A rare 1968 Intermeccanica Omega is being offered for sale in Europe, drawing renewed attention to a little-known Italian-American sports car that once aimed to compete directly with the Chevrolet Corvette and leading grand tourers of the 1960s.
The Omega emerged during a period of rapid experimentation in the global sports car market, when smaller manufacturers sought to combine American V8 power with European styling and chassis design. Built in extremely limited numbers, the Omega represents a transitional moment for Intermeccanica as it evolved from producing tuning components into manufacturing complete automobiles.
Intermeccanica was founded in 1959 in Turin by Frank and Paula Reisner, initially focusing on performance parts for European marques including Fiat, Peugeot, Renault, and Simca. Early automotive projects followed quickly, ranging from a Formula Junior racer to the IMP microcar, a compact 500cc vehicle that even achieved a class victory at the Nürburgring.
The company’s first serious grand touring car arrived with the Apollo GT, a Buick V8-powered coupe assembled in the United States and shown in Turin in 1963. With 111 produced, the Apollo established Intermeccanica as a credible low-volume automaker and set the stage for more ambitious projects.
The Omega traces its roots to the Griffith 600, a car commissioned by Jack Griffith and engineered by veteran chassis designer John Crosthwaite, with body styling by Robert Cumberford. Financial limitations ended Griffith’s involvement after 14 cars, at which point Steve Wilder continued production under the Omega name. Only 33 examples were completed before production again stalled.
Intermeccanica later reorganized the program, briefly using the Torino name before settling on Italia due to trademark conflicts. The Italia would become the company’s most successful model, with roughly 400 produced between 1966 and 1972, powered by Ford V8 engines and often mistaken today for contemporary Corvettes.
The 1968 Omega now for sale was restored in 2019 to factory specifications, with photographic documentation covering the full process. The car shows 47,631 miles and retains original U.S. title and import paperwork. Now located in the Netherlands, European registration will be the responsibility of the next owner.
Though Intermeccanica continues to operate today from Canada, the Omega remains one of its rarest and most elusive creations. The car is currently listed for sale through Car & Classic, offering collectors a glimpse into a bold but short-lived chapter of 1960s sports car history.
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