The OM X-series is a light to medium-duty truck model produced by the Italian manufacturer OM in 1972. While being superficially similar to the OM Lupetto, Leoncino, Daino, and Tigrotto, it was an all-new design - except for using the same doors as the earlier "zoological" series (thus called as they were all named after animals). The X-series was sold under a variety of other names as well, depending on the market. All but the two lightest models were replaced by the new Z-series in 1976, a design which briefly used OM badging but ended up being marketed exclusively as an Iveco.

OM X-series
Overview
ManufacturerIveco
Also called
  • Fiat NC
  • Magirus-Deutz X-series
  • Unic-OM X-series
  • Saurer-OM X
  • Zastava 635/640
  • Steyr-OM
Production
  • 1972-1977
  • 1972-1987 (Fiat 35/40 NC)
Assembly
Body and chassis
ClassLight to Medium-duty truck
Powertrain
Engine
  • 3455 cc Fiat 8040.02 diesel I4
  • 4086 cc Deutz F4L 913 air-cooled diesel I4
  • 4561 cc OM CO3/41 diesel I4
  • 4949 cc OM CO3/7 diesel I4
  • 5184 cc Fiat 8060.04 diesel I6
Chronology
Predecessor
Successor

Development edit

Developed by OM, it was offered with a variety of different engines and with many different badges. The smallest versions used Fiat's 8040 four-cylinder diesel engine, and were marketed as Fiats, OMs or Unics in France. Mid-range versions (sold as OM or OM-Saurer) used the larger OM CO3 four-cylinder, developed together with Saurer of Switzerland. The heaviest models received Fiat's six-cylinder 8060 engine and were sold as Fiats or Unics, and also as the OM N100.

OM's versions were named with a two-digit code indicating gross tonnage ranging from the OM 35 to the 100, a system also used by Saurer on the versions they sold. The range was thus from 3.5 to 10 t (7,700 to 22,000 lb). Fiat and Unic used the same numerical system followed by NC (for Nafta Cabinato, "diesel cab-over"). Magirus-Deutz sold this range under their brand after 1975 and used their own air-cooled engines for some models (55, 60, 75).[1] In Austria, this truck was marketed as a Steyr-OM.[1] The X-series was also built by Zastava, beginning in 1978.[2] Kits for the 35-40 were also sent from Zastava's plant by Iveco for CKD-assembly in Kano, Nigeria, by a company called NTM. These trucks received Fiat badging, as this brand was considered strongest in Nigeria.

The X-series cab was lightly facelifted a few years after its introduction, when the early metal grille was replaced by a black plastic unit with horizontal bars. The interior remained unchanged. "Iveco" badging also became more prominent after that company was founded on 1 January 1975. A more thorough redesign, with a new, more square cab, appeared in late 1976 and was called the OM Z-series. This replaced the earlier X lineup by 1977, although the Fiat 35/40 NC remained on sale until 1987 with the earlier cabin and it was built by Zastava in Yugoslavia into the early eighties.

References edit

  1. ^ a b Lanner, Ferdinand M. "FIAT - Transporter und leichte Lkw - 1950 - 1979 (1990)" (in German). Zuckerfabrik24.de. Retrieved 2015-03-24.
  2. ^ "Road Vehicles tracking table". Wile E. Coyote's TTD page. Retrieved 2015-03-27.