The roadmaster of that era is the ugliest car gm made.. I doubt they even considered the drivetrain and simply used the ugliest car they could find at the time.
Without woodgrain they aren't that bad.... As they say beauty is in the eye of beholder.....your mamma probably didn't think you were ugly....
Personally, I've always thought the Roadmaster and Caprice wagons were sweet when done up right. Sometimes all that's needed to make something look cool is a little vision and imagination:
So dorky.. my grandmother drove the olds version. It was maroon on maroon on maroon on maroon.. I do remember being amazed by the tailgate as a kid. To each his own.
Oldest brother had to drive parents 1967 tempest safari wagon medium blue with wood grain 326. Next brother and sister shared another 1967 tempest safari wagon silver with no wood grain 326. Both were my mother's drivers. Local muffler shop owner had one a few years ago with an immaculate black paint job and gto hood. It was beautiful.