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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2018 18:10:09 GMT -5
First post -- have enjoyed perusing the forum. My father ordered a new 1965 Olds Vista Cruiser to be picked up when we returned from Germany in May, 1965. He took delivery at a dealership in NJ -- and we enjoyed that car for the next 8 years. We may have (after all these years) found the car again, so I'm beginning some research about how rare a bird it might have been. It was an 8 passenger Custom Vista Cruiser (with the extra trim down the side, around the fenders, etc.). Black exterior, red vinyl interior. 330 2 bbl carb and a Muncie 4-speed tranny. I'd never seen another with the 4 speed manual.
Based on some other sites' production number info -- looks like about 17,xxx of these were produced. Any way to find out more detail on production numbers -- how many were ordered with 4 speeds?
Thanks in advance -- Michael
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Post by joepadavano on Jan 29, 2018 10:53:10 GMT -5
Welcome. Cool car. There is no way to know how many were built with four speeds. The records simply do not exist. As shown on this page from the 1965 SPECS booklet, both the M20 wide ratio and M21 close ratio were regular production options on the Vista that year. Certainly there were few built that way, but it was not unheard of.  |
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Post by Big Mike on Jan 30, 2018 10:19:36 GMT -5
I actually contacted the GM Heritage center and they were able to provide a breakdown by model of how many automatics and 4 & 3 speeds. It's somewhere on this list, not sure where. I tried doing a search without much luck, but I will try again. There is a member of this group that has another 65 Cutlass wagon (I don't think its a Vista) that also has a 4-speed that they ordered new as well. Sounds like you have a sweet car.
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Post by Big Mike on Jan 30, 2018 10:34:39 GMT -5
Couldn't find this info on the forum. The search engine here is just terrible. However, I did find the original email from the Heritage center, but it's only for 442's because that is what I asked for so I'm positive you can get the same info for the remainder of the F85 line.
Email Response from the GM Heritage Center:
Christo Datini <christo.datini@gmmediaarchive.com>
Mike,
We do not have the the 442 production broken out by plant but we do have
some transmission numbers. Here you go:
1964
According to my sources, every 1964 442 was equipped with a 4-Speed manual
transmission.
1965
Oldsmobile built 25,0003 (690 3-Sp, 13,735 4-Sp, 10,578 Auto) F-85s and
Cutlasses with the 442 option package.
Here is the break-out.
3427 F-85 Club Coupe: 1,087 (109 3-Sp, 736 4-Sp, 242 Auto)
3827 Cutlass Sports Coupe: 5,713 (287 3-Sp, 3,164 4-Sp, 2,262 Auto)
3837 Cutlass Hardtop Coupe: 14,735 (204 3-Sp, 8,140 4-Sp, 6,391 Auto)
3867 Cutlass Convertible: 3,468 (90 3-Sp, 1,695 4-Sp, 1,683 Auto)
Best,
Christo
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Post by joepadavano on Jan 31, 2018 11:39:50 GMT -5
1964 According to my sources, every 1964 442 was equipped with a 4-Speed manual transmission. "According to my sources"  This does not instill confidence in their response. Just sayin' |
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Post by rickse on Feb 6, 2018 15:00:49 GMT -5
Hi Michael,
I have two 1965 f-85 4-speed wagons. My Dad ordered and bought one of the cars new and I bought the other one about 10-years ago from the original owner's son. I've also never been able to confirm the 4-speed wagon production numbers but the rumor I've heard several times is that the number was around or less then 200. The only other manual 1965 wagon I've seen was a 3-speed but I can't remember if it was a f-85 or Vista. The Lansing built cars did have the correct code on the firewall data plate ( "L" I think) to designate the 4-speed shifter hole in the floor but the Fremont built cars did not. Please let me know if you have any questions.
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This does not instill confidence in their response. Just sayin'
