Hello from the midwest!

Hey everyone!

I've visited many times over the years to look at all the fantastic wagons but never got around to signing up before. Here's what brings me to the forum, I'll try to keep it short!

Like most of you I imagine, I grew up around station wagons and have a lot of fond childhood memories associated with them. Such as riding in the rear facing seat flying down the highway in the 83 Olds Custom Cruiser we had for a while. My favorite that we had hands down though was the 1970 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser my dad bought for $450 from a local dealer in the late 80s. It's amazing how cheap used cars were back then! We had both wagons for a while. We went on several trips to Minnesota and Canada in the Vista Cruiser, and even hauled a popup camper to Wisconsin with it one time. I remember one time the Custom Cruiser broke down on us and Dad had to rescue us with the trusty Vista Cruiser!

Unfortunately, the Vista Cruiser was sold around '93 and I've always missed it. I was about 11 at the time so obviously I didn't have a lot of say in the matter. When I got old enough to have my own cars I fixed up several old affordable sedans over the years but always wanted a wagon. I finally bought a super clean original '72 Chevy Kingswood in '09 that I've really enjoyed. It was bought new at a local dealer here in town and came with all the original paperwork, protect-o plate and shows only 36,xxxx miles on the clock which I believe are original. When I bought it they claimed they were original, usually I'm skeptical, but I haven't found any reason to doubt it. I'll have to get some good pictures posted sometime.

Nearly 20 years later I'm now in the process of bringing the same Vista Cruiser back home. I've been trying to buy it from the lady my dad sold it to for years and she finally sold it to me. I'm hoping to get it hauled home over the weekend. It will need to be completely re-done as it sat in a shed that leaked for 15 or more years. But it's a labor of love so I think it will be well worth it.

OK I guess that wasn't too short after all, but anyway looking forward to being a part of the station wagons forum!

Thanks!


I'll attach a couple pics of the wagons...

 

Well it looks great! Nice intro by the way. Now that you finally have it back, what's the plan?

 

Welcome to the forum, most of us are Vista Cruiser fans around here. Keep us posted and pop some pics when you get her home.

 

Welcome, that vista brings back good memories for me because as a child my family had one. Same color.Congrats on tracking her down and saving her!Your other wagon looks great also.

 

Thanks guys! I'm planning on doing a complete driver quality restoration. Don't really have the space or money to do a frame off, my main goal right now is to get it up and running again and clean it up a bit. It has a 350 in it right now, dad always wanted to drop a 455 in it. Haven't decided on if I'll do that or not but I know the engine is going to have to be rebuilt so it might be a good time to go ahead and do the swap. I usually prefer to keep things pretty close to original although it is tempting!

The interior got pretty nasty sitting in the leaky shed all those years, I'll be doing a lot of scrubbing and interior removal for a while. I know it will need one quarter patch for sure and a pair of front fenders, and it will need either a patch panel around the vista glass or have the little holes welded shut somehow. Lots of work ahead! I'll get some pics up soon.

 

sounds like it gonna be a fun deal

look forward to seeing some more pics of them

 

1970VC! Awesome intro story and congrats on tracking down your family Olds! As a Clamshell lover, I just want to say I'm equally impressed with your Kingswood find! Clamshells are near n dear to my heart....thanks for saving that one too! Can't wait to see some more pics. :2_thumbs_up_-_anima

 

Welcome, awesome story. I especially like to hear about people being reunited with vehicles like that. You're very lucky!

 

Yeah, I agree, tracking down whereabouts of former family cars would be cool. Wish I had a list of VIN numbers for mine.

 

Yes, great intro and nice wagons. Restoring the old family wagon will be a lot of work but work well spent. As for me, my family never owned anything unique or outstanding. Just average old Chevy 4-doors. I barely remember the 1934 Chevy we moved to Portland in during the war. No one in our families had wagons. Fixing up any older family car is special. Take your time and have fun with it. Perhaps you may have children of your own to pass it to later.

 

Very nice project .... keep the 350 and tune-it for great gas mileage.

I see your from Iowa, I was born there ......where are you guys located?

 

Welcome and good luck.

Fusicks is starting to carry more Vista parts now that I sold mine.
They ripped-off a pic of it I posted online for the cover of their catalog too, could of asked or given me a catalog at least.

It all depends what you consider great mileage?

I had a 2 barrel 350 with a 3:08 rear in my '72 Vista and averaged 12 MPG.

 

Hey everyone, finally got some pictures up of the wagons. Feel free to take a look at them thru my garage if you're interested. You'll see that the old Vista Cruiser is currently in pretty sad shape. I'm looking forward to digging into it though and bringing it back to life! I picked up catalogs from Year One and Fusick. The price difference between the two is amazing, Year One is so expensive! Oh well, I guess I have plenty of time to work on it, finally getting it home was the main thing. I agree BlueVista, that picture should have earned you a free catalog!

I think I will try to keep the original 350 in it, Glenn. I'll probably pull the plugs out and squirt some WD40 down the cylinders and let it sit over the winter, we'll see if I can get it to start next spring. I remember dad said he used to get about 18mpg with it, I'd assume that's on the highway but not bad for an old car! Might be a while before it accomplishes that sort of mileage again.

Also, thanks again everyone for the warm welcome!

 

Oh yeah I forgot to ask, does anyone have a good remedy for removing and permanently killing mold on vinyl that won't harm the interior?

Thanks in advance!

 

Don't forget to drain the entire fuel system !