Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Bandit127 on 07 July 2008, 20:28:39

Title: The Omega family tree
Post by: Bandit127 on 07 July 2008, 20:28:39
Inspired by optimist60's recent post, I would like to propose a bit of family tree-ing for the Omega's ancestors.

I think I may have found Great Grandad. The Vauxhall Cresta.
Born 1957, a 2.2 straight 6 making 78 bhp. Died 1972, then a 3.3 straight 6 with 124 bhp.
Details here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vauxhall_Cresta

Anyone got any more?
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: Andy B on 07 July 2008, 20:31:53
Quote
....

Anyone got any more?


Most obvious is the Omega A/ Carlton and Senator.
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: Tony H on 07 July 2008, 20:34:52
Vauhall Ventura straight six three litre (I think) circa mid seventy's :-/
Edit just thinking about it It may not qualify because if my memory serves me well the Ventura was wrong wheel drive can anyone confirm?
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: kris9128 on 07 July 2008, 20:43:17
the vauxhall signum. illegitimate love child of the vectra and omega.
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: theowletman on 07 July 2008, 20:46:39
What about the 101, first car to have reversing lights I think.
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: Andy B on 07 July 2008, 20:47:34
Quote
Vauhall Ventura straight six three litre (I think) circa mid seventy's :-/

3.3  ;)
When I was an apprentice, a mate gave me a lift in his. It was bl@@dy massive!
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: amigov6 on 07 July 2008, 20:48:29
Hard to say. There was a lull where English car manufacturers stopped making luxury models. The Scorpio killed the Granada outright, nothing since. Rover died a similar death after the demise of the SD1, if anyone else built that car it might've worked but everything else after was a weak attempt. VX make nothing to compare in the mainstream market now, maybe the signum but that's a ponced up Veccy estate not a car in it's own right. Sadly the only ones making executive RWD barges are BMW, MERC, & AUDI. Even the Japs no longer make Datsun Laurels, Toyota Crowns etc.
    Sorry to wander off topic a little but i love big RWD saloons/estates. ::)
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: Andy B on 07 July 2008, 20:51:29
Quote
..... Even the Japs no longer make Datsun Laurels, Toyota Crowns etc. ...

Phew! Thank god for that!  ;)
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: Andy B on 07 July 2008, 20:53:13
Quote
..... Sadly the only ones making executive RWD barges are BMW, MERC, & AUDI. .....

.... and Jaguar  and Lexus/Toyota ..... and Chrysler .......  ;) ;)
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: amigov6 on 07 July 2008, 20:58:13
Yeah i forgot them but VX/Ford made some cracking big old motors in the 60/70s. Shame we can't anymore. I meant mainstream maufacturers really. :)
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: STMO123 on 07 July 2008, 21:00:21
Quote
Inspired by optimist60's recent post, I would like to propose a bit of family tree-ing for the Omega's ancestors.

I think I may have found Great Grandad. The Vauxhall Cresta.
Born 1957, a 2.2 straight 6 making 78 bhp. Died 1972, then a 3.3 straight 6 with 124 bhp.
Details here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vauxhall_Cresta

Anyone got any more?

Column gear change due to front bench seat IIRC.
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 07 July 2008, 21:02:00
Didnt the Ventora come in two different bodies. the early one was in a Victor body,but i seem to recall the later Ventora having a very deep grill. Could be wrong?
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 07 July 2008, 21:05:52
Quote
What about the 101, first car to have reversing lights I think.
You have bought it all back.
My uncle had a Victor 101. it seemed massive at the time. :y
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: amigov6 on 07 July 2008, 21:09:45
Quote
Quote
What about the 101, first car to have reversing lights I think.
You have bought it all back.
My uncle had a Victor 101. it seemed massive at the time. :y
My first car was a 2 tone green 101 victor 1965 C reg.!!!
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: Andy B on 07 July 2008, 21:12:53
Quote
....
I meant mainstream maufacturers really. :)

I know. I was being uncharacteristically pedantic!  ::)  :y
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: phil her up on 07 July 2008, 21:13:22
Quote
Vauhall Ventura straight six three litre (I think) circa mid seventy's
Edit just thinking about it It may not qualify because if my memory serves me well the Ventura was wrong wheel drive can anyone confirm?
The Ventura/ventora was rear wheel drive as were all VXs till the chevette I think :-/ update , no the chevette was RWD :-[ Astra must have been the first FWD  :-/
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: Omegatoy on 07 July 2008, 21:28:27
late fifties/early isxties PA and Pb and PC cresta(great cars) all used the straight six lump which was also used in the bedford Rl truck  :y
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: Ralph on 07 July 2008, 21:34:07
Quote
Didnt the Ventora come in two different bodies. the early one was in a Victor body,but i seem to recall the later Ventora having a very deep grill. Could be wrong?


FD model had full width grille, FE model had the deep centre grille
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: HerefordElite on 07 July 2008, 21:47:54
Quote
Quote
Vauhall Ventura straight six three litre (I think) circa mid seventy's
Edit just thinking about it It may not qualify because if my memory serves me well the Ventura was wrong wheel drive can anyone confirm?
The Ventura/ventora was rear wheel drive as were all VXs till the chevette I think :-/ update , no the chevette was RWD :-[ Astra must have been the first FWD  :-/


was the mark I cav RWD? i know the mk II was FWD coz i had one ::)
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: albitz on 07 July 2008, 22:39:18
mk1 cavalier was rwd,dont think the mk2 was though. :-/
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: amigov6 on 07 July 2008, 22:49:37
Yup. Mk1 Cavs were RWD (Opel Asconas) made to compete with Cortinas, Avengers, Marinas on the banger track..oh, sorry that was a few years later!!! 8-)
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: Tony H on 07 July 2008, 22:51:15
Quote
mk1 cavalier was rwd,dont think the mk2 was though. :-/
Mk 2 was fwd and didn't handle too bad either
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: unclelicklug on 07 July 2008, 23:03:02
The Ventora was based on the FD (coke bottle) and FE (transcontinental) Victors.
Standard Victor used the 1.6/2.0/1.8/2.3 slant four OHC engine (the VX4/90 had a twin carb version of the 2.0/2.3 engines).
The Ventora used the 3.3 litre six cylinder OHV engine - must have weighed an absolute ton, goodness knows how it ever got round a corner.
There were saloon and estate versions of the Ventoras.

Predecessor of the Omega? The Victor range is the obvious choice, exec car with a widish range of engines and trim.

Must be plenty of other failed exec cars out there tho'....not that I don't love mine.........

Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: Humpy on 08 July 2008, 21:24:36
The Omega A was the Vauxhall Carlton Mk3, the previous Carltons were Rekords which were Victors before the Carlton. The Rekords go right back to the early sixties. The Rekord was always the four pot version and the Commodore was the six pot version. The six pot version of the Victor was the Ventora, the six pot version of the Mk1 Carlton was the Viceroy (not many of them made!). There was no six pot version of the Mk2 Carlton but the Mk3 six pot was the GSI.

There, simple innit :)

I used to know one of the salesman in Rennys of Tonbridge who had a one off prototype of the Victor replacement. This was hand made by Panther using a stretched Victor as a base with an Opel six pot fuel injected lump in it. It was quite a motor. GM in the end decided on the Opel Rekord (Mk1 Carlton) and the rest is history. Could have been a lot different though.

Humpy
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: MaxV6 on 08 July 2008, 21:58:45
of course there were the uk variants of the carlton/sennie as well... the Viceroy, for example....  
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: robbo299 on 09 July 2008, 00:34:54
My dad had PA, PB and PC Crestas. He worked at Vauxhall here in Luton for years. Also had Wyverns and Velox's as well as Victors. If memory serves me right wasn't the Viscount the top of the range PC model. He never had one of these, but they did seem huge.
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: Vamps on 09 July 2008, 00:36:46
Quote
My dad had PA, PB and PC Crestas. He worked at Vauxhall here in Luton for years. Also had Wyverns and Velox's as well as Victors. If memory serves me right wasn't the Viscount the top of the range PC model. He never had one of these, but they did seem huge.


When cars were cars, happy days..... ;)
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: robbo299 on 09 July 2008, 00:45:08
True. Loved being in them when a kid. Column change, bench front seats. Saw some old Velox's and Wyvern's at a recent classic car show here in luton. Absolutely stunning! Also a PINK PA Cresta. must have been Loo Knee's! ;D ;D Took some pics. :y
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: Boiler Man on 09 July 2008, 01:26:00
Quote
What about the 101, first car to have reversing lights I think.

My Dad saw the front end fall off a 101, when it stopped at the traffic lights,  :o  back in the 60's or 70's

They were known as rust buckets  ;)
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: albitz on 09 July 2008, 01:26:40
Quote
Quote
My dad had PA, PB and PC Crestas. He worked at Vauxhall here in Luton for years. Also had Wyverns and Velox's as well as Victors. If memory serves me right wasn't the Viscount the top of the range PC model. He never had one of these, but they did seem huge.


When cars were cars, happy days..... ;)
when cars were rusty before leaving the showroom. ;) ;D
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: Boiler Man on 09 July 2008, 01:33:04
What about the Royale, anyone ::)

Coupe version.
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: albitz on 09 July 2008, 01:43:01
nice car in their day,vx version of the opel monza. :y
Title: Re: The Omega family tree
Post by: Boiler Man on 09 July 2008, 02:01:53
Vauxhall Royale Coupe  8-)

Produced 1978-1982

http://www.motorbase.com/profiles/vehicle/picture.ehtml?i=-1268057796;p=1902789413

http://www.motorbase.com/profiles/vehicle/picture.ehtml?i=-1268057796;p=2021655155