1972 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser 350 Station Wagon -- Reliable ROADKILL Garbage!

Condition: Used
Make: Oldsmobile
Model: Cutlass
SubModel: Vista Cruiser
Type: Wagon
Year: 1972
Mileage: 189,000
VIN: 3K66H2M165358
Color: Gold
Engine size: 350
Number of cylinders: 8
Fuel: Gasoline
Transmission: Automatic
Drive type: RWD
Drive side: Left-hand drive
Vehicle Title: Clear
Location: Bixby, Oklahoma, United States

Description

I've decided after a lot of thought to sell my beloved station wagon. I absolutely adore this car, but life happens, and muscle cars are often the first thing to go as a result. It's for sale locally, and I can end this auction at any time if it sells here.
To see this car in the flesh, learn more about it, and ride along on a short test drive, check out the youtube video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Exly7iZbpY&t=363s
Bone stock original 350 Olds, Edelbrock 1406 carb converted to manual choke. Bone stock drivetrain, never souped up or molested. 89k odometer miles, actual miles, probably 189k, but who cares. Runs awesome. No drips underneath. Surprisingly straight body, not perfect of course, but pretty dang good. Power steering (works great), power brakes (works great).
This thing is ugly as sin cosmetically, but a very good car mechanically and electrically. It's good, dependable garbage that does not explicitly need anything to go on a short 2-3 hour road trip tomorrow (I have taken this car on road trips). Fully registered thru December, clean OK title in my name.
The only things that don't work: horn, radio/8-track (no speakers), cruise control, AC/heat, power locks, interior roof dome light. gas gauge works, but needle doesn't line up with the full/empty marks on gauge. Speedo works, but cable needs lubing.
Everything else works--brakes, ALL exterior lights, dash/gauge lights, wipers, blinkers, cigarette lighter, rear wagon window, glove box light, etc. The things that need to work, do work (except the horn I suppose). This is surprisingly turnkey garbage. It really is better than it looks. It's a damn good car for what it is.
Interior is ratty. Body has rust in typical places. Floors are VERY solid, surprisingly so for an Oklahoma car. You can confirm in person by lifting up what's left of the carpet and looking for yourself. Ican also send pictures if you'd like (I reached the picture limit in this listing). The very rear "trunk" floor was fiberglassed over at some point, so that rotted away (pretty common, common enough be able to order a new one in all the major parts catalogs--one of the few wagon-specific parts). The spare tire well is rotted out pretty good, but honestly who cares at this point. Look at the damn thing. This ain't a show car!
I completely upgraded the charging system, so this beast has a brand new battery, alternator, super thick 0 gauge battery and starter cable, and a brand new voltage regulator. Previous owner put in a starter. This thing cranks TO THE MOON on chilly mornings and fires up with minimal coaxing. Se the choke right, pump the gas a couple times if needed, and that's prettymuch it. It roars to life.
Has a new 185 degree thermostat, because some knucklehead had a 195 thermostat installed at some point. Has a fairly recent radiator, I believe it's a three-core. It's nice and works well. This thing does not go above 200 in the summer. It'll sit in traffic at red lights on hot days just fine. You, however, will cook in the drivers seat (there's zero insulation in the floors).
I installed fresh power steering hoses after I noticed this thing would just gush out PS fluid when the wheel was turned hard over; the new hoses eradicated the issue completely. Nodripping leaks from anywhere in or underneath this drivetrain, justtypical minor seepage around gaskets and stuff when it's warmed up or has been driving all day. Nothing major or life-threatening. It's a good car.
If there's one thing this car would truly benefit from immediately, it's a front end rebuild. I'm fairly positive everything is totally original in the front suspension. I have all the parts necessary and will include them with the car. I don't have a garage to put the car in for an extended period of downtime, or I'd have already done the rebuild. Rear shocks would also be a nice addition, as this thing is very wavy on the road and has a little bit of a gangster lean to one side in the rear (driver's side rear shock is a little leaky). Also, passenger rear door hangs crooked. It opens and shuts, but ain't lined up right. I never use that door anyway.
A full, complete set of spare roof glass is also included with this car. It's ridiculously rare to find a full matching set of Vista roof glass these days, and when you do, it's always selling for well over a grand. The roof glass in this car, while cracked, is still effective and useful. I've always just kept the spare glass stored away, since the roof glass in the car now is still very functional despite being ugly (that's kind of a running theme with this car--very functional despite being ugly).
I also have some chrome body trim with the car. I don't think I have a complete set, but I might have all the trim to cover what's missing.
If you have any questions, message me through here and I'll be glad to answer them. I'm sure I've forgotten a few things, but the important stuff is here and I feel I've given you a pretty good idea of what this car is (a fun, reliable, junky weekend cruiser around town that would be fun to tinker with and improve upon) and what this car isn't (a garage queen, show car, daily driver, rust-free).

Overall, this is a solid piece of garbage that is fun to drive and dependable. People either love it or are grossed out by it because of how ratty it is; I absolutely love it. I have taken care of it and improved it in my time of ownership. You have to treat these old cars like a campsite: you leave it better off than you found it. I hope the next owner does the same with the ol' Vista Snoozer.

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