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Kinda late to the conversation but I recently got myself into A 1973 Omega KL3 Code which is one of the 53 built in Van Nuys California for the Century Dealership. AKA Dr. Olds edition. It is The original Yellow with white top and its A Hatchback. Has the Original 350 Rocket 4 BBL dual exhaust drive train. Runs awesome and I couldnt be prouder of any car I have owned. It gets attention everywhere we go.
Do you have documented proof of your claim on the production of these 53 Omegas? If so please share it with us. Also what is included in this "Dr Olds" edition.
Thanks.
Last edited by oldsmobiledave; November 25th, 2016 at 04:23 PM.
The Omega was one of 3 X-body Chevrolet Nova clones introduced in 1973 (the Buick Apollo being the other one; the Pontiac Ventura was introduced in 1971). Naturally it shared the Nova's body and many of its mechanicals, but it had its own unique nose and tail, and, being an Oldsmobile, it had a little fancier trim than the Nova. It even borrowed the Nova's dashboard, but Olds added woodgrain trim to it for a more upscale look.
The front grille sported Oldsmobile's trademark split "waterfall" grille design, round headlights set into square recesses, and parking lights directly below in the bumper. Body styles mirrored that of the Nova, starting with a 2-door coupe, 3-door hatchback or a 4-door sedan.
Engine choices were the standard Chevy-built 4.1L (250 cid) I6 with a 3-speed manual transmission standard, with a 4-speed manual or a 2- or 3-speed automatic optional. The lone V8 option was Oldsmobile's 5.7L (350 cid) "Rocket" V8, which had a 4-speed manual as standard with the 3-speed automatic optional. V8 models with the eight VIN digit being the letter "K" received a 4-barrel Rochester carburetor. All other V8 engines received the standard 2-barrel version. There were also 53 Doctor Oldsmobile Omega's built in 73 all with vin code KL3 All were built in Van Nuys California and were sold at Century Oldsmobile in Van Nuys California. This option was canceled in 1974 and Oldsmobile redesigned the Omega and added the S option and also a base and upper-level Brougham. Not many changes at all in 1974 other than the 2-speed Powerglide transmission being dumped, the parking lights being relocated inboard below the grille instead of the headlights and a new rear bumper design which met the federal government's new 5-mph impact standards. There would be an all-new Omega in 1975.
Many mistakes in this post. The claim of the 53 Dr Olds versions made is news to me & I am sure many others. I would want to see proof. There was no 4 speed Omegas but rather only 3 speed manual trans cars either column or floor shifted. There was also no Brougham model in 1974, just the Omega & the Omega S.
Do you have documented proof of your claim on the production of these 53 Omegas? If so please share it with us. Also what is included in this "Dr Olds" edition.
Thanks.
I have run into several people who are big time Oldmobile lovers and have asked the very same question. From what I have gathered the "Doctor Oldsmobile" Reference was Oldsmobiles attempt to make something similar to what "Yenko" is to chevy. It didnt take off. That part is by word of mouth and is opion at best at this point. What is Fact is that 53 KL3 coded Omegas were built in Van Nuys for the "Century Dealership"in Van Nuys with the name Dr Olds.
I spoke with A man from Haggerty ins, who was A lover of Oldsmobiles in general. He took the time to tell me the part about WHY the Name DR OLDS came about.
I am always interested in more info if someone comes up with anything. I aint trying to make my car into something more than it is but I sure am proud of the attention it gets.
TY Marty
I have been going by what I can find on the net as do most people. As for what I read on Wikipedia I dont have the knowledge to go against what they have on the site. Like I said Im not trying to beef up my car into something its not cause I like it either way but according to the Vin and what they said the KL3 means is what I been going by. I also had the Vin decoded and it says the car was made in Van Nuys. I havent been able to find out anything else. Till someone shows me Documentation explaining the cars origins other than what I have found... I will continue to believe what I have found thus far
TY bro Marty
I have run into several people who are big time Oldmobile lovers and have asked the very same question. From what I have gathered the "Doctor Oldsmobile" Reference was Oldsmobiles attempt to make something similar to what "Yenko" is to chevy. It didnt take off. That part is by word of mouth and is opion at best at this point. What is Fact is that 53 KL3 coded Omegas were built in Van Nuys for the "Century Dealership"in Van Nuys with the name Dr Olds.
I spoke with A man from Haggerty ins, who was A lover of Oldsmobiles in general. He took the time to tell me the part about WHY the Name DR OLDS came about.
I am always interested in more info if someone comes up with anything. I aint trying to make my car into something more than it is but I sure am proud of the attention it gets.
TY Marty
1974 was far too late for Oldsmobile to be trying to create a Yenko equivalent. The W machines started that in 1966 BEFORE the Yenko cars.
Enjoy your Omega for what it is....a nice Omega. It was never intended to be a performance car but certainly can be built to perform.
Thats because when they came out everyone saw them as a Nova wannabe lol . We all have found over the years the cars that werent popular when they were produced tend to be the cool rare cars later on down the line. Even if they never become " Sought after" They will definately have that cool never saw one of these factor Look at the Yugo or the Pacer for instance... Funny how that works.... May go out tomorrow and buy me a Geo Metro before they get crazy high lol ok now I know I need coffee
My biggest comment I get is "What is it? or "What year is your Nova?" Even had one guy ask me if it was a Chevelle.... (dramatic pause with crickets chirping) I am a polite kinda guy who will chat with anyone about cars so I just smiled and told him it was an Oldsmobile... Then he asked if it was a Skylark...... just keep smiling Marty...just keep smiling. LOL
Yeah, the Omega in the '70s was always overshadowed by the Cutlass Supreme, which was the best selling car in America at the time. I always liked them but never owned one although I did have a '77 Buick Skylark with a 231 V6 under the hood when I was in college and for a short time thereafter. My great uncle had bought it new a few weeks before he came in from playing golf and dropped dead in the den. My great aunt never drove it much and went into a nursing home about five years later. When I bought it in the spring of 1983, it only had 14,000 miles on it. I put another 70,000 on it over the next five years and sold it early in 1988 when I got an '86 Calais Supreme. Funny thing, at the time, I lived in a small college town about three hours west of where my parents lived. Dad sold the Skylark for me and it followed me back to there about a year later.
That is usually the first thing I always hear, 'What year is your Nova? My Omega was built at the Van Nuys plant but I'm not sure if it was sold at Century Olds. I did purchase a license plate frame from Century Olds and plan on putting it on my Omega once the restoration is complete. It's a 350 but an 'H' code, (2 barrel). I like the bucket seats with the floor shift.
One year they made a 442 with that long ugly hatchback. If you look at the rest of the car it looks the same as and Omega from the Quarters forward. I have really been thinking of ordering the stripe and 442 package for it and make my 78 Omega look like that year 442. I have a picture let me see if I can figure out how to post it.
One year they made a 442 with that long ugly hatchback. If you look at the rest of the car it looks the same as and Omega from the Quarters forward. I have really been thinking of ordering the stripe and 442 package for it and make my 78 Omega look like that year 442. I have a picture let me see if I can figure out how to post it.
It was 2 years & you are talking about the 1978 & 1979 442s. They were A body cars not built on the Omega line.
Found a red car just like this with 350 olds, console automatic and buckets. I want to use parts from this car on my 78 Omega. This front cap looks much more Olds than the 78. The parts car has lots of rust and my 78 body is very clean. Does anyone know if this model front cap will fit the 78? I have done much measuring and looks like it will. The 78 has a header panel where this has the center grille section. I was planning to swap the complete cap. Bumpers look and measure out exactly the same.
1973 Omega Coupe 250 with a TH350 currently on the way from California to Austria
as soon as she is in Austria will rework the inline 6 a bit and spend her the 1974 "S" sports package - some parts for this package I've got from some fellow members of this side.
Looking forward to digging in! Looks rougher than she is. Runs, stops. 305 V8 4-speed.
Bill's car has a new owner named Keith. He purchased some 15x7 Wheels from me today so he can get some bigger tires installed on the back
He is enthusiastic to fix up the car and drive it
I encouraged him to check out the website as he has parts he is looking for
I was looking for a daily driver and then I met this pretty little thing today. Still an untouched car on this planet that is 45 years old? Except for the torn cloth seats, the whole car is like the door panel. It reminds me of my 69 Cutlass when I first saw it with 45k on it. Difference here, it's driven daily and the AC works. The bumpers are amazing. I'm gonna treat her right.
purchase day exterior complete exterior is complete working on poles and tie downs factory air goes back in next original hounds tooth factory material repaired dash pad
November 25th, 2016, 12:07 PM
82 Omega
