394olds

Does anyone have any documentation or info on what percentage of 1970 thru 1972 Vista Cruisers were 455 powered? In looking for a car over the past 2 years it became apparent to me that far less than half were big blocks. In fact I think it's more like one in four.

I'm looking for empirical data or one of the Vista "garus" to provide wisdom.

leepear

There is a Yahoo group for Vista Cruisers. I will post the question. Kurt of CO is the Oldsmobile rep for the web site Wild About Cars wildaboutcars.com. He always helps on questions like this. I just sold my 350 VC and still have my 455 VC 5 speed stick conversion just north of you in Riverside.

Lee

WoofWagon

I'd like to know this too. I'm pretty sure my VC didn't come with this 455 as it's clear it's a Toronado engine from the intake manifold.

leepear

My 71 VC is a real 455 2bb car. The five speed overdrive stick was added though. Lee

Cincyolds

The 455 was optional on the Vista Cruisers those years. I have the sales literature that says so. They came standard with the 350 2BBL.

vistacruiser67

I dont think the statistics against big blocks are that harsh. Here is a quick recollection of my experience:
Owned
71 455 4bbl dark green 3 seat factory dual exhaust manifolds
71 350 2bbl light green 2 seat single exhaust
71 455 2bbl sienna 2 seat single exhaust
70 350 4bbl brown 3 seat single exhaust
Those Ive witnessed- colors are added for me to keep count-many of which are long gone:
72 455 4bbl white dual exhaust gone
72 another 455 4bbl white dual exhaust gone
72 455 4bbl light green white painted top dual exhaust
72 350 2bbl beige single exhaust
70 350 unknown carb dark green crushed in 80s
70 455 2bbl brown single exhaust
71 455 4bbl light green dual exhaust
70 350 4bbl bamboo beige dualed out later parted out
71 455 4bbl beige dual exhaust probably gone
71 455 2bbl Sienna very nice and still in existence; single exhaust.

I think 455 4bbl Vistas may have had factory dual exhaust while 455 2bbl and 350 Vistas had single exhaust. 3 seat production averaged 2 to 1. Generally circa 20k three seaters vs 10k 2 seaters per year in round numbers. Many of the witnessed car I listed were seen in the 1980s and are no longer with us.

Cincyolds

I'm going to do some looking around. I have so many books on auto production that I must have some stats somewhere. I think your right that about 25% to 35% probably came with the big monster. I have never actually seen a 455 car in person and I've been at this since the early 70's. I haven't been looking real hard over the years but I would guess most came with the 350 and single exhaust.

vistacruiser67

I just dont think the odds are so against the 455 in these cars. I got my list above. 8 of 14 is 57% 455s thus far. Even the top 4 in the list I owned were 2 and 2--Thats 50%. 455 4bbl from the factory mandated dual exhaust at least for 71 and 72 and I dont see why it would have been different for 70. All 455 2bbls and 350 2 or 4bbls were factory single exhaust. The drivers exhaust manifolds are tell tale signs of dual exhaust engines. I also owned a 69 with a 350 4bbl. I once found a black 69 Vista with a 400 in a junkyard back in the mid 80s.

vistacruiser67

The only production breakout on Vista Cruisers Ive ever seen is between 2 and 3 seaters because they were given different model number between the two seat variations. I've got so called "encylopedias" of american cars and a few more books dedicated just to Oldsmobile. The production numbers for Olds seem to be the same throughout. The only engine breakout figures Ive ever seen for Olds is between V6 and V8 production on some entry level F85 and Cutlasses that include flattop wagons which later became Cutlass Cruisers on 116 inch wheelbases also used on the four doors. Vista Cruisers used a longer wheelbase and were all V8 powered and the 350 and 455 production would be speculative. I hope Im wrong as I would love to see the breakouts.

vistacruiser67

Maybe 70 is the weak link for 455 production as the examples I quoted above in my experience seem to be 1 in 4. But I think the 455 numbers are better for 71-72. Im may be wrong but I think the 455 2bbl was dropped in 72 across the Olds line.

vistacruiser67

Ive got some real good 1971 engine info from page 66 of the book OLDSMOBILE THE PERFORMANCE YEARS: No production figures but insightful in regards to which models had which engines and the factory dual exhaust issue. 1971 only- Engines numbered : 2,4, and 8 are pertinent to the Vista Cruiser discussion. I would think number 7 would be too but it doesnt list Vista Cruiser.
1. 455 4bbl 375 lb torque full dual exhaust available on in Toronado
2. 455 4bbl L32 engine 370 lb torque full dual exhaust available in VISTA CRUISER and Cutlass Supreme. ( Im thinking this is the SX?)
3. 455 2bbl L31 engine 360 lb of torque Available in all Delta 88s and Standard in 98.
4. 455 2bbl L30 engine single exhaust 355 lb of torque standard in Custom Cruiser, Delta 88 Custom, and Delta 88 Royale; available in Delta 88 and VISTA CRUISER
5. 455 4bbl (442) 370 lb torque full dual exhaust. Standard in 442
6. 455 4bbl w-30 410 lb torque full dual exhaust available in 442 only.
7. 350 4bbl L-74 engine 275 lb of torque single exhaust; Standard in Cutlass Supreme, available in all other Cutlass and F85 models.
8. 350 2bbl L65 engine; 275 lb of torque single exhaust; Standard in Delta 88, VISTA CRUISER, Cutlass S, Cutlass, and F85, Available in Cutlass Supreme
9. Action Line Six 1bbl 250 cubic inch 185 lb of torque; single exhaust. standard in Cutlass, Cutlass S and f85

These are 1971 engines only. For example I think the 350 2bbl engine became the L32 engine in 1972 and the 455 4bbl was given another id.

vistacruiser67

Does the engine have the Toronado oil pan? Are you using headers now or factory exhaust manifolds? Ive heard you cant use Toronado exhaust manifolds on Cutlasses because they are turned different. Maybe it was a 2bbl and somebody put a Toronado intake on it to change it to a 4bbl?

Cincyolds

Wow, you have really been hitting the info. I'll try to get something this weekend. Robert in Cincy

vistacruiser67

OLDSMOBILE THE PERFORMANCE YEARS-Just a book Ive had since the 80s that had some good info for 1971. No horsepower or production figures though. Dont know why they would change the codes on the 72 engines.

Cincyolds

I haven't been able to find anything in all those books I have. It was a fairly inexpensive option on the wagons at about $130. No wait a minute I think it said $73. Whatever, it's hard to find engine breakdowns on any make of GM car from what I've been finding today. Could they get the 442 engine on a wagon? That would have been dynamite.

vistacruiser67

There is a rumor that in 72 you could maybe get the option on a Vista. The w-30 option no less. Legend has it only 3 were made and Berejik has a brown one. 72 was the magical year you could get the 455 in all Cutlasses and f85s- 4 doors and all. Only engine production breakouts on Olds Ive ever seen is V6 and V8 production in Cutlasses and f85s 72 and earlier.

vistacruiser67

This is one 71 Vista Cruiser with a factory 455. Dont count it more than once because they are all the same car. John Troxell and Paul Mayo raced it. It ran as fast as 12.68. The bottom picture shows the car racing as late as 1985. Ive read it survived and is in Minnesota I think.

oldspackrat

I "made" my '70 Vista Cruiser SX. It's my idea of what Oldsmobile "could" have produced if they wanted to. Olds 455, 200 4r over drive trans, 4:10 posi, OAI hood, buckets, console, sport mirrors, rear sway bar, etc....

I've only had 4 Vistas so far,1 '71 455 2bbl, & 3 '70s with 350s.

vistacruiser67

Looks like 70 might be the weak link for big block production in Vistas. Closer to that one in four people are talking about. Dont know why though. They had the 400 option in 69 and earlier Vistas. That brown 70 example I quoted above with a 455 2bbl had an interesting story. The owner wanted a wagon to pull his trailer that would run on regular gas and the dealer ordered him a 455 2bbl. Lot of cars pulling boats and things back then. My dad had a trailer hitch on his 70 442.

vistacruiser67

Same kind of situation with the 68-76 Delta 88s and Delmonts. Standard with 350s and 455 optional. Ive never seen production figures with those breakouts.

Funkwagon455

I certainly don't know how "rare" 455 '70 Vistas are, I've encountered many factory BB cars in my travels. I have always considered 455's in Vistas rather commonplace. My '70 Cutlass wagon (flattop) is a factory 455/400TH car, Twilight Blue, Black interior, power windows, air, rallye pack, HD cooling, sport wheel and so on.... Perhaps given the current state of economy, and the value of hobby/collector cars at a ten year low, the market is less saturated with heavy hitting autos......especially niche vehicles (like wagons).....If your heart is wanting a BB Vista, I'd try to be patient and let the right car find you. Just try to be ready financially when it comes knock'n!! Good Luck

vistacruiser67

Yeah I knew every Vista wasnt a big block but I really couldnt see 1 in 4 against the 455 as being realistic. Based on the examples we quoted here so far the odds appear better for the 71-72s. I agree with you.