Inline 4-cylinder engine, overhead valves, 105 cubic inches displacement, 75 horsepower.
Small cars pack a lot into tight spaces. The Omni makes the most of its engine bay by mounting the unit transversely, with the crankshaft parallel to the front bumper. It’s a layout not widely used in American cars since the early 1900s, but particularly well-suited to compact front-wheel drive vehicles. Power is sent to the Omni’s front wheels via the transaxle, a combination gearbox-differential, on the driver’s side.
Matt Anderson is Curator of Transportation at The Henry Ford.
20th century, 1970s, Henry Ford Museum, Engines Exposed, engines, Driving America, cars, by Matt Anderson
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