We had a discussion on another board recently about the Vista Cruisers built and used around the 1970 Indy 500. As you can see from the attached pictures, there were a number of different versions built. According to the list of vin#s of all '70 Pace Cars used for various duties around the Indy 500, there was a total of 16 Vista Cruisers:

- 12 model 4865 Vista Cruisers (3 seat) - These were assigned to various people for festival transportation, Official Press Wagon, press fleet, photographer, Speedway Motel
- 4 model 4855 Vista Cruisers (2 seat) - These were all assigned to Dr. T.A. Hanna

The last picture is one of my favorites for (I think) obvious reasons - 70 Pace Car heaven on race day. There are 5 Vista Cruisers with 4 different configurations - stripes/no stripes; lettering/no lettering; SSII/hubcaps. All of them have fender lettering to indicate the driver/assignee and none of them have roof racks. Also, the two in the middle appear to have the round Indy logo decal on their quarter panels.

I've never seen any of these Pace Car wagons in person, nor do I know if any of them still exist. I am aware of a copy of one of the W25 equipped wagons in Michigan.

Anybody ever seen, or know if any of these wagons still existing today? I think this is a very interesting yet seldom talked about, piece of Oldsmobile history.

 

Thanks for posting those. I had not seen photos of the 1970 wagons before.

 

Thanks

Those are great historic photos.

 

One of the medical director's wagons with documentation show up regularly at OCA nationals. Todd Harroun of Mich owns the car. Very rare and correct.

 

Yes, I've seen that car too, but I believe that is a 72 Hurst edition, not 70. I also think the owner, Todd Harroun, is a descendant of Ray Harroun, the winner of the 1st Indy 500 in 1911.

 

You got it.

http://www.hemmings.com/mus/stories/..._feature3.html

Ive never seen pics of the '70 Indy pace wagons either, too cool.
There were a bunch of them, I've never seen any for sale and don't know of any other ones?
I wonder what happened to them too? Local dealers get the cars from races sometimes but who knows??
Those stripes on the hood, roof and tailgate are pretty cool.

 

[quote=kpl70sx;129287]
All of them have fender lettering to indicate the driver/assignee and none of them have roof racks.






...

 

[QUOTE=mugzilla;129792]Don't feel bad, Mugz, I took out of context what he said, too. He was talking about the 5 in the last picture.

 

Thank you for sharing the photos!

 

[quote=wmachine;129797](*o*) ...

 

All the while I thought only 3 were made.
Great photos!!!
Thanks so much!!!

 

new to the site, not sure if the message went thru last night. I read your post from 2009. I have a 70 pace wagon, if you would still be wanting some info maybe I can be of assistance
442mulch
Bob

 

What's the deal with the big Chevy wagon on the end of the last pic????

 

Bob, welcome to the site! I'll reply to your message in the parts thread. Since this is an old thread would you consider creating a new one and post pictures of your car? Are you in the process of restoring it right now? Do you have paperwork with it or are there decals or something like that to show it's one of the factory built ones rather than one someone like us would build? I've got a 1971 Cutlass flat top wagon and for years I've been collecting parts to clone the W30 wagon I think they should have built John

 

Yea Welcome Bob!

 

Maybe I'm missing it, but in the last picture with several wagons & 2 doors, where is the Vista with the black stripes on the roof? I see at least one with stripes on the hood, & maybe the one in the 2nd row?? but none of them have the stripes on the roof. Were there 6, or maybe even more of them?
Scott

 

Check out the 2nd and 3rd pics from my original post. There were two wagons with this type of configuration - W25 hood, stripes accross the hood, roof and down the tailgate, no woodgrain on the sides and SSII wheels. One had "Official Pace Car" lettering and the other had "Official Press Car" lettering.

 

Scott,
I believe there were 16 wagons in various configurations. The one I have is stripes on the hood, roof, & tailgate. it may be the wagon where three guys are approaching in the pictures KPL has posted
Bob

 

Post pics....don't tease us!

 

Pretty cool pics, thanks for posting them. Never saw one of those wagons before, I wonder how many were made and still exist today.

 

Bob, if you haven't noticed in other threads we always ask new members to post pictures of their car or project car. We just like seeing Oldsmobiles

Please share pictures and details of your car with us! John

 

Is there anybody with 1972 wagons pictures ?

 

FWIW, a few years ago I spotted one of these Pace Car Vistas on a car hauler headed north on I-69 between Ft. Wayne and Auburn, IN. It was shortly before the fall ACD festival / auction and I assumed it was headed to the auction block. It looked to be in pretty good shape, and I believe it was a '72 w/ gold stripes. It was the 1st and only one I've ever laid eyes on.

 

Yes those cars are pretty rare.
I'm looking for pictures on the track in 1972.