I believe this faded paint is what Oldsmobile referred to as Buckskin, as seen at the bottom of this brochure page, but despite it being faded and worn off for the most part, this 1976 Oldsmobile Omega SX looks incredibly straight and solid. I don’t see any visible body rust at all in the photos, and the seller says, “You will be amazed at how rust-free this car is.” They have it posted here on craigslist in Alamogordo, New Mexico, and they’re asking $5,000. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Rocco B. for the tip!
The seller refers to this 1976 Oldsmobile Omega SX hatchback as “rust-free,” and I believe it. The wheels appear much bigger than what would have been factory size, but it’s hard to beat those rims, or wheels, as 98% of humans have called them since 1980. We called them rims, but nobody says that anymore. This is a second-generation Olds Omega, which was made for model years 1975 through 1979. The hatchback really makes this one unique, and the factory 5-speed manual transmission makes this one a sure eye-catcher at any Cars & Coffee event.
Sadly, the seller is pretty light on photos. The fact that they don’t show a photo of this car with the hatchback raised up is mind-blowing, and frankly, disappointing. I hate to even mention it so soon, but they also don’t show the engine or the underside, and there are no back-seat photos. The hatchback is literally its most important and unusual feature, so that’s a real bummer to not see it in action. 1979 was the last year for the rear-wheel-drive X-body GM cars before they offered the new front-drive X-platform cars. Pages 20 through 26 of this brochure show the 1976 Olds Omega.
I’m not sure what the story is on that tiny steering wheel, but the seller has the original steering wheel, so that’s great to hear. The 7-ball shift knob is also interesting, and I could live with that, at least until I could source an OEM one. You can see that the driver’s seat needs work, but really, other than that and getting new carpet (and the crazy steering wheel, from what we can see on the inside looks good.
There is no engine photo, but this one has a 260-cu.in. OHV V8 with 110 horsepower and 205 lb-ft of torque. Backed by the 5-speed manual sending power to the rear wheels, expect to be left in the dust by any modern minivan or Prius, but then again, you’ll be driving a cool Olds Omega hatchback with a V8 and 5-speed manual. The seller says this car runs and drives “excellent,” and I believe it. I’d restore this car back to bone-stock original spec condition; this car is rare and unusual enough for that. I know I’m in the vast minority on that, as most folks would shoehorn in a giant V8. What would you do here?
Man, if you parked this ’76 Omega with the 260 V8 and a 5 speed next to a ’76 Nova with a 250 straight 6 and a 3 speed on the column, I’d take the Omega every time. It looks pretty solid from what I can see from the photos. This would look great with a paint job and some interior work. This is definitely unique. Nice find Rocco!!! And I enjoyed your write up too Scotty!!! I Hope this one gets fixed up and stays stock. ( and maybe get rid of that puny little steering wheel as well.)
Apparently YOU have never driven any 260 5 Speed Oldsmobile powered anything.
That engine and transmission combination gives a complete new meaning to SLOW! Yes even slower than the Chevrolet 250 with a 3 speed!
Well Bull. I actually had one slower than that, a ’77 Delta 88 with a 260 and a THM200. I’m thinking the lighter Omega would definitely walk away from my Delta 88. But it got great gas mileage, which is what GM was aiming for at the time.
Since the 403 Oldsmobile V-8 is the same external size as the 260, I would definitely do the swap. All of the brackets and engine mounts bolt right on. That wimpy 5 speed wouldn’t hold up to the 403’s 320 ft/lbs of torque. I would source a late model 5 speed out of a Camaro or Mustang. Plenty of adapter plates available.
This would be a fun project. Kinda special however the 5k entry fee is pricey
Had this with 350 4barrel exact same car & color on my used car back row back in early 1980s – it really flew that ol quadrajet carb.
Think it sold for around 250$
That comically small steering wheel would be immediately properly disposed of in the recycling bin. Definitely some various possibilities for drivetrain alterations. Unfortunately here in California, the car being a 1976 model year means it is right at the cut off point for needing to pass emissions testing and a visual inspection. So, short of “knowing a guy” for hook up smog checks, one would be narrowly confined to what they could do with the car mechanically. Someone in a state that doesn’t have asinine regulations such as here though, it’d be a cool project and a car that you just don’t see many of.
Just makes it harder to enjoy what we started after WWll, that of customizing and rodding that which needed to be fixed
That law is changing next year, excluding 1976-1980 vehicles.
Great front-end 👍
260 olds motor is junk just like that steering wheel. needs a 455 jammed down its neck. lose the goofy headlight covers too.
Looking at the 1976 brochure it’s mid-boggling how many different models GM offered in the Olds lineup – then multiply that by all their divisions. Sure lots of shared mechanical components among divisions, but all that tooling for unique sheet metal and grilles, lenses, interiors. I don’t know how they did it. No wonder the limited offerings from the Japanese manufacturers started eating GM’s lunch. They focused on one or two models and made sure they were well-built and reliable.
Excellent point, and one that Wall Street was screaming about for years. All of those separate divisions might have been perfect for the 1930s, but GM’s distribution network was as obsolete as Woolworth’s and Sears.
The presence of multiple overlapping dealers was expensive to support, and lead to competition for customers between dealers of the same brand, driving down transaction prices
GM had needed to shed a couple of divisions long before the bankruptcy
I’m afraid that I would install an Oldsmobile 350 or maybe even an old 330. Keep it Oldsmobile but don’t hit the adrenaline button too hard. That way you could keep the original 5 speed and rear differential. Up grade the brakes and suspension and have a reasonably priced daily driver. The old 330 with a 2 bbl. Throttle body injection would still provide some reasonable horsepower and economy. I don’t know what the final drive ratio is in this car. But about a 3.73 with the 5 speed would provide a nice average between go and fuel economy. Could be an interesting exercise/project /study. And it wouldn’t break the bank.
That must be the first time GM used a 5-speed (well, 4 + overdrive). I had a 75 Monza with the 262 (or was it 264?) Chevy V8 with a 4-speed, but this was back when Olds could go it’s own way regarding engine and transmission choices.
I just wonder where they sourced that transmission? Doubt it was ever used elsewhere.
Borg Warner unit Ron… very liteweight literally and as far as handling too much power. Odd shift pattern, 1st gear is down low left. 🤔 Just like the Eaton 10sp in a Freightliner I drove way back when if I recall 💁♂️
That 260 is pathetic excuse for a engine is what I know anything would be better except pushing lol
I almost traded in my ’74 Opel Manta for a new 77 Olds Omega hatchback with the small V8 & 5-speed. I remember it being a pretty good Rocket.
I like the Olds over the Chevy and Buick and would likely dump the 260 for another Olds bolt in with actual power, definitely get rid of that steering wheel lol what were they thinking! Maybe they just weren’t… a fresh repaint in the original color including repainting the wheels would do wonders for this car.
If memory serves me correctly, the 2 barrel carb on this engine was made in a 4 barrel housing. There are no secondaries on it. But the intake will accept a Rochester 4 bbl carb.
A hot 455 four speed and great patina. Sleeper heaven
Fat Alamo. What joker named that town?
Finally potential for 5K.
OPEC launched its oil embargo in 1973, and GM rushed these Nova-based compacts across the company, as the Pontiac Ventura, Oldsmobile Omega, and Buick Skylark just to fill their showrooms with more fuel efficient products ASAP so that Bonneville, Delta 88, and Lesabre owners wouldn’t all buy Toyotas.
In sheer panic, my grandmother, like many Americans traded her Coupe Deville for a smaller Ventura, only to find that it really only got slightly better mileage than her Cadillac.
I find the first generation of this Nova series graceless, a penalty box of styling, but this two door pillared coupé is far more attractive, and the hatchback, a feature offered many competing imports, was a useful improvement.