The car already looks awful as is. Like the Griswold Truxster Wagon. Here’s my Photoshop effort of my Taurus X.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U_4zZu_RuSQyy278CXDS8QCHywmgGmCc/view?usp=sharing
To each their own. I loved the wood paneling on wagons all along. My parents had a ‘63 Ford and ‘67 Vista Cruiser, both with wood trim. I’m currently looking to add something similar to a Yukon XL. Saw more than a few Excursions with the same mod. Would be doing one of those if Ford had the sense to make them again. Had my ‘02 for over 13 years, well past 200k miles, never broke!
There are those of us who are over 6’ and more than 250 lbs. Trucks are just more comfortable. Having a large SUV configuration is the most convenient for highway trips, when not towing. So adding a woody option to a car is fine, but for us linebacker sized gents, a large SUV is the only viable way to go.