OM Tipo 665 – Car Profiles

The origins of Officine Meccaniche can be found along the shores of Lake Maggiore, Italy. There in 1855 in Intra the Gullet & Croff foundry was established and in 1897 now transformed into Ing. Roberto Zust it began to delve in the construction of road transport. In less than ten years they would be racing on circuits such as the one just outside of Brescia. In 1917 the Societa Anonima Offcine Meccaniche which made various railway stock merged with Brixia-Zust S.A. and the OM trademark was launched. World War I had spurred not only the production of military vehicles but also airplanes as well. O.M. had been involved in aeronautics since before the war and soon expanded the combined companies production in this area while also continuing the production of automobiles from the original Zust factory in Brescia.

The first OM car, Tipo S305, understandably based on an old Zust model, appeared in 1918 with a 4712cc four-cylinder side-valve in-line engine producing 30 bhp. Further models were Tipo 465 (with a 1327cc four) in 1919, Tipo 467 (1410cc) and Tipo 469 (1496cc) in 1921. 1923 saw an all new model, the famous Tipo 665 Superba. The car was available in two versions, the 665N and 665S. The main difference was the wheelbase, with the ‘N’ longer, at 3100mm, and the ‘S’ at 2800mm. Both cars used a four speed gearbox and a new six-cylinder 1991cc sidevalve engine, with 40bhp @ 3,600rpm.

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