The OM Cerbiatto was the smallest member of OM’s family of trucks named after animals. Launched in 1963 with a 20-quintal payload, it was a Lupetto made smaller and was sold mainly for urban distribution.
OM Cerbiatto at a glance
| Maker | Officine Meccaniche (OM), Brescia |
|---|---|
| Production | 1963–1968 |
| Payload | 20 quintals (2 tonnes) |
| Gross weight | about 4 tonnes |
| Role | urban distribution |
| Related | OM Lupetto 25, OM Orsetto 15 |
| Gearbox | five speeds, reduction gear and reverse |
| I series engine | 4,397 cc diesel, 80 CV at 2,400 rpm |
| II series engine | 4,156 cc air-cooled diesel, 80 CV |
| III series engine | 4,561 cc diesel, 86.6 CV |
| IV series engine | 4,561 cc diesel, 91.2 CV |
The English Wikipedia has no article on the Cerbiatto; this page is based on the Italian article, the only source used. No free photograph of the model is available, so the page keeps the old cover image.
History of the OM Cerbiatto
OM launched the Cerbiatto 20 in 1963 to widen its range downwards. The number, meaning 20 quintals, did not appear on the grille. It was a smaller brother of the OM Lupetto 25 and shared its cab and engine; because it was intended mainly for city deliveries, it was rarely used with a trailer. Its advertising stressed its suitability for town work.
In the zoological family of trucks with gross weights between three and eight tonnes, the Cerbiatto sat at four tonnes gross with a two-tonne payload, ahead of the Lupetto 25 and, from 1967, behind the OM Orsetto 15. Some Cerbiatto chassis were bodied as school buses by Carrozzeria Borsani of Cornaredo, near Milan.
Four series
The Cerbiatto was built in four series. The first used a 4,397 cc water-cooled four-cylinder diesel of 80 CV at 2,400 rpm; the second kept that power but switched to a 4,156 cc air-cooled engine. The third series went to 4,561 cc and 86.6 CV, and the fourth to 91.2 CV from the same 4,561 cc engine. All used a five-speed gearbox with a reduction gear and reverse.
Design and features
- Small and handy: a two-tonne payload and a short chassis for town delivery.
- Shared with the Lupetto: the same cab and engine as the larger model.
- School buses: Borsani of Cornaredo bodied some chassis for schools.
- Four series: engine changes through 1963–1968, ending with 91.2 CV.
OM Cerbiatto versions
- I series: 4,397 cc water-cooled diesel, 80 CV.
- II series: 4,156 cc air-cooled diesel, 80 CV.
- III series: 4,561 cc diesel, 86.6 CV.
- IV series: 4,561 cc diesel, 91.2 CV.
- Borsani school bus: a passenger body on a Cerbiatto chassis.
The Cerbiatto’s bigger brother was the OM Lupetto; the smallest of the family was the OM Orsetto. More vehicles are in the OM collection.
Sources
- OM Cerbiatto, Italian Wikipedia: launch, place in the range, series and engines
