Ransom E. Olds did greatly in fostering the advancement of the automotive sector as we have come to know it today. In 1897, he established the Olds Motor Vehicle Company (later known as Oldsmobile), becoming one of the pioneers of the American automotive industry. Although Olds left the company due to a dispute in 1904, the company forged on, churning out amazing cars all through its time. On November 12, 1908, General Motors acquired Oldsmobile, and it immediately positioned it as a brand to reckon with.
As a GM division, Oldsmobile produced several amazing car models that include the legendary Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser. Assembled at the Lasing Car Assembly in Michigan, the Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser is a mid-size station wagon that was introduced in 1964, and it shares its body style with the Buick Sport Wagon. Undoubtedly an awesome car, these details will refresh your memory of the legendary Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser.
9 Marketed Over 3 Generations
Oldsmobile had become a division of General Motors during the production of the Vista Cruiser, having acquired the company on November 12, 1908. Hence, under GM’s umbrella, Oldsmobile produced the Vista Cruiser in three awesome production generations.
The first generation spanned from the model’s inception in 1964 up till 1967. Thereafter, the model’s second generation was produced from 1968 to 1972, while the third generation lasted from 1973 to 1977.
8 Body Style
In all its three generations, the iconic Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser was built in a station wagon body style. As customary, the station wagon body style is a variant of the salon body style, and it features a rearward extended roof.
The history of this body style dates as far back as the early twentieth century, when some independent manufacturers constructed wooden custom bodies for the Ford Model T chassis. Notably, the Vista Cruiser shares its body style with the Buick Sport Wagon.
7 Adopted Unique Skylights
Daylighting as an illumination practice is often adopted in automotive designs, allowing for the penetration of sunlight for effective internal lighting. The practice is focused more on the maximization of daylight, and one of the best ways it can be captured in a car is through the use of a skylight; a light-transmitting structure made from transparent or translucent glass built as part of the roof.
Notably, the first- and second-generation model Vista Cruisers have roof-mounted skylights positioned directly over the second-row seats and complemented with sun visors for second-row passengers.
6 1st Generation – General Attributes
Produced from 1964 to 1967, the first-generation Vista Cruiser pioneered the integration of a raised roof with a split skylight that the model was famous for. The model was one of three station wagons offered by Oldsmobile, which include the F-85 and the full-sized Dynamic 88 Fiesta upon its introduction in 1964.
However, from 1965 to 1970, the Vista Cruiser assumed the position of the division’s larger offering, having dropped the full-sized 88 Wagon from 1965.
5 1st Generation – Powertrain
The powertrain configuration in the Vista Cruiser varies with each generation, however, the engines are often the same as other Oldsmobile intermediate model engines. The 1964 model is powered by a 5.4-liter Rocket V8. This engine was offered all through the first-generation production, with models that lasted till 1967.
Hence, depending on model year and carburetion, the V8 engine sends out an output that ranges from 210 to 320 horsepower. Also, the powertrain features two manual transmissions, as well as two- and three-speed automatic transmissions.
4 2nd Generation – General Attributes
The second generation of the Vista Cruiser was introduced in 1968, and it came with a major restyling of the GM A-body car line which substituted the split skylight on the preceding generation with a one-piece unit and a stretched wheelbase.
Furthermore, as part of the second-generation model, the 1969 Vista Cruiser received a “Dual-Action” tailgate as a standard feature on the three-row variant and as an option on the two-row. Also, the 1970 model’s exterior was redesigned with sharpened edges and curves.
3 2nd Generation – Powertrain
The second-generation Vista Cruisers began with the 1968 model, and it was available with a 5.7-liter Rocket V8 as the standard engine all through the generation, ending with the 1972 model. Optionally, a 6.6-liter Rocket V8 adopted from the Oldsmobile 4-4-2 powered the second-generation Vista Cruiser in 1968 and 1969, while another 7.46-liter variant was as well available from 1970 to 1972.
Through the generation, power was distributed to the wheels via an assortment of amazing optional automatic and manual transmissions.
2 3rd Generation – General Attributes
Like its predecessors, the third generation also came with significant changes. For the 1973 model, Oldsmobile did not only eliminate the separate wheelbase used by the Buick Sport Wagon and Vista Cruiser, but it also totally redesigned the GM A-body intermediate platform.
Hence, all A-body wagons were then fabricated on the 116-inch sedan wheelbase. Furthermore, in the third generation, the Vista Cruiser’s distinctive skylight was replaced with “Colonnade” styling while a pop-up sunroof over the front seat was made optional.
1 3rd Generation – Powertrain
For the third-generation models, the Vista Cruiser featured a 5.7-liter Rocket V8 as the standard engine while a 7.5-liter Rocket V8 was optionally available from the 1973 entry model up to the 1976 model. However, the optional engine was replaced in 1977 with a 6.6-liter Rocket V8.
Notably, from 1973 to 1977, the Vista Cruiser models’ powertrain setup featured a power steering, power front disc, as well as a three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission, all as standard equipment.