72hardtop

Hello everyone, I just purchased a '73 Omega showing only 49,000 miles that hasn't been started in 10 years. I know I need to change all fluids, including fuel, and spray some WD40 after I pull the plugs. Does anyone else have any additional suggestions before I try to turn it over?

It's a southern Ca car but the rear window in the hatchback leaked to the interior of the hatch, then rusted part of the bottom of the hatch on the inside of the car. Not sure if I should try to repair or would there be a place to simply purchase a new hatch.

I'm confused on the info on the cowl tag as it indicates the paint color is 56 but when I look up that color on the '73 paint sheet, it shows a Chamios gold but the car is really yellow. Code 51 for '73 was Omega Yellow which is the color that the car currently is. Code 56 for '72 is Sunfire yellow, could this car have been built in late '72 since the code doesn't match up with the '73 paint color?

The dash pad is also cracked, I saw some websites where you could simply purchase a cover, how do those work vs. replacing the entire pad?

Thanks in advance for any assistance.
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jaunty75

Color names are relatively meaningless as the marketing people went nuts at times. For example, on the '73 color chart are "wedgewood blue," "zodiac blue," and "eclipse blue." While I'm guessing that wedgewood blue is sort of a medium blue based on what Wedgewood china looks like, and I'm guessing zodiac blue is a dark blue because zodiac makes me think of the night sky, I have no idea what eclipse blue would look like, and I really don't know for sure that what I think the other two blues look like is anything close to reality.

The point is, your car's color could easily be "chamois gold" as whose to say what "chamois gold" is supposed to look like (other than that it is probably some sort of goldish-yellow or yellow-ish gold)? The car's color could also easily be Omega Yellow. But, as you say, the 56 paint code corresponds to chamois gold.

That's a nice looking car regardless of what the color is called.

oldcutlass

Welcome to the site. Your car seems to be in very good shape, thanks for sharing the pictures.

joe_padavano

First, no. The colors go with the model year, not the calendar year. Second, the cowl tag will tell you the build date (well, the build week) with no uncertainty whatsoever.

By the way, congrats on the purchase. A 1973 hatchback is one of the cars I've always wanted. Now you need to find the optional tent that fits in the hatch.

72hardtop

Thanks Jaunty75, it's definetly the Omega yellow, like I said the cowl tag had confused me.

jaunty75

I think you're still confused. Your cowl tag says paint code 56, and 56 in 1973 was Chamois Gold. I think your car is Chamois Gold, which could easily be a yellow-ish tan like your car is. Honestly, I would expect that if your car were a "yellow", it would be a brighter yellow than it is.


Here's the '73 Oldsmobile paint chip chart. Note the second column with Omega Yellow and Chamois Gold right below it.





I think your car looks much more like the Chamois Gold than it does the Omega Yellow. Your car is no where near that bright a yellow, even accounting for 41 years of paint fade.

64Rocket

I agree, 41 years sitting out. The sun does a lot of discoloring.

Great looking car anyway you look at it.
it looks to need a paint job anyway, make it what ever you want.

gene

jaunty75

Assuming the car still has its original paint job, one thing he could do is look at a surface, like the door jambs or the underside of the trunk lid, that is NOT exposed to the sun and compare that color to the color charts. Yes, there might still be some fade after 41 years, but it should be nothing compared to what happens to sun-exposed surfaces, and it ought to be pretty easy to determine whether the car is chamois gold or omega yellow. I'm betting on chamois gold.

Of course, we don't know that the car has sat outside for all 41 years of its existence, either.

MDchanic

My brother had one just like that, except it actually was Ωmega Yellow, with a bench seat and column shift, and a 250 six.
Great car.

- Eric

64Rocket

From all the surface rust on the hood, roof, and liftgate, I'd say it was outside quite a bit.
I'd say '73 was the best looking year and that it is a lift gate is pretty cool.
A great find at any rate.What engine?
Gene

kjr442

73 is my favorite year for the omega, looks like you have found a good one.

72hardtop

It's got a Rocket 350, the odometer shows 49,000 miles. The previous owener told me it hasn't been started in 10 years. I paid $1,200 for the car.

kjr442

Well you did good. There are only a few cars I would have above a 1972 the 1973 Omega and 73 Cutlass or 442. Nice car, I would love to have it.

MDchanic

You got a good deal. That's a great car to drive every day.

- Eric

72hardtop

New windshield and tires, all fluids changed since the car was sitting for 10 years without being started. Removed most of the surface rust off the paint.

oldcutlass

Cleaned up pretty nice

MDchanic

Lookin' good!

- Eric

72hardtop

jaunty75, thanks for the help on the color, the new hatch lid was painted 56 and matches up great with the door jambs. I purchased the vinyl top molding from a guy in Texas so when we do the final paint, we were thinking about a black roof with the rest of the car painted chamois gold.

72hardtop

Currently at the body shop, should have it back next week.

oldcutlass

Awesome

olds 307 and 403

Very nice. For the love of God, don't put on a rust hoarder top.

anthonyP

Personally, I like it without a vinyl top. A nice car you do not see nowadays, especially with a hatchback.

Cutlass Fan

Looks like a fantastic deal.

72hardtop

Still working on the interior

oldcutlass

Purtyful...

Greg Rogers

I love that car!!