This '70s Station Wagon Had More Horsepower Than A Modern Cadillac CT5-V

Although the once-ubiquitous American station wagon has all but disappeared from the road today, car enthusiasts and industry historians continue to have a deep appreciation for the great wagons of the past. Great examples include the iconic and valuable Chevy Nomad of the mid-1950s and more contemporary wagons like the Buick Roadmaster of the early 1990s or the Dodge Magnum SRT of the late 2000s. 

But there's an argument to be made that the late 1960s and early 1970s truly represented the American station wagon at its very peak. During this brief period, a dad could walk into his local Olds dealer, for example, and spec out his family wagon with a giant 455 cubic-inch V8 that made 365 horsepower (at least, according to the gross horsepower measurement used back then). That's more than many modern performance cars, including the 360-hp Cadillac CT5-V.

That's because this was the era of the "muscle wagon," the family-hauling chariots that buyers could option as muscle cars in disguise. Of this group of muscle era wagons, the Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser is one of the most revered — not just for its big horsepower, but also for its unmatched station wagon swagger.

Like the station wagon itself, the Oldsmobile brand vanished from the mainstream consciousness decades ago, but the appreciation for its classic models still runs strong, be it for the muscular 442 to the ambitious and ahead-of-its-time Oldsmobile Toronado. And the Vista Cruiser is right up there with those Oldsmobile greats. The Vista Cruiser first appeared for the 1964 model year as a mid-sized Oldsmobile Cutlass F-85 station wagon with a unique bi-level, windowed roofline. This gave it a dynamic exterior look and a wide-open feel for passengers. Riding in the Vista Cruiser was more than just piling in the family wagon; it was a scenic experience — or at least that was the pitch.

As the horsepower wars and muscle car movement of the 1960s grew, so too did the Vista Cruiser's available engine displacement and horsepower. This wasn't limited to Oldsmobile or just GM, either. Many of Detroit's popular muscle cars were built on mid-sized platforms, which also offered station wagon body styles. For example, one could option a Pontiac Tempest wagon with a 400-CI V8 similar to the one in the GTO, or a Plymouth Belvedere station wagon with a 383 big block similar to the one in Road Runner. Similarly, the Vista Cruiser always shared some DNA with the sportier 442.

The Vista Cruiser's muscle-injection reached its peak during the 1970 model year, when Oldsmobile added its mighty 455-cubic-inch V8 to the wagon's option list. This 365-hp 455 wasn't quite as potent as the one in the 442 with the W-30 package, but it nonetheless made a serious amount of power for a mid-sized station wagon. This era of the Vista Cruiser lasted until the 1972 model year. Olds kept the name around for a while after 1972, but without the unique roof or the big horsepower figures.

Oldsmobile never made an official 442 version of the Vista Cruiser, although Hurst did give the full Hurst/Olds treatment to a small number of Vista Cruisers for use at the 1972 Indy 500. Because the Vista Cruiser is based on the same Cutlass that the 442 is, it's pretty easy — and relatively common — for Olds fans to do their own 442 conversions to their wagons.

You'll see them complete with the signature hood scoops, badging, and whatever method of Oldsmobile V8 power they choose. With the Oldsmobile brand long gone and the station wagon market being basically extinct, the chances of a Vista Cruiser comeback are extremely low, but that won't take away from the love that enthusiasts have for this wagon icon.