In 1969 the Vista Cruiser got a clever 'Dual-Action' tailgate, standard on three-row wagons, decades before power tailgates were common.
Lead trim: Vista Cruiser 455 cu in Rocket V8 (1970–1972)
Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser1968–1972
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactIn 1969 the Vista Cruiser got a clever 'Dual-Action' tailgate, standard on three-row wagons, decades before power tailgates were common.
A major restyling of the GM A-body line for 1968 replaced the split skylight with a one-piece unit, stretched the wheelbase to 121 in and recessed the windshield wipers below the hood line; from 1968 to 1972 a 350 cu in (5.7 L) V8 became standard, with a high-output 400 cu in (6.6 L) V8 from the 442 muscle car optional in 1968–69 and a 455 cu in (7.5 L) V8 available from 1970 to 1972. Transmissions were the two-speed Jetaway (1968) or three-speed Turbo Hydramatic (1968–72), or very rarely a three-speed column manual or a four-speed with a Hurst shifter borrowed from the 442; the "Dual-Action" tailgate was introduced in 1969 (an option on two-row models and standard on three-row). The 1970 exterior redesign sharpened edges and curves (the GM Skywagon Club calls the 1970–72 models "Generation 2a"), and for 1971 the full-size Custom Cruiser returned on the 98's C-body while the glass-roofed Vista Cruiser continued until 1972; a small number of 1972 Vista Cruisers were modified by Hurst Performance as support cars for the 1972 Indianapolis 500 with the 455 V8. Wheelbase 121 in, length 218.2 in, width 77.2 in, height 58.6 in, 4,064 lb; the 1968 eight-passenger price before options was $3,508.
Collectors Spotted in the Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
3 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vista Cruiser 350 cu in Rocket V8 (standard) | 1968–1972 | 5.7 L V8 | — | — | — | RWD | — | — |
| Vista Cruiser 400 cu in Rocket V8 (442 high-output, 1968–1969) | 1968–1969 | 6.6 L V8 | — | — | — | RWD | — | — |
| Vista Cruiser 455 cu in Rocket V8 (1970–1972) | 1970–1972 | 7.5 L V8 | — | — | — | RWD | — | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
The skylight roof was gone by 1973, replaced by a single flat vent panel over the front seats only.
In 1969 the Vista Cruiser got a clever 'Dual-Action' tailgate, standard on three-row wagons, decades before power tailgates were common.
The Vista Cruiser's famous glass-roofed skylight wasn't a new idea for Oldsmobile — it borrowed the raised-roof, split-skylight concept straight from the 1954 GMC Scenicruiser intercity bus.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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