Hello all,
I'm a writer for Hemmings and I have been assigned a piece on the Vista Cruiser! I was wondering if anyone knew a shop owner or specific historian on the Vista Cruiser that I could use as a source for my story.

I was also under the impression that there were some rare dealer-outfitted "442" Vista Cruiser's, with the striping and badging. Is this true? Does anyone know any current owners of a "442", "W-30", or "Hurst/Olds" wagon?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

Welcome to the forum , i'm sure you will get some good info here.

 

Mary Mondello has Joe Mondello's. They can be reached through CJ 455 at Joe Mondello Racing Engines. He's on ROP:

Here's a thread with a bunch of info on them including CJ's info:

http://72.22.90.30/phpBB2/viewtopic....hlight=#786249

George Berejik has one of the "Original" ones. You should be able to get in touch with him through the Eastern MA GMO http://clubs.hemmings.com/olds-gmo/

 

What do you want to know?

For starters, the first generation of Vista Cruisers, the ones with the raised-glass roof, was made from 1964 through 1972. The car was based on the Cutlass, and from 1964 through 1970, it was largest station wagon Olds offered.

 

Although this one isn't factory, I can't see why more weren't made...they look so good! This is my dad's '70 ('72) Vista Cruiser:

 

Mike, Joe passed away April of 2011, remember?? Prolly just a slip of the keyboard I'm sure...

I'm not on ROP, so I honestly don't know if someone took over from him and continues posting through his name?

 

I think he meant CJ was on ROP...but I wouldn't know because I've been waiting 2 years for my account to get approved.

 

Go back and read what I wrote. I only said it was Joe's car, not that he still owned it. From the posts I've seen I believe Joe's wife Mary is still running Mondello Racing Engines. CJ is an employee at Mondello Racing Engines. I don't think CJ is a family member. He posts under CJ 455 on ROP. Joe never posted on ROP, at least not in the nine years or so I've been a member there.

Just to add to the confusion Bernard Mondello is Joe's son. Bernard is a member on ROP and owns Bernard Mondello Racing Enterprises , Corona, California (Not Mondello Performance!)

edit. I just went back and read it myself. I see why you thought what you thought...

When I said "they" I meant the business

 

Thanks Steve - I also submitted to ROP ???more than 2 years ago I think. Never heard anything back. From what some guys here say it's hit and miss whether they accept you or not? Anyway it's moot to me at this point.

Mike - my apologies, it looks like I misinterpreted your statement.

GKenns - hope you find what you're looking for. There are tons of comments you will find on this site about VCs. They are a very cool car that was highly under-rated in terms of production IMHO. You might also want to check out the Wild About Cars website - they claim to have almost everything you could want in terms of available original Oldsmobile documentation, even production numbers. Be sure to ask for Bob or Kurt they are the Oldsmobile specialists over there who know just about everything. If they don't have info posted on the site, they may be able to forward you what you're looking for given enough time to find it.

 

Welcome. Are you gonna limit it to the 64-72 or are you gonna include the third gen 73-77 ? Regardless of what most close minded people think, they are still Vista Cruisers. Since Oldsmobile made them and said so, I'll take their word for it.

 

Dennis,
I'm not being closed minded in my post, because you're right - Olds still marketed them as "Vista Cruiser" even without the 'Vista' roof - something I never really understood. Like most, I just got used to seeing the VC with the traditional vista glass and raised roof. I don't really know why Olds called it Vista after 72, when it really wasn't. It could easily have been called the Cutlass Cruiser - just as the flat top wagons in this lineup were. Anyway, your point is well taken. It gives GKenns more fuel to research for his project.

GKenns, you might also want to research the VCs sister at Buick that also had the identical Vista roof from 64-69 when Buick dropped the panorama glass as part of the re-designed wagon offering. Only Buick and Olds offered this distinctive look.

 

Hey everyone! Thanks for all your help! I wish I had been checking back in sooner, as I could have been more detailed in what I was looking for.

So my editor at Hemmings likes it when a specific body style or generation is covered, with reference to the models that came before or after it.

Basically, we want to do the 70-72 because the "442" and "W-30" variants look so close to the actual 442 on the front, with the dual scoop hood.

How did these cars come about? Were they all done by owners? Did some dealers offer them done up like this off the lot? I know they were not factory-installed, but I have heard that several dealers offered these setups.

Any help would be great!