1928 OM Tipo 665 Tourer

OM, short for Officine Meccaniche, was founded in Milan in 1889 with the purpose of constructing railway stock. They entered automobile production in 1918 after taking over the Zust automobile company of Brescia. The first cars were basically an updated version of the Zust with four-cylinder L-head engines. Four-cylinder production would continue until 1923, when the new Tipo 665 'Superba' was introduced, featuring a two-liter L-head six.

The 665 was very successful in competition, especially in long-distance international sports car racing. Their highlights include a win at the 1925 Tripoli Grand Prix and fourth and fifth at the 1926 24 Hours of LeMans Endurance Race. They won the Rudge-Whitworth Cup for best index of performance. At the inaugural running of the Mille Miglia in 1927, OM captured the first three places. They finished second in the 1928 and 1929 Milles and third in the event in 1931.

In 1929 a supercharged version of their models could be purchased, though by this point in history, Alfa Romeo had become a dominant force, and the supercharger was no match. The OM Company continued until 1938, when they were taken over by Fiat and ceased passenger car production the following year. They turned to truck and railway component manufacturing for the Italian war effort.

This OM Tipo 665 with the supercharged engine was created in 1928 and features a Weymann-style fabric body. It is believed that R.F. Oates of Great Britain was the original owner.

The car features four doors, four seats, a top, and a spare wheel, which is built to LeMans requirements. There is a fabric body and many aluminum castings in the chassis's fabrication.

Since new, the car has been fully restored and has been well used in sporting and concours events throughout the world. In 2005, it participated in the Argentinean Millas Sport, which is a 1,000-mile rally through the mountain passes of Patagonia. In 2006 it was shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in the exhibit-only category. This marked the first time in the 56-year history of the event that an OM model was on the show field.

This Supercharged Tourer is chassis number 26641 and was brought to the 2007 Gooding & Company auction held in Pebble Beach, CA, where it was estimated to sell for $300,000 - $450,000. Bidding failed to generate the expected estimates, yet the lot was sold for $150,500, including the buyer's premium.

In 2010, it was brought to Gooding & Company's Scottsdale Auction, offered without reserve, and estimated to sell for $90,000 - $120,000. As bidding came to a close, the lot had been sold for $85,250, inclusive of the buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2010