Same as a '65 442? I know the fronts are. The rears look similar, but there are no numbers stamped on those?
What about the cast rear quarter trim? Vista's longer or the same as a coupe?

 

I found the Parts and Accessories Catalog available in the technical forum (Thanks to all who made that available!). Extremely valuable information.

It appears that 1965 V.C. and Std. S.W. use specific rear wheel opening moldings (384274RH, 384275LH) and are not interchangeable with a coupe or 4 door sedan. It looks like I will be reworking mine. Correct me if I am wrong, but I am pretty sure these are difficult to find in good condition.
It also appears a 1965 Cust. V.C. and Dlx. S.W. use specific behind the wheel cast quarter moldings (389570RH, 389571LH) and are not interchangeable with a coupe or 4 door sedan.

It seems that the wheel opening molding and the behind the wheel cast quarter moldings would only work together, so why does the behind the wheel molding call out custom and deluxe and the wheel opening molding does not?

The front door trim appears to interchange with all F85 4 door vehicles (389508RH, 389509LH) as well as the rear quarter in front of rear wheel opening molding (389572RH, 389573LH).

The rear door molding is V.C. specific because of the extended door (389512RH). No LH molding is listed on pg 1315, section 12.114. Is it safe to assume that the part number is likely 389513LH and it was just discontinued or out of stock by the June 1975 revision of this section?

Without checking I believe that all the front F85 fender trim is interchangeable regardless of 2 door, 4 door and wagon body styles.

Can anybody with intimate 1965 Vista Cruiser knowledge confirm all or part of this as correct?

 

All 65 Olds A-body cars use the same sheet metal from the firewall forward. All 65 Olds A-body more-doors and wagons use the same front doors (actually 64s are the same but the trim is different). All 64-65 Olds A-body wagons use the same rear quarters. 64-65 Vista back doors are unique to the Vista. The "Custom and Deluxe" terminology is because for 1965, this trim was included with the Custom Vista Cruiser, but was optional on the standard Vistas under RPO Y68 Moldings, Deluxe Chrome Exterior.

 

These pages are from the Jan 1965 printing of the parts book and seem to raise some questions. Note that where it says "653855,65", that means 1965 body styles 3855 and 3865 which are the two row and three row Custom Vista Cruiser, respectively. The Vista ribbed rear door trim are 389512 RH and 389513 LH. The question comes up on the piece behind the rear wheel openings. Pg 224 from the parts book lists "653855,65" and shows 386310 RH and 386311 LH. Pg. 225 lists "1965 F-85 Dlx. S.W., Cust. V.C." and shows 389570 RH and 389571 LH. Go figure.

 

I had a guy confirm a left side 1965 Vista Cruiser rear quarter molding as 4478997RH. Said he personally pulled it from a '65 Vista. It does have the rounded rear corner and holes in a different location than a coupe.
Three potential part numbers: 386310RH, 389570RH, 4478997RH for RH rear quarter molding now.

I pulled my LH Vista rear door trim and came up with 4477489LH.
Two potential part numbers: 389513LH (missing from 1975 parts catalog, but confirmed in the illustrated Jan.1965 version), 447789LH ( physically witnessed, but not in print).


Joe, I think you just got the two transposed while looking at them. It gets twisted in my mind quickly while I am looking too. Page 224 of the Jan. '65 printing lists 386310RH and 386311LH as rear of 1/4 lower ribbed (the little ribbed piece under the taillight) and lines up with the 1975 catalog.
Jan. '65 printing calls 389512RH and 389513LH as lower rear door molding (I am extrapolating on the rear door because the description must be on pg. 223 and is cut off) , not ribbed and that would line up with the 1975 catalog and fills in the missing part number in the 1975 catalog so I think we are good there, but not with my left rear door molding 4477489LH that isn't in print.

I am trying to build a list of '65 Vista side trim part numbers so I know what I am looking for. I will try to condense it and post it in the end if I can find all the possible numbers. I thought this would be a lot more cut and dry.

 

I don't understand your point about transposing numbers. Here is page 218, which is the heading for the rear door trim. I did not reproduce page 219, which just covers other years prior to 1965. Page 220 that I provided above simply continues under the heading on pg 218, which is Group 12.114, MOLDING - CLIP PKG; REAR DOOR OUTER PANEL SIDE. Page 220 clearly shows 389512 RH and 389513 LH as the door pieces for a Vista. The later heading on pg 220, 12.114 MOLDING; REAR DOOR OUTER PANEL PEAK (CHROME) is the optional upper trim above the body feature line, which is 389500 RH and 389501 LH. The final heading on pg 220, Group 12.116 MOLDING - CLIP PKG - PANEL - EXTENSION MLDG - ESCUTCHEON, REAR QUARTER OUTER PANEL SIDE (CHROME) is the heading that applies to pages 224 and 225. Again, I did not reproduce the intervening pages because they only cover model years that don't apply. Finally, page 226 lists the optional upper trim for the rear quarters as 389562 RH and 389563 LH. These are the pieces that mate up with 389500 and 389501 on the rear doors.

 

By the way, you can research this for yourself. The entire Jan 1965 Body Catalog parts book is available on line here.

 

Just for future reference '65 car rear upper wheel lip trim do fit a Vista Cruiser and probably flat tops since it has been said that they use the same quarter.

I personally pulled some off of a 2 door post and fit them to a Vista.

They are left and right specific as most already know. They almost look like they could be ambidextrous, but unfortunately they certainly are not.

 

Good to know.
You don’t happen to need the rear moldings for your vista do you?

I think i have a mint set that I don’t know what to do with.