page_title: Oldsmobile Omega
section_title: Third generation (1980–1984)
hierarchical_section_title: Oldsmobile Omega / Third generation (1980–1984)
caption_attribution_description: Oldsmobile Omega photographed in Hudson, Quebec, Canada.
context_page_description: The Oldsmobile Omega is a compact car that was manufactured and sold from 1973 through 1984 by Oldsmobile. The name omega was used to imply the last, the end, or the ultimate limit of a set, in contrast to alpha, the first letter of the Greek alphabet. There were three generations of Omegas, all being badge-engineered Chevrolet models, and each of the three using one of two GM X platform architectures:
  1973–1979 - rear-wheel-drive, related to the Chevrolet Nova.
  1980–1984 - front-wheel-drive, related to the Chevrolet Citation.
context_section_description: The X-bodies were all-new front-wheel drive cars for 1980. Engine choices were limited to Pontiac's Iron Duke inline-four engine and the new corporate 2.8 L LE2 V6 designed specifically for this platform. Transmissions were the 4 speed manual or the TH125 3-speed automatic.
  Unlike the Chevrolet Citation, which the car was based upon, the Omega range consisted of only a 2-door coupe and 4-door sedan, with upright styling and a distinctive split grille.
  Aside from the standard and Brougham models produced in all five years, sportier models were also built.  These included the SX coupe (replaced by the ES in 1982), ES sedan, and pioneering urethane plastic-fendered 1981 SportOmega, which came with wild red-and-orange striping, white-over-gray paint, and a sloping front grille assembly shared with the SX and ES. Notably, the sportier models were available with both the L4 and V6 engines.
  Beginning in 1982, the Chevrolet high-output (130 horsepower) 2.8L V6 became available on ES models. In 1983, the ES was only available in the sedan body style.
  The X-body Omega, like its sister vehicles (the Chevrolet Citation, Pontiac Phoenix and Buick Skylark), proved fairly trouble-prone early on, necessitating an astounding number of government-mandated recalls for braking problems, fluid leaks and suspension issues.  While Omega was the only one of the four X-cars to sell better in 1981 than in 1980 (147,918 versus 134,323), starting in 1982, production fell dramatically.  Only 77,469 Omegas were built in '82, with 53,926 in 1983 and 52,986 in swan-song 1984.
  For 1985, the Omega was replaced by the N-body Calais.
caption: 1983 Oldsmobile Omega coupe
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