It is not original. This car was brought up by Blair from Quito, Ecuador of all places. It almost ended up being made into a hearse for one of the local villages. It had a Chevy 350 stuck into it, some sort of wild windshield stuck on it, 1968 Ford truck side reflectors on the rear fenders, non-matching tires, nails instead of cotter pins, everything you could imagine. But a nice interior, and nil rust on the bottom or chassis. What a story behind this car!
It is a 455 actually, not available in a 1969 though. This engine is out of a 1973 motorhome, akin to a Toronado. It can handle it's own and still run on regular. This is the car you see doing the takeoff in my favorite videos. This car was actually brought up from of all places, Quito, Ecuador, but not nearly in the shape you see here. An incredible story behind this car. It was going to be made into a hearse in South America! Saved!
Blair did a good job on his car. Thanks to him for saving it!
Anyway, the 400 cid 4-bbl normally available as the top engine in '69 came out of the factory with an incredible (by today's standards) 10.5:1 compression ratio.
I do believe that Oldsmobile would accept special orders back in '69 for the 455 in the Vista Cruiser - if you knew the right people!
Shall we have an all-Canada, all-'69 Vista race between Blair's car and a diesel-powered, blacked-out one that lives near Montreal? ;-)
Actually, that black diesel powered one is owned by a nice fellow named Andrew, a real car lover himself, and body man. He gave us a ride in the 1969 diesel powered wagon, and it goes very nice. Andrew gets over 30 miles per Imperial gallon with that car too!
I know Andrew as well. He is a Hell of a nice guy!
We are fellow Hellions (in the little town of Hell, Michigan).
I organize the "Vista Cruise to Hell and Back" for the GM Skywagon Club, of which I am the "Moderator East".
Maybe I'll meet you & Blair there this year?
The date & event we will go to are still in the air, as the Hell Creek Ranch campground, which we use as our base camp, is closed on our usual Father's Day weekend.
Hey Bill, you are correct, I am the "Vistabrat" dude, and hopefully things will pan out to meet with the cars this year. Mine is in total pieces now, doing it on my own, the only way I could ever depend upon anyhow, to do a multitude of mechanical improvements, but I am a determined little guy, it will be together. Yes, Andrew is decent, period! I am aware you are the moderator. I am generally shy by nature, not too often seen on forums or anywhere, being here is an exception.....
Since my other reply went exactly 500 characters, I'm continuing here.
Andrew is funny as Hell, too. You just have to keep him away from roller coasters. ;-)
Unfortunately, Hell Creek Ranch is booked for a private event that weekend, so we're looking for another car show to attend on a different weekend or another campground near Hell, most of which are state-owned (no beer allowed!).
Bill, I am not sure who Doug is, if he owns one of these wagons, it would be nice to know him too! Maybe I could do Lansing, it depends upon schedules. Thanks!
I transplanted the engine from a 1973 Motor Home that was powered by a Toronado FWD and 455. I may go back to a 350 as the BB is a bit thirsty! In 1969 the biggest engine in the VC was a 400 with the 455 available in 70 thru 76.
I have not the slightest idea, I was not involved in that one. Another fellow named Andrew I know CORVAIRWILD has a motor home scratch built on a 1967 Olds Toronado chassis. It lights up the front tires too! He told me to floor it, and I did!
Those 73-79 GMC motorhomes are pretty neat with the Toro chasis. Supposedly made about 13,000 during those years and around 8 or 9 thousand still going. Large fanbase keeps them going and restores the worn out ones. Ive seen some on youtube.
Yes, I have seen the motorhomes on this network, and they have been upgraded with some nice, modern stuff, but keep the charm of the original concept. By the way, these vehicles can do some nice smoke shows!
That's when the big 3 made wagons, not crossovers. BRING BACK THOSE MIGHTY WAGONS!!!!!!!
michelinman8592 7 months ago 2
Damn its in great shape, is it all original?
Dusty696969 2 years ago
It is not original. This car was brought up by Blair from Quito, Ecuador of all places. It almost ended up being made into a hearse for one of the local villages. It had a Chevy 350 stuck into it, some sort of wild windshield stuck on it, 1968 Ford truck side reflectors on the rear fenders, non-matching tires, nails instead of cotter pins, everything you could imagine. But a nice interior, and nil rust on the bottom or chassis. What a story behind this car!
spikedpunk 2 years ago
It is a 455 actually, not available in a 1969 though. This engine is out of a 1973 motorhome, akin to a Toronado. It can handle it's own and still run on regular. This is the car you see doing the takeoff in my favorite videos. This car was actually brought up from of all places, Quito, Ecuador, but not nearly in the shape you see here. An incredible story behind this car. It was going to be made into a hearse in South America! Saved!
spikedpunk 3 years ago
Blair did a good job on his car. Thanks to him for saving it!
Anyway, the 400 cid 4-bbl normally available as the top engine in '69 came out of the factory with an incredible (by today's standards) 10.5:1 compression ratio.
I do believe that Oldsmobile would accept special orders back in '69 for the 455 in the Vista Cruiser - if you knew the right people!
Shall we have an all-Canada, all-'69 Vista race between Blair's car and a diesel-powered, blacked-out one that lives near Montreal? ;-)
OldsVistaCruiser 3 years ago
Actually, that black diesel powered one is owned by a nice fellow named Andrew, a real car lover himself, and body man. He gave us a ride in the 1969 diesel powered wagon, and it goes very nice. Andrew gets over 30 miles per Imperial gallon with that car too!
spikedpunk 3 years ago
I know Andrew as well. He is a Hell of a nice guy!
We are fellow Hellions (in the little town of Hell, Michigan).
I organize the "Vista Cruise to Hell and Back" for the GM Skywagon Club, of which I am the "Moderator East".
Maybe I'll meet you & Blair there this year?
The date & event we will go to are still in the air, as the Hell Creek Ranch campground, which we use as our base camp, is closed on our usual Father's Day weekend.
Are you also known as "Vistabrat"?
Bill near Philadelphia
OldsVistaCruiser 3 years ago
Hey Bill, you are correct, I am the "Vistabrat" dude, and hopefully things will pan out to meet with the cars this year. Mine is in total pieces now, doing it on my own, the only way I could ever depend upon anyhow, to do a multitude of mechanical improvements, but I am a determined little guy, it will be together. Yes, Andrew is decent, period! I am aware you are the moderator. I am generally shy by nature, not too often seen on forums or anywhere, being here is an exception.....
spikedpunk 3 years ago
Since my other reply went exactly 500 characters, I'm continuing here.
Andrew is funny as Hell, too. You just have to keep him away from roller coasters. ;-)
Unfortunately, Hell Creek Ranch is booked for a private event that weekend, so we're looking for another car show to attend on a different weekend or another campground near Hell, most of which are state-owned (no beer allowed!).
We usually attend the Homecoming show in Lansing.
I guess you know Doug of Ottawa as well?
OldsVistaCruiser 3 years ago
Bill, I am not sure who Doug is, if he owns one of these wagons, it would be nice to know him too! Maybe I could do Lansing, it depends upon schedules. Thanks!
spikedpunk 3 years ago
nice wagon! bet you're pretty familiar with the car now! haha. is it a 455 too or a 350?
1969MustangMACH1 3 years ago
I transplanted the engine from a 1973 Motor Home that was powered by a Toronado FWD and 455. I may go back to a 350 as the BB is a bit thirsty! In 1969 the biggest engine in the VC was a 400 with the 455 available in 70 thru 76.
blair442 3 years ago
What happened to the GMC motorhome?
vistacruiser67 3 years ago
I have not the slightest idea, I was not involved in that one. Another fellow named Andrew I know CORVAIRWILD has a motor home scratch built on a 1967 Olds Toronado chassis. It lights up the front tires too! He told me to floor it, and I did!
spikedpunk 3 years ago
Those 73-79 GMC motorhomes are pretty neat with the Toro chasis. Supposedly made about 13,000 during those years and around 8 or 9 thousand still going. Large fanbase keeps them going and restores the worn out ones. Ive seen some on youtube.
vistacruiser67 3 years ago
Yes, I have seen the motorhomes on this network, and they have been upgraded with some nice, modern stuff, but keep the charm of the original concept. By the way, these vehicles can do some nice smoke shows!
spikedpunk 3 years ago