History: Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser

The Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser is a station wagon that was produced and marketed by Oldsmobile from 1964 to 1977. The Vista Cruiser had 3 generations, the first and second generations featured fixed-glass, roof-mounted skylights over the second-row seating with sun visors for the second row passengers, a raised roof behind the skylight and lateral glass panels over the rear cargo area and three rows of forward-facing passenger seats.

The Vista Cruiser was introduced on 4 February 1964 as a 1964 model based on the Oldsmobile Cutlass/F-85 model. Before the 1973 model year the Vista Cruiser had a wheelbase which was 5 inches (127 mm) longer than that of the Oldsmobile Cutlass/F-85 sedan. The Vista Cruiser shared its body style with the Buick Sport Wagon.

Later Oldsmobile mid-size station wagons featured a skylight as did the 1991-1992 full-size Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser and the 1991-1996 Buick Roadmaster wagon.

The third generation of the Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser 1973-1977 had also optional rear-facing third row seating and also incorporated a single flat venting moonroof over the front row seating.

General Motor's 1971 - 1976 full size clamshell wagons, including the Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser also had optional forward-facing third row and a slightly elevated roof over the cargo area and no skylight.

Versions

1964 - 1967

The first-generation Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser featured a split skylight over the second row of seats.

In 1964, the Vista Cruiser was one of three station wagons offered by Oldsmobile, the others being the F-85 built on the same wheelbase as other F-85/Cutlass intermediates and the full-sized Dynamic 88 Fiesta.

From 1965 to 1970, the Vista Cruiser became the division's largest wagon as Oldsmobile did not offer a station wagon in the full-sized 88 series and the intermediate F-85/Cutlass were also offered during each of those years on the shorter wheelbase.

Engine offerings in the Vista Cruiser paralleled other Olds intermediates with a 330-cubic-inch (5,408 cc) V8 offered from 1964 to 1967 with ratings from 210 to 320 horsepower (160 to 240 kW) depending on year.

Transmission offerings included the two-speed Jetaway automatic transmission and two rarely equipped manual transmissions including a three-speed column shift and a four-speed floor shift.

1968 - 1972

This generation was a major restyling of the GM A-body car line for 1968 and replaced the split skylight with a one-piece skylight, while also stretched the wheelbase from 120 to 121 in (3,048 to 3,073 mm).

From 1968 to 1972, a 350-cubic-inch (5,700 cc; 5.7 L) V8 became standard with a larger 400-cubic-inch (6,600 cc; 6.6 L) V8 from the 442 muscle car optional in 1968-1969 and a 455-cubic-inch (7,460 cc; 7.46 L) V8 available from 1970 to 1972.


The transmission offerings for the Vista Cruiser through the years included one of two automatics—the two-speed Jetaway (1968) or three-speed Turbo Hydramatic (1968–72), or very rarely, a standard three-speed manual with column shift or optional four-speed manual with floor-mounted Hurst shifter.

In 1969, the "Dual-Action" tailgate was first offered, as standard equipment on the three-row models and as optional equipment on the two-row models.

In 1970, a redesign reshaped much of the exterior sheet metal, making the edges and curves sharper. Although it closely resembled the 1968-1969 models, and is essentially considered to be a second-generation car, many of the body parts were no longer interchangeable with the earlier second-generation cars. The dashboard was also completely redesigned. (The GM Skywagon Club recognizes the 1970-1972 models as "Generation 2a")

For 1971, Oldsmobile brought back the full-sized Custom Cruiser wagon on the 98 chassis utilizing GM's disappearing clamshell tailgate, but the glass-roofed Vista Cruiser continued until 1972.

A small number of (1972)) Vista Cruisers were modified by Hurst Performance, then based in Warminster Township, Pennsylvania for support car duties at the 1972 Indianapolis 500 and equipped with 455-cubic-inch (7,460 cc; 7.46 L) Rocket V8s along with the official pace car, a 1972 Hurst/Olds, also powered by a 455 V8. Two are known to survive as of 2012, a press car and a medical director's car. As of 2012, the medical director's car is owned by a relative of Ray Harroun, the winner of the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911.

1973 - 1977

In popular culture

• Eric Forman on That 70's Show has a 1969 Vista Cruiser that is featured in many episodes of the series. When the show ended in 2006 the car was sold to Wilmer Valderrama - the actor who played Fez. He payed US$ 500 for the car.
• In 2009 Matchbox released a 1971 Vista Cruiser in the 1-100 diecast vehicle range

Further reading

General Motors