Today the word Omicron scares us (rightly), yet in the Thirties our grandparents, or great-grandparents, talked about it enthusiastically. In fact, they got on it. Because Omicron was an idea of Vincenzo Lancia and Claudio Fogolin, the two drivers who had given life to “Lancia & C. Fabbrica Automobili” in Turin.
Just think: the Omicron model debuted in 1927 in two versions: the short C (5.12 m wheelbase) and the long L (5.92 m). These chassis could be equipped with bodywork for urban or road use, supplied by Fratelli Macchi of Varese.
The Omicrons were equipped with a Type 77 petrol engine, with six cylinders in line, 7069 cm³ and 92 hp. One of the novelties of the time was the pneumatic door opening and closing system. So the ATAG (Azienda Tramways and Buses of the Governorate, the state tram and bus company of Rome) ordered a large batch of Omicron for urban transport.
Despite the high consumption, Omicron (ironically) was a sales success: 601 units produced between 1927 and 1936. Its highlight was its resistance and there are reports of units that exceeded 2 million kilometers traveled.
The Omicrons also withstood the Second World War. Some buses, damaged in the conflict, were transformed into trucks. The last examples left the service only in 1957, 30 years after the launch. But, believe it or not, if you pass by the parts of Norfolk, England, you will find a specialized classic car workshop: which brand? Launch, of course. And what is it called? Elementary, Watson: it’s called Omicron.