1975-77 Oldsmobile Omega F-85
Be aware: The next story was excerpted from the April 2021 challenge of Collectible Car journal.
Oldsmobile’s first compact was the 1961 F-85. Midyear, the road added a deluxe coupe referred to as Cutlass. In 1964 the F-85 grew into a real intermediate, with the Cutlass gaining followers as a sporty premium sequence. By 1973 it had change into the automotive the general public related to midsized Oldsmobiles and the more and more marginalized F-85 was gone.
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Oldsmobile Omega F-85
That very same yr, Oldsmobile received again within the compact sport, this time with the Chevy Nova-based Omega. It was right here inside a couple of years that Olds noticed match to resurrect the F-85 monicker. This newest F-85 was a finances mannequin—coupe solely—for the second-generation Omega. Not fairly a clean-sheet redesign, the ’75 Omega was handsomely new sufficient. Obtainable physique types continued as a coupe, two-door hatchback, and four-door sedan. A 250-cubic-inch inline six and a three-speed handbook transmission had been customary, however 260- and 350-cube V8s and Turbo Hydra-matic trans had been obtainable. Additionally new was GM’s catalytic converter, which required using unleaded gasoline.
Omega costs began at $3422 for a coupe, a considerable bump from 1974’s $3043. New from the beginning of the yr was upscale Salon trim for all physique types, with costs beginning at $4148. Then, through the mannequin yr, Oldsmobile trotted out the F-85 as Omega’s new worth chief. With even much less brightwork and plainer upholstery than the “base” two-door Omega, it got here at a financial savings of $219, which made it aggressive on beginning worth with entry-level two-door compacts from Chevrolet, Pontiac, Dodge, Plymouth, and Mercury in a tricky yr for automotive gross sales. The F-85 attracted 1673 patrons in its brief mannequin run.
Omegas had been close to reruns for 1976, albeit with new entrance styling and the extra-cost 260 V8 could possibly be mated with a five-speed handbook transmission. The F-85 was again, too, however nonetheless hanging again within the shadows. Certainly, that yr’s Olds brochure paid scant consideration to it. A profile illustration of a penny-pinched lime-green Omega coupe tucked away on the final web page of the six-page Omega part confirmed it sans shiny side-window trim and standing on body-color metal wheels with “dog-dish” hubcaps. The view of the inside confirmed its plainer door panels and entrance bench seat clad in black vinyl bolsters and black-and-gray “Racine” fabric facings. What went unsaid (and unseen) was that the F-85 didn’t obtain a brand new rear fascia trim that gave different ’76 Omegas a “full-width look” between the taillights.
The bottom worth rose to $3390, which narrowed the hole between the F-85 and next-highest coupe to solely $95. In some way Olds sellers managed to maneuver 3918 of them.
The large information for the ’77 Omega was that the Chevrolet-sourced straight six was changed with Buick’s 231-inch V6. The optionally available V8 was now a Chevy 305, however California and high-altitude areas might solely get a 350. Transmission selections reverted to three-speed handbook or Turbo Hydra-matic. The F-85 was again with the identical low-rent method The nylon knit fabric on the foam-padded entrance seat was now divided by a large vinyl band between the driving force and entrance passenger.
The F-85 was as much as $3653 with out choices. Olds made simply 2241 extra for its closing season.
Picture Characteristic: 1962 Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire Hardtop Coupe
Professional:
• Most people searching for GM compacts of this period most likely are eyeing Novas or
Pontiac Venturas. Nonetheless, Omega F-85s had been by no means plentiful, and survival charges
are absolutely low.
Con:
• Six-cylinder fashions, inline or V6, had been rated at solely 105 horsepower. The 260 V8 solely
put out 110 ponies, and the strongest 350 was the ’77 unit good for 170.
Remaining Drive:
Low cost Wheelers who like obscure trim ranges or acquainted mannequin names utilized in surprising locations ought to love the Omega F-85. That’s very true for those who fancy dog-dish hubcaps and are allergic to chrome trim. If any of those unicorns stay, a budget champ must be a ’76 with the 260 V-8 and five-speed stickshift.
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Oldsmobile Omega F-85
Oldsmobile Omega F-85
Oldsmobile Omega F-85
