Fast wagons seem like a relatively new concept. Volvo sold cars on safety, not mind-bending speed up until the '80s. Then, during the rave decade that was the '90s, the company had a sort of automotive midlife crisis, calling on Porsche to help develop the T-5R, a rabid wagon that was a touring car for the road. Around this time, and also with the help of Porsche, Audi released the RS2, a 315-horsepower version of its 80 Avant — and this car changed the German manufacturer's future for good. While Audi had made its name with the ur-Quattro, a four-wheel-drive coupe that dominated rallying, the RS2 helped to change its focus to be a go-to for mad, sleeper wagons that were fitted with V10s and could rival supercars for autobahn-crushing speed. Since these bonkers machines of the '90s, everyone from Mercedes to Porsche, the latter with its Panamera Sport Turismo, has had a wild estate car in their showrooms.But while all these flashy German and Swedish machines hog the limelight, a lot of people might have forgotten that a US manufacturer was quietly selling insanely-powerful fast wagons back in the early '70s. These load-luggers for the whole family had a lot more horsepower than an RS2 or T-5R too, and they were even more inconspicuous. Could it be that the Americans created the first modern muscle car wagon? The Olds Vista Cruiser Was A Baby Boomer Muscle Car Bring A Trailer The '60s weren't known as baby boom years for nothing. With the specter of World War II lifting, there was a positive mood in the air, and that meant lots more families. The perceptions of what it was to be young, or in fact middle-aged, were changing too. Men and women were no longer dressing like their grandparents by their '30s, instead embracing the new freedom that the '60s brought, and this included traveling, sports, and discovering new things. While some people with small children, as a Ford focus group had found, still could justify getting one of the company's new pony cars, there was also a growing segment of people who wanted vehicles with plenty of space and enough power to make it to the city limits by nightfall. Oldsmobile Created One Of The First True Lifestyle Wagons Bring A Trailer This is where Oldsmobile stepped in. The Vista Cruiser of 1964 was designed on GM’s new intermediate A-body platform, and had plenty of thought built in to make it seem like a car you wanted to hit the highway with the whole family. The showcase feature was the “Vista-Roof” windows, which were inspired by the 1954 Greyhound Scenicruiser bus, another of America's forward-thinking forms of personal freedom, which seemed to embody in part Jack Kerouac's book On the Road. Inside, the Vista Cruiser was also bus-like in its interior proportions.Three-row seating was available, and the 120-inch wheelbase meant that the whole family could kick back in comfort. The second-gen Vista Cruiser arrived for the 1968 model year and ran until 1972. This car was even roomier (121-inch wheelbase) and had a clever Drop-or-Swing tailgate, which could be opened in two different ways. This style of tailgate continues today, with Rivian having a "Swing and Drop Tailgate" on its R1T EV pickup.With all this clever thinking, it was clear that the Vista Cruiser was designed with long road trips in mind. The engine options made sure that the Vista Cruiser had enough gallop to get down the highway with decent speed, including a 250-horsepower 330 and a 325-horsepower 400. But it wasn't until 1970 that Oldsmobile turned the Vista Cruiser into a true muscle wagon. The 1970 Vista Cruiser Had A More Powerful 455 Engine Bring A Trailer There were a raft of changes to the Vista Cruiser for 1970. The wagon received a slightly chunkier look up front. Gone was the central grille, replaced by two separate openings, along with slightly altered fender lines. Inside, the instrument panel had also been updated. Just like a lifestyle car of today, the Vista Cruiser had a ton of upgrade options, including thicker carpets and wood vinyl on the outside, but what made the 970 car more interesting was the engine options. It's worth remembering that the muscle car party would still last a couple more years, when an oil crisis and emissions regulations came and turned the music off, so buyers expected — no demanded — outrageous power in virtually every car in the showroom. The Vista Got A Big Block Bring A Trailer The Vista Cruiser was no different, and for 1970 the car had more Rocket V8 options. Buyers had been able to choose the 310-horsepower, 350-ci version and a 400-ci big-block too, but then from 1970 to 1972, GM offered a 365-horsepower, big block 455-ci V8 as the top engine. That's right, a '70s wagon with 365 horsepower and around 500 lb-ft of torque — that's 50 more than an Audi RS2 of the '90s, and that car has all-wheel-drive. Vista Cruiser buyers were spoiled for choice when it came to transmissions too, with a two-speed Jetaway automatic and a three-speed Turbo-Hydramatic being popular choices, with a rare four-speed floor-shift manual also available. The 455-Equipped Vista Cruiser Would Have Been A Fast Wagon For The '70s Hemmings.com Performance figures for the 455 Vista Cruiser are hard to come by, as are production numbers, but we can get a good idea of how quick this sleeper wagon is by looking at other models. The 310-horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque Vista Cruiser with a 350-cubic-inch V8 will hit 60 mph in a not-too shabby 8.2 seconds. That's around what you would expect from a modern Volkswagen Golf TSI estate. The incredible 1970 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 with the optional 455 cubic-inch engine can hit 60 mph in less than six seconds, so gives a good idea of how quick a 455-equipped Vista Cruiser could have been. It's worth remembering, however, that the Vista Cruiser is a ginormous car, with an 18-foot-long body and weighing more than 4,000 lbs, so it wouldn't be a natural choice for drag racing. The 455 Vista Cruisers Don't Come Up For Sale Very Often Considering how rarely you see a 455 Vista Cruiser up for sale, it is likely not that many people opted for this engine option. When they do come up for sale, any rarity doesn't seem to translate into huge prices, however. One apparently original 1970 455-equipped Vista Cruiser sold on Bringatrailer in 2024 for just $12,916. Hagerty puts the price of a 1973 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser 455 (albeit with 275 horsepower by this model year) at just $7,800 in good condition. The Near-Mythical Hurst Vista Cruiser 455 Hemmings.com The 1972 Indy 500 needed some pace cars and vehicles for officials, and Hurst stepped up. The company supplied some 455-powered Hurst/ Olds convertibles as pace cars, but, interestingly, there were also at least two Hurst Vista Cruisers. These cars had a souped-up 455 V8 and were painted Cameo White. Some sources suggest that these cars received the 442's top-tier W30 package, with the W25 dual-intake “Force Air” fiberglass hood. One of the Vista Cruisers was used by the track hospital, and so also featured “Medical Director” decals on both front fenders. Another was labeled “Press and Photographer”. The owner of this car, according to Hemmings.com, is Todd Harroun, a relation of the first Indy 500 winner, Ray Harroun, and he has restored it to its original condition.Source: Hagerty.com; Hemmings.com