This Oldsmobile Omega SX ad from the April 1977 issue of Popular Hot Rodding is an interesting artifact. It says “performance,” but it also makes a strong argument for fuel economy. At the time, there were still plenty of enthusiasts looking for excitement in their daily drivers, but the concern over high fuel costs put a damper on outright horsepower. This Omega SX ad offered a solution that suited both rationales: carve up the corners while knocking down 26 mpg on the highway with a six cylinder.
The lens of time might tend to judge the ’77 Omega harshly, but many of the problems brought on by fuel economy and smog laws have been conquered satisfactorily. That leaves only this question: If the same car was built today, but with an LS3 or the Camaro’s new L99, would you still want to buy it? It’s kind of academic at this point, since you could easily drop in one of the many X-body front clips and LSx engine packages out there.
My personal opinion is that a disco-era Omega would be way cool with updated powertrain, good suspension, and good rolling stock. The added mystique of the Olds nameplate would be the finishing touch that would set this hot rod apart from the masses. The same goes for the Pontiac Ventura and the Buick Skylark—all X-platform stablemates to the Chevy Nova they resemble.