Said to have only one owner from new, this 70,917 miles example of one of America’s most memorable station wagons (has anyone in the US over 40 not ridden in one?) is just waiting for a new person to love it. It’s located in Belleville, Illinois and is listed for sale in a no reserve auction here on eBay. Currently bidding is just over $4,000.
The seller tells us that everything works, including the factory air conditioning, although they do point out in an extensive video that while the AM radio powers up, it doesn’t seem to be getting a signal from the antenna. There is a little bit of rust on the right hand side of the car, specifically on the front of the rear passenger door and just in the back of the rear wheels. There are dings and dents pretty much all over, though, but being the original paint I’m torn about doing anything about them. Maybe a paintless dent removal shop?
Given the number of dents and the bit of rust, I would at least consider a repaint eventually, but it’s certainly not necessary right away. Oh, one of the upper windows is cracked, so keep that in mind; it might be hard to come by.
Although it doesn’t look like it in this picture, the front seat has enough issues you’ll probably have to eventually reupholster it. On the other hand, both rear seats (yes, this has the coveted third row) are in great shape, so I’d sure want to try to match the original seats. I couldn’t find any pre-sewn kits out there, but hopefully someone has a stash of the original upholstery material.
Needless to say, this is the original 330 cubic inch V8, that starts up cleanly in the video and sounds terrific. I hope this one stays down where the bidding is now so that an enthusiast gets a bargain family classic! Would you go cruising in this one owner Cruiser?
Maybe a 442 wagon ™🙇
Nice! Very nice! Those who are used to seeing me comment here know by now that I had a super-nice ’65 Vista Cruiser ambulance that was purchased for our standby ambulance service in 1974. It had been built as an ambulance for an ambulance service in Corpus Christi. The rear seat was removed, leaving only the jump seat on the right. A platform was then built for the gurney to roll in on. That left a lot of storage underneath. And it was one fast-running 455! Having been built as an ambulance, it came with a 100-amp. alternator. It had belonged to a small funeral home in Muleshoe, TX; and when the tranny went, it was parked and stripped of its emergency equipment which went on the funeral home’s “new” 1969 Pontiac Consort ambulance. So we got the car as it was for $250; and had the tranny repaired for another $140. We had recently retired our 1962 International TravelAll ambulance, so the equipment off of it went on the Olds. We got very good service out of it until the engine went in 1977 and replaced it with a ’71 Oldsmobile “Seville” ambulance built by Cotner/Bevington Coach out of Arkansas. It would turn out to be the fastest running ambulance we ever had. I still miss both of those fast-running Oldsmobiles!
Wish the owner had been a little more forthcoming about the front seat top rip and foam coming out of it. Also better pix of the dents and some of the underside would be helpful. IS the seller the original owner?
I kinda like this probably because I spent my childhood in a stripper ’65 Buick Special wagon. My dad was cheap. Good for him! LOL. But I have a weakspot for the Vista wagons and especially the early smaller version like this one.
Thankfully it is in Illinois!
Woodie,
My guess is that the seller is not the original owner. I see this happen often where the flipper keenly describes cars like this as one owner when they are already the second owner. I could be wrong but a 1965 would have to have an owner in their late 70’s or early 80’s at best. Not many twenty somethings would be buying a new 8~9 passenger wagon imo.
I’m 36 years old
There is a video link on the auction showing everything you just asked for. Highlight it and copy it in your browser
Did we have the same father? The first car that I remember is our 1965 Buick special wagon. It was stripped, right down to rubber mats only, radio delete, 3 on the tree… my father didn’t want to pay over $2K, and he came very close.
Had this exact car as a winter beater for 2 years, 1975 & 1976, while my Corvette sat out the winter. Was so rusty by then from MN winters that when I pulled a trailer with my snowmobile on, I had to tie a rope around the tailgate to the trailer as I wasn’t sure what would fall off first, the bumper or the bumper hitch! Paid $75 for the car, never failed to start, was the perfect winter beater until the brake line(s) rusted out and no more brakes! Towed to junk yard…..
These are a fetish of mine ever since my Dad tried out a 1965 Vista Cruiser but bought a Sport Wagon instead. As a teenager, I certainly lusted after the 30 extra cubic inches in the Oldsmobile. I still like these cars, and this seems like a promising example. But what the heck would I do with a 60s station wagon? (except spend money, of course)
This really is a sweetheart. Probably the most down to earth offering here yet. This would have been the car mom took you to school in, or to Robert Hall for clothes, or the dreaded dentist, while she packed 6 paper bags full of groceries in the way back, while you and your brother fought for the front seat. Dad’s 98 was parked quietly at work. These were unwashed and unloved, but never missed a beat and had great heaters.( dad was too cheap for a/c, we never had it) I bet many learned to drive on “mom’s” wagon. I’d leave it exactly the way it is. They’ll be bidding on this for a while. Outstanding find.
you stating your dad was too cheap to buy a car w/ a/c, reminds me of my dad, as kids on those hot NY days us kids would note all the cars with the windows up ( meaning they had a/c) and him replying we can have our windows up too! so others can think WE had a/c !
Thanks MIke that gave me a good laugh 😁 made me think of my dad
Wow. It’s been at least 30 years since I’ve heard someone mention Robert Hall, the defunct department store.
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My dad was too cheap to buy a wagon period, we rode in 4 door cars and like it or else he pulled over then taught us to like it. I am over 40 and never got to ride in one. My folks grew up in that southern Illinois area. Just across the Mississippi from St. Louis.
Lovely looking car. I’ve always found the 1964-67 Vista Cruiser the most attractive. I regret that I’ve never owned one, nor have I seen one in person.
Is it possible that you people at Barnfinds could include the price of each vehicle
right under the original picture that would save people like myself from having to click on every one of the pictures to see the price? Thanks so much for the thought. Leman
Leman, I’m confused–the price at the time I wrote the post is at the end of the first paragraph.
We had one when I was a little kid. I believe this had a third row, right? I would usually be sitting there, but it was a cold night. A drunk rear-ended us, and totaled the car. Would love to have this, but I don’t think the wife would understand. Maybe I will get my balls together in the next two days and bid.
This was Mom’s 4th white station wagon. It had an all-black interior with the fabric inserts – very elegant. I learned to drive a station wagon pulling a boat with this car. Brings back great memories.
Put an LS3 in it, slam it, big shiny wheels…. wait,no! That was only a nightmare! I’ve been reading too many barnfinds comments! Drive it as it is, fixing a few things as you go along. Keep it looking like it did when memories were being made, not like it just came off the showroom floor. (You folks are making me feel old. Our first driver’s ed car was a 1963 Chevy and then we got a brand new 1964.)
I wouldn’t leave it as is. List of modifications would include complete overhaul of the brake system with updated disc brakes (at least at the front), rebuild front suspension and replace shocks at all four corners. flushing of the cooling system and possible upgrade to an aluminum radiator, upgraded lighting and cleaning of all wiring terminals, cleaning out the fuel tank and replacing diaphragm fuel pump with an updated version or possibly an electric one. Of course replacement of all fuel lines, fluids, belts, hoses, etc. Probably forgetting something but most of this is crucial if you are to use this as a “safe” family hauler.
We used to cut off the roofs and put them on vans!
I spotted something terribly wrong with this car. It’s not in my driveway.
I’m a sucker for these older wagons. Coming from a family of eleven there was always a wagon in the family. We always fought over who got the way back seat.
We weren’t allowed to chew gum when we were kids but one day my father jumped in the car with a bag of bubble gum and started, to our delight, to hand each one of us multiple pieces. As soon as we stuffed them in our mouths he held out his hand and made us each spit out our cherished wad of gum. And then he jumped out of the car, got underneath it and used the gum to secure the muffler.
I’ve always been a sucker for American cars of the 1960s, early 70s, and early 80s.