Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser First generation 1964–1967
| Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser | |
|---|---|
1966 Vista Cruiser
|
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Oldsmobile (General Motors) |
| Model years | 1964–1977 |
| Assembly | Lansing Car Assembly, Lansing, Michigan |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Mid-size |
| Body style | Station Wagon |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Platform | A-body |
| Related | Buick Sport Wagon |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser |
The 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 three rows of forward-facing passenger seating.
Sharing its bodystyle with the Buick Sport Wagon, the Vista Cruiser was introduced on February 4, 1964, as a 1964 model, based on the Oldsmobile Cutlass/F-85 model. 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 wagon.
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.
GM's 1971–76 full-size clamshell wagons, including the Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser, incorporated an optional forward-facing third row and a slightly elevated roof over the cargo area, though no skylight.
First generation (1964–1967)
| First generation | |
|---|---|
1965 Vista Cruiser
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| Overview | |
| Model years | 1964–1967 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Related | Buick Special Buick Sport Wagon Oldsmobile Cutlass Pontiac Grand Prix Pontiac Tempest Chevrolet Chevelle |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 330 in3 (5,408 cc; 5.408 L) Rocket V8 |
| Transmission | 2-speed automatic 3-speed automatic 4-speed manual 3-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 120 in (3,048 mm) |
The first-generation Vista Cruiser pioneered a raised roof with split skylight that began over the second-row seating, with lateral glass panels over the rear cargo area. Sun visors for second row passengers, with a third row of forward-facing passenger seating available as an option.
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 Oldsmobile dropped the full-sized 88 wagon, making the Vista Cruiser the division's largest; the shorter-wheelbase F-85/Cutlass wagon remained the entry-level offering.
Engines in the Vista Cruiser paralleled other Olds intermediates, with a 330-cubic-inch (5,408 cc) V8 offered from 1964 to 1967 producing from 210 to 320 horsepower (160 to 240 kW) depending on year and carburetion.
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.