So a subject has come up in the BangShift forums about whether or not a hot rod has ever been cheap. There’s always been those who can squeeze the last drop of blood from a stone to make their entertainment and those who just empty the wallet. In fact, there was a movie that touched on that…remember “Two-Lane Blacktop” and the kind of derision that The Driver and The Mechanic had for GTO? In-between those two points is where most people live. They have a little money to burn on what they want but picking the cream of the crop means no play money left over and nothing bothers a gearhead worse than a stock car. Nothing. So, the question usually follows such a topic: what is the ideal combination? What car meets in the middle for a proper compromise?
That subject alone will instigate arguments aplenty, twenty-thousand different opinions and plenty of heated debate. So I want to offer up a situation: It’s 1985, right when musclecar values started to take that sharp swing upwards and restorations started to become big business. IROC-Z Camaros, hot G-bodies, turbo Mopars and Fox bodies are the hottest things going in years, but there are still fond memories of the summer of 1970 and the street sweepers of yore. Finding a 454 Chevelle or a 440 Mopar might be a touch cost-prohibitive but you want something that can get the job done. Might I suggest the Oldsmobile Omega? Any of the X-cars make an argument for themselves: “compact” size, hot small-block options that can be messed with using 1970-ish cam grinds, heads, intakes and what have you, and they were built using suspension components cribbed from the F-bodies, so they can even handle and stop well.
In 1985 I was two. So you all can tell me if this theoretical plan was solid or not…how hard would it have been to have grabbed up something like this and made it snappy? Or was it still too far below level to even be considered?
In 1980 a buddy of mine joined the navy and gave me his 74 Nova SS. It had a 350/2 bbl backed up with a 3speed on the floor and a 3.08 posi. All factory except headers. Cleaned it up and drove it as a spare for a few years. A little before 1985 but the same model you’re talking about.
Purists will always cry foul when diverting from the standard and very expensive muscle cars, i.e Z28, Chevelle SS, GTO, Roadrunners, etc, etc.
In 1985, I was ending my junior year of HS. Those cars were already very expensive. But, cars like this were cheap. That Olds 350 would usually get headers, duals, and a better intake. Then tires and wheels for a better look. More enterprising guys would go looking for a 455 from a grandma owned 98 Regency, equally cheap to buy. Budget would dictate how much that big inch motor would get built before getting stuffed into the Omega. This is as much hot rodding as spending a fortune on the big name muscle cars.
My last street race was against a kid who did just this. He had a 73 or 74 Buick Apollo. He crammed a built Stage 1 455 in it and went racing. Unfortunately, he was doing that 3 idiot friends and a lot of alcohol. But, that is another story.
I could have told you that. Been running a \’74 Olds Omega sedan for years. It was a 6-cylinder grandpa car I bought for $700, then put in a direct-bolt-in 383 stroker and overdrive trans. Car hauls.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIn0sWhN_2M
http://www.thedrive.com/travel/5584/anything-can-happen-on-a-non-stop-low-dollar-faux-cannonball-run
I owned a ‘ 74 Nova with a 350, 2bbl. Slowest, thirstiest worst car I ever owned. A real genuine POS.
This story is my story! 1985 I was 16 and bought an orange \’73 Omega for $300 with a 350 Rocket in it. With a few modifications it was pretty fast for the day and fun to drive.
Bought my 73 omega in ’86 – was 700.00 2dr 350 4bbl – actually still own this car.
In 1988 i bought a 1977 omega se it had a 231 buick v6 with a rod hanging out of it car had less than 50,000 on it red and white was beautiful i then purchased a 1971 delta 88 that was totaled you see where this is headed delta had a strong ass 455 olds in it add duels and weld wheels had alot of fun with that car drove it three years and quadrupled my money when i sold it made the mistake of pricing it and dude paid me lol