Buick Vista Cruiser?

[Mike Barnhill]

I ran across a Vista Cruiser wagon and it's a Buick! I've only ever known of the Olds VC. 

Can anyone tell me anything about these? What years were they produced? How many of them? Anything at all? 

I'm planning to knock on the door of the property when I go by there again in a couple of weeks. Maybe I can get a few pictures. 

In the meantime I'd appreciate knowing anything else this group has to offer.

 

Thank you in advance!

Mike

[The 55er]

Google Buick Sport Wagon.

[Loren@65GS.com]

Buick offered the vista style wagon starting in '64 and ran through '72. In '64 it was called a Skylark. Starting in '65 it was called the Sport Wagon.

 

  Loren@65GS.com

[rocketraider]

Thought 69 was the last extended wheelbase SkyRoof Sport Wagon?

 

Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-75 indicates 64-69 Sport Wagon production as follows.

 

•1964: 5295 standard, 8359 Skylark, total 13654

 

•1965: 8890 standard, 19466 Skylark, total 28356

 

•1966: 5136 standard, 16474 Custom, total 21610

 

•1967: 11410 standard, 7673 Custom, total 19083

 

•1968: 11979 standard, 10979 Custom, total 22888

 

•1969: 20670, all Custom

 

70-72 lost the distinctive SkyRoof.

 

So we see they're not a totally rare beast, but like most wagons they led hard lives and weren't saved.

[billbuickgs]

 

This was my 68 Sportwagon back in the 80's and then in the 90's when I got crazy with it , 687 hp 494 cu in Buick.

Production was about 20000 in 68 

Edited September 29, 2023 by billbuickgs (see edit history)

[rocketraider]

I like this picture a lot. Skywagon pulling a Saturn V!

 

Did Buick offer the 400 engine in 68-69 SportWagons like Oldsmobile did with the Vista Cruiser?

 

Truth be told the 68-9 Olds 400 was probably better suited to station wagon duty than 442 duty.

[Brad Conley]

34 minutes ago, rocketraider said:

I like this picture a lot. Skywagon pulling a Saturn V!

 

Did Buick offer the 400 engine in 68-69 SportWagons like Oldsmobile did with the Vista Cruiser?

 

Truth be told the 68-9 Olds 400 was probably better suited to station wagon duty than 442 duty.

Yes, Buick did offer the 400 in the SportWagon too.

[billbuickgs]

The wagon had the 400 engine , turbo 400 trans ,and 3.36 posi .

When it wasn't towing the " X " , it would run the 1/4 mile in

14.90 @ 94 mph . with 2 1/2 " duals , recurved distributor and

a Stage 1 fuel pump + a stage 1 spring in the oil pump .

The picture was heading to the GS Nats in 1988 and was

the 1st year we took the GSX .

What pissed me off was I had the Wagon and the " X " parked 

next to each other at the Holidome and most people were

looking at the WAGON  LOL . Can't win em all

Bill

[EmTee]

4 hours ago, billbuickgs said:

What pissed me off was I had the Wagon and the " X " parked 

next to each other at the Holidome and most people were

looking at the WAGON  LOL .

Well, it is "The Sportwagon from Hell" after all! 

[Frank DuVal]

7 hours ago, billbuickgs said:

The picture was heading to the GS Nats in 1988 and was

the 1st year we took the GSX .

What pissed me off was I had the Wagon and the " X " parked 

next to each other at the Holidome and most people were

looking at the WAGON  LOL

Well of course!

 

By 1988 GSXs were being found in good shape or found in bad shape and being restored. 

 

Station Wagons were used up, not saved, so your 20 year old Sport Wagon was a rare car by then! So of course it attracted attention at a Buick meet, even if the meet was performance Buicks.