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Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Pittsburgh Plate Glass (PPG) produced some of the most interesting pace cars that the world had ever seen, both before and even after. These quickly became a staple of the CART and Champ Car World Series, setting the pace for open-wheel racing throughout the United States and beyond. The PPG pace cars were far beyond their production counterparts in terms of both visual design and overall performance.
Notably, these cars were heavily modified to undergo the stress and punishment inflicted by hitting banked ovals at high speeds, setting the pace for an entire pack of screaming, open-wheeled racers that followed suit on any given Sunday. Dozens upon dozens had been built, based off a variety of production models, as well as others that were constructed solely for these duties by PPG.
One of these cars stands out among the others. Thought to have been crushed decades ago, the PPG Oldsmobile Omega suddenly re-emerged from hiding as it graced the grounds of a Pittsburgh car meet.
What Makes PPG Pace Cars So Special
The PPG pace cars' story begins in 1979, when the CART/PPG IndyCar World Series was established. The creation of this series was a direct response to several issues experienced by Indy drivers racing in the USAC series, which included the fabled Indianapolis 500. Teams were having complaints with low payouts, as well as issues with promotions and television rights. The CART series was then formed and initially meant to act as a direct rival to USAC, aiming to display an entirely new foundation for open-wheeled racing within the United States.
This venture had attracted some of the sport's main heroes, such as Mario Andretti and Bobby Rahal. By 1980, when CART was still in its infancy, PPG had decided to add some style to the mix by creating droves of highly-customized, purpose-built pace cars that were meant to attract attention for CART and PPG. Several of these cars were based on production models, however, others were one-off concepts that had been built in conjunction with major automakers, such as Chevrolet, Dodge, and Renault. Dozens of PPG cars had paced droves of American racetracks for nearly two decades, consequently becoming crowd favorites and helping to set the CART series apart from its main rival.
The Story Of the PPG Oldsmobile Omega
Out of the PPG pace cars' vast lineup, one notable example is the 1981 Oldsmobile Omega. This car was a distinct one-off, built exclusively for the IndyCar World Series. The 1981 version was based upon GM's X-Body platform, as the production counterpart of the Omega was originally intended as basic transportation to accommodate a layout change to FWD that would be reflected throughout the 1980s and 1990s on a plethora of General Motors' models.
PPG needed to conduct serious modifications to the Omega in order for the car to set the blistering pace needed to bring dozens of careening Indy Cars up to speed, but also to help the car stand out visually. These modifications included a turbocharged, 2.8-liter V6, as well as beefed-up suspension to handle hitting the high-banked ovals at speeds in excess of 120mph. Aesthetically, the PPG Omega also sported a custom interior, complete with matching Recaro seats. Distinct ground effects were also implemented, including bespoke fender flares and an exclusive spoiler over the rear deck.
The PPG Oldsmobile Omega Today
After its time running in the CART IndyCar World Series, the PPG Omega was long thought to have been destroyed, as was the fate of many other PPG pace cars. This was done primarily for insurance purposes, as several of these cars were one-off prototypes that were never intended to reach the hands of the public. In contrast, some PPG cars would end up being sold back to the dealers in which they'd originated. Such was the case of the Omega, as it had been sent back to Bendik Oldsmobile of Pittsburgh, where the car had been stored within the third floor of the dealership's showroom for several years before going out of business, when it seemingly disappeared. Until recently, not much else was known regarding the car's current whereabouts. However, just last month, the PPG Omega suddenly made an appearance at Pittsburgh's North Side Coffee & Cars. Founded by Mitchell Thomas, North Side Coffee & Cars is a monthly meet that works in conjunction with Commonplace Coffee and Instagram's Obscure Cars Daily to showcase the most obscure cars within Pittsburgh, PA and the surrounding areas.
Mike Blaze, the PPG Omega's current owner, gladly laid out the story of how the car finally came out of its hibernation. According to Mike, he'd been scouting for an SUV in Connellsville, PA and found himself at a used car dealer. After the owner invited Mike to check out an AC Cobra kit car at his garage, Mike went along, then discovered something very interesting sitting underneath a tarp. After inquiring, the dealer pulled off the cover, revealing the Omega. Apparently, he'd somehow managed to snatch it up after Bendik closed its doors, and it had been sitting ever since 1994. Mike promptly struck a deal, then set about restoring the PPG Omega to its former glory. When Mike had heard about North Side Coffee & Cars through Instagram, he'd transported the PPG Omega back to Pittsburgh, where the car was awarded Best of Show within the same exact city where its story had originally begun.