Pace Car wagons
#1
Pace Car wagons
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.
- 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.
#5
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.
#6
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.
#8
#12
70 pace wagon
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
442mulch
Bob
Last edited by 442mulch; October 18th, 2010 at 05:46 PM.
#14
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
#16
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
Scott
#17
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.
#18
70 pacewagon
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
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
#19
#21
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
Please share pictures and details of your car with us! John
#23
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.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
66f85deluxewagon
Vista Cruiser & Wagons
49
March 27th, 2016 05:41 PM