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1970 Experimental 2 door Vista Cruiser - (not mine)

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Old March 24th, 2018, 09:49 PM
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1970 Experimental 2 door Vista Cruiser - (not mine)

Found this on Craigslist, this should kick up some interesting debate. You have to admit the idea is pretty cool. Hope this unique project is something someone is looking for.

https://jacksonville.craigslist.org/...525069881.html
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Old March 25th, 2018, 12:20 AM
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Fake
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Old March 25th, 2018, 02:30 AM
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442's had twin exhaust, yes?
Pass side exhaust manifold is for a single system
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Old March 25th, 2018, 03:01 AM
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Thumbs up 442 wagon

Interesting oldsmobile
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Old March 25th, 2018, 05:45 AM
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Research... Apparently Earl Scheib painted the engine.
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Old March 25th, 2018, 05:48 AM
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My 69 Vista has center console and bucket seats [non factory] but when you crawl up under it, there were holes everywhere
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Old March 25th, 2018, 06:21 AM
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I remember seeing another one...

http://hooniverse.com/2010/03/07/wel...vista-cruiser/

The lines and proportions are odd.
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Old March 25th, 2018, 06:46 AM
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Originally Posted by 75 W-30 H/O
The lines and proportions are odd.
Someone did a lot of work on this; they could have photo-shopped it first to see that it would look odd when done.

"New parts: 442 grill" That must be a Weber or Coleman model I've never heard about.
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Old March 25th, 2018, 07:13 AM
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"J" head 455 ???? in 1970 oooooooooook???...............
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Old March 25th, 2018, 07:28 AM
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So he makes a 2 door vista cruiser, and the two photos of the body don't even show the back half. Owner is either clueless photographer, or trying to befraud, or both.

Car is fake, man is committing fraud.
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Old March 25th, 2018, 07:35 AM
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Originally Posted by 75 W-30 H/O
I remember seeing another one...
No, that's the SAME car. Always on C-list from somewhere in Florida. It's been discussed here many times in the last ten years. It's a hack job using a Vista and a Supreme.

Here's a thread from 2010.

And here's a thread from 2012.
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Old March 25th, 2018, 10:23 AM
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There are others that have popped up in the past.






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Old March 25th, 2018, 10:28 AM
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Originally Posted by scottv442
There are others that have popped up in the past.
The black car is the same one in the Craiglist ad from Florida that has been around since 2010. I still think the bronze one is photoshop.
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Old March 25th, 2018, 10:58 AM
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Originally Posted by joe_padavano
I still think the bronze one is photoshop.
That would figure. It's the only one I've seen that looks halfway decent.
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Old March 25th, 2018, 11:32 AM
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Originally Posted by joe_padavano
I still think the bronze one is photoshop.
And now you know it is. Here is the before shot.



And the after shot.



Notice the window on the house above the vista roof gets smaller too.

Last edited by 4speed455; March 25th, 2018 at 11:34 AM.
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Old March 25th, 2018, 07:57 PM
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Too bad somebody went to so much trouble and effort to chop up a nice car to make that kluge.... Just because it can be done does not mean that it should be.
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Old March 27th, 2018, 02:31 AM
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Notice the tree leaning in the opposite direction in pic 2.
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Old March 27th, 2018, 07:26 AM
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It’s the same image. When they photo shopped it they mirrored it.
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Old March 27th, 2018, 07:40 AM
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Whatever it is that thing is ugly. If I could never see it again, I'd be just fine with it. Doesn't matter the color, the 2 door just looks out of place with this body style, in photoshop or real life.
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Old March 27th, 2018, 08:40 AM
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I could see my way to a 2 door, flat top wagon, but not a vista roof.
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Old March 27th, 2018, 10:54 AM
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I think the black one looks ok. It would have to be inspected scrutinously to make sure the work was quality. It could just be the SS wheels making it look good.

It reminds me of an AMC AMX. Maybe Olds should have built one...
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Old March 27th, 2018, 11:21 AM
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Originally Posted by Olds64
I think the black one looks ok.
I have to disagree. The Supreme quarter window and roofline are completely out of place with the Vista back half. GM has built some ugly cars, but not with body lines that are this far our of whack.

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Old March 27th, 2018, 11:38 AM
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According to the linked Craigslist ad, the car in red primer was originally converted by a coach builder. I would think the work would be decent quality given that a coach builder is used to streching limos and converting hearses.

As others have said, the J heads and single exhaust passenger's manifold among other things reveal that this car has been modified aside from the extensive bodywork it has received. I do think the black and primer red wagons look better than the photoshopped one. The black and the primer red wagons both have a small rear windows just like the Cutlii of the era. The brown photoshopped wagon just looks odd.

If the Chevy Nomad was ok for GM to make then I don't see why this is so taboo. If the primer red one had some documentation proving that a coachbuilder did inddeed convert it for Oldsmobile or even a dealership that would be something else.
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Old March 27th, 2018, 11:59 AM
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Originally Posted by Olds64
According to the linked Craigslist ad, the car in red primer was originally converted by a coach builder. I would think the work would be decent quality given that a coach builder is used to streching limos and converting hearses.
The primer car IS the black car. Look closely and you'll see little features that are identical on these two. The coachbuilder story remains unproven.

The ad (which hasn't changed in the many years this car has been for sale) has a number of dubious claims. For example:

The Vin Number Proves This car was Manufactured new as a Vista Cruiser.
No, it only proves that a Vista VIN tag was attached to the car. Obviously some parts of this car started life as a Vista Cruiser. The ad is implying (without actually saying) that the car was built as a Vista as it sits today. That is BS.

I have done research and found out this car was built for GM as a sales research tool by Bently Mitchell.
I'd like to know what "research" was done. The website linked in the ad says that the Mitchell Bently Corp reorganized into the Mitchell Corp in 1964. There is no mention of any custom cars built after that. Instead, "Following the retirement of Don R. Mitchell, his son, William F. assumed control of the firm which continued to specialize in stamped-metal body panels, seating, door panels, carpeting, trim and air bags for Detroit’s automakers."

I contacted Olds Club of America. They verified it is a real Vista Cruiser.
And all that means is that the car has a VIN tag from a Vista. Not exactly proof of anything.

Frankly, there's a reason why this car hasn't been sold in the ten years that it's been offered for sale...
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Old April 20th, 2019, 09:16 AM
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Yep. The photo shows a reversal. Also notice the large picture window is shrunken, al

Originally Posted by 4speed455
And now you know it is. Here is the before shot.



And the after shot.



Notice the window on the house above the vista roof gets smaller too.
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Old May 1st, 2019, 04:48 AM
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Originally Posted by Olds64
According to the linked Craigslist ad, the car in red primer was originally converted by a coach builder. I would think the work would be decent quality given that a coach builder is used to streching limos and converting hearses.

As others have said, the J heads and single exhaust passenger's manifold among other things reveal that this car has been modified aside from the extensive bodywork it has received. I do think the black and primer red wagons look better than the photoshopped one. The black and the primer red wagons both have a small rear windows just like the Cutlii of the era. The brown photoshopped wagon just looks odd.

If the Chevy Nomad was ok for GM to make then I don't see why this is so taboo. If the primer red one had some documentation proving that a coachbuilder did inddeed convert it for Oldsmobile or even a dealership that would be something else.
I am with you on this Chevy made a Nomad why not a olds. 👍
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Old May 5th, 2020, 07:50 PM
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I own the Vista 2 door hardtop. 2 were made. One black which rotted out. 350ci and auto.
I was told it was destroyed in the days of ''Cash for Clunkers''
Mine was white when I purchased it. it is now Viper red base coat because primer doesn't hold out water penetration.
There are a lot of NA SAYERS on the internet about my car. I say where is your proof.
Look at the undocumented COPO cars built at the time.
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Old May 5th, 2020, 09:38 PM
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The onus is on you to prove what it is.
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Old May 6th, 2020, 04:14 AM
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Originally Posted by carole71
I own the Vista 2 door hardtop. 2 were made. One black which rotted out. 350ci and auto.
I was told it was destroyed in the days of ''Cash for Clunkers''
Mine was white when I purchased it. it is now Viper red base coat because primer doesn't hold out water penetration.
There are a lot of NA SAYERS on the internet about my car. I say where is your proof.
Look at the undocumented COPO cars built at the time.
Every single one-of-none car comes with a "special order" fairy tale story and not one scrap of actual documentation. A factory built car would have a paper trail. One example of this is the black 1970 Hurst/Olds with sunroof. That car has paperwork to back up the fact that it was actually built - along with photos from the 1970 time frame. The alleged two-door Vista that has been for sale in Florida for a decade is clearly someone's bizarre custom build using a Cutlass Supreme and a Vista back end. What's the VIN on that car? What does the cowl tag look like? Those are pretty basic questions that have not been answered.
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Old May 6th, 2020, 09:58 AM
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I say: "NA!"
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Old May 6th, 2020, 02:09 PM
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hey man.....

Originally Posted by '69442ragtop
I say: "NA!"
I dont know why you doubt, I used to own an experimental 68 chevy 2 door wagon, I got it from a guy who got it from another guy who got it from grumpy jenkins gardener, I had to sell her because I just couldnt deal with all the chicks clamoring for a ride in the old mystery mobile, if ya know what i mean LOL....



Sorry fellas just screwing around, LOL...

I am sure you pull any one of the interior moldings there will be frankenstein scars in there
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Old May 6th, 2020, 03:19 PM
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Old May 6th, 2020, 03:37 PM
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I'll see you and raise you...







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Old May 6th, 2020, 03:51 PM
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Diego!

wow.....

I remember back in maybe 78-79 my neighbor who later opened up a very big corvette restoration and resale shop and was making wagons out of them ? geezus he moved to florida years and years ago
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Old May 6th, 2020, 03:52 PM
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geezus joe... somewhere there is a firebird too
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Old May 6th, 2020, 03:55 PM
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Ill see you and raise you one

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Old May 6th, 2020, 03:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Eddie Hansen
Ill see you and raise you one

That's not Vista-based. That was a GM styling concept that came THIS close to production. That's the Kammback Firebird, and it turned out that the thing that killed production was the cost of the unique doors.
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Old May 6th, 2020, 04:29 PM
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why does the back of that camaro look like the back half of a pacer wagon??
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Old May 6th, 2020, 04:44 PM
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Message to Mods of this site. If this is not a real car for sale why allow this add in the cars for sale forum? Why not move this add to a forum like club house forum. Good grief! LOL
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Old May 6th, 2020, 06:40 PM
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The original "experimental" Vista WAS a real car for sale. The issue is the fantastical story that goes with it. These other photos are all diversions.
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