When most people think of a GM X body from the 1970s, they picture a Chevy Nova, but Oldsmobile had its own version that is a lot harder to find today. This 1974 Oldsmobile Omega coupe has undergone a long list of upgrades, and the seller says more than $20,000 has gone into it. We appreciate Curvette for sending this listing. It is located in Brookings, Oregon, just north of the California line, and the asking price is $15,000. It was posted three days ago, and you can find it here on Craigslist. I had a buddy who drove an Omega SX in high school. I think he had a 1977 or 1977 model, but it was just an appearance package.
Oldsmobile introduced the Omega for 1973 as its entry-level compact, joining the Buick Apollo and the Pontiac Ventura as badge-engineered versions of the Chevrolet Nova. The Omega shared the Nova’s body and most of its mechanicals, but it had its own front and rear styling and fancier trim, including woodgrain on the dash. Buyers could choose a two-door coupe, a three-door hatchback, or a four-door sedan, and an Omega S package added sportier touches like Rallye suspension. The Omega was redesigned for 1975 and stayed on the X body until 1979, then moved to the front wheel drive Citation platform from 1980 through 1984.
This Omega is finished in a dark metallic color and rides on new aftermarket wheels and tires. The 350 V8 has a new 650 carburetor and distributor and has been tuned with new plugs and wires. It has a rebuilt Turbo 350 automatic with a new converter and shift kit. The seller added front disc brakes with a vacuum pump, a new tilt steering column, a new radiator and hoses, new rear springs, shocks, motor mounts, and ball joints. The car has new paint and a custom diamond-stitched interior (tuxedo) with Omega embroidered on the seats, plus Kilmat sound deadening throughout. The listing shows 1,000,000 miles, so a buyer will want to ask about the actual mileage; it has a clean title. I wish the pictures were better or higher quality.
Engine choices for 1974 were a 250-cubic-inch inline six or Oldsmobile’s 350 Rocket V8 with either a two-barrel or a four-barrel carburetor. Emissions equipment had taken a toll by then, and when Car and Track tested a 1974 Omega S with the four-barrel 350, it ran the quarter mile in a leisurely 18.1 seconds. Inside, Omega buyers could choose bench or bucket seats in cloth or vinyl. This car obviously has a custom interior. An Omega is a lot rarer at a car show than a Nova, and this one has had most of the expensive work done.
Nice looking car. Pretty random. Don’t see a lot of those.
I’m definitely not a photographer. My photo taking skills could make Scarlett Johansson look like she just crawled out of the swamp. So, I always hesitate to critique others photography but in this case, these pics just kinda suck. Between the lack of focus and blurriness of the pics, no engine compartment or undercarriage pics, one would need to inquire to get a better idea of what kind of shape this Olds is in. Looks pretty clean, so long as one does not mind the custom interior and touches and the painted bumpers, which to me, always sings cost cutting measure.