Long before SUVs roamed the suburbs, family haulers like the Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser ruled the road. This 1965 example, listed here on craigslist in Seattle, is a well-used and well-loved long-roof with a story to tell. The current owner has had it for 11 years and is offering it for sale or trade, ideally for a drivable A-body two-door. Powered by a strong-running Olds 350 and packed with character, this Vista Cruiser is no trailer queen, but it’s got reliability, charm, and a pile of extras to go with it. Thanks for the tip Curvette!
Mechanically, this wagon has been through two engine swaps and currently houses a low-mileage 1968 Olds 350 with a four-barrel carburetor. The seller claims about 36,000 original miles on the engine, with no leaks and no oil consumption. Recent upgrades include a performance cam and lifters, fresh engine paint, and a rebuilt TH350 transmission. There’s also a MagnaFlow dual exhaust system installed in 2022 for a nice rumble.
Other upgrades include a rebuilt Posi rear end, possibly with 3.08 gears, boxed lower control arms, and a rear sway bar for improved handling. Power disc brakes have been added for safer stopping, and the car features tilt steering and working power windows (though the driver’s switch might need some love).
Inside, the black interior is serviceable, and while it’s missing a third-row seat, it has a spacious lower cargo area and a vibe only a ’60s long-roof can provide. The gas gauge doesn’t work, the horn never has, and the wiper blades need replacing, but all the lights function as they should.
As for condition, it’s got rust, and the seller’s honest about it. The white paint shows wear and clear signs of corrosion in multiple places. It’s not a show car, but for a nearly 60-year-old survivor that still starts after six months of sitting, it’s far from done.
Vista Cruisers aren’t typically hot-ticket collectibles, but they’re becoming harder to find, especially ones that run and drive reliably with a solid drivetrain and documented history. Would you drive it as-is, or would you turn this wonder wagon into a street sleeper?
10K for a rusty well-used wagon? Maybe that sucker is out there.
Thanks for mentioning the price. I wish these posts required a price and location upfront.
Agreed with Rex Kahrs comments. A lot does not work according to the add and it looks to have been repainted years ago.
Comparing this to the Ford wagon here for $3500. Don’t think three times as much money is warranted, but this one does have a peppier motor.
I think having the kind of rare Vista Cruiser roof adds some value, too.
Price aside, this is one mean looking wagon with a lot of potential.
My parents drove me and one of these across country and back several times back in the mid 60s, I don’t remember that the “vista” was much affected by the extra glass, but as the one that camped out in the back beneath it I can remember it fondly.
The maroon vista cruiser on here a couple months ago was in better cosmetic condition but this one has had more mechanical updates. I’d rather have good cosmetics. It’s cheaper to fix mechanics.
Of course the a/c system is gone for the most part
I bought a 1966 Vista Cruiser for my to be my first wife. (God rest her soul) She loved that car and named it Amy. Hers was beige with the stock 330 and 2 speed automatic. The interior was pristine and the car only had about 60k miles on it. She drove it two years in High school and we took it camping on our honeymoon. She called me one morning crying. Some drunk high school girl hit it trying to make a corner and pushed it up and over a 12″ high curb and totalled the car. We had just bought our first home and didn’t have 2 nickels to rub together. So I bought (charged it on my account at work) a 1968 Grand Prix as a temporary replacement that ended up being in the fleet for 4 years. However it never replaced Amy. She died before I could find another Vista Cruiser. I still miss her (49 years ago) and the memories with the car.
I am sorry to hear about the loss of your wife. My wife passed away 14 years ago this December. I don’t think you ever stop missing them. It sounds like you and her had some great times together.
Take care and God Bless.
For $10,500 the A/C should be fully functional.
Pretty vague, upgraded cam and lifters.
Is the low mileage on the 1968 olds 4bbl 350 documented?
rebuilt/painted Posi rear end (gears may be 3:08) May be???
The switch on the drivers door may need to be looked at. Because . . . ?
All the vehicles listed at the end are for . . . ?
I would love a vehicle like this but I’m totally turned off by the descriptions.
They list all the vehicles at the end like that so if you search any of them this ad will come up. It’s kind of like someone naming their company AAAA Pest control so your number would be first in line in the yellow pages, if you’re old enough to remember what that was.
Thank you, Curvette. I did not know that.
This was for sale last year on Facebook Marketplace for the same price. Must not be under pressure to sell!
If it was closer to home and listed for less, maybe, but shipping from the left coast adds about $4k to the price, and $10k for a rusty example where several critical systems are non-functional is more than a bit of a stretch! It can’t pass the annual safety inspection here in MA without a working horn, so that’s an issue. Hopefully, the horn can be fixed easily and for short money, but restoring the A/C could get pricey, fast! The seams around the roof glass tend to be prone to rust, so a thorough inspection of both the top and the underside is warranted before laying out the cash! A much nicer example sold in Barn Finds earlier this year for $17k in Essex, MA, so I wouldn’t have had to pay shipping, but the price escalated quickly, leaving me out in the cold, LOL!
Thanks Big Steve. I appreciate the nice words. I’m a gearhead to the max. But personal relationships are what it’s all about. Cars come and go. But family and kids are what’s really important. And God has blessed me in many ways. And many are actually auto related! God bless you also.