You can make the right choice when buying a car, satisfy your hobby, strategize your company, or simply expand your horizons only if you have complete and detailed information about each car brand, its history, and its products. This is facilitated by resources that allow you to collect, find, and verify such information. Considering that the history of the automobile began more than a century and a half ago, it is not superfluous to preserve information that goes far back in time. Even today, we are increasingly faced with the fact that much information about those who stood at the origins of the automobile industry gradually lost and disappeared, remaining only in scraps of memories, old newspapers, photographs, and postcards.
What car brands begin with the letter O?
Opening the page with the list of car brands that begin with the letter “O,” you can notice that it is quite small compared to other lists. And this is not only because car manufacturers were not very fond of this letter. Nevertheless, you can find more than a dozen names, among which there are both brands from the beginning of the last century and modern ones. The world-famous Opel and the representative of the Brazilian car industry Obvio!, Officine Specializzate Costruzione Automobili, OM Carrelli Elevatori S.p.A., and many others.
Collecting and systematizing the information found benefits those interested in it and allows you to preserve the car’s history for future generations. Knowing your car’s past, which is closely linked to the history of mankind, helps you better understand your present and more accurately predict the future.
Opel
Since 1862, as a manufacturer of sewing machines, the German brand of cars of the future Opel Automobile GmbH, headquartered in Rüsselsheim, Germany, traces its history. In 1886, the production of bicycles began. The first Opel-Lutzmann automobile came out in 1899. In 1900, a contract was signed with Automobiles Darracq S.A., France, to produce Opel-Darracq until 1907. In 1902, the car’s development appeared. In 1929, it was acquired by General Motors. In 1940, the millionth car was produced. In 2017, PSA (Stellantis) became the owner of the brand.
Orca Engineering
In 2003, in Ebenholz (Vaduz, Liechtenstein), René and Ralph Beck’s company was founded to produce sports cars. They designed and built the Orca 113 platform and the Beck LM800 prototype. The Orca 113 was produced in three variants. Seven cars were produced – 3 C113 coupes, 2 R113s – a concept version of the C113 roadster, and 2 SC7s (an exclusive model). Its production was discontinued in 2007. Until 2012, the Beck LM 800 was the only car created by the brand. It used the Audi Twin Turbo V8 engine.
ORECA
ORECA (Organization Exploitation Compétition Automobiles) is a French racing team founded in 1973 by Hugues de Chaunac. Since 2007, the brand has been used as a sports car manufacturer. Courage Compétition prototypes were created on this basis. The brand’s first car was the Oreca 01 model of the LMP1 class. In 2009, the FLM09 model was developed for Formula Le Mans. In 2015 and 2017, the Oreca 05 and Oreca 07 were released, respectively. A modification of the latter, the Acura ARX-05, raced in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
OSCA
The Italian company OSCA (abbreviation for Officine Specializzate Costruzione Automobili) was founded in 1947 in San Lazzaro di Savena in Emilia-Romagna. The brand’s history began ten years before its official registration when, in 1937, the Maserati brothers sold the factory to Adolfo and Omar Orsi. It was not until 1948 that the company began to operate as a moving machinery production. The first racing model, the MT4, was produced. Based on the racing chassis 1600 GT and 1600 GT2, the company created elegant two-seat coupes – Frua, Michelotti, Zagato, Fissore, and Vignale. 1967, following the sale of MV Agusta in 1964, the brand was closed.
Osella Engineering
Osella Engineering was an Italian racing team founded by Vincenzo “Enzo” Osella. It began racing in the 1960s in Abarth, Italy. In 1975, the brand assembled its Osella FA2 chassis development in its workshops and sold it a year later. The next development, the Osella FA3, intended for sale, was not a success. This was the end of the sports team’s production direction. The team regained its leadership position and was not recalled until 1980-1990.
Oakland Motor Car Company
The Oakland Motor Car Company was an American company founded in 1907 in Pontiac, Michigan, USA. In 1909, General Motors acquired it to sell luxury and expensive car models to create competition in this segment with the leading brand Pontiac. The main achievement of the brand was to create affordable prices for the expensive category of cars to survive in the competitors’ market. The brand’s most popular models were the 1909 Oakland Model 40, the 1916 Model 50 V8, the 1928 Model 212 All-American Sport Cabriolet, and the Model 212 All-American Landaulette Sedan. In 1931, unable to withstand the competition, the brand was closed.
Obvio!
In 2001, a low-cost microcar company was established in Brazil. It developed two models, the Obvio! 828 and Obvio! 01. The American market played a major role in their distribution through ZAP. But the death of the designer, whose name played an important role in the deal, made realizing the grand plan impossible. In 2019, the company closed, and its businesses were sold or taken over by the government.
Ogle Design
Ogle Design was a small British design company that worked in automotive design. It was founded by David Ogle in 1954 in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, to produce industrial and domestic equipment that was successful with consumers. In 1959, the company began designing automobiles. Its facilities began producing light-duty trucks and cars. After the death of the founder of the SX1000 model in 1962, the new manager closed the production of passenger cars.
Ohta Jidosha
In 1922, Hiro Ohta founded one of the oldest Japanese automobile manufacturers in Tokyo, Japan – Ohta Jidosha Seizosho Co. The Ohta Model OS prototype was built and produced at the time of the company’s founding. The start of the main production of cars was realized only in 1934. In 1935, the brand was renamed Kosoku Kikan Kogyo Co., Ltd. In 1936, the Ohta Model OC was released. In 1937, the Ohta Model OD was released. In 1947, the company became known as Ohta Jidosha Kogyo Co., Ltd. After the war, the company released the PA model, which became known as Tokyo Taxi. Models OE, VK-2, and PK-1 were also produced. In 1957, the brand was closed.
OKA Motor Company
The Australian automotive brand OKA Motor Company from Bibra Lake (Western Australia) was founded in 1986 and is known for its comfortable cabs and bodies mounted on all-terrain vehicle chassis. The company created updated four-wheel drive trucks and touring buses. It created three basic models – XT, LT, and NT- based on which different variants of bodies – single-, double-cab, and multi-cab- were produced for buses. The designer of such a prefabricated vehicle was Alan William Baker. In 2011, the company ceased to exist.
OM
The Italian automobile manufacturing company OM Carrelli Elevatori S.p.A. dates back to 1917 and is based in Milan, Italy. It produces automobiles under the OM Pimespo brand. Until 1933, it was an independent company. The brand’s first car was the Tipo S305 of 1918, created based on the Italian Zust. In 1923, the legendary OM 665 Superba was produced. In 1968, the company was acquired by FIAT and became known as FIAT Carrelli Elevatori. In 2002, the company left the FIAT structure and reoriented to producing high-quality lifting and transportation equipment.
OSI
The company OSI or Officine Stampaggi Industriali from Turin (Italy) since 1960 was engaged in producing bodies created by Luigi Segre and Arrigo Olivetti as a design division of Ghia. During its short existence, the brand, which after Luigi Segre’s death in 1963 could not stay afloat and was completely liquidated in 1968, managed to create several custom models using products from Alfa Romeo, Fiat, and Ford. Among the company’s first products was the 1960 Innocenti 950 Spider body. A modification of the Anglia Torino model created by Ford was widely recognized.
ÖAF
ÖAF, or Österreichische Automobil-Fabrik, was founded in 1907 as Österreichische Austro-Fiat in Floridsdorf (Austria) to produce cars and trucks. Today, this brand is a subsidiary of MAN SE. The brand became famous with a 4-ton truck produced in 1911. The brand received its name Österreichische Automobil-Fabrik in 1925, immediately starting sales of Italian Fiat. The last private car of the brand was Type 1001. One thousand nine hundred twenty-five a light truck AFN was produced in 1928 – AF2. 1929, the Austro-Fiat-1001 bus was produced, and passenger cars began to be produced. After privatization in 1970, the company was acquired by MAN. In 2001, the brand was renamed MAN Sonderfahrzeuge AG.
Otomo
Junya Toyokawa founded the Otomo automobile company in 1924, which produced experimental cars and power plants at the Hakuyosha Ironworks Ltd. factory. Ales cars with sedan or van bodies and two—and four-seaters were produced under this brand. Mass production of Otomo models provided for the formation of cabins. The models had a wooden frame lined with sheet iron. In 1927, the company became part of Gorham, which another Japanese automaker joined. American aircraft designer William Gorham financed the new company.
Overland Automobile Company
Overland Automobile Company was an American automobile company founded by Claude Cox in 1903 in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States. After moving to Indianapolis, Indiana, the founder sold his company in 1908 to John North Willis, who renamed the company Willys-Overland in 1912. 1910, the company created its iconic Overland 42 model, which Milton Reeves based on his eight-wheeled Reeves Octo-Auto. Overlands were produced until 1926 when the Willys Whippet replaced them.
Oldsmobile
ODA
Osterreichische Austro-Fiat
FAQ
What car starts with an O?
Car brands starting with the letter “O” include Opel and Osca.
Opel, a German automobile manufacturer, began operations in 1862. It initially produced sewing machines and bicycles and then moved on to cars. Today, it is known for producing reliable and efficient vehicles, ranging from compact cars to luxury SUVs. Opel is very popular in Europe due to its quality and innovative design.
Osca, which stands for Officine Specializzate Costruzione Automobili, was founded by the Maserati brothers in 1947 and specializes in racing cars. These cars are known for their high-performance engines and lightweight construction, earning them a place in motorsports history, especially in the 1950s.
What European car starts with O?
Opel is a famous European car brand starting with the letter “O.” It was founded in 1862 by Adam Opel in Rüsselsheim, Hesse, Germany. The company manufactured sewing machines and became one of Germany’s first automobile manufacturers. General Motors bought the brand in 1931, and Groupe PSA and Stellantis now run it. It is known for its variety of cars and remains a significant player in the European car market.
What supercar starts with O?
It is difficult to find a supercar whose name begins with the letter “O” because there are no well-known brands of supercars with names starting with “O.” Most famous supercar brands have names like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and McLaren, which start with different letters. This lack of brands with the letter “O” can make it challenging if you are specifically looking for this initial.
What is the car with the O logo?
Opel, a famous German car brand, has a logo with a stylized letter “O” that looks like a ring with a lightning bolt. This design is simple and distinctive, symbolizing the brand’s uniqueness. Another brand, Otomo from Japan, has a logo with two O’s, making it unique and closely related to its name. Some brands, such as the Italian racing car manufacturer OSCA, have logos that feature shapes similar to the letter “O” in their designs.
What expensive cars start with the letter O?
Oakland is a historic automobile brand known for its expensive models, priced just below Pontiac. These cars stood out for their luxury and performance, featuring advanced technology and elegant designs that appealed to wealthier buyers. Although less frequently mentioned, Oakland remains significant in automotive history for its premium cars.