2blu442

Hi All
A buddy of mine who's not on her often but is a member shared with me that he was going to be selling a 1969 Vista Cruiser wagon. Brian (Slater Auto Sales Eugene Or) arranged to have a friend of his to deliver it to me and it arrived this morning (Thank you Brian!) Like all Vista Cruisers it has rust issues and I've not had time to fully crawl over it. But there's enough good things that I feel like a kid with a new toy.

The good:
400 G block 4bbl/TH400 transmission
Cruise Control
Tilt Column
Power Windows
4 row radiator
Mirror Finish on Roof Glass
AC
Disc Brakes
New set of tires
Exterior trim is all there and most is nice
Three row seats

The Bad
Rust in lower body
Rust around top glass
Rust in floorboards
Power Windows need work
Misc. wiring cleanup needed
Interior rough and needs re-done

The strange (that I found so far)
4 row radiator without transmission cooler had fill cap moved to drivers side
Household plumbing T used to add sending unit on intake
Extra line plumbed into the master cylinder, for trailer brake?
Roof rack removed and inside car

Here's some pictures for you all to see the new addition to my collection.

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MDchanic

Sweet.

- Eric

Gary M

those are cool cars. It's got a smooth ride and you can fit anything into it.

CRUZN 66

Sounds like a good score, especially with some of those options...

don71

Looks good all things considered.
That was somebodies tow wagon in the day. Wonder what stories it could tell?
Like why that rad is installed, is probably one of them.

I couldn't zoom onto the plate/tag too much, does it say "94" or "04"? wondering just how long its been off the road. Anyways, have fun.

Olds442redberet

Check out the options! Very Cool!

oldspackrat

Looks like it has the optional? shiny moldings at the top of the door/bottom of glass? Don't know if I've seen that on wagons before? Congrats!

2blu442

Thanks Guys!

I've owned 7 or 8 Vista Cruisers in the past. But they all had bad rust. I love the roof glass but the design wasn't good for drainage and it seems like they've all got some rust. Yes they drive really nice! With a big block and TH400 I could see this going down the road with a travel trailer in tow.

The tags expired in 2004 so it has been off the road for a while. But Brian got it running and I think it would take very little to make a daily driver out of it.

I'm surprised how little is on the trim tag. It looks like the only option is 08D, maybe that's the code for the trim on the door? Or the mirror finish glass?

I think I can fix the rust with spare sheetmetal I have. But will be on the hunt for interior parts.

I've already got several project cars. But I've got a soft spot for wagons and I've been wanting a Vista Cruiser for a while. This is a fun addition to the collection.

Ancient Iron

08D means it was built in the fourth week of August That has to be a super early production car. And the best part is it's code 75 Aztec Gold

tcolt

Cool. And interesting. I wonder if those aluminum or stainless door trim pieces were a 1969 only thing....

oldolds88

my driver ed car was a 69 vista. I like wagons. hows underneath?

zeeke

Nice grab, best of luck with it. I haven't had a wagon in years but I know how you feel.

stevengerard

Congrat's I'd love a wagon one of these days - almost bought a 71 445 VC 15 years ago, no rust at all. But even at $5k it was too much at the time - might as well been 25k - I forgot why but remember thinking I'd be crazy not to buy it but crazzier to spend the money.

That car is in really good condition, good luck with it. I swear I'll send you the shocks asap

Yellowstatue

Side window Sill Molding (B85). I think it is kinda rare on a wagon, more so than a coupe or convert.

sammy

Cool!...here's mine. Gotta have one

sammy

Why the different cowls John.?Built within 3 months of each other...

2blu442

Undercarriage looks good. There is rust in the fender heels, and bottom of rear quarter panels. But I think the only place the floorboard has holes is the drivers floorboard. License plate bracket is from California so it may have been a West Coast car all its life.

2blu442

I compared the two tags and the difference I saw was my car ST 69 34865 and yours ST 69 34866. Is that the difference you were looking at?

BTW you've got a nice looking Vista Cruiser! Did you find one in nice shape or restore it?

John

Ancient Iron

They aren't built within three months of each other. John's car is 08D meaning fourth week of August 1968. Your car is built the second week of May 1969.

sammy

My bad...you are correct

sammy

Sorry, I was not specific...yes, that was what I was referring to...

Thanks John.....yours is the luxury version when it comes to options tho! Mine is standard steering and brakes, tranny cooler and a radio..lol

This was Tom D'Amicos wagon...fellow CO mate. Original wagon, all I did was change out the rims....reliving my childhood

11971four4two

I always have been a fan of the Olds wagons. Family hauler for us back in the day. With a 66 Toronado for less than the clan + critters.
I have only had a few olds wagons myself. I would like to have one again

all the best


Nice find

Human

When I was growing up, we always kept an Olds station wagon as a spare car. Out of those, I recall three Vista Cruisers: a tan '66 model, a lime green '69 model with woodgrain and a white roof, and an orange '71 model with woodgrain and a white roof. Rust around the roof glass was a continuous problem on all three.