imawagonholic

Hi everyone!

New to the forum, and have a question that needs your expert help.

Found a photo of a 442 Vista Cruiser online, and she had wood grain trim. My friend and I were wondering: is this a factory option, or some custom work? Couldn't find anything online for it, so I joined this group.

Been a big Oldsmobile fan since I drove my high school English teacher's 1970 Olds Cutlass Supreme with 350 Rocket. Was caught doing big, smoky burnouts a few too many times in the downtown core!

Any help you guys and gals can give me is greatly appreciated. Hope you're all having a good one.

Here's the pic of the car I found. It's the first image. Sorry, not sure how to just post a pic.

MDchanic

I think you meant this photo:





What 442 Vista Cruiser?

No such animal, except in the warped imaginations of a few misguided )and probably chemically altered) members of the flock of Olds, so, for all you care, it came with gold plated tires and a smoking room.

Welcome to ClassicOlds.

- Eric

Allan R

As Eric debunked - no 442 VCs so yes that is custom. Although rumored to be 4 72 HO VC's.

To answer your question specifically - ALL VC's were adorned with wood grain sides and stainless trim. The wagon that wasn't is the flat top Cutlass Wagon.

EDIT: From the 1972 Olds brochure

dnmfranco

that's actually not correct, not all early ones had wood grain sides
actually not completely positive but don't think it became permanent until 68

MDchanic

That sounds about right. I think it was in "imitation" (get it?) of the Colony Park and Country Squire, which got it standard around '66 or '67.

- Eric

dnmfranco

Eric, yes first ones that I noticed that all have it is 68. But have seen some earlier years w it so perhaps an option then?????????

oldspackrat

Eric,
So are you saying that because I made a Vista Cruiser SX, I'm misguided or chemically altered??

MDchanic

Well, whichever one suits you, of course.

Naturally, some of us are lucky enough to be able to sneak into both categories.

- Eric

imawagonholic

Thanks Eric and company. They looked pretty convincing, and yes, that was the pic in question. Did read up on the special support vehicles for the 1972 INDY 500 (the modified Hurst models). Apparently, two of them still exist, with one owned by a relative of Ray Harroun, who won the inaugural race in 1911. Thanks for the quick replies!

Funkwagon455

I am as chemically altered as the Texas law will allow!

dnmfranco

so perhaps it was an option pre 68

MDchanic

Well, at least you're not as altered as Colorado law will allow!

- Eric

joe_padavano

Actually, woodgrain was first available in the 1967 model year. The VC came in two trim levels, Standard and Custom. The Custom versions got the woodgrain, Standard did not.

Mike Green

Second Generation (68~72) had a 400 HO with a 4 speed Hurst but wasn't a 442. A rare car, no such thing as a 442 Vista, wood grain was an option. I had a 68 455 with a power glide that would spin tires at any speed, down shifting from 2 to 1 under 40 mph. Top speed (for me) was unknown because around 105 mph the front end got so light that even as a teenager loss of control seemed certain. Zero to 80mph in first gear, quarter mile in around 16-17 seconds. Mine was all stock and did NOT have woodgrain or the glass tops. (Flat top)

joe_padavano

Welcome. You've resurrected a five year old thread, and I'm afraid you have some bad info. First, do not confuse the long wheelbase Vista with the flattop Cutlass wagon. Two different models with different equipment. I've attached the applicable pages from the Salesman's SPECS booklet for 1968. Note the LH column on each page under STANDARD EQUIPMENT. Every single Vista built from 1968-1972 came with woodgrain as standard equipment. There was no "delete" option. On the other hand, woodgrain was never offered on the Cutlass flattop wagons, so naturally yours did not have it.

I don't know what a "400 HO" is, but there were two 400 motors optionally available in the Vista in 1968, the RPO L65 2bbl motor that made 290 HP and the L78 4bbl motor that made 325 HP. Look at the listing for RPO M20 - the four speed was not factory available with the 400 motor in the Vista. In fact, the 400 motors ONLY came with the TH400 trans. The 400 was not available in the Cutlass wagons.

jaunty75

Another problem here. The 455 engine was not offered in the '68 Cutlass wagon line. (See the specs pages Joe shows above.) If your car had a 455, it was swapped in later. Powerglide is a Chevy term. If your wagon had a two-speed automatic, and it was stock, it was the Jetaway, which had nothing in common with Chevy Powerglide except that it was a two-speed automatic.