Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser
Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser | |
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body on frame | |
Related | (station wagons) Chevrolet Chevelle Greenbrier Pontiac Tempest Custom Safari Buick Sport Wagon (coupes & sedans) Oldsmobile Cutlass Chevrolet Chevelle Pontiac Tempest Buick Skylark |
Chronology | |
Successor | Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Cruiser |
The Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser is a station wagon manufactured and marketed by Oldsmobile over three generations from 1964 to 1977.
The first and second generation Vista Cruisers are noted for their 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 along the raised roof, and access to the third row of forward-facing passenger seating was accomplished by a second row split bench seat that retracted forward.
Sharing its bodystyle with the Buick Sport Wagon, Pontiac Tempest Safari and Chevrolet Chevelle Greenbrier, the Vista Cruiser was introduced on February 4, 1964, as a 1964 model, based on the Oldsmobile Cutlass/F-85 Series.[1] The skylight roof panel was only shared with the Buick Sport Wagon and was not available on the Chevrolet Chevelle or Pontiac Tempest station wagons.[1] Prior to the 1973 model year the Vista Cruiser utilized a wheelbase which was 5 inches (127 mm) longer than that of the Cutlass/F-85 sedan.
Subsequent Oldsmobile mid-size wagons featured a skylight as did the 1991–92 full-size Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser wagon and the 1991–96 Buick Roadmaster Estate.
Reminiscent of earlier models, the third generation Vista Cruiser (1973–1977) featured optional rear-facing third row seating, while incorporating a single flat venting moonroof over the front row seating.
First generation (1964–1967)
First generation | ||
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Curb weight | 3,405 lb (1,544 kg) |
The first-generation Vista Cruiser pioneered a standard[1] raised roof with split skylight that began over the second-row seating, with lateral glass panels over the rear cargo area that was earlier introduced in 1954 on the GMC Scenicruiser Bus. Sun visors for second row passengers, and a third row of forward-facing passenger seating, were available as an option. Access to the third row was gained by a split-folding second row seat that could be retracted forward.
The Vista Cruiser was available as the standard or Custom trim package, and included as standard equipment a coil spring suspension, three-speed manual transmission, self-adjusting brakes with an air scoop, and an aluminized exhaust. Cloth or "
In 1964, the Vista Cruiser was one of three station wagons offered by Oldsmobile, the others being the
From 1965 Oldsmobile discontinued the full-sized Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 wagon, making the Vista Cruiser the division's longer model; the shorter-wheelbase F-85 station wagon became the entry-level trim package of the Vista Cruiser and was not offered the raised roof skylights.[1]
Engines in the Vista Cruiser paralleled other Olds intermediates, with a 330 cu in (5.4 L) Rocket V8 offered from 1964 to 1967 producing from 210 to 320 horsepower (160 to 240 kW) depending on year and carburetion. For 1964, Buick's 225 cu in (3.7 L) V6 was the standard engine.[1]
Transmission included the two-speed Jetaway automatic transmission and two rarely equipped manual transmissions, a three-speed column shift and a four-speed floor shift.
Beginning in 1966 it revived the long-standing tradition offering optional
First-generation Vista Cruiser production (6- and 9 passenger combined)[1] | ||
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Year | Vista Cruiser | Vista Cruiser Custom |
1964 | 3,394 | 10,606 |
1965 | 5,445 | 26,540 |
1966 | 3,529 | 23,077 |
1967 | 2,748 | 24,806 |
Second generation (1968–1972)
Second generation | ||
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Curb weight | 4,064 lb (1,843 kg) |
From 1968 to 1972, a 350 cu in (5.7 L) V8 became standard, with a high-output 400 cu in (6.6 L)
Transmission offerings through the years included one of two
In 1969, the "Dual-Action" tailgate was introduced as an option on two-row models and standard equipment on three-row.
In 1970, an exterior redesign sharpened edges and curves. Although it closely resembled the 1968-69 models, and is essentially regarded a second-generation car (The GM Skywagon Club recognizes the 1970-72 models as "Generation 2a"), many body parts were no longer interchangeable. The dashboard was also completely redesigned.
For 1971, Oldsmobile brought back the full-sized
A small number of 1972 Vista Cruisers were modified by Hurst Performance for support car duties at the 1972 Indianapolis 500, joining the 1972 Hurst/Olds official pace car. Both were equipped with 455 cu in (7.5 L) Rocket V8. Two modified Vista Cruisers 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.
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1969 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser
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1970 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser
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1971 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser
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1972 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser
Second-generation Vista Cruiser production[1] | ||
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Year | Vista Cruiser 6 passenger | Vista Cruiser 8 passenger |
1968 | 13,375 | 22,768 |
1969 | 11,879 | 21,508 |
1970 | 10,758 | 23,336 |
1971 | 9,317 | 20,566 |
1972 | 10,573 | 21,340 |
Third generation (1973–1977)
Third generation | ||
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Curb weight | 4,392 lb (1,992 kg) |
For 1973, the
Standard equipment was updated to include a 350 cu in (5.7 L)
The model's distinctive skylights gave way to boxy "Colonnade" styling, including the loss of the front door vent windows. A pop-up sunroof over the front seats was optional.
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1975 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser
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1976 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser
Third-generation Vista Cruiser production[1] | ||
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Year | Vista Cruiser 6 passenger | Vista Cruiser 8 passenger |
1973 | 10,894 | 13,531 |
1974 | 4,191 | 7,013 |
1975 | 4,963 | 9,226 |
1976 | n/a | 20,560 |
1977 | n/a | 25,816 |
In popular culture
A 1969 Aztec Gold Vista Cruiser was a key component of
References
- ^ ISBN 0-87341-204-4.
- ^ a b c d 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ Garage Girl (September 30, 2016). "Top 50 TV Cars of All Time". rodauthority.com. Power Automedia. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- General
- Gunnell, John (2005). American Cars of the 1960s. Krause Publications. p. 194. ISBN 978-0-89689-131-9.