Description
The Intermeccanica Omega was the very first automobile created by the small but visionary Italian company Construzione Automobili Intermeccanica of Turin, and it marked the birth of a brand that would go on to produce some of the most intriguing and stylish sports cars of the 1960s and 1970s. Introduced in 1961, the Omega was an ambitious blend of Italian design, American power, and artisanal craftsmanship—a philosophy that would define Intermeccanica’s entire identity. Though only a handful were ever built, the Omega stands as a remarkable debut effort: a handmade gran turismo that foreshadowed the company’s later masterpieces such as the Apollo GT, Italia, and Indra.
The story of the Intermeccanica Omega begins with the company’s founder, Frank Reisner, a Hungarian-born engineer who moved to Canada and later to Italy, driven by a passion for automotive design and construction. After establishing Intermeccanica in Turin in 1959, Reisner initially produced tuning kits, intake manifolds, and performance carburetor systems for small European sports cars. His technical skill and network within the Italian coachbuilding scene soon led him toward building complete cars, and the Omega was conceived as a showcase of what Intermeccanica could do—a sophisticated, hand-built GT that embodied both style and speed.
The chassis of the Omega was developed in-house by Intermeccanica, constructed from tubular steel with emphasis on rigidity and lightness. The body was styled and built by Carrozzeria Frua, one of Italy’s most respected design houses at the time, known for elegant, understated lines that balanced power and grace. The result was a compact two-seat coupe that combined the visual purity of contemporary Maseratis and Ferraris with an understated modernity. The proportions were classic: a long bonnet, short tail, and low roofline, all rendered in hand-formed aluminium. The front featured simple, slightly recessed round headlamps and a clean horizontal grille, while the rear tapered neatly with small tailfins—an elegant nod to the early 1960s aesthetic. The car stood on wire-spoke wheels, completing the picture of a refined yet purposeful grand tourer.
Power came from an American V8 engine—an approach that would become a hallmark of Intermeccanica’s later production philosophy. For the Omega, Reisner chose a 2.5-litre (later 3.0-litre) air-cooled Chevrolet Corvair flat-six engine, mounted at the rear and tuned for improved performance. The engine produced approximately 80–100 horsepower in its standard form, but with Intermeccanica’s modifications—including revised carburetion, improved cooling, and free-flow exhaust—the output was higher, making the lightweight Omega impressively quick for its time. With a curb weight of under 900 kilograms, the car’s power-to-weight ratio delivered brisk acceleration and a top speed of around 185 km/h (115 mph). The use of the Corvair engine also gave the Omega a lower centre of gravity, contributing to nimble handling and balance.
The suspension design was advanced for a small manufacturer, employing independent suspension on all four wheels, with coil springs and telescopic dampers ensuring a blend of comfort and control. Braking was by large drum brakes, and steering was quick and direct, giving the car a distinctly European feel despite its American heart. The combination of lightness, power, and precision made the Omega genuinely engaging to drive—a car capable of covering long distances effortlessly while still feeling alive on twisty roads.
Inside, the Intermeccanica Omega was as much a bespoke creation as its exterior suggested. The interior was hand-finished with leather upholstery, a wooden steering wheel, and a simple but elegant dashboard featuring a full set of instruments. The driving position was low and sporting, with excellent visibility through the expansive glasshouse. Like the best Italian grand tourers of the period, the Omega offered a balance of luxury and focus: it was comfortable enough for touring, yet intimate enough to feel like a true sports car.
Although technically and aesthetically successful, the Omega was produced in extremely limited numbers—variously reported as between six and twelve examples—largely because Intermeccanica lacked the financial resources and dealer network to mass-produce it. Each car was essentially handcrafted, and production costs were high. Nevertheless, the Omega achieved its purpose: it established Intermeccanica as a serious player among Italy’s smaller performance marques and attracted attention from both European and American enthusiasts.
The experience gained from developing the Omega proved invaluable for Reisner. It demonstrated that a small, agile company could combine American powertrains with Italian design and craftsmanship to create cars that were fast, beautiful, and more affordable than their exotic contemporaries. This formula would form the foundation for Intermeccanica’s subsequent models, beginning with the Apollo GT (a collaboration with American financier Milt Brown), and continuing through the Italia and Indra—cars that would define the brand’s golden era.
Today, the Intermeccanica Omega is one of the rarest and most significant Italian sports cars of the early 1960s. Surviving examples are prized by collectors not only for their rarity but for their historical importance as the car that started it all for Intermeccanica. Each Omega was slightly different, reflecting the company’s artisanal nature and the bespoke approach of small Italian workshops at the time. The combination of Frua’s sculptural bodywork, the unconventional rear-mounted engine, and the car’s delicate balance of Italian beauty and American simplicity make it an object of fascination among historians and enthusiasts alike.
The Omega’s legacy extends far beyond its handful of units. It was the first expression of an idea that would define Intermeccanica for decades: that true performance and style come not from size or corporate power, but from imagination and craftsmanship. In that sense, the Omega was not just a car—it was a declaration of intent, a symbol of how artistry and engineering could merge in the hands of a small but inspired Italian workshop.
To encounter an Intermeccanica Omega today is to glimpse the birth of an idea that would go on to produce some of the most charismatic hybrid sports cars of the twentieth century. It remains a testament to ambition, individuality, and the enduring Italian belief that even a small company, working with passion and precision, could create something truly world-class.