With America taking its name from Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci, it’s only fitting that a gorgeous Italian Grand Touring car would explore America under red-blooded American V8 power. This 1967 Intermeccanica Omega is no kit car! With a chassis designed by England’s John Crosthwaite of Formula 1 and designed by American Robert Cumberford, the Omega began life in Italy before arriving at none other than American NASCAR powerhouse Holman & Moody. There, it gained a Ford V8 and went for 33 specimens, according to Wikipedia. This one comes to market here on Craigslist with a $75,000 asking price and a painful ALL-CAPS description. The El Cajon, California classic is not perfect, but opportunities are limited if owning an Intermeccanica Omega makes your bucket list. Let’s have a look. That elegant split bumper puts style before function, but it seems less strange today, a time when any “bump” results in repairs of $400 or more. Thanks to reader T.J. for spotting this Italian-American classic.
The claimed 302 cubic inch (5.0L) Ford V8 likely replaced what would have been a visually similar 289 cid (4.7L) original. Ford’s Hi-Po 271 HP 289 powered another two-seater called the Shelby Cobra and Shelby Mustangs, which have terrorized road courses and two-lanes since the ’60s. A healthy 302 can make well over 300 HP; the engine should constitute 0.07% of concerns about owning this 1-0f-30 classic. A four-speed manual transmission handles the gear changes.
The Omega’s shape recalls the Chevrolet Corvette and Ferrari Daytona, though its styling stands alone without copying others. The concave tail panel visually obscures necessary items like lights and license plates. Awkward, oversized wheels, tires, and wheel offset warn of contact with the body panels in spirited driving.
The seller describes this specimen as “THE PERSONAL DRIVER CAR OF… STEVE WILDER,” the gentleman who oversaw the operation that brought these cars to America via Holman & Moody. According to Wikipedia, more were built entirely in Italy and called the “Italia.” No interior pictures graced the listing, but it’s described as “BLACK/GREY.” Does this American V8-powered Italian GT make your top-ten list?
That Amerigo Vespucci is a false history.
How so?
Reminds me of a Lotus Europa from certain angles. Greenhouse is a little tragic, but what are you going to do? Really like the bumper.
Looks like fun, until you have to repair it. There is no reason the original engine isn’t a 302. Ford was getting ready to introduce the engine and H/M was already building 5L engines for racing. A 302 isn’t anything more than a bored out 289 anyway.
You must be a Chevy guy, The 302 is a stroked 289.
Yeah, sorry about that. It was late. The Chevy 302 was a de-stroked 327.
the wheel and tire combo looks like crap, along with the way it sits. glws.
I couldn’t agree more. It appears to have a “lift kit” in it.
Perhaps a Carolina Lean should be applied next.
In my opinion, these cars look odd because they seem to be a poor amalgamation of styling. Looking at the nose, I see Datsun 240Z. As mentioned there are visuals from Daytona and Corvette.
At a glance through the photos, seems like the front and rear tires might be different sizes, which could explain at least some of the raked stance.
Same reasoning I never much liked the Jensen Healey’s styling. Fun car, but looks more like robbing the parts bin for usable leftovers than it does nicely penned design
Come on Al, get it right, it’s The Carolina Squat. They finally outlawed it in North and SouthCarolina
Let’s look at a calendar. This design was sold in 1967. Z-cars showed up as 1970’s. The pictured car showed up years before the 240Z. Any copying, Goertz did it.
I forgot to extrapolate the thoughts of what came first. Thank you for the clarification.
I have worked on three of these in my past and while I did not drive one I got a couple of rides. There is almost no suspension travel and it rides rougher to my mind then either a MGA or Triumph TR-3 by a large measure. In addition two of the ones I got to help work on had front end damage because the brakes tended to lock up. I do not know why but I do know that the owner of the restoration shop I was working with thought these were dangerous. In addition with my knowledge about things since then this is one car that is in serious need of a front end spoiler or splitter. There was noticeable nose lift at speeds that were far lower than I would have expected.
All that being said in the flesh this is one of the most beautiful cars ever built. There is plenty of room for your legs and while not that fancy the interior looks really nice. Now two of them I was involved with were the convertible version while I do not like the hard top version it is not that bad but the convertible tops seemed to be excellent in terms of both looks and weather protection.
I agree that this car seems to sit high but I can not tell if it is the car or camera angle. The construction of the body is in general excellent but it did have the problem of mixed rust protection typical of Italian cars of the era.
But this car is the beautiful mistress you want to look back at every time you part. It is much bigger than any Lotus and in real life it feels more like a Ferrari Daytona in terms of size and shape. If you know the problems going in and do not press this car to its limits you will have a beauty that is an absolute eye lock for everybody that sees it. Press it too hard this beautiful amazing Italian mistress will bite you HARD!!! Good luck.
Bruce – thanks for your comment. I forgot to mention in the article that this is a live-axle rear suspension which I found odd for a car designed by folks with Formula 1 experience. In contrast, the Corvette had IRS starting in 1963.
I believe these were originally designed as the Griffith 600 and used Chrysler motors.
You believe right. Griffith 600, were to have the 289 Ford V8, but Jack Griffith could not pay so Ford pulled them and then as you said Chrysler motors that were bigger and heaver then the ford, Griffith went out of business, then there was the Omega, later models labeled Intermeccanica Torino and then Italia, If I remember right Ford went after the Torino name, . But if you know the Griffith 600 you know the story of these cars
hmmm, is something up with the car?
the convertible is lovely. the coupe is ugly. why no interior shots?
Love the all caps/no paragraph descriptions. It just looks like wall of letters and a chore to read. My dad use to send e-mails to me in all caps. I asked him about it and he said he never noticed and didn’t think it was a big deal. A few weeks later, I went on a trip down the coast. While I was there I gave him a 4 paragraph description of what we were doing. It was all caps and no paragraphs. Dad saw it my way and stopped hitting the caps lock button.
Weird proportions, just like my ex.
Miami Vice
75k??? No thanks. Hard pass.
If I wanted a Ford powered Italian car, the Pantera would be my choice.
Not a pretty car. Awkward imo.
This car needs to have its front and rear suspension corrected.
As with so many Intermeccanica’s, owner’s forget about originallity.
Easy to do, because it always cost lots more money and time.
That would be the monetary difference between any make and model of automobile.
BAT sale, 128K on a roadtser, no sale, and 206K at auction sale.
Respectfully submitted.
Rather than a Lotus Europa, I see some Lotus Elan 2+2 in the lines.